Historical Charm and Amazing Food in America’s Oldest City St Augustine Florida
Updated May 29, 2025
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The reviews of the items in this article are based on my own opinions, and I only recommend products, tours, or accommodations that I have personally used or would use during my own travels. I received complimentary tickets for some tours, but all reviews and opinions are of my own. Disclosure policy.
Touring St Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, located on Florida’s northeastern coast, leads to lots of historical charm in this old city. This city is full of brick streets, centuries-old buildings, amazing restaurants, an historic old fort, and horse drawn carriage rides. Don’t miss the chance to climb to the top of the iconic lighthouse, where you will be awarded with panoramic views of the surrounding areas. This is one of the oldest cities in the nation making it a must visit when touring Florida.
You can easily spend a day exploring the historic streets of St Augustine, but to truly experience everything this charming city has to offer, I recommend staying for two to three days. This will give you enough time to enjoy the rich history, diverse food scene, and many of the local attractions from the Alligator Farm, or experiencing a ghost tour with US Ghost Adventures, visiting the St. Augustine’s Old Jail, or the beautiful Flagler College and more! This city is very walkable, or you can purchase a pass to ride the St Augustine Trolley which will stop at many of the attractions throughout St Augustine.
The first time we visited St Augustine we spent about nine hours in this quaint city and only experienced a few of the local attractions but we did enjoy the spectacular Christmas lights. The second time we spend three days there and I highly recommend you take the time to see more!
Planning on staying a few days to explore more of the city? Book your accommodations at booking.com or on VRBO to save money.
Parking: You can use the Historic Downtown parking facility (garage) that is across from the visitor’s center. Cost: $20 per entry per day from 7am to 5pm and $5 per entry between 5pm and 9pm. Address of parking facility: 1 Cordova Street, St Augustine. Parking garage hours: Open 24 hours a day 365 days a year
If you have a large vehicle such as mine (campervan, camper, bus, etc) I recommend you park in the open parking lot where we parked each day for free. The GPS address to this lot is 29.89807, -81.31906. (see pic below) Overnight parking: Is available for RV’s, large trailers, and tour buses in designated spots on Riberia Street (use above GPS). Overnight permits are $35 and can be purchased at the Historic Downtown Parking Facility business office. Office hours are 7am to 9pm.
Castillo de San Marcos
In 1672 ground was broke to begin the construction of the current Castillo de San Marcos to replace wooden forts previously standing in this spot for defense against the pirates which attacked the town in 1668. This national monument has a lot of history, and it is fun to imagine what it would have been like during the time this was built. We were able to explore the outside grounds and take in the history of this structure as we viewed the stones used to build this monument and the massive moats and areas for the cannons. Surrounded by the sea makes this a beautiful location.
Hours: Tours of the Castillo are open 9am to 5pm daily (closed for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas day). Outside grounds are open from 6:00 am to 12:00 am.
Self-Guided tour and demonstrations:
Self-guided tour, maps available at the fort or download Castillo’s Park app.
Historic Weapons Demonstrations available on Saturday and Sunday
Castillo de San Marcos Artillery Tour
Engage with park ranger or staff dressed in period clothing to learn more about the park’s history
Cost: There is a fee to visit the inside of Castillo, but the outside grounds are free to explore. $15 per person for ages 16 an up. 15 and under are free with an accompanying adult. National Park passes are accepted at this location. No cash accepted.
Parking: Onsite parking is available for $2.50 an hour or you can use the parking garage that is a block away.
Pets: Only allowed on the outside grounds and must be on a leash.
Water Tours
St Augustine Lighthouse
Take a long walk or drive to the St Augustine lighthouse. The walk is 2 miles one way (46 minutes) from the Castillo de San Marcos. You can choose to drive here first, complete the tour of the lighthouse, and then drive to the parking garage to explore the rest of the city if desired.
Visit the black-and-white striped lighthouse structure that stands 165 feet tall.
A watchtower was documented as far back as 1589, but the current lighthouse was built between 1871 and 1874. There are 219 spiraling steps that lead to the observation deck at the top of the lighthouse and several landings to stop at and rest on the way up to the observation deck. Once at the top the 360-degree view of St Augustine is absolutely spectacular! You can walk all the way around the lighthouse observation deck and take in the views as you can see for miles all around. It is windy at the top but so pretty.
