Top 18 Things To Do In Pensacola Beach, Florida

things to do in pensacola beach florida
Dulce
Dulce 
Updated
| 7 min read

Looking for a mild temperature, sugar white sand beaches and a clear crystal blue waters, a touch of fishing activity and nature’s gifts to the world? Then book your trip now to Pensacola Beach, Florida for your vacation. It is situated in the beautiful tip of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico which surely satisfy your water-splashing cravings. From lively and crowded activities to serene and completely tranquil stay, complete with safety-ensuring lifeguards of the beaches to finding peace, relaxation and a perfect view for your summer sunsets, this place is just perfect. There are many activities designed for you as you visit this majestic beach. Here is an exhaustive list of things to do in Pensacola Beach, Florida. These activities ensure that you are able to satisfy your water-splashing goals during summers.

1. Visit the Civil War citadel of Fort Pickens


Tour the infamous Civil War citadel of Fort Pickens and reminisce a rich historical piece of history. This citadel is a pentagonal type of fort, located at the island of Santa Rosa, Pensacola, Florida. It offers a lot of interesting and informational data about the Civil War including batteries or cannons all from the era of the war and is great for your photo ops to top up your vacation at Pensacola.

Fort Pickens

Address: 1400 Fort Pickens Rd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Website: Fort Pickens

Opening hours: 5am - 9pm (daily)

Price: 20 USD

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2. Enjoy a deep-sea fishing off the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier


Go deep-sea fishing off the gorgeous Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier, complete with a large variety of fishes and even sharks. You can choose whether you want to go fishing or purchase freshly caught fishes. Aside from fishing, experience a whole view of the sea and the beach itself. There are also sightings of dolphins playing in the waves, which will surely level up your beach experience at Pensacola.

Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier

Address: 2005, 41 Fort Pickens Rd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, United States

Website: Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier

Opening hours: 6am - 9pm (daily)

Price: 7.50 USD

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3. Enjoy shaved ice dessert at Duke's Hawaiian Ice


Cool off with shaved ices at Duke’s Hawaiian Ice. Enrich your summer-time activities or your vacation with exceptional shaved ice, topped with the choice of your favorite fruit blend and everyone’s all-time favorite - ice cream. Savor the colorful ice preparation just like every tourist at the beachside. This unique Hawaiian ice dessert is a long-time tradition combining shaved ice and different flavorings.

Duke's Hawaiian Ice

Address: 41 Fort Pickens Rd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Website: Duke’s Hawaiian Ice

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 6pm; Sun: 10am - 6pm

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4. Experience Caribbean-style dining at the Casino Beach Bar and Grill


Excite your tastebuds with Caribbean-style dining at the Casino Beach Bar and Grill. Being a modern and casual beachfront casino bar and grill restaurant this joint offers a variety of mouth-watering dishes suited to satisfy your hunger. They offer fresh seafood platters, a variety of meat dishes from their menu and also incorporates a vegan platter for those on a diet and also vegetarians out there.

Casino Beach Bar and Grill

Address: 41 Fort Pickens Rd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Website: Casino Beach Bar and Grill

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Sat: 10am - 10pm; Sun: 10am - 9pm

Price: 11 - 30 USD

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5. Surf the waves on a paddleboard rental from Innerlight Surf Shop

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


Surf the sea on a paddleboard rental from Innerlight Surf Shop. The rental shop offers a wider variety of surfing paddle boards and wave boards for all the surfers out there, both local and tourists. The shop not only provides rental services but also holds a rich history. It is perhaps the most-visited shop to learn about surfing and they look forward to living up to the goal of being ‘The Surfer’s Surf Shop’. So if you want to surf the waves off Pensacola then this surf shop is the one for you.

Innerlight Surf Shop

Address: 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Website: Innerlight Surf Shop

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 9am - 6pm; Fri - Sat: 9am - 7pm; Sun: 10am - 6pm

Price: 15 USD onwards

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6. A breathtaking adventure on Parsons Marine and Dolphin Cruises tour

Sun Rays
Source: Photo by Flickr user Matt Deavenport used under CC BY-ND 2.0

Cruise for dolphin sightings on a Parsons Marine and Dolphin Cruises tour. Founded in 2015, the Parsons Marine and Dolphin Cruises tour is located in the heart of the beach which offers a safe and tranquil cruise across the sea of Pensacola. The tour includes sight-seeing of the different sea creatures, specifically dolphins. The cruise lets you enjoy the marine species and the scenic view of Santa Rosa Bay and Escambia Bay.

