SWFL Cities Make List Of Most Visited In Florida
Ah, Florida – the land of sunshine, beaches, and theme parks! It’s no wonder that millions of people flock to the Sunshine State each year for a vacation. Living in SWFL, whether it be Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs or Naples, how lucky are we that we live where people vacation!
Even since Hurricane Ian hit SWFL 6 months ago, people have been coming to visit. Yes, on Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel & Captiva there aren’t many hotels that have reopened for visitors yet, but as far as accommodations go, there are plenty of rental houses and plenty of things to do. I went to both Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel over the weekend and while it’ll take a long time before things are back to normal, especially Fort Myers Beach has come a long way a very short time. It was nice to see different trailers and make-shift bars & restaurants set up for people to enjoy a cold beer and a bite to eat. And seeing so many people down there enjoying it was a great sight, offering a bit of normalcy.
The International Trade Administration’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) reports that Florida is the #1 most visited state in the U.S. by overseas tourists. But where exactly in Florida are they going? Using this data, Trips to Discover put together a list of the Top 10 Most Visited Metros in Florida.
Top 10 Most Visited Cities in Florida:
10. Key West
Kind of surprised that Key West is on the bottom of the Top 10 list, but it could be because it’s so much smaller than these other cities. Vacationers can take the Key West Express from Fort Myers or Marco Island, fly in or make the beautiful drive down over the other keys. Known for fishing, partying on Duval (Fantasy Fest anyone?) and a rich history, Key West is a perfect island getaway.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
9. Cape Coral
A visit to Cape Coral is the perfect location to put you close to Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel and has lots of water for fishing, boating and kayaking.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
8. North Port
A small city tucked between Punta Gorda and Sarasota, you may be surprised to know that North Port had more visitors than Phoenix, Honolulu and Pittsburgh in 2021.
(Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
7. Jacksonville
Known for its sports teams and craft breweries, Jacksonville is a hot spot in the northern part of the state.
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
6. Naples
With gorgeous beaches, renowned golf courses and over 700 restaurants, a trip to Naples will leave you tan and feeling full.
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
5. West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach is a beautiful waterfront city offering amazing beaches. It’s also one of the wealthiest cities in South Florida.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
4. Tampa
So many people fly into Tampa each year either staying in the city or making the short drive to vacation in St Pete, Clearwater or the many beaches in between.
3. Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is known as the “Venice of America” offering more than 300 miles of inland waterways. Also, a very popular port for cruise ships.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
2. Orlando
Orlando has earned the title of Theme Park Capital of the World. People come from all over the world to visit the different amusement parks. In fact, in 2021, Orlando was the third most visited city in the country.
(Photo by Matt Stroshane/Getty Images)
1. Miami
Miami has it all: designer shopping, Michelin-star restaurants, high-end hotels and beautiful blue water.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
