There is a lot to do and see in the Tampa Bay area, I am not sure I’ll ever see it all no matter how long I live here. But that isn’t going to stop me from trying! Dunedin, FL is a small city about 10 minutes north of the ever popular Clearwater and 30 minutes from downtown Tampa. Dunedin is the perfect place to go in order to escape the popular, more busy sights for the day. This one day Dunedin, Florida itinerary is packed full of fun and good eats.
Dunedin, pronounced DONE-EE-DIN, draws roots from Scotland and the name is actually derived from Edinburgh. There is even a Dunedin Highland Games Festival held in Dunedin each April thanks to its Scottish heritage. It was cancelled in 2021 due to COVID concerns but we hope to see it back in 2022.
One little fun fact, orange juice concentrate was invented right here in Dunedin. In fact as you are walking around Dunedin try and see how many cute hidden orange murals you can find painted all over. They are a nod to the city’s orange soaked past.
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Dunedin Florida Itinerary
What to See and Do in Dunedin
Dunedin may not be the biggest city around but it is a great place to explore. There is plenty to do here that will fill a day or even a full weekend in Dunedin.
I recommend starting your day off in downtown Dunedin on Main Street to beat the heat. Dunedin was a classic small town Florida and still is in many ways. However, the construction of the Pinellas Trail, part of the rails to trails program, helped breathe new life into Dunedin. The trail runs right through downtown Dunedin and there are now many amazing restaurants and shops to visit.
Eat Brunch and Shop
So to start off your Dunedin, Florida itinerary head over to The Living Room for brunch and feel free to bring your pup too if you want to eat on their outdoor patio. I ate the ultimate breakfast sandwich and thought it was delicious. The Living Room is one of my favorite places to go for Saturday morning brunch!
Then take a stroll down Main St. and visit a few of the locally owned shops. My Favorite Things was a cute one but there are so many to choose from.
If plants are your thing or maybe you like cute unique shops then check out Seeds right across the street from The Living Room. They have plants galore and many many cute pots to go with them. I would kill any plant I bought but I had fun window shopping!
While you go around town make sure you keep an eye out for fun murals. They are painted on the sides of so many of the buildings downtown and they can be good photo opportunities for group photos and social media posts.
Dunedin Downtown Market
Even better (IMO) is if it is a Friday or Saturday then head over to Pioneer Park for the Dunedin Downtown Market. Right off the Pinellas trail near Cafe Alfresco, this farmers market is full of local vendors selling artisan goods and fresh produce and homemade foods! We went in August and due to the heat it was a smaller market with less vendors than normal and we still bought several things!
Starting in November and going through June the market is HUGE. I can’t wait to go back and see it in full swing. There is even sometimes live entertainment to enjoy.
Bike the Pinellas Trail
Next in Dunedin, Florida itinerary would be a great time to bike or walk on the Pinellas Trail if you want to. You can rent bikes or just take a stroll down the path a little ways.
If you’ve done the Pinellas Trail before then head over to Hammock Park for something different. The park is 90 acres and consists of nature trails, playgrounds and even a butterfly garden.
The butterfly garden is hit or miss depending on the season, and unfortunately we got a miss. I want to try and go back sometime when more flowers are in bloom though because the one monarch butterfly we did see was ginormous!
More To Do in the Dunedin Area:
- Weeki Wachee Mermaid Show Near Tampa, FL
- 11 Best Things to Do in Palm Harbor, FL
- Blueberry U-Pick at Blueberry Blessings Farm in Hudson, FL
Grab Ice Cream
Afterwards you are probably getting hot so stop in at Strachan’s Ice Cream Shop for some homemade ice cream! There are SO MANY flavors to choose from, I tried the cherry vanilla and it was good but next time I can’t wait to try a few more flavors.
Head to the Beach
Now that you’ve seen a lot of the Downtown area it’s time to hit the beach! This is Florida afterall, no trip is really complete without the beach.