Parsons Dolphin Cruises

Address: 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Website: Parsons Dolphin Cruises

Opening hours: 24/7

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7. Sign up for a class with Floridaze Sailing School and Charters

things to do in pensacola beach florida | sign up for a class with floridaze sailing school and charters
Source: instagram

Take a sailing class with Floridaze Sailing School and Charters and set sail with your own adventures at the sea of Pensacola. The school offers a lesson 101 and the basics of sea sailing, complete with knowledgeable crew and captain to increase your knowledge in the field of sailing the seas. The sailing class includes practical and written tests to attest your knowledge after the course.

Floridaze Sailing

Address: 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Website: Floridaze Sailing

Opening hours: 8am - 10pm (daily)

Price: 350 USD onwards

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8. Visit the 'indestructible' Pensacola Island Cross

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Visit the awe-inspiring Pensacola Island Cross. This cross holds a lot of historical value to all of the western countries not only to Pensacola, for it commemorates and celebrates the first religious service in the whole western world. For the pious, this place is a must-go and must be on the itinerary. The reason to keep it on your must-visit list is the surrounding view and a religious feeling that it generates whenever tourists or locals visit the indestructible cross.

Pensacola Island Cross

Address: Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

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9. Dig into a sea-food platter at the Red Fish Blue Fish

Red Fish Blue Fish Restaurant
Source: Photo by Flickr user David Henderson used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Savor fresh seafood platters and get the feeling and taste of southern flare only here at Red Fish Blue Fish restaurant. Overlooking the majestic and picturesque view of Santa Rosa Sound, the view is topped with the simple food made using the freshest local ingredients. Aside from the mouth-watering dishes on their menu, they also offer fun lawn games as you wait for your order.

Red Fish Blue Fish

Address: 5 Via De Luna Dr, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Website: Red Fish Blue Fish

Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)

Price: 11 - 30 USD

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10. Experience a musical concert at the vibrant Gulfside Pavilion

things to do in pensacola beach florida | experience a musical concert at the vibrant gulfside pavilion
Source: instagram

Enjoy a music concert at the vibrant Gulfside Pavilion. This pavilion is an open ground for every tourist in Pensacola Beach and is located on the Casino Beach. Gulfside Pavilion offers a wide variety of band performances for free. If you are looking for a jamming concert by the beach then this place is a must visit.

Gulfside Pavilion

Address: 20 Casino Beach Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Opening hours: Apr - Oct: Tue: 7pm onwards

Price: Free

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11. Gaze at the starry night sky from Pensacola Beach

things to do in pensacola beach florida | gaze at the starry night sky from pensacola beach
Source: instagram

Go stargazing on the cool sands of Pensacola Beach, experience a night sky full of twinkling stars and the different constellations. There is an association named: Escambia Amateur Astronomers’ Association offers a free stargazing activity and lets you experience a close-up view of the cosmos using the telescope for a whole new experience. This is a perfect activity for the tourists who wish to view such majestic scenery offered by the cosmos.

Escambia Amateur Astronomers’ Association

Address: Dept. of Physical Sciences (Pensacola Jr. College) at 1000 College Bvd.

Website: [Escambia Amateur Astronomers’ Association(http://www.eaaa.net)

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 7pm - 12am

Price: Free

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12. Shop for hip beachwear at Geronimo's Outpost


Make your purchases at Geronimo’s Outpost. Not only that they sell swim wear, but they also sell a variety of souvenirs good for children to adults. The store offers art, souvenir, gift, and apparel, the one that draws more tourists are the different designs and arts, made by local artists. The artists and craftsmen are specialized in making such curio and ensure that you take home something unique and reminisces of the beach.

