On one of my first visits to this waterfront town in Florida, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of history and nostalgia that flowed, and immediately felt myself wanting to learn more. I felt like I crossed continents in the span of a few miles. Tarpon Springs, Florida, often feels like a European coastal town—specifically Greek—for several reasons rooted in its history, culture, architecture, and community. It's the type of place where you can get a flaming hot saganaki on nearly every block while simultaneously learning about the sponging history. And while the town has shifted so much over the years, especially in terms of sponging, it still feels like it belongs in Europe, rather than the Gulf.
To start, Tarpon Springs is home to the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any U.S. city. This influence is more than cultural window dressing; it's embedded in the town’s identity and history. In the early 1900s, Greek sponge divers from the Dodecanese islands (like Kalymnos and Symi) immigrated here to work in the growing sponge industry. These immigrants brought their language, Orthodox faith, cuisine, and maritime traditions, which still define the city today. You’ll see Greek Orthodox churches, especially St. Nicholas Cathedral, which are modeled after Byzantine styles found in Greece or Cyprus.
Life in Tarpon Springs revolves around community, family, and tradition, key values in Mediterranean cultures. Unlike many parts of suburban America, there's a strong emphasis on heritage and preserving cultural identity. It's why you will feel transported as soon as you step onto the main street.
Tarpon Springs’ waterfront is centered around the historic Sponge Docks, which resemble a Mediterranean fishing village. Sponge diving was introduced in the 1890s and flourished due to the skills of the Greek divers. The docks are still active and surrounded by narrow streets, open-air markets, and Greek tavernas, giving it an old-world charm. The boats used for sponge diving are traditional in style, similar to the kaiki boats found in the Aegean.
From baklava to souvlaki, Greek cuisine is at the heart of Tarpon Springs. Local restaurants are often run by multi-generational Greek families, and you can tell as soon as you step through the doors. Greek music, dance, and festivals are a regular part of life here, much like you’d find in the Greek islands. I've visited a handful of restaurants in Tarpon Springs and indulged in platters of fresh hummus and hot out-of-the-oven pita bread, or falafel with homemade tzatziki. Pair that with some red wine and live music, and it's an entirely different Florida experience.
Tarpon Springs feels like it belongs in Europe, especially Greece, because it is essentially a transplanted Greek village. Its roots date back over a century to when sponge diving brought waves of Greek immigrants, and their descendants have kept the culture vividly alive through religion, architecture, festivals, and daily life. The town is a rare and authentic slice of Europe on the Gulf Coast.
Want to get to nearby Anclote Key Preserve? It's only a handful of miles off the coast of Tarpon Springs!