Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks

Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks

Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks
4.5
Speciality & Gift ShopsMarinasHistoric Sites
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
About
The Sponge Industry helped build a Greek Community that is now famous not only for the worlds finest sponges, but for some of the finest Greek Restaurants, Markets, and Bakeries in the Country.
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  • jbesson
    67 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A fun place to visit.
    It was very interesting seeing the sponge boats and learning about the sponges. The shops were fun and there are many options for dining. We went late evening, and it got dark very quickly so I would definitely go back earlier in the day to take it all in. Had an amazing dinner at the end of the dock at a place called the Rusty Bellies.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written November 2, 2023
  • Michelle K
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A day of fun in the sun!
    This place is extremely fun and family-friendly. For a day trip, there is plenty to see, kitschy shopping venues, the Sponge Factory and museum, and delightful boat tours with dolphin spotting and time collecting shells on the beach. The Greek food there is second to none and baked goods are out of this world. Take the family or just go as a couple but don't leave without buying a few sponges and goat's milk soap. You won't be sorry.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written November 15, 2023
  • Karen B
    Suwanee, Georgia4 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sweet shop and restaurant owners
    Friendly shop and restaurant owners. Would come again. Loved the Greek bakeries/gyros. Nice day trip. Pick up some picnic items for watching sunset at Sunset or Fred Howard beach after enjoying the little town.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 9, 2024
  • dpetrowske
    Belleville, Illinois161 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Love the Spongedocks
    This was my third visit to the sponge docks. I just love it. The atmosphere is what I imagine "old" Florida was like for tourists. You can stroll through gift shops, take some pictures, eat a Greek or other meal, and if you want take an excursion. On this trip we did not take any boat excursions just went through the shops, took pictures and enjoyed a meal at Hellas's. I will review Hella's separately. I just love all of the stores selling soap and other goods. There is a good variety of what you can purchase in the many shops. This time we did not go into the sponge store which shows the free video. If you have never been you should go see the video very interesting. We spent half a day just goofing off...it is a very relaxing place even tho busy.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 8, 2024
  • pc6746
    Indianapolis, Indiana5 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Family Learning Experience
    It was amazing to see all the sponges. To see how we get them and where they come from. It's a learning experience for young and old alike. Great place to take a stroll with the family and spend some quality time together.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 21, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,895 reviews
Excellent
1,441
Very good
1,009
Average
344
Poor
69
Terrible
32

Brett W
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
I grew up a little north of here and we used take our family boat out on the Gulf and travel south to Anclote Island and the Anclote river which leads into the sponge docks in Tarpon. One morning we were out early and came upon a group of the tour boats dumping sponges overboard that their divers would then "harvest" for tourists later in the day. No harm in a little white lie I guess. At one time sponges really were abundant in the local waters, but that was a long, long time ago. I still take friends there to visit on occasion. It is fun to hear the barkers yelling at people to purchase the "authentic" sponge diving tours, especially since we discovered the secret of the eternal "harvest!"
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rodavidrich
Royal Oak, MI114 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
The Sponge Docks are great fun, and while they are not a blockbuster attraction, they are worth visiting, and based on my experience, appreciation for the area grows on you after your first stroll down Dodecanese Street. They are touristy, with stores selling t-shirts, sweat shirts, and the required sponges, required because Tarpon Springs was once the sponge capital of the world. But the shops are often interesting, the Greek Restaurants are all worth visiting, either for the Greek food or the seafood, and several short boat excursions are available and well worth while. Commercial fishing and sponging boats still go out from here, sufficient to provide more than a hint of the atmosphere of a fishing port. The Greek connection is real, with occasional Greek conversations and accents heard from time to time as you walk down the street. Going around the corner and walking down Athens Street gives you a feel for Greece itself, especially as you get a block or two away from Dodecanese and pass a couple of cafes filled with Greek men. The atmosphere is lively during the day, and quiet by evening except in the major restaurants, where they often seem to be busy even when the street is quiet. The area is a collection of independent enterprises, and conveys underlying authenticity despite its touristy aspect, which is its charm as far as I am concerned. Everything I have mentioned is modest in price, including the restaurants, gift shops and boat excursions.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tesa Owens
Valparaiso, FL75 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
There is a lot of history in this area and Greek Culture. The parking is a bit expensive, I would recommend driving down through the middle of the area as the parking seemed to be less expensive further down. There are several restaurants and Hellas was packed, so get there early if this is on your list. Tip: buy some olive oil from the little grocery store on the side street (I think it was Hope Street) it is amazing.
Written June 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MangoLove
Cebu City, Philippines1,719 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Walking along Dodecanese Blvd, there are tons of shops and Greek restaurants. They dot both sides of the road which is just south of the river. There are lots of boats and options for river rides (about $16 per adult for an hour). Parking in most lots is $5 all day, although there are free parking lots and some street parking at either extreme of the road (which isn't too far to walk). The souvenir shops are plenty so feel free to compare what they have (and don't have) and their prices. This is a good fair weather activity.
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

