15 Amazing Things to Do in Dunedin Florida

Dunedin, Florida is an idyllic small town in the Tampa Bay area with several miles of water frontage, waterfront parks, beaches, and a quaint downtown region. Filled with sun and fun, there are so many amazing things to do in Dunedin!

As a Dunedin resident, I’ve got your inside scoop for all of the best things to do in Dunedin. Whether you’re visiting for a day or a weekend, this quaint Gulf Coast town offers plenty of activities to keep you busy. From beaches to museums, bike rides to festivals, you’ll find something for everyone in the family to love.

Table of Contents

---

SIGN UP for the NEWSLETTER. Stay up-to-date with the latest blog posts, travel tips, and discounts.

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name *

---

Wander Florida is fully reader-supported. For that reason, this article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This revenue helps keep Wander Florida free and updated. I only recommend products or services that I would use myself. Read the full disclosure here.

Like many other small towns around Tampa, Dunedin offers the best of all worlds – beaches and water, small town vibes with a laid-back feel, and yet close enough to Tampa or St. Pete (or even Orlando) to enjoy the museums, shows, and other “big city” amenities.

That said, there are plenty of things to do in Dunedin without the need to drive elsewhere. I often use only my bicycle or walk when I need to get around town. And visitors do the same. So, if you find yourself spending a night or four at one of the Dunedin’s hotels or B&Bs any time soon, be sure to take advantage of everything this beautiful town offers.

Outdoors Things to Do in Dunedin

The Tampa Bay area, in general, tends to be rather outdoorsy. Hard not to be when the area is surrounded by gorgeous water and enjoys an average of 360 sunny days a year.

Dunedin is no different. Plus, it’s home to two of America’s best beaches – Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island. These also happen to be two of the jewels in the award-winning Florida state park system. Other outdoor activities you might enjoy include cycling, walking, enjoying the many city parks, watching the sunset, or any of the many water activities.

Spend the Day at the Beach

Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island were once a single barrier island known as Hog Island. Back then, in the late 1800s, Dunedin was a major port on Florida’s Gulf coast. The inlet lay just south of Hog Island while the island itself was pretty much uninhabited.

In the early 1900s, a father and daughter lived on Hog Island. Margaret Scharrer Betz wrote about her childhood on the island in her 2007 book, Yesteryear I Lived in Paradise. The Hurricane of 1921 split the island in two, creating the inlet we now call Hurricane Pass. Dunedin Pass, the inlet used back in the 1800s, eventually filled in. Now, Caladesi Island and Clearwater Beach are basically one large barrier island.

Walk, Jog, or Cycle the Pinellas Trail

Envision 39 miles of paved trail for walking, jogging, cycling, and skating. That’s the Pinellas Trail. Originally a railway, it stretches from Tarpon Springs on the north end of the county, through several towns like Dunedin, to its end in St. Petersburg at the south end of Pinellas County.

The Trail, as locals call it, passes through several downtown areas and has become a favorite way to travel between and within the small towns along its route. In Dunedin, the Trail connects the downtown region with the golf courses with the Dunedin Causeway. Bike shops rent bicycles to visitors who want to pedal through town and enjoy the various parks, shops, restaurants, and other attractions. If you have your own bikes or stay somewhere that offers bikes at no charge, riding the Trail is one of the best free things to do in Dunedin, Florida.

Discover Dunedin’s history and local landmarks on a small-group bike tour. Book NOW!

A leisurely ride of less than 6 miles transports one from downtown Dunedin to Honeymoon Island. Along the way, stop at Corvo Bianco for a pizza, Frenchy’s Outpost for a drink, or watch the sunset on the Dunedin Causeway. If you’re feeling adventurous, ride north to Ozona (1 mile), Palm Harbor (2 miles), or Tarpon Springs (10 miles), or ride south to Clearwater (4 miles) or Clearwater Beach (7 miles).

Get Out on the Water

Is it any surprise that playing on the water is one of the best things to do in Dunedin? With miles of waterfront, several marinas, city parks along the water, the Dunedin Causeway, and Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands, playing on the water is one of the most popular activities in Dunedin.

Many residents own boats, and even more own kayaks, canoes, or jet skis. On the Dunedin Causeway, Sail Honeymoon rents kayaks giving visitors a way to access the many spoil islands in our inshore waters. Or just hang out near the Causeway and practice your paddling skills in the shallow waters.

Take a Kayaking Adventure to Caladesi Island to see wildlife and the beautiful beach. Book NOW!