Address: 100 Red Cox Dr, St. Augustine
Cost: $17.95 for adults, $12.95 for kids 12 and under and seniors. Children under 44” are not allowed in the lighthouse but may explore the grounds.
Tours & events: The St Augustine Lighthouse offers several tours and events for an additional fee. Find ghosts and sunset tours, kids summer camps, nature walks and more.
Hours: October to February 9am to 6:00pm daily and March to September 9am to 6:30pm daily (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) and includes FREE parking. The lighthouse tower may close during inclement weather.
I would definitely encourage you to take your family to a lighthouse to learn about its history. This lighthouse was first lit October 15, 1874. The Keepers’ House on the property is original and is open for self-guided tours. There are several exhibits and displays that will give insight into the keepers who once maintained the lighthouse.
The Tin Pickle eatery
After you finish visiting the lighthouse head to the gedunk to visit The Tin Pickle for a drink and snack. The WW II themed eatery offers sweet treats, hand crafted drinks, and specialty hot dogs.
Flagler College
Flagler College, located in the heart of St Augustine, is a private liberal arts college established in 1968. The campus is centered around the historic Ponce de Leon Hotel; a grand Spanish Renaissance-style hotel built in 1888 by Henry Flagler. This hotel was an exclusive resort in its day and is now a National Historic Landmark.
When visiting the area you can also visit the college and explore its rich history with a guided tour to learn more about the history of the hotel and its beautiful architecture. View the 68-foot domed ceiling and dining hall with 79 Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows.
Tours start at: 74 King Street, St Augustine.
Flagler College Campus tour tickets are $14 per person and can be purchased online.
Other city tours available
Enjoy a relaxing trip out on the water on this sightseeing boat tour. You’ll see highlights like the Bridge of Lions, Castillo de San Marcos, and National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, and you will learn the stories behind the sights from your captain’s narration.
Ideal for families, this ghost tour of St. Augustine’s spookiest sites combine light-hearted fun and offers legendary stories of the city’s past. You will visit many haunted locations to discover the little-known legends and vengeful spirits.
Shopping in St. Augustine
Walk through the historic city and take some time to shop at the multiple shops along St George Street. This area had an old-world charm about it with its brick streets and stacked buildings lined up together. There are plenty of shops to browse and to pick up a few small souvenirs, a new outfit, Christmas ornament and more. I was able to purchase a new Christmas ornament for our tree which has become a new tradition when traveling.
Find an old water wheel that was constructed in the 1880’s as a gristmill, the building next to it utilized the water wheel to harness waterpower for grinding grain into flour and was part of the Milltop Tavern. It was a unique addition to this historical area of St Augustine.
Oldest Wooden School House in the USA
The Oldest Wooden School House is located at 14 St George Street in St Augustine. It was built in the early 18th century, and you can find it listed in the 1716 tax records. This school house is built of red cedar and cypress and held together with wooden pegs and handmade nails. You can tour the preserved school house for a glimpse of American history.
Food on and near St George Street
St George Street and the surrounding areas are known for some great food options. You will have so many places to choose from that you will not go hungry, and you may eat at a few too many ice cream places if you love ice cream as much as we do. Even after visiting St Augustine on four different days, we still have not even come close to visiting all of the restaurants.
Many restaurants throughout St Augustine offer options from fine dining, casual BBQ, breakfast with the most amazing biscuits, and several ice cream shops.
We found some amazing places to eat while visiting St Augustine, check out my blog post:
St Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour
I was hesitant to spend the money on this Old Town trolley tour, but I do not regret it at all. The guide was so informative of the area, pointing out historical markers, and tips on visiting the city during our ride. We chose to ride almost the entire trip until we were dropped off near the Old Jail Museum. You can choose between a 1- or 2-day trolley pass and there are 22 locations to stop at throughout the city and lasts about 90-minutes. This is a hop-on hop-off tour so you can get off at any point and then get back on when you are ready. Tickets also give you access to the St Augustine History Museum by the Old Jail Museum. I highly recommend you take the Old Town trolley tour when you are visiting the area. See the map below to find the trolley route.
Hours: 9am to 4:30 daily. The trolley stops at each location about every 15-minutes. Holiday hours vary. Closed Christmas Day.