offunspirit
Moneta, VA64 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We were staying in Clearwater but Tarpon Springs is only 30 min away. A nice drive if you go Alt 19 through Dunedin. The shops there are less expensive for the same type of merchandise found in Clearwater and Dunedin. A dolphin cruise is 1/2 the price as well.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

radx4
Ellicott City, MD2,189 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021
We visited Tarpon Springs on a recent trip to Florida. Tarpon Springs is a very cute historic village where natural sponges have been harvested for many decades. The town also has a significant Greek population, and as a result there are many Greek restaurants in the area. We had fun walking the streets and seeing the abundance of natural sponges.

Overall, though, there is not a lot to see and do. The village mostly consists of restaurants and gift shops. There is supposedly a "sponge museum", but it mostly consisted of a few small displays on the wall of gift shop.

Still, we had a fun time visiting Tarpon Springs, and would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a cute coastal village to visit in Florida.
Written April 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cherry_Wonderdog
New England4,745 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
There’s a lot of history here in Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks. It was fun for us to peruse the streets and meet a lot of the Greek locals whose ancestors immigrated and cultivated sponges for their livelihood. The streets were lined with little shops, some with music, many selling sponges and touristy knickknacks, but the entire area exuded ocean spirit that we found quite refreshing for an afternoon stroll. For dining, the choices were overwhelming. Many restaurants specialized in seafood, and many others – particularly a few streets away from the bay – in traditional Greek meals. Next time we come, we’ll be sure to visit one of them. Sure, there were a lot of people in town, but it comes with the territory. As Mark Twain and Cherry Wonderdog once commented on a riverboat crossing the Mississippi River – according to the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, later captured in "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, “If it weren’t special, there would be no one.”
Written April 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeanine S
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
This was a very educational place to visit. The family enjoyed learning the history of the area and the science of the sponge industry. It's a nice street to stroll down with plenty of shops and photo opportunities. There were a TON of cheap sea excursions too--dolphin cruises, sponge tours, etc. We are beach people so we did not partake. My kiddos were ready to leave after about 2 hours. So we left there and went to Sunset Beach. Also a great place!
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mrs. Romence
Grand Rapids, MI152 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
It is important to manage your expectations of Tarpon Springs, Florida. Yes, it is a place that has unique history, and yes, you will see a lot of sea sponges in shops. But, the downtown area is very small. You can walk up and down it in less than 15 minutes. Most of shops sell sponges (which is cool), but they also contain a lot of tourist-y cheap-o merchandise. The restaurants are losing the Greek feel to them, so many are starting to take on the brewery/pub vibes. Young children will not be overly impressed with the sponges or the downtown walk. I would suggest taking them to Aquarium instead. Overall, if you want to get a glimpse of the sea sponge industry with a Greek vibe and perhaps eat a meal then downtown Tarpon Springs is the place for you.
Written September 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Don
14 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021 • Friends
The sponge docks have lots of little shops and Greek restaurants. I went with several other adults. The shops were ok but that’s not really my thing. We did the boat tour where they take you out and show how they harvest the sponge. They had a diver that used a really old dive suit and went down and brought up a sponge. Was a neat and informative trip. I recommend checking it out if you have the time.
Written March 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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