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Beach on anna Maria Island
Sarasota, Florida

Anna Maria Island and Bradenton holidays

Old-Florida charm, turquoise waters, and the kind of days that take their time

Holidays from £1325pp

Slip into flip-flops and follow the sunshine to Florida’s South Gulf Coast, where turquoise water, old-Florida charm, and an unhurried seaside pace set the tone. Explore Bradenton’s artsy energy and historic downtown, then head over to Anna Maria Island for sugar-white sands and easy, breezy coastal streets.

Kayak through mangroves, linger over fresh Gulf seafood, and end the day with a sunset that knows how to take its time. Bradenton and Anna Maria Island serve up Florida at its most effortlessly real.

Clock at anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island, at a glance

Seven sunny miles on Florida’s Gulf Coast, just west of Bradenton, Anna Maria Island is a postcard-pretty barrier island with award-winning beaches and an easy, unhurried feel. Expect turquoise water for swimming and snorkelling, dolphin-spotting trips, shell-strewn shores (yes, even fossilised shark teeth) and standout waterfront dining.

 

Made up of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, it blends colourful shops, coastal cafés and small-town charm from Pine Avenue and Gulf Drive to lively Bridge Street. Come for sunrise kayaking, a little fishing, and sunsets from the Anna Maria City Pier. Stay for the slower rhythm.

River walk

Downtown Bradenton, at a glance

Downtown Bradenton pairs easy riverfront living with a lively, creative streak. Along the Manatee River, the Bradenton Riverwalk is a 1.5-mile waterfront park made for a slow wander, with public art, green lawns, an amphitheatre, a skate park, a splash pad and wide-open views.

 

A few blocks away, the Village of the Arts brings colour in a walkable patchwork of restored 1920s and ’30s cottages, now filled with studios, galleries and independent eateries. Old Main Street ties it all together, leading to Memorial Pier and Pier 22 for waterfront dining with a front-row seat.

From airport to island, in under an hour

Once you’ve picked up your car, you’ll head south on I-275 over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, then take I-75 or US-41 towards Bradenton. From there, it’s a simple hop west to the coast, with bridges linking you straight onto Anna Maria Island. If you’re heading to the island first, allow a little extra time at weekends; those beach roads like to take things slowly, too.

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Essential Information for Anna Maria Island and Bradenton

  1. Time Zone

    UK - 5hrs

  2. Language

    American English

  3. Currency

    US Dollar $

  4. Flight information

    9-10 hrs direct

  1. Flight schedule

    Direct daily flight from London Heathrow to Tampa

  2. Do I need a visa?

    To travel to the USA, you will need an ESTA visa. Please make sure that you have this approved at least 3 days before you head off on holiday.

    Find out more about Travel Visas here »

  3. How do I get there?

    Anna Maria Island and Bradenton are refreshingly easy to reach from Tampa International Airport, around a 50-minute drive depending on traffic.

Highlights of Anna Maria Island and Bradenton

Sugar-white beaches, turquoise water and a Gulf Coast pace that feels beautifully unbothered. Expect dolphin-spotting boat trips, shell-strewn shores (yes, even fossilised shark teeth), and waterfront dining that’s worth arriving hungry for.

Beyond the beach, Bradenton brings the colour, with a creative downtown, riverfront strolls along the Riverwalk, and the cottage-lined Village of the Arts for galleries, studios and easy evenings out. Add mangroves for kayaking at sunrise and sunsets that linger on the horizon, and you’ve got Florida at its most effortlessly real.

anna Maria Island beach

Anna Maria Beach

Tucked up at the island’s northern tip, Anna Maria Beach is where the volume drops and the Gulf does the talking.

  • Calmer water and a more peaceful stretch of sand
  • Unhurried sunset views, best enjoyed with nothing on the agenda

It’s the kind of place you arrive for a quick dip and end up staying for the sunset.

Holmes Beach - family friendly

Holmes Beach:

Holmes Beach sits in the heart of the island, made for easy, sun-soaked days that suit everyone.

  • Soft white sand with shallow, family-friendly water
  • Great for a full-day set-up, with picnic spots and a relaxed, beachy buzz

It’s the kind of place you arrive for an hour and somehow stay until golden hour.

Couple holding hands on Bradenton beach

Bradenton Beach

Bradenton Beach brings a little more character to the coastline, with classic white sand and a town you’ll actually want to wander.

  • Coquina and Cortez Beach nearby, great for swimming, picnics and beachcombing.
  • Bridge Street for a wander, with shops, local stalls and an easy coastal buzz

Finish with a sunset stop, then let the evening roll in as slowly as the tide.

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