St Augustine Beach
Visiting St Augustine Beach is a must when visiting St Augustine. This beach offers white sandy beaches with a beautiful view of the ocean and surrounding St Johns County Ocean Pier. There are larger waves for the kids to enjoy and pier to walk on for a minimal fee.
To enjoy the Pier there is a $2 fee and children under 6 and seniors are free. Fishing is allowed off the pier for $6 for non-residents, and $4 for residents.
Parking: free parking is available at St Augustine Beach. Address: 350 A1A Beach Boulevard, St. Augustine Beach, Florida
Some areas of St. Augustine Beach can be accessed by 4x4 vehicles. Access to this area is from A Street, St Augustine. GPS coordinates 29.84463, -81.26562
Alligator Farm Zoological Park
When visiting St Augustine with kids you must make a point to visit the Alligator Farm Zoological Park that is an adventure for all wildlife enthusiasts. This park started in 1893 and is one of the oldest operating attractions. Here you will find 24 crocodile species, a variety of exotic birds, reptiles, lemurs, and sloths. You can enjoy the educational wildlife shows and interactive exhibits or take a thrilling ride on the zip-line high above the crocodiles. My son’s favorite part was being able to touch a snake after the show. We found this park enjoyable as we became mesmerized by the large number of crocodiles and enjoyed their bellowing calls to each other.
Address: 999 Anastasia Blvd, St Augustine
Hours: open every day from 9am to 5pm
Read more about our visit to Alligator Farm and Zoological Park
St Augustine Ripley’s Believe it or Not!
Visit St Augustine Ripley’s Believe it or Not! where you will find a museum full of oddities and strange collections.
Address: 19 San Marco Avenue, St Augustine.
Hours: Sunday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm
Parking is $5 an hour at this attraction. Another reason to buy the trolley tour as this is stop number 18 on the trolley map.
Magnolia Avenue
Our trolley ride took us down Magnolia Avenue where I recommend you stop either at the Fountain of Youth or before that so you can walk down this beautiful road lined with 100-year-old oak trees neatly arranged with their branches arching over the road making this iconic stop worth the time spent walking along this beautiful street. Close by you will find the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park where you can drink the legendary waters and discover the history of the area from the Timucua Indians to the Spanish Explorers.
Old City Jail Museum
Come visit the Old City Jail Museum where you will be captivated by the stories the “inmates” tell you as they give you a tour and you learn about the history of the jail’s past. Constructed in 1891 with funding from Henry Flager, who insisted the jail be moved so it wasn’t near his hotel, the jail operated until 1953 and now stands as a reminder of the old penal practices back then. You can take a guided tour, which I recommend, that is led by tour guides dressed as inmates as they take you through the men and women’s cells, the maximum-security area, and lead you to the gallows where executions took place for all to see. Hear stories of Sheriff Joe Perry, who is known for his very strict manner and his role in maintaining order in the jail. Despite the squalor living quarters of the prisoners, you will visit the meticulous and well cared for area where the sheriff lived as well. Find fun in this educational and immersive experience.
Address: 167 San Marco Ave, St Augustine and located at trolley stop number 1.
Hours: The tour lasts about 30-minutes and is open from 9am to 4:30pm daily. Hours vary on holidays and closed Christmas Day. Reservations are recommended but not required most days. Tours start every 15-minutes.
Free parking at this attraction.
Enjoy an After Dark Paranormal Experience at the Old Jail for an unbelievable experience
US Ghost Adventures Tour
During our trip to St Augustine, I joined a guided walking ghost tour with US Ghost Adventures. Since it was a walking tour we were guided through the dimly lit streets of America’s oldest city, where we learned about chilling tales of restless spirits, tragedies, and legends of the historical sites we visited. You will hear stories from haunted inns, family homes of the past, Spanish military hospitals, and other city haunted locations.
Our guide was very knowledgeable of the city’s history and allowed my youngest son to ask many questions along the way. We stopped at each haunted location so he could give us a chilling story of its history. Our guide, James, brought along an EMF Detector which would light up if a spirit was nearby allowing him the opportunity to try and engage with the spirits. It added a sense of excitement as we felt the presence of spirits trying to talk to us.
