In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Madeira Beach
Half-day to one full day: walk the beach, see the 9/11 memorial, eat at a seafood shack. Not a base unless you want a quiet beach town near St. Pete.
Madeira Beach is a small Gulf Coast town on a barrier island in Pinellas County, Florida. Its main draw is a wide public beach and a quiet pace. Most visitors come for a half-day or a single night, combining it with St. Pete Beach, Clearwater or Dunedin. The town has a 9/11 memorial in Causeway Park, a few casual restaurants and a brewery. It works as a low-key beach stop, not a destination on its own.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (heat, humidity, afternoon storms; peak crowds in Jul–Aug)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–200 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, Fire, Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
Get in
By air
- TPA · Tampa International Airport
- About 30–40 min drive via I-275 and FL-60; no direct public transport, rent a car or take a taxi/rideshare.
- PIE · St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport
- About 20 min drive; smaller airport with some budget carriers.
Typical fares
- Taxi/rideshare TPA → Madeira Beach
- About $40–60, 30–40 min
- Taxi/rideshare PIE → Madeira Beach
- About $25–35, 20 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
A car is the easiest way. Parking is available at the beach and along Gulf Boulevard. Biking is possible on flat roads. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) bus runs along Gulf Boulevard but is infrequent.
See and do
Known for
- Madeira Beach public beach
- 9/11 Memorial in Causeway Park
- Mad Beach Brewing Co.
- Seafood shacks along Gulf Boulevard
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| St. Pete Beach | Drive south on Gulf Boulevard, about 10 min | 15 min |
| Clearwater | Drive north on Gulf Boulevard, about 15 min | 20 min |
| Dunedin | Drive north on US-19 or Alt 19, about 25 min | 30 min |
| Tarpon Springs | Drive north on US-19, about 30 min | 35 min |
Sleep
- Gulf Boulevard
- The main road through town; most hotels and condos are here, within walking distance of the beach.
- Near John's Pass
- A short drive south; more dining and shopping options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much? | How much? |
| Check, please | Check, please |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Parking fills up by mid-morning on weekends and holidays.
- Rip currents can be strong; check the flag system at the beach.
- Sales tax is not included in listed prices; add about 7–8%.
- No public transport from the airport; arrange a rental car or rideshare.
Very safe for a beach town. Normal beach precautions: watch for rip currents, keep valuables out of sight in the car, and avoid walking alone on the beach after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Madeira Beach yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Madeira Beach public beach
- 9/11 Memorial in Causeway Park
- Mad Beach Brewing Co.
- Seafood shacks along Gulf Boulevard
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Madeira Beach, revision 5177317 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5177317
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Madeira Beach
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, Fire, Ambulance911
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/madeira-beach). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.