What’s So Special About St. Armands Circle?

St. Armands Circle sits in the center of John Ringling Boulevard on Lido Key. Named after one of seven brothers in a prominent family of traveling circus tycoons, the Circle is a hub of art, shopping, and food. John traveled frequently to Europe to glean inspiration for his business ventures. When building up what would become Lido Key, he commissioned statues inspired by the Renaissance art of Italy – weaving timelessness and divinity into a human form as the ancient Greeks did thousands of years ago. 

Getting to St. Armand’s Circle

St. Armand’s Circle is on Lido Key, an island neighboring Siesta Key. It’s visible from the Siesta Key Gulf coast on the north end. This wonderful destination is just a few minutes’ drives from any number of gorgeous Siesta Key beachside villas. There are many other options for getting around, including taxi, rental bike or even getting a boat.

The St. Armand’s Circle Association represents a wide range of local businesses that you can support on any visit to Lido Key. Their roster includes 138 merchants, everything from stores selling luxury goods, restaurants, and spas to accounting firms and real estate offices. The Circle is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. It is an accessible, family-friendly and pet-friendly locale. Besides the shopping and dining centers, there are plenty of walking paths, interesting buildings and natural sites to explore.

What’s the best way to see St. Armands Circle?

If you want to get a better sense of all there is to do here, it would be a good idea to take a tour. There are many unique St. Armands Circle tours which can all be booked online. It’s advisable to book these tours in advance, especially during the peak tourist season in the winter months. Once booked, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund in case any scheduling issues arise.

Here are some tours which offer the best ways to experience St. Armands Circle. They all let you see the area in an air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible trolley.

The City Sightseeing Tour (from $37.80) takes a fun and engaging look at the history, culture, and arts of the different people who have called this area home over the years. This should easily give you a lot of great ideas for sightseeing, including museums and heritage sites.

The Infamous Sarasota Happy Hour City Tour (from $39.20) is an adult-only that offers complimentary beer or wine tasting before hitting the road. It goes far and wide across downtown Sarasota and makes a stop in St. Armands Circle. See historic neighborhoods, learn about infamous local figures, and get a glance of the nightlife that you can check out on your own time.

The Savor St. Armands Food Tour (from $74.95) takes you on a 3-hour journey through the culinary scene of St. Armands Circle. Learn about the history of the area while making several restaurants stops to sample a diverse range of foods. The samples will easily be enough for lunch and your ticket covers the cost of the food.

Of course, if you want to get a full picture of all the area has to offer, you’ll want to get a different vantage point. Getting on the water is a fabulous way to see the area. Try paddleboarding in the calm waters of Sarasota Bay, or taking a kayak tour through the Lido Key mangroves. You can even try parasailing in Siesta Key for a bird’s eye view! There are also many boat rentals and fishing expeditions if you want to hit the open Gulf coast waters and get a great view of St. Armands Circle from afar! All these activities have regular bookings available online as well and will help you take full advantage of your trip.