14 Must-See Attractions in ‌St. Augustine

Clock Icon 9 minutes read
Update Icon Mar 28, 2024

St. Augustine is considered the oldest city in the United States, having been consistently occupied since European explorers settled here in 1563. It’s a popular day-trip destination for vacationers in Jacksonville, which lies 40 miles north, but its historic landmarks and gorgeous architecture make it a fantastic vacation destination in its own right.

If you’re planning to visit St. Augustine, no matter if it’s for a day, a weekend, or longer, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to attractions. Here are just 14 of St. Augustine’s must-see sights to inspire your next visit.

1. St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

Photo Credit: James M. Chambers
  • Website: alligatorfarm.com
  • Address: 999 Anastasia Blvd, St. Augustine, FL
  • Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily

The St. Augustine Alligator Farm is home to a variety of native and exotic animals, including sloths, toucans, Komodo dragons, and alligators. It’s the ‘gators that are the star of the show, particularly at feeding time when visitors can appreciate the sheer size and power of these enormous lizards.

2. St. Augustine’s Forts

Gain insight into St. Augustine’s military history and explore some of its unspoiled stretches of nature when you visit the city’s historic forts.

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

  • Website: nps.gov/casa
  • Address: 11 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL
  • Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily

Castillo de San Marcos was constructed by the Spanish in the late 1600s to defend the Atlantic trade route and the wider region of Florida. It’s the US’s oldest masonry fort, and you can learn about it from knowledgeable park rangers and volunteers who man the fort during visiting hours. Look out for historic musket and cannon demos on weekends.

Fort Matanzas National Monument

  • Website: nps.gov/foma
  • Address: 8635 A1A S, St. Augustine, FL
  • Opening hours: 9 am – 5.30 pm daily

Fort Matanzas is a fortified Coquina watchtower that dates back to 1742. The Spanish military built it to defend their settlement from southern approaches. It lies on a 300-acre protected area that consists of maritime forest, salt marshes, and dunes. This is a fantastic place to spot wildlife and appreciate the natural environment of Florida’s Atlantic coast.

Fort Mose Historic State Park

Fort Mose was established in 1738 as a legally sanctioned settlement for free Africans who were fleeing slavery from English colonies. The interactive museum tells the stories of the people who risked their lives to secure their freedom.

The surrounding land provides good opportunities for viewing wildlife, and there are picnic areas, a birdwatching boardwalk, and a kayak launch, among other facilities.

3. St. Augustine Distillery

Photo Credit: Angela N Perryman

St. Augustine Distillery is an award-winning producer of rum, gin, bourbon, and vodka, and it’s operated by local families in a former ice plant. Take a self-guided tour or join a guided tour for a chance to sample some of the delicious spirits that are produced here.

4. St. Augustine’s Museums

Photo Credit: Cheri Alguire

There are some fascinating museums to explore in St. Augustine, and here are five of the best.

Lightner Museum

The Lightner Museum is housed in the former Alcazar Hotel, which is a grand Gilded Age resort created by railroad magnate Henry Flagler in the late 1800s.

It’s the perfect venue for the eclectic collections of Otto Lightner who founded the museum in 1948. You can expect to see beautiful fine and decorative art, charming Americana, and an array of natural history specimens while admiring the opulent property.

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum

Since 1871, St. Augustine Lighthouse has stood 165 feet above sea level to protect the coastline and guide vessels safely toward the Florida coast. Its history goes back even further, as this stretch of coastline was once home to wooden lookouts constructed by Spanish colonialists.

Visit the Maritime Museum to learn about the lighthouse, then climb its 219-step spiral staircase for exceptional views over Matanzas Bay, Anastasia Island, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Cartoonist Robert Ripley was an avid traveler and keen collector, and his St. Augustine Believe It or Not! Museum was the first of its kind. There’s a vast array of oddities and curiosities to admire here, including real shrunken heads, a replica of Michelangelo’s David, a wax replica of the tallest man in the world, and a wacky vortex tunnel.

The Pirate & Treasure Museum

Discover what it was like to live as a pirate in the renowned Port Royal in Jamaica during the Golden Age of Piracy. Authentic pirate artifacts and interactive technology come together to provide a swashbuckling experience that will help you learn more about the era’s most infamous real and fictitious pirates.

Villa Zorayda Museum

Villa Zorayda was built in 1883 to serve as a winter home for wealthy American hardware merchant Franklin W. Smith. It’s a fantastic example of opulent Gilded Age properties and Moorish Revival architecture. Inspired by Spain’s Alhambra Palace, the property’s grand appearance has allowed it to serve as a casino, a restaurant, and a speakeasy over the years.