Several marinas rent jet skis and pontoon boats as well. Not comfortable navigating our waters on your own? Try one of the many guided  kayak and paddleboard tours offered by local outfitters like Osprey Bay or Livin’ Salty. 

Parks and Outdoor Spaces

Dunedin provides 27 city parks encompassing over 200 acres of green space. The city has received the “Tree City USA” award every year since 1989. The 27 parks include one dog park, the Achieva Paw Park, and 11 waterfront parks. Unsure which parks to visit? Here are three of my favorites:

• Hammock Park is 90 acres of natural habitat with 5 miles of unpaved trails. The park also features a playground, kayak launch, a butterfly garden, and disk golf course.
• Edgewater Park is the site of many of the town’s festivals and fairs. This park, located adjacent to the municipal marina, has two playgrounds, a gazebo, and gorgeous views of the sunset.
• Weaver Park features a fishing pier, playground, picnic pavilions, and a Kiwanis FitZone with several pieces of exercise equipment.
• Gladys Douglas Preserve is Dunedin’s newest green space. Saved from development, the first phase opened in 2023 with a second phase under development.

Sporty Things to Do in Dunedin

In the last couple of years the Tampa Bay area has become known as “Champa Bay” for the many national and conference championships the area’s sports teams have won.

We have football in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, soccer in the Tampa Bay Rowdies, auto racing in the St. Petersburg Grand Prix, boat racing with a number of sailboat regattas as well as the Super Boat Championships, a number of golf courses and tennis courts, and baseball in Spring Training, several minor league teams, and the Tampa Bay Rays. So, if sports are your thing, we’ve got you covered.

Take Me Out to a Blue Jays Game

Every winter, snowbirds and Blue Jays flock to Dunedin. Toronto Blue Jays fans come by the thousands to cheer on their team through Spring Training games. The Blue Jays have been a part of Dunedin’s fabric for 25 years and have just signed another 25 year deal to stay on in the city with upgrades coming to the game facility as well as their training facility.

When the Toronto Blue Jays fly home to start their regular season, the Dunedin Blue Jays take over. The minor league team uses the same stadium that Toronto uses and holds a number of fun special events such as Dog Days Mondays when your best friend, Fido, can accompany you to the games; Thirsty Thursdays for $2 wine and beer; Margarita Fridays; fireworks after the games; and a special Fourth of July event.

Play a Round of Golf

You won’t find a finer course in Pinellas County than the Dunedin Golf Course, three time winner of Tampa Bay Times’ Readers Choice “Best Golf Course” in Pinellas County (2016, 2017, and 2018). Originally designed and opened in 1927 by famed architect Donald Ross, the Dunedin Golf Course was home to the PGA of America and 18 Senior Tour Championships from 1945 to 1962. In 2006 and 2007, the course was restored to nearly its original condition.

When you’re finished playing your round, cool off and enjoy a drink or meal in the Fairway Grille. Both the course and the restaurant are open to the public.

Dunedin Golf Club isn’t the only golf game in town. Beside it is Stirling Links, a 27-acre park with a driving range. The park winds through nature, around lakes, over Curlew Creek, and among pine trees and osprey nests. Other nearby courses include Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs Executive Course, and Clearwater Country Club.

Dunedin Things to Do – Art & Museums

Does Dunedin, Florida have much culture or cultural things to do? Why, yes! Yes, Dunedin does. For many years, Dunedin has held some of the finest festivals and art shows in the state. There are a number of fun museums in town as well. And the Dunedin International Film Festival has brought internationally-acclaimed indie films to Dunedin every January since 2018.

Museums and Art Galleries

Typically we think of larger cities, such as St. Petersburg or Tampa, when we think of museums. While those cities do have large and stunning cultural centers, Dunedin boasts a small number of very fine collections as well. In fact, places like the Beatles Museum, Stirling Art Galleries, and Cool Art are among the hidden gems in Dunedin, Florida. These museums continue to curate the best local collections offering residents and visitors unique views into the city’s past and present.

Dunedin Fine Arts Center

The idea for the Dunedin Fine Arts Center (DFAC) dates back to 1969. The first center opened in a 2,000 square foot space in 1975. Since then, it has grown and expanded to it’s current 50,000 square foot facility. DFAC provides classes to adults and children in visual arts. They also hold summer camp for children interested in art, each week focused on a different medium. DFAC also exhibits artwork from its own students, from county schools, and from artists throughout the state and country. 

Dunedin History Museum

The Dunedin History Museum, located in the former train depot, was established in 1970 and has been collecting Dunedin’s history ever since. The museum contains over 2,000 artifacts, 2,500 photographs, and 200 books of local and Florida history. It also contains a digital archive of the Dunedin Times newspaper from 1924 to 1965. The museum seeks to share Dunedin’s history and legacy with the public and maintain collections of the towns historical documents and artifacts.

