Ybor City

Ybor City’s buildings are notable for their red brick facades and wrought iron balconies, and the area is one of only two National Historic Landmark districts in Florida. Dive into the city’s history and culture with a stop at the Ybor City Museum, then take a guided tour of a local cigar factory, and sample some of the neighborhood’s Cuban cuisine. Once the sun goes down, many local bars and restaurants offer live music.

• A streetcar, historic movie theater, and game arcade make Ybor City a hit with families.

• Wear comfortable walking shoes; this neighborhood is best explored on foot.

• Visitors who want to linger in Ybor City can find a range of accommodation options to suit just about any budget.

Ybor City is only a few minutes east of downtown Tampa. The neighborhood is bound by I-4 to the north, 22nd Street to the east, Adamo Drive to the south and Nebraska Avenue to the west. To reach the area via public transportation, take the TECO Line Streetcar from downtown Tampa, or take the number 5, number 8, and number 15 buses.

Ybor City has plenty to offer both during the day and in the evening, and the neighborhood is known as one of Florida's hottest night spots. Visit on a weekend to browse the wares at the Ybor City Saturday Market in Centennial Park.

Tampa is sometimes called Cigar City, and Ybor City is known as the “Cigar Capital of the World.” Two of the nation’s oldest cigar-making companies—Arturo Fuente and J.C. Newman—both operate from this neighborhood. Visitors curious about the neighborhood’s cigar culture can explore the wares at several shops and smoking lounges and also book factory tours, where you can see Cuban-born artisans roll some of the world’s finest cigars firsthand.

Yes, Ybor City is worth visiting if you’re in Tampa. The neighborhood feels like a historic little nook in a big modern city, with quirks you won’t find elsewhere. Think neighborhood chickens walking the sidewalks, Cuban art and history, fantastic food, and a buzzy nightlife scene.

There’s a wide choice of Ybor City walking tours, as many say that the best way to experience the neighborhood is by foot. Visitors to the area can choose from history tours that showcase Ybor’s cigar-manufacturing past or food tours that showcase Ybor’s signature bites, like the classic Cuba sandwich.

Although Ybor City feels like New Orleans, it’s not. So, no, you can’t walk with an open can or bottle of alcohol in Ybor City. The neighborhood is part of Tampa, and in Tampa, it’s against the law to have open containers—that includes alcohol—on the street.

In the late 1800s, Ybor City became a cigar manufacturing town. This led to large numbers of immigrants arriving to work in the world’s so-called Cigar Capital, and these people brought with them a vibrant mix of culture that’s still thriving in the neighborhood today.

Seventh Avenue is where life happens in Ybor City, and visiting the neighborhood will always have it on its list. Also known as La Setima, the street is home to most of the city’s cigar shops, along with cafes, nightclubs, and live music venues to party the night away.

Yes, Ybor City is walkable, and walking is often said to be the best way to experience this vibrant area of town. Most activity centers around the main thoroughfare of 7th Avenue, and the must-visits like Ybor City State Museum and the historic district are within a leisurely amble.