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St. Augustine is a charming coastal city that lies 40 miles south of Jacksonville in Florida’s St. Johns County. It is known as the Nation’s Oldest City, having been continuously occupied since 1565 when Spanish explorers settled in the area.
Its grand age means the city is packed with interesting historic sites, making it a fantastic getaway destination for history enthusiasts. Let’s take a look at 19 of the best things to do in St. Augustine so that you can create a fun itinerary for your upcoming visit.
1. Take a Historic Tour of Flagler College
Flagler College is a small liberal arts college set inside the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, which was built in 1888 by railroad magnate Henry Flagler. It was one of the most exclusive resorts in Florida in its heyday, and it remains one of the country’s finest Spanish Renaissance buildings.
Take a guided tour to admire the property’s exquisite architectural and design details, such as the domed ceiling in the grand lobby, the stained glass windows and hand-painted murals in the dining room, and the handmade Austrian crystal chandeliers in the Flagler Room.
2. Learn About St. Augustine’s Nautical History
St. Augustine Lighthouse was built in 1874 and you can climb its 219 steps for incredible views of the Atlantic coast. The on-site Maritime Museum shares insights into the rich history of this stretch of coastline.
You’ll learn about the earliest houses in the area, part of a native Timucuan village called Seloy, and how this peaceful community clashed with European explorers in the 16th century.
You’ll also discover how Juan Ponce de Leon’s 1513 expedition laid the foundations for a settlement here and how Spanish colonial watchtowers were constructed along the coast hundreds of years before St. Augustine Lighthouse was built.
3. Experience a Pirate’s Life
St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum is a fantastic attraction for kids who want a taste of a pirate’s life. It boasts a collection of more than 800 artifacts related to factual and fictional piracy from the 1600s to the present day. Much of the museum’s focus is on the 18th century, the Golden Age of Piracy.
4. Join a Floridian Wine Tasting Tour
San Sebastian Winery is located on King Street in the city’s historic downtown. Since its founding in 1996, this winery has been known as one of the best in Florida, particularly for its sparkling and dessert wines. However, it also produces Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Port, and Cream Sherry.
Winemaking in America dates back to the 16th century, and native Muscadine grapes produce some of San Sebastian’s most delicious wines. Take a tasting tour to sample some of the winery’s best products and learn more about the winemaking process.
5. Sample Local Artisanal Spirits
St. Augustine Distillery was founded by 20 families, all from the city, with the goal of leaving a better St. Augustine for future generations. The distillery produces award-winning artisanal bourbon, gin, rum, and vodka inside a restored ice plant that was originally built in 1917.
Take a guided tour to learn about the distillation process and discover what makes St. Augustine spirits so special.
6. Explore the Oddities of St. Augustine
If you love weird and wonderful attractions, be sure to pay a visit to Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, where a vast collection of unique oddities is on display in a 19th-century castle. Highlights include an exact replica of Michelangelo’s David and a matchstick replica of the International Space Station.
7. Wander Through the Colonial Quarter
The Colonial Quarter is a two-acre area of the city’s Historic District where you can lose yourself in 16th, 17th, and 18th-century St. Augustine history. You can take part in musket drills, climb a replica 17th-century-style watchtower to guard the city’s bayfront, and have dinner in an 18th-century-style British pub.
This attraction will help you understand how Spain and Great Britain influenced the culture and architecture of the St. Augustine we know and love today.
8. See the Origins of the Nation’s Oldest City
The Fountain of Youth Archaeology Park is the original settlement site of Juan Ponce de Leon and Pedro Menendez de Aviles. The foundations of Colonial America began here more than half a century before the arrival of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock.
The Fountain of Youth Park, which is set across 15 acres on the waterfront, lets you learn about St. Augustine’s early history. It also has exhibits related to the native Timucua people who lived in this region long before European settlers arrived.
9. Visit America’s Oldest Masonry Fort
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is the oldest masonry fort in the continental US. The Spanish built it in 1695 to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route from pirates.
You can guide yourself around the park, but look out for rangers and volunteers who have extensive knowledge of the fort’s history and are happy to answer questions. Formal educational presentations take place regularly, and you can catch musket and cannon demonstrations most weekends. For an epic view of Castillo de San Marcos, head to the Bridge of Lions at sunset.
10. Take a Ghost Tour in the Historic District
The age and tumultuous history of St. Augustine make it a prime location to go ghosthunting, and the best opportunities to experience the paranormal are in Downtown St. Augustine and the Historic District.
Join a ghost tour to explore the gravestones of Tolomato Cemetary, the old City Gates, and the Old Jail, all of which are famously haunted. You’ll also get to try the nighttime Chamber of Horrors experience in Potter’s Wax Museum, where you’ll hear of the gruesome execution of infamous pirate Andrew Ranson.