Dunedin is home to the #1 state park in Florida, Honeymoon Island and right next door, accessible only by boat is Caladesi Island. These beautiful sandy beaches are about a 15 minute drive from downtown Dunedin. Traffic isn’t normally too bad but can occasionally get backed up across the Dunedin causeway.
There is an $8 fee to enter Honeymoon island per car or $2 per pedestrian and bicyclist. The causeway is free to park on and you can swim in the ocean.
These pristine beaches are beautiful and the emerald water is the perfect temperature for swimming in. The waves are small and fairly calm which is great for small kids and dogs.
Honeymoon Island is home to one of the few dog friendly beaches in the Tampa Bay area so it is a popular destination for dog owners all over the surrounding area. Our husky loves visiting the beach although he is a little hesitant about swimming in the water.
Caladesi Island can be reached by boat or by the ferry that leaves from Honeymoon Island. It is a nearly untouched islands wilderness with pristine white sand and zero houses, high-rises or stores. The only building is the restaurant, bathrooms, gift shop and shower area near the ferry drop-off and pickup point. You can see the natural beauty of an island on the West coast of Florida and what these beaches looked like before towns and cities took over.
Caladesi has the best seashells of any other beach along Florida’s gulf coast that I have been to and has next to no crowds thanks to the difficulty of getting to the island. Definitely worth visiting.
Visiting Florida on a Beach Vacation? Make sure to grab our free beach vacation packing list!
Where to Eat in Dunedin
Dunedin has restaurants that rank among the best in the Bay every year so there are plenty of amazing options to choose from.
Restaurants:
- Casa Tina – Classic Mexican food with fun day of the dead decor.
- The Living Room on Main – brunch, american sandwiches soups and salads
- Crown and Bull – American food
- Pearly’s Beach Eats – tex-mex tacos, bowls and sandwiches
- Pisces Sushi
- Lucky Lobster Co.
- Black Pearl – Fine Dining
- SO MANY BREWERIES!
Dessert:
- Strachans Ice Cream
- Lane’s Lemonade
- Kookie Krums
- Viktoria Richards Chocolates
How to Get Around Dunedin
I recommend bringing a car to Dunedin especially if you’re visiting both the downtown area and the beaches, however it’s not necessary. If you do drive, parking is easy to find all across town.
You can also bike. Thanks to the Pinellas Trail Dunedin has a very bikeable downtown area.
Lastly, there is a trolley that runs between Clearwater and Tarpon Springs (including Dunedin) called the Jolley Trolley. It costs $2.25 per ride or $5 for a day pass. It does require exact change so make sure to have that on hand if you decide to ride. Make sure you check the jolley trolley website for their stops and schedule.
More To Do in Tampa:
- Best Fun Things to Do in Tampa, FL
- Peach and Sunflower Picking at Southern Hill Farms
- Things To Do on a Day Trip to Anna Maria Island
FAQ’s
Does Dunedin Have a Beach?
Yes!! Dunedin has over 4 miles of pristine white beaches that are perfect for shelling, relaxing and swimming. The best beaches in Dunedin are on barrier islands in the gulf of Mexico. Both Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island State Park are easy to reach by crossing the Dunedin causeway.
Another plus for the Dunedin beaches is that they will be less crowded than the more famous beaches in the surrounding areas like Clearwater Beach or St. Petersburg Beach.
Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Beaches in and Around Tampa
Dunedin Location: Where is the City of Dunedin?
The city of Dunedin on the western coast of Central Florida in Pinellas County. Dunedin is 35 minutes away from Tampa, 10 minutes north from Clearwater and 20 minutes south of Tarpon Springs.
Practical Information For Dunedin, FL
Find accommodation if you decide to stay more than a day, sign up for a local tour, or buy your Florida Travel Guide.
One Day Itinerary for Dunedin, FL
There is a jam packed fun filled one day Dunedin Florida itinerary. You can’t go wrong here. It took us almost a year and a half of living in the Tampa area to visit Dunedin and we were missing out. And you are too if you don’t add it to your places to visit near Tampa.
