Things to do in Palm Beach / West Palm Beach, FL

Where to Stay

Palm Beach area hotels are pretty much divided into three main areas: Palm Beach, West Palm Beach and near the Palm Beach International airport. Palm Beach has your upscale hotels, with beautiful architecture, private beach access and attentive service. West Palm is where to stay if you don't need to be right on the beach, and want to have great nightlife options nearby. There are a few very respectable hotels near the Palm Beach airport so don't discount that area. You will be at most 10 minutes from the beach.

Caution: Be leery of hotels near Riviera Beach.

Hot Tips: The Hilton Palm Beach Airport is where to stay if you want to be close to the runways.

What to Eat

Palm Beach has a variety of great restaurants to choose from. On the island near/on Worth Avenue, and in the hotels, are top notch award-winning restaurants; the types that celebrities frequent and where dinner jackets are required. Over in West Palm, Clematis and City Place have an abundance of offerings that are more cost-effective and family-friendly. 

Be Sure to Sample: City Place During Nov-Dec. You can eat outside and watch fake snow fall to the ground.

Places to Party

Much like the dining scene, you can choose to go super classy (Palm Beach) or carefree (West Palm Beach) when sampling nightlife. West Palm Beach nightlife is dominated by Clematis Street and City Place. There you have the option to dance, drink or check out a comedy show. Depending on where you go, you could even find yourself on the karaoke stage.

Caution: There is a large age difference between the nighttime crowds on Palm Beach compared to West Palm.

Take It or Leave It: Hookah at Off-The-Hookah.

Where to Shop

Palm Beach/West Palm Beach does not lack for shopping options. Everywhere you turn, there's a mall, an outlet or a street filled with shops. Worth Avenue on Palm Beach is where to find most of your high-end shops. The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens might be the nicest mall on the east coast. Looking for a deal? The Palm Beach Outlets selection is incredibly overwhelming.

Caution: The Palm Beach Outlets can be crowded on weekends.

Take It or Leave It: Worth Avenue. You really need to be packing a fat wallet/purse to afford shopping here.