11. Relax on the Beach
A trip to coastal Florida wouldn’t be complete without at least one day at the beach, and the broad stretch of sand at St. Augustine Beach is a welcome break from the bustle of the city. There are excellent amenities here, including chair rentals, a sand volleyball court, a splash park, a beachside pavilion, and a long fishing pier.
For an even more peaceful experience, head to Vilano Beach, which has a relaxed atmosphere and offers incredible views of St. Augustine at sunset. Reach it by car via the A1A Scenic & Historic Byway or take the Dolphin Bay Scenic Shuttle.
12. Shop, Dine, and Learn on St. George Street
St. George Street is considered the heart of historic St. Augustine and is where you’ll find some of the city’s best restaurants, bars, art galleries, bakeries, boutique stores, and live music venues.
Take a self-guided walking tour of this street and the surrounding area to discover lots of fantastic attractions. Highlights include the Oldest House which dates back to the early 1600s, and the serene grounds of the Mission of Nombre de Dios. Top food and drink spots include:
- Authentic Polish food at Gaufre’s & Goods
- Gourmet loose teas, salts, and seasonings at Spice and Tea Exchange of St. Augustine
- Delicious wine tastings at Carrera Wine Cellar
13. Be Immersed in the Gilded Age at the Lightner Museum
The Lightner Museum is set inside the former Hotel Alcazar, an impressive Gilded Age resort commissioned by Henry Flagler. The building’s architecture is impressive enough, but the museum also has a wide array of historic and eclectic collections on display. Highlights include vintage typewriters, Victorian mechanical musical instruments, and beautiful American Brilliant cut glass.
14. Hike and Watch Wildlife in Anastasia State Park
Anastasia Island is the border island that lies just off St. Augustine’s coastline, and it’s home to the renowned St. Augustine Beach. The northern part of the island is designated as Anastasia State Park, and it’s relatively undisturbed which makes it a haven for wildlife. Go walking, camping, canoeing, or kayaking, and look out for wading birds in the waters and eagles and ospreys in the skies.
15. Meet St. Augustine Crocodiles and Alligators
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park lets you get a close look at one of Florida’s most renowned species — the alligator. Watch a feeding show to see these huge, powerful reptiles demolish their favorite snacks. The farm does crucial conservation work to support local populations of not just alligators but many other native species. Finish your visit by taking on the adrenaline-pumping Crocodile Crossing Zipline.
16. Study at the Oldest Wooden School House
The Oldest Wooden School House Historic Museum & Gardens is set within the Genopoly homestead that was established in the 1700s. The property and its gardens have been carefully preserved to show how Minorcan settlers lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The Old School House gives you a taste of what school life was like in the 1800s, and you can expect to leave the attraction with a diploma celebrating all you’ve learned during your visit.
17. See the Sights on an Old Town Trolley Tour
Old Town Trolley Tours offers some of the best sightseeing tours in St. Augustine. The friendly conductors share historical facts and fun trivia about the city as they drive their iconic orange and green trolleys.
The tours cover many of St. Augustine’s most popular attractions, including Castillo de San Marcos, the Fountain of Youth, St. Augustine History Museum, and the Spanish Military Hospital. They also operate a hop-on-hop-off service which is a convenient way to get around the sights at a pace that suits you. If you’ll be visiting during the Christmas season, take the Nights of Lights tour to see the city’s best festive light displays.
18. Discover History and Nature at Fort Matanzas
Fort Matanzas is a fortified Coquina watchtower that dates back to 1742. The southern approach of the St. Augustine Spanish military settlement was protected by Fort Matanzas, and now both the fort and 300 acres of surrounding coastal environment are protected from human development.
Check out the watchtower itself then take a stroll through the grounds to spot wildlife. The Marsh Trail cuts through wetlands that protect the inland area against flooding. The Nature Trail is a boardwalk that winds through the highest part of the park and provides fantastic views of the maritime forest.
19. Swim with Dolphins at Marineland
Marineland was the world’s first oceanarium when it opened in 1938, and it continues to delight guests by offering interactive experiences with marine animals. You have the chance to meet, train, or swim with bottlenose dolphins, paint a picture with the help of a tortoise, and see sand tiger sharks and sea turtles. This is a fantastic attraction for families.
What Will You Get Up To In St. Augustine?
This list is just the beginning of the fun activities and attractions in St. Augustine and you’re sure to find more sights once you arrive in this fascinating old city. Get started planning your sightseeing schedule to see how much you can fit into your St. Augustine vacation.
