Ringling Museum tickets 2026 at a glance
The Ringling is a large estate on the Sarasota mainland, at 5401 Bay Shore Road. It holds an art museum, a Circus Museum, the Bayfront Gardens and the Ca' d'Zan mansion on the bay. It is not the traveling Ringling Bros. circus and not Ringling College.
Museum admission covers the art museum, the Circus Museum and the gardens. The Ca' d'Zan mansion needs a separate ticket or a combination ticket. In 2026, museum admission is about $30 for adults, $27 for seniors 65 and over and $5 for children 6 to 17. Check current prices when you buy.
Our picks: Sarasota tours around the Ringling
Our take: the circus history tour is built for a Ringling day, since it covers the Indian Beach area around the museum and John Ringling's rail car. The trolley loop gives a broader view of downtown and passes the museum, and the costumed tour tells the Sarasota story through Mable Ringling on some days.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Circus history tour of Sarasota
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
A guided 90-minute drive through the story of Circus City, including the Indian Beach area around the Ringling Museum and John Ringling's rail car. Museum admission is extra.
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Guided sightseeing trolley loop through Sarasota
- Air-conditioned trolley
- Bottled water
A 90-minute loop through downtown neighbourhoods and St. Armands Circle that passes the Ringling Museum. Museum admission is extra.
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Costumed trolley tour of Sarasota's founding women
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
A costumed guide plays Mable Ringling, Marie Selby or Bertha Palmer on alternating tours through downtown Sarasota.
Check availability →Ringling and Sarasota tours
Guided visits, Sarasota sightseeing and bay cruises that fit around a museum day, with live prices and availability. Check what each option includes before you book.
Ringling Museum admission and ticket prices
Approximate prices for 2026. Check current prices when you buy. Children 5 and under have their own ticket category.
| Ticket | Approx. price 2026 | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Museum admission, adult | About $30 | Art museum, Circus Museum and gardens |
| Museum admission, senior 65+ | About $27 | Same as adult |
| Museum admission, child 6–17 | About $5 | Same as adult |
| Museum plus Ca' d'Zan first floor, adult | About $45 | Museum admission and the mansion |
| Museum plus Ca' d'Zan first floor, child 6–17 | About $20 | Museum admission and the mansion |
| Guided Uncovering tour of Ca' d'Zan | About $40, members about $15 | 60 to 70 minutes with a guide |
| Gardens only | About $5, under 17 free | Bayfront Gardens |
| Art After 5, Thursday | About $15 | Art museum and gardens, 17:00–20:00 |
For most first-time visitors the museum plus Ca' d'Zan ticket, about $45, is the one to choose. It gives you the art, the circus history and the bayfront mansion in one day. If you only want a walk with a view, the gardens ticket, about $5, is enough.
Ca' d'Zan: the mansion on the bay
Ca' d'Zan is the Venetian-Gothic house at the water's edge, with arched windows and a marble terrace facing the bay. The interior is a separate admission.
The combination ticket includes the first floor. The guided Uncovering tour takes 60 to 70 minutes and costs about $40 for adults, or about $15 for members. Which floors and rooms are open can change after restoration work, so check the current Ca' d'Zan schedule before you go.
Opening hours, free Mondays and discounts
Daily hours
Hours are 10:00–17:00 every day. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Thursday evening
On Thursdays the art museum and the gardens stay open from 17:00 to 20:00 for Art After 5, about $15. Do not count on the Circus Museum being open in the evening.
Free Mondays
Admission to the art museum, the gardens and the Glass Pavilion is free on Mondays. The Circus Museum and Ca' d'Zan are not. You register for free entry at the museum rather than booking a free ticket ahead.
Discounts
College students with ID pay about $5, Florida teachers about $10 and active US military about $15. SNAP, WIC and EBT cardholders enter free, with up to 4 people. Do not assume a discount for foreign student or teacher cards.
Getting to the Ringling from Siesta Key
The museum is on the mainland, so you leave the island by one of the two bridges: Siesta Drive in the north or Stickney Point Road in the south. The free Siesta Key trolley stays on the island, so plan on a car or a ride share. See getting to Siesta Key for the bridges and airport options.
Much of the estate is outdoors, so heat and summer rain affect the day. The Siesta Key weather page has the monthly numbers, and starting at opening time helps in the warm months.
Many visitors combine the Ringling with a second stop in Sarasota. The Sarasota guide covers the bayfront and the botanical gardens, and the St Armands Circle page covers shops and Lido Key on the way back to the beach. If you prefer the water, look at Siesta Key boat tours for a dolphin or sunset cruise.
A simple plan for your Ringling day
Museum admission is flexible, so you can shape the day around the weather.
Start outside
With the combination ticket, do the bayfront gardens and the Ca' d'Zan terrace first, while the day is cooler. The mansion tour is easier to enjoy before the afternoon heat.
Move inside
The art museum and the Circus Museum are both covered by museum admission, so you can take them at your own pace after lunch.
Pick your day
Monday is free for the art museum, the gardens and the Glass Pavilion. Thursday evening costs about $15 for Art After 5. On other days the full price applies.
Check the price at checkout
Prices change, so check the current price before you confirm. Hours and open rooms can change, so look at the current schedule too.
Ringling Museum: frequently asked questions
How much is a Ringling Museum ticket in 2026?
Museum admission is about $30 for adults, $27 for seniors 65 and over and $5 for children 6 to 17. Adding the first floor of Ca' d'Zan brings the adult price to about $45 and the child price to about $20. Check current prices when you buy.
Is Ca' d'Zan included in museum admission?
No. Museum admission covers the art museum, the Circus Museum and the gardens. The mansion interior needs the combination ticket or the guided Uncovering tour.
What are the Ringling Museum opening hours?
Daily from 10:00 to 17:00, with an evening on Thursdays from 17:00 to 20:00 for the art museum and the gardens only. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Is the Ringling Museum free on Mondays?
The art museum, the gardens and the Glass Pavilion are free on Mondays. The Circus Museum and Ca' d'Zan still need a ticket. Register for free entry at the museum.
Is the Ringling the same as the Ringling Bros. circus?
No. It is a museum estate with circus history, not the traveling circus, and it is also separate from Ringling College.
Is this the official Ringling Museum website?
No. This is an independent travel guide for Siesta Key and the area. It is not run by or connected with the museum, so book tickets and check current hours with the museum itself.