Things To Do On Sanibel Island
Sanibel is a small island that rewards slowing down. There is no high-rise, no boardwalk and no chain restaurant on it by local ordinance, and most of what there is to do here happens outdoors, early, and quietly. This is our guide to all of it, written from the beach at Island Inn.
What is Sanibel Island best known for?
Shelling. The island runs east to west rather than north to south, which means its beaches catch shells that the rest of Florida’s coast never sees – so reliably that the posture adopted while collecting them is known locally as the Sanibel Stoop. After shelling, the island is best known for its wildlife: roughly two-thirds of Sanibel is protected conservation land, most of it inside the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
What is there to do on Sanibel Island?
Shelling
Sanibel’s beaches catch more shells than almost anywhere in Florida, and low tide early in the morning is when to go. Our shelling guide covers where, when and what you’re allowed to keep.
Guided beach walks
Wednesdays, 9-10:30 a.m., free for Island Inn guests and led by SCCF’s Sanibel Sea School educators. Reserve at the front desk. Sea School experience.
Biking
About 25 miles of shared-use paths run the length of the island, and almost everything on this page is reachable by bike. Island Inn rents bikes on site; see biking on Sanibel for routes.
Wildlife & the Ding Darling Refuge
The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge covers more than 5,200 acres of mangroves, bay and marsh, and its Wildlife Drive is best in the first hours after opening. The drive is closed on Fridays. See Ding Darling and wildlife and estuary tours.
Beaches
Sanibel’s Gulf beaches differ more than you’d expect in shelling, parking and crowds. Our beach chooser compares them side by side.
Fishing
You can fish from the beach, the causeway or a charter boat; a Florida saltwater fishing license is required for most anglers. See fishing on Sanibel.
Boat & Gulf tours
Dolphin cruises, sunset sails and shelling trips to Cayo Costa leave from Sanibel and Captiva most days. Compare them on Sanibel Island boat tours.
Land tours
Guided land tours take in Sanibel’s lighthouse, historic buildings and museums. See our list of Sanibel Island land tours.
Golf
The island has two courses, The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club and The Sanctuary Golf Club. See our golf guide.
Arts, theater & galleries
BIG ARTS hosts concerts, theater and exhibitions, and a cluster of galleries sits along Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Road. See arts & entertainment on Sanibel.
CROW wildlife hospital
CROW is the island’s wildlife hospital, and its visitor education center shows how injured animals are treated and returned to the wild. See CROW.
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
It’s the only museum in the United States devoted to shells and mollusks, with a living gallery of aquariums. It’s open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See the Shell Museum.
History & the Historical Village
Restored pioneer buildings, including the island’s old schoolhouse, tell Sanibel’s story. The village is open Tuesday to Saturday during the season, from mid-October. See the Historical Museum & Village.
Sunsets
The Gulf beaches face the sunset, so the beach in front of Island Inn is as good a seat as any. See Sanibel sunsets for the best spots.
Sanibel Island Farmers Market
Every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., from the first Sunday in October to the last Sunday in May, at Sanibel City Hall, 800 Dunlop Road, with local produce and baked goods. Market details.
Shopping
Sanibel’s shops are almost all small and independent. Most are along Periwinkle Way, with a few more in Captiva’s village around Andy Rosse Lane. Expect island clothing, shell jewelry and local art rather than malls.
What is there to do on Sanibel for couples?
Sanibel suits couples better than almost anywhere on this coast, for the same reason it frustrates anyone looking for nightlife: very little happens loudly. A day that works well here is shelling at first light when the beach is empty, the Ding Darling wildlife drive before the heat, lunch somewhere on Periwinkle Way, and the sunset from the beach with something cold. Two people can do all of that without booking anything.
What is there to do on Sanibel when it rains?
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and Aquarium, the Sanibel Historical Village, CROW’s visitor education center, and the galleries on Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Road.
Island Inn Gives
The Island Inn, built in 1895, is the most established Inn on Sanibel and Captiva and as such, is steeped in island history. Supporting island charities was part of the mission that began with the Inn’s founders, the Matthews family. Today, we carry on this same tradition and support a range of island charities and local events.
Visitor Reviews
Excellent! Stayed at Island Inn for the first time and was very impressed. At check in you get a packet of information about hotel amenities, tide charts, businesses that are open, information about turtle nests, etc - very well organized. Walking through the front door of my room, I was greeted by a panoramic view of the beach. Room was very spacious with a bedroom, living area, full kitchen and a large screened in balcony. There are sliding doors so each area can be separated for privacy if desired. If it was pet friendly, it would be my go to place when I visit Sanibel once or twice a year. 
Things to Do on Sanibel Island FAQ
What are the top things to do on Sanibel Island?
Shelling at low tide, driving or biking Wildlife Drive at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, riding about 25 miles of bike paths, kayaking the mangroves at Tarpon Bay, fishing from the beach or with a charter, a dolphin or sunset boat tour, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, and watching the sunset from the Gulf beaches.
How many days do you need on Sanibel?
Three to four days gives you several low tides for shelling, a morning at Ding Darling, a bike day and a trip up to Captiva. A full week lets you settle into island time, which is what most returning guests come back for.
What are the best free things to do on Sanibel?
Shelling, watching the sunset, walking the grounds of the Sanibel Lighthouse and riding the island’s bike paths cost nothing. Wildlife Drive is $1 for walkers and cyclists. Beach parking lots are paid, so biking to the beach saves money too.
Is Sanibel Island open?
Yes. Sanibel’s beaches, bike paths, Ding Darling and most shops and restaurants are open. A few landmarks are still being rebuilt after Hurricane Ian; the Sanibel Fishing Pier, for example, is closed for repairs. See our list of open businesses on Sanibel for the latest.