Explore Street Art

Dunedin may be small but it has a thriving and beautiful street art scene. Throughout the city you can find dolphin sculptures from the Dolphin Trail and artistic bike racks. One of the more unusual things to do in Dunedin, Florida is to search out new murals. With over 30 murals in and around the downtown area, it’s easy to spend several hours taking an unofficial murals tour around the town.

Dunedin Events

The events! Seafood festivals and craft beer festivals, art shows and craft fairs, holiday parades and weekend markets.

From October through April, Dunedin has at least one event happening each weekend. The rest of the year it’s pretty much too hot to be outside for any large amount of time. Regular events during the cooler months include the Dunedin Downtown Market at Pioneer Park, Films in the Park at Pioneer Park, Second Friday, and the Sunset Music Series at Weaver Park.

It’s the special events, however, that visitors remember the most. These festivals, fairs, and shows draw tens of thousands to Dunedin. If held downtown, the streets are closed to vehicular traffic. When held at Highlander Park, the festivals often spill over into DFAC and take up parking throughout the park and at the nearby high school.

The most popular of these events include:

• Art Harvest, one of the top juried art shows in the country, is held at Highlander Park, DFAC, and the Community Center the first weekend in November.
• Dunedin Wines the Blues draws blues artists from all over the US to play on one of three stages set up in downtown Dunedin. This is one of those times when the streets are closed downtown to accommodate all the music fans.
• Christmas celebrations include the Lighting of the Christmas Tree and Lighted Boat Parade the first weekend in December followed by the Olde-Fashioned Christmas and Holiday Parade the following weekend.
• Mardi Gras Parade and Festival, the largest Mardi Gras parade in Florida.
• St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. Sponsored by Flanagan’s pub, the streets downtown are closed for the weekend as the street party spills from the streets into all the breweries and restaurants with special performances by Celtic rock bands and Celtic dancers.
• Highland Games and Festival. Held every April, this multi-day event draws athletic competitors from around the globe to compete in traditional Scottish Highland sports. The festival also features Celtic dance competition as well as pipe and drum competitions.

Other Things to Do in Dunedin, Florida

The other things to do in Dunedin are the ones the downtown core was built on – restaurants, microbreweries, and locally-owned boutiques. Dunedin’s downtown core is a franchise-free zone. As such every shop and restaurant in Dunedin is completely unique and has helped build the quaint vibe that the town is known for.

Delicious Things to Do in Dunedin

Every year when the local best of the best are announced, several Dunedin restaurants invariably end up on the lists. More than 30 restaurants and bars have garnered nearly 100 awards recently. You don’t have to look to those lists though. Nearly every restaurant in Dunedin offers tasty and unique food. Pick a place, and you won’t be disappointed. Local favorites include Mango & Marley for Cuban fusion, Madison Avenue for pizza, Pisces for sushi, and The Restorative for special occasions.

Drink in Dunedin

**Please drink responsibly and please use an Uber/Lyft/cab rather than driving! Make an adventure with Local Tiki Rides.**

Dunedin not only jumped into the craft beer craze head first; it likely created it in Florida. Dunedin Brewery is the oldest brewery in Florida, founded in 1995. Twenty years later other brewers took notice and started popping up, such as 7venth Sun Brewery.

More recently, the town has added Woodwright  Brewing Company, Caledonia Brewery, Cueni Brewing Co, Soggy Bottom Brewery, and HOB Brewing Company, plus the sole distillery, Cotherman Distilling Company. Add to these a number of pubs, taverns, and bars, and you have the makings for a very drunk night, if you are not responsible, or a very fun brewery/pub crawl if you are.

Shop in Dunedin Florida

About 55% of the businesses in the downtown core of Dunedin are retail stores. Most of these can be found on Main Street from the municipal marina to City Hall. The rest reside on the nearby side streets such as Broadway and Douglas. In these boutiques, a visitor will find great variety. For example, there’s a tea and spice shop, a crystal shop, numerous clothing and gift boutiques, a grocery store, home décor stores, and many others. When visiting Dunedin, set aside some time to support the local shop owners and artisans.

Let’s Connect!

Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. Also, please check out my Facebook group, Florida Travel Tips & Secret Spots, to get travel tips, discounts, secret spots, and hidden gems.

Did you know you can grab one of my photos for your home or office? Visit my Etsy shop to see what’s available right now! And thank you for your support!