What to do in Gainesville, FL

Activities, attractions and tours

Gainesville featuring interior views
Gainesville which includes night scenes
Gainesville featuring a river or creek and kayaking or canoeing as well as an individual male
Gainesville featuring a statue or sculpture, interior views and art
Gainesville which includes markets, a festival and street scenes

Gainesville Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Gainesville has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Gainesville is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Gainesville to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Gainesville Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Gainesville.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Gainesville attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

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Recommended things to do in Gainesville

Number of things to do
1
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
The Hunt, an exciting cat-and-mouse game in Gainesville: CA $17
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Gainesville

Discover the most popular places to visit in Gainesville

A distant view of The University of Florida in the morning

University of Florida

4.5/5(5 reviews)

Take a campus tour or just explore the area around University of Florida, a top college in Gainesville. Stroll along the lakeside or attend a sporting event in the area.

University of Florida
At the Gators home opener with 90,000 of my closest friends. A football game at Florida Field is an incredible experience. Energy not to be missed. This is probably one of the greatest stadiums in college football.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

4.5/5(3 reviews)

Catch an event at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during your trip to Gainesville. Stroll along the lakeside or attend a sporting event in the area.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Peleides blue morpho butterfly

Florida Museum of Natural History

4.5/5(2 reviews)

You can spend an afternoon exploring the galleries in Florida Museum of Natural History during your trip to Gainesville. You can attend a sporting event while in the area.

Florida Museum of Natural History
2nd Place street with the Hippodrome State Theatre and businesses in downtown Gainesville, Florida, USA

Hippodrome State Theatre

You can enjoy a show at Hippodrome State Theatre during your stay in Gainesville. You can attend a sporting event while in the area.

Hippodrome State Theatre

Shands at the University of Florida

4.5/5(2 reviews)

Though Shands at the University of Florida might be what brings you to town, perhaps you'll have a chance to explore more of Gainesville while you are here.

Shands at the University of Florida

Gainesville Raceway

5/5(6 reviews)

Catch an event at Gainesville Raceway during your trip to Gainesville. Amble around the area's lakeside or attend a sporting event.

Gainesville Raceway

Oaks Mall

You can browse for the perfect souvenirs at Oaks Mall during your stay in Gainesville. You can attend a sporting event while in the area.

Oaks Mall

Sante Fe College

Explore the campus of Sante Fe College, during your trip to Gainesville. You can attend a sporting event while in the area.

Sante Fe College

North Florida Regional Medical Center

Though North Florida Regional Medical Center might be what brings you to town, perhaps you'll have a chance to explore more of Gainesville while you are here.

North Florida Regional Medical Center

Explore areas of Gainesville

Gainesville, Florida, USA Skyline

Downtown Gainesville

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Downtown Gainesville and surrounding area, you can visit Thomas Center and Hippodrome State Theatre.

Downtown Gainesville
Closeup of alligator back lying inside marsh swamp in Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Gainesville, Florida in sunlight

University Heights

While University Heights isn't home to many top sights, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and Hippodrome State Theatre are some notable places to visit nearby.

University Heights
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College Park

While College Park isn't home to many top sights, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and Stephen C. O'Connell Center are some notable places to visit nearby.

College Park
Southern live oak tree branches with sunburst through hanging Spanish moss in Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Florida and sunlight in background

Haile Plantation

If you're spending some time in Haile Plantation, Haile Village Center and Haile Plantation Golf and Country Club are top sights worth seeing.

Haile Plantation
Photo of Lake Alice and a portion of the Baughman Center on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville

Duckpond

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Duckpond and surrounding area, you can visit Thomas Center and Hippodrome State Theatre.

Duckpond
Drone photo University of Florida Gainesville

Innovation District

While there might not be top attractions in Innovation District, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

Innovation District

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Frequently asked questions

Is Gainesville worth visiting?
Renowned for its golfing and walking trails, finding fun things to do in Gainesville is a cinch. Make sure to add Florida Museum of Natural History to your itinerary when here.
How do I spend a day in Gainesville?
Florida Museum of Natural History and University of Florida Bat Houses are two excellent places to start your adventures. Be sure to explore the shopping and dining options in Gainesville while you're in town too.
What is the top tourist attraction in Gainesville?
Florida Museum of Natural History is one of the top tourist attractions in Gainesville and should feature high on every to-do list of the area.
Is three days enough to stay in Gainesville?
Three days in Gainesville is more than enough to visit the city's major attractions. Many guests stay for two days on average. Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida Bat Houses and Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art are among the most popular sights. Want to discover more? Stick around a while longer to visit nearby hotspots like Alachua.
Is Gainesville a walkable city?
That comes down to what you'd like to see and do in Gainesville. Several sights, like Florida Museum of Natural History and University of Florida Bat Houses, are reachable on foot. If you're up for a stroll around some of Gainesville's neighbourhoods, University Heights is 2 kilometres away from downtown, while Pleasant Street is 0.64 kilometres away from the centre and also within walking distance.
What are some activities to do in Gainesville with kids?
If you are after attractions and activities for all ages, have a look at these excellent ideas for what to do in Gainesville with kids.
What to do in Gainesville for adults?
Micanopy Cemetery is one of the top things to do in Gainesville. With lots of activities available, there's something here for everyone.
Are there free things to do in Gainesville?
One of the easiest ways to learn about free things to do in Gainesville is to speak with a local tour guide. You'll get insider views on vibrant neighbourhoods, parks and other top attractions you can visit without reaching into your pocket. Florida Museum of Natural History is one spot that doesn't have an admission fee.

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