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Things to do

100+ things to do in Pensacola

Clear, simple ideas for Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Perdido ? grouped by category so you can plan fast.

Looking for today or this weekend? Start with beaches, history, family picks, food and drink, live music, and day trips below.

  • 100+ ideas
  • 11 categories
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By category

Pick a lane and go

Beaches, history, family, food, music, day trips, and more - curated, not random.

Beaches & water10 ideas

Gulf time

  • Swim and pier walk at Casino Beach.
  • Picnic at Opal Beach in Gulf Islands National Seashore.
  • Shell hunt along Fort Pickens shoreline at sunset.
  • Paddle Little Sabine Bay at sunrise.
  • Ride the Pensacola Bay City Ferry to Fort Pickens landing.
  • Surf small waves at Park East on breezy days.
  • Snorkel the nearshore reef at Park East or the jetties at Park West.
  • Fish from the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier.
  • Watch Blue Angels practice from the Fort Pickens beach.
  • Walk the dunes at Perdido Key State Park.
History & heritage10 ideas

Old Pensacola

  • Tour Historic Pensacola Village homes and museums.
  • Climb the Pensacola Lighthouse for Gulf and bay views.
  • Explore Fort Barrancas earthworks and overlooks.
  • Walk the batteries at Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island.
  • Visit the National Naval Aviation Museum exhibits.
  • Stroll St. Michael's Cemetery and its historic markers.
  • Visit the Chappie James Museum of Pensacola.
  • Browse the Pensacola Museum of History on Zaragoza Street.
  • Take a self-guided Seville Square walking tour.
  • See public art and plaques around Palafox Wharf.
Family & kids10 ideas

Kid-friendly

  • Hands-on play at Pensacola Children's Museum.
  • Ride the train and feed giraffes at Gulf Breeze Zoo.
  • Catch a Blue Wahoos game at Community Maritime Park.
  • Cool off at the splash pad at Maritime Park.
  • Climb and slide at Perdido Kid's Park.
  • Mini golf and go-karts at Sam's Fun City.
  • Beachfront mini golf at Tiki Island on Pensacola Beach.
  • Playgrounds and rentals at Bayview Park.
  • Tinker at the MESS Hall science museum.
  • Jump time at an indoor trampoline park on Nine Mile Road.
Outdoors & trails10 ideas

Fresh air

  • Hike the UWF West Campus Nature Trails.
  • Boardwalk to the bay at Tarkiln Bayou Preserve.
  • Bike the Pensacola Beach multi-use path.
  • Paddle or tube the Blackwater River.
  • Climb the tower views at Big Lagoon State Park.
  • Stair workout and bluff views at Bay Bluffs Park.
  • Kayak Coldwater Creek on a clear morning.
  • Bird along Gulf Islands National Seashore marshes.
  • Camp under stars at Fort Pickens campground.
  • Sunrise walk at Navarre Beach Marine Park.
Arts & culture10 ideas

Creative stops

  • See rotating exhibits at Pensacola Museum of Art.
  • Walk the contemporary shows at Artel Gallery.
  • Catch a show at the historic Saenger Theatre.
  • Hear live music at Vinyl Music Hall.
  • Watch glassblowing at First City Art Center.
  • Stroll Gallery Night on Palafox (monthly).
  • See a play at Pensacola Little Theatre.
  • Hear the Pensacola Symphony or Opera in season.
  • Photograph murals near Graffiti Bridge.
  • Drop into PSC or UWF student art shows.
Food & drink10 ideas

Eats & sips

  • Seafood run at Joe Patti's and a sunset cookout.
  • Order a bushwacker at a Pensacola Beach bar.
  • Slurp oysters on the dock at Peg Leg Pete's.
  • Do a Palafox coffee crawl from north to south.
  • Brewery hop Perfect Plain, Odd Colony, and Emerald Republic.
  • Brunch on Palafox before the farmers market.
  • Seafood baskets on the Quietwater Boardwalk.
  • Fried shrimp and hushpuppies at a waterfront shack.
  • Craft cocktails in Seville Quarter's courtyard.
  • Seasonal crawfish boil when the trucks roll in.
Events & festivals10 ideas

Mark your calendar

  • Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show in July.
  • Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show in November.
  • Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival in downtown parks.
  • Pensacola Seafood Festival each fall.
  • Mardi Gras parades downtown and on the beach.
  • Fiesta of Five Flags celebrations in June.
  • Pensacon pop culture convention in winter.
  • Pensacola Crawfish Festival in spring.
  • Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival on the island.
  • Gallery Night street festivals monthly on Palafox.
Nightlife & music10 ideas

After dark

  • Bar-hop the rooms at Seville Quarter.
  • Catch rooftop sunset drinks on Palafox.
  • Live bands on the Bamboo Willie's stage.
  • Jazz and soul at Five Sisters Blues Cafe.
  • Beachfront cocktails at Red Fish Blue Fish deck.
  • Line dancing or country night at downtown bars.
  • Comedy open-mic nights around downtown.
  • Karaoke at late-night beach bars.
  • Blues sets at Perdido Key beach bars.
  • Late dessert and coffee stops on Palafox.
Shopping & markets10 ideas

Shop local

  • Palafox Market on Saturday mornings.
  • Boutiques and galleries along Palafox Street.
  • Souvenir and surf shops on Quietwater Boardwalk.
  • Miles Antique Mall for treasure hunting.
  • Antique Row along Ninth Avenue.
  • Pick up spices and treats at Joe Patti's gourmet shop.
  • Grab picnic supplies at Apple Market neighborhood grocer.
  • Browse Cordova Mall for air-conditioned laps.
  • Seasonal farmers markets in Gulf Breeze and Perdido.
  • Artisan pop-ups during Gallery Night weekends.
Day trips & drives10 ideas

Short escapes

  • Swim and stroll Navarre Beach Marine Park.
  • Tube or paddle Coldwater or Blackwater Creek.
  • Walk the Fairhope, Alabama bayfront and shops.
  • Beach-hop to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.
  • Take the Mobile Bay Ferry to Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island.
  • Explore Blackwater River State Forest trails.
  • Visit the Wharf in Orange Beach for a concert.
  • Kayak the estuaries around Perdido River.
  • Birding and boardwalks at Weeks Bay Reserve.
  • Sunset on the pier at Navarre Beach.
Rainy day & indoor10 ideas

Stay dry

  • Spend a morning at the National Naval Aviation Museum.
  • Browse Pensacola Museum of Art and nearby galleries.
  • Catch a matinee at the Saenger or AMC Bayou.
  • Roll strikes at Cordova Lanes bowling.
  • Test an escape room with friends downtown.
  • Arcade and laser tag at a family fun center.
  • Read and recharge at Pensacola Public Library.
  • Indoor climbing at a local bouldering gym.
  • Practice putts at indoor mini golf.
  • Warm up with coffee and a bookshop browse.