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Florida, United States

St. Augustine

America's oldest city under millions of white lights; 3 nights for the forts, Flagler hotels and plaza. Below: 4 sights, 1 activity and 1 place to eat, plus how St. Augustine fits into a longer trip.

Plan St. Augustine with friendsBrowse 9 places
St. Augustine, Florida, United States
Places
9

4 See · 1 Do · 1 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

St. Augustine & Amelia Island

Best season
Late Nov – Jan

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

30°C / 86°F avg high

Coolest month
January

18°C / 64°F avg high

Wettest month
August

about 191 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in St. Augustine

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

4 sights worth building a day around in Historic Downtown.

  • Nights of Lights at Plaza de la Constitucion in St. AugustinePhoto: Kiran891 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Nights of Lights at Plaza de la Constitucion

    The town's central plaza, laid out in 1573, is the heart of Nights of Lights, with the oaks and gazebo strung in white lights.

    Tip Light-Up Night draws huge crowds; any weeknight later in the season is calmer.

    • Historic Downtown
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • After dark
  • Castillo de San Marcos in St. AugustinePhoto: Juliancolton · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Castillo de San Marcos

    Spanish coquina-stone fort completed in 1695, the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, on Matanzas Bay.

    Tip Tickets are valid for seven days; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

    • Historic Downtown
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning
  • Flagler College (Hotel Ponce de Leon) in St. AugustinePhoto: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Flagler College (Hotel Ponce de Leon)

    Henry Flagler's 1888 Spanish Renaissance hotel, now a college, with Tiffany glass and a gilded dining hall shown on guided tours.

    Tip Guided tours sell out on holiday weeks; reserve a time ahead.

    • Historic Downtown
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Afternoon
  • Lightner Museum in St. AugustinePhoto: Kiran891 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Lightner Museum

    Gilded Age collections in Flagler's former Hotel Alcazar, built around a palm courtyard and the hotel's old indoor pool.

    Tip Come back after dark to see the courtyard and towers outlined in Nights of Lights.

    • Historic Downtown
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Anastasia Island.

  • St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum in St. AugustinePhoto: Viktoriya Sorochuk · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum

    Black-and-white spiral lighthouse from 1874 on Anastasia Island; 219 steps lead to views over the bay and old town.

    • Anastasia Island
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning

Eat

Where we would book a table in St. Augustine in Colonial Quarter.

  • Columbia Restaurant in St. AugustinePhoto: Rob Briscoe · CC BY 2.0
    Eat

    Columbia Restaurant

    St. Augustine branch of Florida's oldest restaurant family, serving Spanish and Cuban dishes on St. George Street since 1983.

    Tip Order the 1905 Salad and a paella; reserve for holiday weekends.

    • Colonial Quarter
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in St. Augustine in Lincolnville.

  • St. Augustine Distillery in St. AugustinePhoto: Mjrmtg · CC0
    Drink

    St. Augustine Distillery

    Craft distillery in a restored 1907 ice plant, with free guided tours, tastings and a cocktail bar upstairs.

    Tip Tours are free but timed; book a slot online.

    • Lincolnville
    • $
    • 75 min
    • Afternoon

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in Colonial Quarter.

  • St. George Street in St. AugustinePhoto: Steve Shattuck · CC BY-SA 2.0
    Shop

    St. George Street

    Pedestrian street through the colonial quarter, lined with shops, cafes and reconstructed Spanish houses.

    Tip Walk it north to south and end at the plaza as the lights come on.

    • Colonial Quarter
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Late afternoon

Stay

1 place to stay we would book in Historic Downtown.

  • Casa Monica Resort & Spa in St. AugustinePhoto: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Stay

    Casa Monica Resort & Spa

    Moorish Revival hotel from 1888 facing the Lightner Museum, its towers outlined in white lights through the season.

    Tip Even if you stay elsewhere, walk through the lobby, decorated for the season.

    • Historic Downtown
    • $$$$

How to fit St. Augustine into a trip

St. Augustine is stop 1 of 2 on our St. Augustine & Amelia Island route. Follow it as-is or lift St. Augustine into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

St. Augustine month by month

Average daily highs run from 18°C / 64°F in January to 30°C / 86°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 191 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. St. Augustine weather and the best time to visit →

Near St. Augustine

8 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.

St. Augustine questions, answered

How many days do you need in St. Augustine?

Our route notes suggest 3 nights in St. Augustine. On our St. Augustine & Amelia Island route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 11 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is St. Augustine best known for?

America's oldest city under millions of white lights; 3 nights for the forts, Flagler hotels and plaza. Standouts on our list: Nights of Lights at Plaza de la Constitucion (The town's central plaza, laid out in 1573, is the heart of Nights of Lights, with the oaks and gazebo strung in white lights); Castillo de San Marcos (Spanish coquina-stone fort completed in 1695, the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, on Matanzas Bay); Flagler College (Hotel Ponce de Leon) (Henry Flagler's 1888 Spanish Renaissance hotel, now a college, with Tiffany glass and a gilded dining hall shown on guided tours).

When is the best time to visit St. Augustine?

Our St. Augustine & Amelia Island route is best Late Nov – Jan. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (30°C / 86°F), the coolest in January (18°C / 64°F) and the most rain in August (about 191 mm).

What are the best things to do in St. Augustine?

Start with Nights of Lights at Plaza de la Constitucion, Castillo de San Marcos, Flagler College (Hotel Ponce de Leon), Lightner Museum and St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 1 place to eat, 1 bar or café, 1 shop and 1 place to stay.

What is near St. Augustine?

The closest destinations in our guides are Jacksonville Beach (about 45 km / 28 mi), Downtown Jacksonville & Southbank (about 58 km / 36 mi) and Amelia Island (about 87 km / 54 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan St. Augustine with your crew

Open the St. Augustine & Amelia Island route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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