5. Marineland Dolphin Adventure

  • Website: marineland.net
  • Address: 9600 N Ocean Shore Blvd, St. Augustine, FL

Marineland has been making memories for families since 1938, when it opened its doors as the world’s first oceanarium. Today, it operates as a dolphin conservation center. You can swim with dolphins, hang out with tortoises, and see sharks, sea turtles, and many other marine creatures. Don’t miss the Sea to Shore Aquarium, which showcases a huge range of native and tropical fish.

6. St Augustine’s Best Beaches

Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov

A visit to the Atlantic coast of Florida calls for lounging on the beach, so be sure to visit these two popular beaches.

St Augustine Beach

St. Augustine Beach has a large expanse of sand for sunbathing, and the waters are suitable for swimming, surfing, paddleboarding, and kiteboarding. The beachfront area is lined with ice cream shops and restaurants, and there’s a splash park, a sand volleyball court, and beach chair rental facilities.

Vilano Beach

If you want a quieter pace, head to Vilano Beach which is known for its long fishing pier that extends into the Tolomato River. Take a relaxing stroll along the Nature Boardwalk, which runs through wildlife-rich wetlands, and look out for its animal mosaic. You’ll find Art Deco-style mosaics and decorative elements throughout this laid-back beach community.

7. Nights of Lights Tour

National Geographic put St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights in the world’s top ten holiday light displays, so don’t miss it if you’re visiting during December or January. Downtown St. Augustine adopts a festive glow created by millions of white lights that adorn walls, rooftops, and sidewalks. Don’t miss the Bridge of Lions which is reflected beautifully in the water when it is illuminated.

8. Magnolia Avenue

Photo Credit: Andriy Blokhin

Be sure your city center walking tour incorporates Magnolia Avenue, a beautiful oak tree-lined street at the heart of St. Augustine. The trees were carefully planted some 100 years ago to create what is now an impressive arch along the entire avenue, where there’s also plenty of charming Spanish Colonial architecture to admire.

9. Anastasia State Park

Photo Credit: Tiffany Marie Green

Anastasia State Park takes up the northernmost portion of Anastasia Island and is a natural haven for wildlife. You can observe a huge variety of birds in this largely undisturbed area made up of wetlands, salt marches, and dunes. Look out for wild dolphins in the waters, and consider camping in one of the park’s 139 campsites.

10. Oldest Wooden School House

Photo Credit: Nick Fox

The Oldest Wooden School House is a part of the Genopoly Minorcan homestead, which was founded in the late 1700s. This is a fantastic opportunity to see what life was like for Minorcan settlers in St. Augustine and get a feel for typical school life in the 1800s.

11. Spanish Coquina Quarries

The Spanish Coquina Quarries in Anastasia State Park provided the building blocks for many of St. Augustine’s early buildings, including Fort Matanzas. Coquina is a type of limestone that consists of sand and mollusk shells and is very durable. A visit to the quarries is an opportunity to appreciate the ingenuity of the settlers who discovered this useful material.

12. Hop-On-Hop-Off Trolley Tour

A fun way to get around the Historic District’s main sights with the hop-on-hop-off service from Old Town Trolley Tours. A ticket covers you for reboarding at all 22 stops on the route and includes free admission to St. Augustine History Museum. More than 100 points of interest and landmarks are covered on the tour, including the Colonial Quarter, the Fountain of Youth, San Sebastian Winery, and Flagler College.

13. Ghosts & Gravestones Tour

Photo Credit: KLiK Photography

There are many historic tours to choose from in St. Augustine, but one of the most fun is the Ghosts and Gravestones Tour, which covers some of the most haunted locations in the historic Downtown area. The ghost tour drops by several locations known for paranormal activity, including the old City Gates, the Tolomoto Cemetary, the Old Jail, and Potter’s Wax Museum.

14. Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park

The Fountain of Youth is where Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon first landed in 1513. This is the true birthplace of Colonial America; the Pilgrims didn’t reach Plymouth Rock and Jamestown for another 55 and 42 years, respectively. Visiting is essential for understanding the city’s rich history.

Which St. Augustine Attractions Will You Visit?

Now you’re up to speed with the best attractions and historic sites that St. Augustine has to offer; you can get started planning your sightseeing itinerary. Which attractions do you plan to see when you visit the Nation’s Oldest City?