Sanibel travel guide

Sanibel Tourism | Sanibel Guide

You're Going to Love Sanibel

With a population of 6,469, Sanibel is a must-see destination in Florida, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Sanibel to see all of its attractions.

Where to Eat in Sanibel

If you’re looking for affordable options, Thistle Lodge Restaurant (2255 West Gulf Drive) and Cielo (1244 Periwinkle Way) are great picks.

When to visit Sanibel

Sanibel in September
Estimated hotel price
$254
1 night at 3-star hotel
Sanibel in September
Estimated hotel price
$254
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Sanibel

Plane

Although Sanibel doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to SW Florida Intl Airport (RSW), which is located 17 miles from Sanibel. The shortest flight to Sanibel from Australia departs from Sydney and takes around 26h 47m.

Car

Another option to get to Sanibel is to pick up a car hire from Orlando, which is about 150 miles from Sanibel. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Sanibel, including RedCoach, Greyhound and FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Sanibel takes 125 miles and will cost you around $85. From Miami, the ticket costs about $107 for a journey of 170 miles.

Plane

Although Sanibel doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to SW Florida Intl Airport (RSW), which is located 17 miles from Sanibel. The shortest flight to Sanibel from Australia departs from Sydney and takes around 26h 47m.

Car

Another option to get to Sanibel is to pick up a car hire from Orlando, which is about 150 miles from Sanibel. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Sanibel, including RedCoach, Greyhound and FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Sanibel takes 125 miles and will cost you around $85. From Miami, the ticket costs about $107 for a journey of 170 miles.

Airlines serving Sanibel

Lufthansa
Good (7,180 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,351 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,842 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,645 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (8,834 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,873 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,552 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,531 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (830 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,900 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,238 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (8,097 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,318 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (381 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,424 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,338 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,237 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,201 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,300 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,906 reviews)
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Where to stay in popular areas of Sanibel

Most booked hotels in Sanibel

Tarpon Tale Inn
3 stars
Excellent (9.5, Excellent reviews)
$466+
Sunshine Island Inn
2 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
$443+
Island Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
$496+
Pink Shell Beach Resort And Marina
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
$459+
Sunset Beach Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
$314+
Sanibel Island Beach Resort
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
$371+

Hiring a car in Sanibel

Expect to pay $1.50 per litre in Sanibel (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $17.90 and $23.87.

Expect to pay $1.50 per litre in Sanibel (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $17.90 and $23.87.