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. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Sanibel has to offer.

Activities & attractions in Sanibel

Where to Eat in Sanibel

If you’re looking for affordable options, Cielo (1244 Periwinkle Way) and Il Tesoro-Sanibel (751 Tarpon Bay Road) are great picks.

When to visit Sanibel

Sanibel in October
Estimated hotel price
$179
1 night at 3-star hotel
Sanibel in October
Estimated hotel price
$179
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. Sarasota Bradenton Intl is the most popular, with regular flights from Air Canada, United Airlines, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Sanibel departs from Chicago and takes around 2h 49m.

Car

Another option to get to Sanibel is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 150 miles from Sanibel. You’ll find branches of Fox and Hertz, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Sanibel using RedCoach or FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Sanibel takes 125 miles and will cost you around $46. From Fort Lauderdale, the ticket costs about $46 for a journey of 125 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. Sarasota Bradenton Intl is the most popular, with regular flights from Air Canada, United Airlines, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Sanibel departs from Chicago and takes around 2h 49m.

Car

Another option to get to Sanibel is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 150 miles from Sanibel. You’ll find branches of Fox and Hertz, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Sanibel using RedCoach or FlixBus. From Tampa, the bus ride to Sanibel takes 125 miles and will cost you around $46. From Fort Lauderdale, the ticket costs about $46 for a journey of 125 miles.

Airlines serving Sanibel

Lufthansa
Good (4,671 reviews)
KLM
Good (858 reviews)
SWISS
Good (929 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,498 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,610 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,301 reviews)
Air France
Good (979 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (477 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,940 reviews)
Emirates
Good (2,128 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,481 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,801 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (228 reviews)
Finnair
Good (879 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,166 reviews)
LOT
Good (684 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (917 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (832 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,593 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (715 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Sanibel

Most booked hotels in Sanibel

Island Inn
3 stars
Excellent (9, 117 reviews)
$389+
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ft Myers Beach-Sanibel Gateway
2 stars
Excellent (8.8, 829 reviews)
$134+
Diamondhead Beach Resort
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 489 reviews)
$288+
Sunset Beach Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 20 reviews)
$206+
The Lighthouse Resort Inn & Suites
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 16 reviews)
$185+
Latitude 26 Waterfront Boutique Resort - Fort Myers Beach
2 stars
Good (7.9, 1120 reviews)
$164+

Renting a car in Sanibel

Renting a car in Sanibel costs $35 per day, on average, or $140 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 25% cheaper than airport locations in Sanibel.

Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Sanibel (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99.

Renting a car in Sanibel costs $35 per day, on average, or $140 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 25% cheaper than airport locations in Sanibel.

Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Sanibel (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99.