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West Palm Resort Guide

Where to stay in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach

The Palm Beaches are spread out. Pick the area first, then the hotel: it decides whether your days start on the sand, on Clematis Street or at the cruise terminal.

Reviewed October 2026

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Hotels on the map

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At a glance

Area Best for Beach Nearby
Downtown West Palm Beach Restaurants and shops, arriving by train No; across the Intracoastal Waterway Clematis Street, the waterfront, Rosemary Square, Brightline and Tri-Rail stations
Palm Beach (the island) Classic oceanfront resorts and shopping Yes Worth Avenue, the town's public beach
Singer Island and Riviera Beach Quieter beaches, snorkeling, cruise departures Yes Ocean Reef Park, Phil Foster Park, Peanut Island, the Port of Palm Beach
Near the airport Short stays and early flights No President Donald J. Trump International Airport (formerly Palm Beach International)

Downtown West Palm Beach

Downtown sits on the mainland shore of the Intracoastal Waterway, looking across to the island of Palm Beach. Hotels here put you near Clematis Street, the waterfront and Rosemary Square, all stops on the free downtown shuttle, and downtown's restaurants and shops.

Getting around without a car is easy here. The city's free RideWPB service runs a Yellow Line shuttle every 15 minutes on a 15-stop route that includes the Brightline and Tri-Rail stations and City Hall, plus free on-demand rides booked through the Circuit app. Both trains stop downtown, so you can arrive from Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Orlando by rail. See getting there.

Choose downtown if you want to be close to restaurants and the trains, and don't mind driving or riding to the beach.

Palm Beach (the island)

Palm Beach is the barrier island across the Intracoastal from downtown. It's home to the area's best-known oceanfront resorts and to Worth Avenue, the upscale shopping street. The town's public beach is in the 300 block of South Ocean Boulevard, just north of Worth Avenue. Parking nearby can be hard to find.

Choose Palm Beach if you want to stay on the ocean at a full-service resort. See our resort list.

Singer Island and Riviera Beach

Riviera Beach, just north of West Palm Beach, includes the ocean-side Singer Island. It's a good base for beach and water days:

  • Ocean Reef Park on Singer Island has 700 feet of lifeguarded beach.
  • Phil Foster Park, by the Blue Heron Bridge, has a snorkel trail in 6 to 10 feet of water.
  • Peanut Island is reachable only by boat, with water taxis serving it.
  • The Port of Palm Beach cruise terminal is in Riviera Beach.

See beaches and the cruise port guide.

Choose Singer Island if you want the beach and snorkeling without the bustle, or you're taking a cruise.

Near the airport

The airport is in West Palm Beach, at 1000 James L. Turnage Blvd. Its official name changed on July 9, 2026, from Palm Beach International to President Donald J. Trump International Airport, and its airline code changed from PBI to DJT in August 2026. Airport-area hotels suit a one-night stay before an early flight.

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