Geronimo's Outpost

Address: 69 Via De Luna Dr, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA

Website: Geronimo’s Outpost

Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (daily)

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13. Spot coastal seabirds along the Pensacola Beach Eco-Trail


Enjoy the seabird encounter by the beach. There is more to sand than what Pensacola Beach can offer, the different coastal birds flocking around the beach. The Pensacola Beach Eco-Trail showcases the unique and healthy ecology of nature’s gift. This is great for the tourist who is looking for migratory and local birds. There are also trails and tracks left by the birds, turtles, and crabs that walk, jump and crawl into the sand. Such sighting might pique your interest.

Pensacola Beach Eco-Trail

Address: 7 Casino Beach Boardwalk, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Website: Pensacola Beach Eco-Trail

Opening hours: 10am - 12am (daily)

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14. Explore art at the Luna Fine Art Gallery


Visit the thought-provoking Luna Fine Art Gallery that provides an exhibiting place for local and regional artists. The gallery aims to provide visitors with an environment with different art mediums and styles. They feature all local and global artists who wish to display their artworks. This museum is open for all who wishes to explore the creative side of local citizens of Pensacola.

Luna Fine Art Gallery

Address: 12 Via De Luna Dr, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Website: Luna Fine Art Gallery

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15. Pay a visit to Yancy Bailey Spencer III memorial


Honor a Gulf Coast surfing legend at the Yancy Bailey Spencer III memorial. This memorial is dedicated to surfing legend Yancy Bailey Spencer III who put the island of Pensacola and Florida to the map of surfing. This memorial is a tribute to his achievements and for making Pensacola shine in the world of surfing. A life-sized bronze statue was also given in memory of Spencer located on Casino Beach lawn at Pensacola Beach: Yancy III Memorial Monument. Also, experience an annual celebration in memory of the world hall of famer in surfing.

Yancy Bailey Spencer III memorial

Address: Casino Beach lawn, Pensacola Beach

Opening hours: 24/7

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16. Take a snap at the gigantic Pensacola Beach Ball Tower


Snap a pic with the gigantic Pensacola Beach Ball Tower, essential for your instagrammable posts. This ball tower was domestic water storage back in history, but now it is just a landmark of Pensacola and considered as a city treasure. Complete your visit with this iconic Pensacola sighting.

Pensacola Beach Ball Tower

Address: Fort Pickens Rd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Website: Pensacola Beach Ball Tower

Opening hours: 24/7

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17. Pamper your skin at the Fusion Spa Salon


Relax and get pampered at Fusion Spa Salon. This spa-salon lets you enjoy a wide variety of services from massage to hair care and treatment. You will surely get back not because of the services they offer but the atmosphere of the spa-salon that will surely satisfy the soul that needs pampering too.

Fusion Spa Salon Pensacola Beach

Address: 5 Via De Luna Dr, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Website: Fusion Spa Salon Pensacola Beach

Opening hours: Mon & Wed: 10am - 5pm; Tue & Thu: 9am - 7pm; Fri - Sat: 8am - 7pm; Sun: 11am - 6pm

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18. Taste the signature dessert cocktail: Bushwacker


Wash down your breakfast or lunch with a signature dessert cocktail while enjoying the heat of the sun, laying on the sand and hearing the waves crashing. This cocktail desert is good to beat the summer heat while strolling or just simply relaxing by the beach. The cocktail is a mixture and combination of whiskey and milkshake topped with ice cream and coconut milk. This beverage is a must-try cocktail desert, and definitely a unique product of the beach of Pensacola.

Sandshaker Lounge

Address: 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561, USA

Website: Sandshaker Lounge

Opening hours: 10am - 3am (daily)

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Beat the heat at the Pensacola Beach

Pensacola Beach (9030187457)
Source: Photo by user Tomás Del Coro used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Beat the summer heat at this beach that offers a lot of activities for you and your family while enjoying the waves and the delightfully fine-grained sand. So what are you waiting for? Prepare your summer bod and your sunblocks for there is an amazing beach experience awaiting in Pensacola. Here is the listing of the things to do In Pensacola Beach, Florida.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Dulce Tandog is a 29-year-old writer from the beautiful city of Naga.

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