As an old and storied city, Tampa is a great spot for planning a tour with history enthusiasts! Whether you’re exploring the streets of Ybor City or beating the Florida heat in one of Tampa’s many museums, you’ll find no shortage of historic sites, landmarks, and chances to learn.

Let us help you fill out your itinerary with our top choices listed below—and help you with your transportation between destinations! Our team can connect you with a Tampa charter bus rental or minibus rental that operates on your schedule, so everyone can explore the city’s history at the pace you set. Call 813-381-5064 to get started, and we’ll provide a personalized, no-obligation charter bus estimate within minutes.

A group of tourists consult a map in a historic city

How to Rent a Tampa Charter Bus for Your History Tour

It’s worth noting that in a city as historical as Tampa, you’ll have a lot of ground to cover if you want to take in everything. That’s where a Tampa bus rental can help! Our vast network of bus options is sure to have the perfect make and model of motorcoach to suit your needs—whether you’re a crowd of 12 in need of a zippy minibus transfer or a group of 100+ sightseers traversing the state in a couple of full-sized charter bus rentals. From ADA-compliant coach bus rentals for private trips to charter buses with TVs and a DVD player to keep Tampa field trip groups entertained on the road, just say the word and we’ll work with you to find the ideal ride.

Simply have your passenger count, list of pick-up and drop-off locations, and an idea of what amenities you need aboard your bus, and a member of our 24/7 reservation team can offer you a customized bus rental pricing plan within minutes when you call 813-381-5064.

And once you’ve booked your charter bus in Tampa, all that’s left is to see the sites!

Tampa Bay History Center

Address: 801 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602

Phone: 813-228-0097

To help orient your sightseers before a more in-depth tour of the city, consider making the Tampa Bay History Center the first stop on your tour. Here, visitors can explore three floors of exhibits that cover a wide range of Tampa’s past—from the cultures of local indigenous tribes to the tales of notorious pirates who sailed the Bay.

Groups of 10 or more can request custom guided tours of the exhibits by scheduling in advance through the History Center website. Depending on the type of group, you can even receive discounted admission for your visitors!

Charter Bus Tip: Food and drink are not allowed in the museum, so be sure to leave your snacks on your charter bus rental. Don’t worry—your bus driver will look after your belongings for the 2 to 3 hours it generally takes to make the most of the museum, and will be ready to whisk everyone away to the nearby Tampa RiverWalk for a post-tour stroll along the water.

Exterior of a historic building in Ybor City, Tampa

Ybor City Museum

Address: 1818 E 9th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605

Phone: 813-247-6323

Ybor City itself may be known as a Tampa LGBTQ+ nightlife hotspot, but it’s also a densely packed gold mine for history lovers. After you’ve marveled at the original cobblestone streets of this National Historic Landmark District—one of only three in Florida—consider a visit to the Ybor City Museum a must for your history buffs!

Located in what used to be Ferlita Bakery at the turn of the 20th century, the Ybor City Museum is dedicated to showcasing a lot of the elements that make this neighborhood special. Take a peak at the original bakery ovens before learning about the district’s rich cigar-making history in the casita next door—a little house restored to show the living conditions of a cigar worker in the early 1900s.

Groups of up to 60 people may request a tour of the museum. The park advises groups to contact Ybor City Museum State Park staff to schedule your visit and ensure a ranger is available to assist with your tour.

Tampa Baseball Museum

Address: 2003 N 19th St, Tampa, FL 33605

Phone: 813-400-2353

Traveling with sports fans as well as history buffs? Before you head to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, have your Raymond James Stadium bus rental swing by this hidden gem of a museum dedicated to Tampa’s 135 years of baseball heritage. The museum itself is housed in the childhood home of the city’s first MLB player and hall-of-famer Al Lopez, but visitors can learn about all aspects of Tampa baseball—from spring training to every big game that put the Tampa Bay Rays on the map.

Charter Bus Tip: Despite its small size and its locale in a historic district, the Tampa Baseball Museum is fully ADA-compliant. Book a bus rental in Tampa that offers a wheelchair lift and extra handrails, and your history fans with mobility aids can easily make the most of this unique museum!

Perry Harvey Sr. Park

Address: 1000 E Harrison St, Tampa, FL 33602

A history tour of Tampa isn’t complete without acknowledging the contributions of the city’s Black population through the decades—and this park is an excellent place to do so. Check out the green space’s four art pieces to learn more about The Scrub, Tampa’s oldest and largest African American neighborhood. From larger-than-life sculptures to beautiful mosaics, your stroll through Perry Harvey Sr. Park can teach your history enthusiasts about the neighborhood’s thriving radio and music scene in the 1930s and sit-in Civil Rights protests that took place in Tampa establishments throughout the 1950s.

Charter Bus Tip: Your charter bus can load and unload in the street parking spots along the park’s perimeter (available on a first-come, first-serve basis). Pack away your coolers and picnic lunches in your motorcoach’s luggage bay, and your group can enjoy an al fresco meal at one of the park’s many pavilions.

American Victory Ship and Mariner’s Memorial Museum

Address: 705 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Florida, 33602

Phone: 813-228-8766

For an up-close look at one of the handful of fully operational World War II ships, check out this floating museum recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. Before it docked in Tampa Bay, the SS American Victory patrolled the Pacific Theater and carried cargo between the States and South Asia through the Vietnam War. Groups of WWII buffs can receive discounted admission when you tour with 10 or more people, and school groups can even enjoy curated hour-long tours of the decks and living quarters.

The Tampa Theatre

Address: 711 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602

Phone: 813-274-8981

When this iconic movie theatre opened in 1926, it was the first commercial building in Tampa to have air conditioning—so needless to say, it became very popular amongst locals and visitors alike. Today, visitors can tour this historic venue and see much of the original construction and decor you would have then—including the rare Wurlitzer pipe organ, which is still played before movie screenings. The backstage tour highlights some of the allegedly haunted locations, the beautiful architecture, and much more. Groups of 10 or more are advised to reserve their tour spots in advance to ensure availability, though tickets can be purchased upon entry.

Charter Bus Tip: Planning to catch a performance or movie at the theatre? Navigating Downtown traffic can be tedious in multiple cars, so we recommend booking a Tampa minibus rental to keep all your patrons together and on time for the show! Your driver will handle all the logistics—including parking—so you’ll arrive free from stress and ready for your night at the theatre.

Exterior of the Henry B Plant Museum in Tampa

Henry B. Plant Museum

Address: 401 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606

Phone: 813-254-1891

This museum was once the crown jewel of Tampa’s resort culture—the lavish 511-room Tampa Bay Hotel, decorated in Moorish Revival style on what is now the University of Tampa campus. Come explore the 6-acre building’s exhibits, learn about the wealthy tourists who vacationed here, see the oldest still-working elevator in the U.S., and read up on the hotel’s role in the Spanish-American War.

In every month but November and December, the museum provides docent-led tours for groups of 10 or more students or scouts. Reserve your Henry B. Plant Museum visit at least two weeks ahead of your arrival by calling 813-258-7301 to ensure availability.

Ease Group Transportation for Tampa History Buffs Today

With so much to see and explore, the last thing your history-minded Tampa visitors will want to worry about is the transportation plan. Ensure everyone has a reliable and comfortable ride between landmarks and museums by letting the professional take the wheel! Tampa Charter Bus Company is here 24/7/365 to answer your transportation questions, walk you through available bus rental models, and offer you a free, no-obligation quote when you call 813-381-5064 today!