Hear stories of the historic 1914 Casablanca Inn which sits along the bayfront and is known to be one of the most haunted places in St Augustine. Hear about the Prohibition era bootlegging where a widow, Mrs. Bradshaw, signaled rumrunners with a lantern from the window letting them know it was safe to come ashore. You might see a sighting of her swinging her lantern as you walk by. Our guide told the story of a man gliding by on his boat who saw the lantern swinging, not realizing it was a spirit, so he stopped at the Inn for the night and during his stay he smelled gas, allowing the business owner to intervene before the place went into flames. Was it the widow, signaling for help?
When stopping at Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grill, learn about this restaurant's history that dates back to the 18th century. Learn about Catalina who lived here with her husband Joseph Xavier Ponce de Leon. Sadly, Catalina died shortly after reclaiming this location as her childhood home in 1784. You might also see the spirit of servant Bridget Barry, who lost her life when she re-entered the burning building to retrieve her belongings. Some say the spirit you see lingering in a white dress could be the spirit of Catalina or it could be Bridget. Do you dare to find out?
You will also hear the eerie story of Potter’s Wax Museum which is part of the historic Honors building. The story is told that female employees locking up the building at night could hear voices echoing through the halls. This site also served as a Catholic church and later an archaeologist, Dave, reportedly uncovered remains of priests and others buried beneath the structure which adds mystery to this location.
These are a few stories you might hear on your US Ghost Adventures tour. While there are plenty of ghost tours to choose from, this one stands out to me as it allows you to retrace the steps of the past through the shadowy streets of the nation's oldest city as you hear tales of the haunted past in an intimate and unforgettable experience.
Book US Ghost Adventure guided tour at this link and use promo code JENNIFER10 to get 10% off your tour in St Augustine.
Cathedral Basilica of St Augustine
Admire one of the oldest Catholic Churches in St Augustine and the oldest parish in the United States. This is an active church today and allows visitors from all over to stay for a service.
Address: 38 Cathedral Place, St Augustine
Mass daily at 7am. Other weekend hours apply.
Lightner Museum
Explore the Lightner Museum full of curated arts, architecture, history and more. Housed in the former Hotel Alcazar, which was built in 1888 by Heny Flagler, this offers a glimpse into America’s past. You can find decorative arts from the 19th and early 20th century, stained glass from Louis Comfort Tiffy, curiosities like shrunken heads and Egyptian mummies or lavish lifestyle antiques.
Address: 75 King Street, St Augustine
Hours: daily 9am to 5pm. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
Cost: adults $19, seniors, military and students $16, children (12-17 years) $12, under 12 free.
Christmas lights
We were lucky enough to visit St. Augustine during Christmas time and enjoyed driving through the streets to view the multiple Christmas lights. The theme is Nights of Lights. We drove through about a mile of lights which were really beautiful to look at and seeing the houses and businesses lit up along the streets was really magical. The weather was cooler at night during this time so bring a sweatshirt or light jacket.
The pictures don’t show the beauty of the Christmas lights. You have to see it for yourself to see the magic the lights bring to St Augustine during this time of year. I would recommend that if you are ever in Florida during December that you take a trip to St Augustine.
Enjoy Nights of Lights Private Golf Cart Tour up to 5 People
Accommodations in St Augustine
There are many options for accommodations when staying in St Augustine. From Bed & Breakfast options to adults-only retreats, to exquisite resorts. You will have plenty of options to choose from. Check out these three places to stay below and book your room NOW! Other accommodations can be found at booking.com or on VRBO.
This beautiful resort that dates back to 1888 is located in a historic area and is a 1-minute walk to Flagler College.
This Inn features balcony rooms, restaurant and bar overlooking the waters, and a 4-minute walk to Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Rumors of ghost stories might lurk in the air.
This Victorian style adults-only Inn provides complimentary breakfast and tea, coffee and wine throughout the day. You will find free parking and within walking distance to restaurants and shopping.
How many days should I spend in St Augustine?
Visiting St Augustine, one of the oldest cities in America, is like stepping into a living history museum filled with charm, character, in a beautiful coastal area. The atmosphere in St Augustine is wonderful and there is so much to see and do from shopping, food scene, tours, museums, the nearby beach and more. You would definitely need to spend more than one day to take in everything this beautiful old city has to offer. Stay a few days and enjoy the relaxing city as you stroll the brick streets or take a trolley ride throughout the city to get a unique view of the city. Here you will find an unforgettable experience making you want to return again.
Enjoy your journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I am a girl who loves to travel and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US.
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