Things to do in St. Augustine, Florida
- The city's street layout remains largely consistent with the 1573 Spanish 'Laws of the Indies' town planning ordinances.
- St. Augustine was under British control for 20 years between 1763 and 1784 before being returned to Spanish rule, which significantly influenced the city's architectural hybridity.
- The city houses the oldest wooden schoolhouse in the United States, dating back to the 18th century.
- During the Spanish period, the city was protected by a line of defense that ran across the peninsula, remnants of which can still be identified in city topography.
- St. Augustine remained a segregated city until the 1964 civil rights protests, which played a pivotal role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
About St. Augustine, Florida
Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, St. Augustine stands as the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the continental United States. The city is defined by its colonial Spanish architecture, preserved through centuries of shifting rule, and protected by massive stone fortifications like the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Visitors can explore local heritage at sites such as the Lightner Museum, housed in a former luxury hotel, or walk through the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. The city's geography, shaped by its coastal position near Anastasia State Park, provides a unique intersection of maritime history and modern ecological preservation.
Highlights of St. Augustine, Florida
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Historical places
Explore the oldest masonry fortress in the United States, constructed by the Spanish starting in 1672.
Museums
Climb the 219 steps of the lighthouse for an elevated view of the Atlantic coastline and the inlet.
Zoos
View every living crocodilian species on the planet at this specialized zoological park.
Parks
Experience natural quartz sand beaches and tidal marshes that define the local coastal ecosystem.
Museums
Visit the site of a 16th-century mission and explore the spring house associated with regional legends.
Museums
Tour the preserved 19th-century detention center to see the harsh conditions experienced by historical inmates.
Museums
View an extensive collection of 19th-century art and antiques housed inside a historic Gilded Age hotel building.
Temples
View the ornate interior of the oldest parish congregation in the continental United States.
Top things to do in St. Augustine, Florida
The 46 highest-rated places in St. Augustine, Florida, ranked by travellers.
1
Historical places
Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, constructed by the Spanish between 1...
2
Museums
The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum features a 165-foot tall tower constructed between 1871 and 1874 to repla...
3
Zoos
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is the only place in the world where visitors can view every recognized...
4
Parks
Anastasia State Park encompasses 1,600 acres of pristine beach, tidal marshes, and maritime hammocks on a barrier island...
5
Places of interest
Ripley's Believe It or Not! in St. Augustine is housed in the historic Warden Castle, a former private residence built i...
6
Museums
Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park marks the site of the 1565 landing of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, th...
7
Museums
The Old Jail Museum is a historic 1891 prison facility in St. Augustine that functioned as a county jail until 1953. Con...
8
Venues
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is a purpose-built outdoor venue located within Anastasia State Park, known for its integ...
9
Museums
The Medieval Torture Museum in St. Augustine is one of the largest interactive history museums in the United States, spe...
10
Museums
The Lightner Museum is housed in the former Hotel Alcazar, a Gilded Age resort commissioned by Henry Flagler and designe...
11
Museums
The St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum features one of the world's most authentic collections of pirate artifacts an...
12
Temples
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine serves as the seat of the Catholic Bishop of St. Augustine and is the oldest par...
13
Museums
Potter's Wax Museum is the oldest wax museum in the United States, originally established in 1947 by George L. Potter. I...
14
Beaches and ponds
Mickler's Landing is a public beach access point in Ponte Vedra Beach known for its unique orange-tinted coquina sand. T...
15
Places of interest
The Bridge of Lions is a double-leaf bascule bridge that connects downtown St. Augustine to Anastasia Island across the...
16
Parks
Frank Butler County Park East is a public beach access point located directly across from the Intracoastal Waterway in S...
17
Parks
Fort Mose Historic State Park commemorates the site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is n...
18
Zoos
The St. Augustine Aquarium offers interactive marine encounters, including a shark and ray touch tank and a snorkeling e...
19
Historical places
The Old Jail in St. Augustine, Florida, is an authentic 19th-century penal institution preserved as a historical site. C...
20
Places of interest
St. Augustine Wild Reserve is a non-profit sanctuary dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of exotic animals, prima...
21
Venues
Colonial Oak Music Park is an open-air venue situated directly within the historic core of St. Augustine under the canop...
22
Museums
The Spanish Military Hospital Museum is a reconstructed colonial-era facility that demonstrates 18th-century medical pra...
23
Museums
Villa Zorayda is a Gilded Age winter home modeled after the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, featuring a unique concre...
24
Parks
Nocatee Splash Waterpark is an exclusive, master-planned community aquatic facility accessible only to Nocatee residents...
25
Parks
Davis Park is a multi-purpose recreational facility located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, serving as a primary communit...
26
Museums
27
Temples
28
Museums
The Oldest House Museum Complex, managed by the St. Augustine Historical Society, contains the Gonzalez-Alvarez House, r...
29
Museums
30
Museums
Around St. Augustine, Florida
Worth the short trip out of the city.
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St. Augustine, Florida on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to St. Augustine, Florida
March through May offers the most comfortable weather for walking tours before the peak humidity and heat of the summer months arrive.
3 days, which provides enough time to cover the historic district, visit coastal parks, and explore regional maritime museums.
The historic district is highly walkable, while trolley tours and shuttles are commonly used to reach attractions slightly further from the city center.
Stay within the Historic District to be within walking distance of primary landmarks, or choose the beachside communities on Anastasia Island for a quieter atmosphere.
Mid-range; while standard tourist activities are accessible, prime historic hotels and seasonal dining can increase costs.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 46 curated attractions in and around St. Augustine, Florida, ranked by traveller ratings.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is the highest-rated place to visit in St. Augustine, Florida right now.
The largest category is museums, with 17 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Downtown Los Angeles, Bayonne, New Jersey, Washington, D.C..
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