We were in Jacksonville (an hour north of St. Augustine) for a wedding and decided to head down to St. Augustine for a day to explore the oldest city in the US. It is an extremely walkable city with so much history, right on the coast, and has lots of fun stuff to do. It is a city that has so much to offer for a day.
This post will provide a St. Augustine day trip itinerary, tips on how to get around, what to do, where to eat and stay plus many more things that you can enjoy on your visit here.
When to visit St. Augustine
St. Augustine is a year-round destination. It boasts mild winters and hot summers. We visited St. Augustine in winter and the weather was perfect! It was chilly in the morning and sunny the whole day. It was not what I’d consider beach weather since it was in the 60s, but it was perfect for exploring.
In winter, you’ll see highs in the 60s and lows in the high 40s/low 50s. In the summer you’ll see the temperature climb up to the 90s with the lows in the 70s. Summer especially August and September is when St. Augustine gets the most rain. Summer in Florida is the rainy season, winter is the dry season.
Spring would be a great time to visit in order to get exploring in, the least amount of rain, and even a good time to visit the beach. Summer is the busiest time of the year as well so you’ll experience more crowds.
Where to stay in St. Augustine
How to get around St. Augustine
One of the best things about St. Augustine is that it is incredibly walkable! Getting to the city, however, can be a little harder. The closest airport is in Jacksonville (JAX) and that would require renting a car (or an incredibly expensive Uber ride). Once in the city then you won’t really need the car again.
Parking in the Old City is more challenging. There are limited street parking options as well as some parking garages with all-day charges. I’d highly recommend that you look into parking ahead of time or take an Uber/Lyft from your hotel into the Old City.
Another option to get around town (which is what we will be relying on in the itinerary below) is the trolley tour. The trolley tour costs $37.53 for a 1-day pass that allows for hop on and hop off an unlimited number of times. The trolley has 22 stops around town.
The pass also gives you admission to the St. Augustine History Museum and the St. Augustine Beach Bus. The bus takes you to alligator farm, the beach, and St. Augustine Lighthouse. All of which are found on Anastasia Island.
1 day in St. Augustine itinerary
Morning:
Start your morning with a stroll down St. George Street and find breakfast
St. George Street is a great place to explore in town. The street is full of charming souvenir shops and cafes. Additionally, the street has pleasing architecture to create a unique vibe. Along the road there’s the oldest wooden schoolhouse, so stop to check it out!
Some great places to check out for breakfast while you’re there include The Cuban Cafe & Baker, The Florida Cracker Cafe, or Back 40 Urban Cafe. Then head for a relaxing stroll and window shopping before heading over to the next activity on the itinerary.
Head Over to The Pirate Museum
With all the history might as well learn about the Pirates in Florida! Found right on St. George Street is the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum. It’s perfect for kids and adults. Step inside and go back in time to when the pirates ruled the high seas! Learn about Sir Francis Drake and other outlaws as they pillaged and plundered.
From here you’ll keep walking down to the Old City Gates before jumping onto the Trolley Tours!
Old City Gates
What was once the only entrance into St. Augustine, built in 1808 using coquina blocks. The gates were part of the old city wall for the city’s defense. Right now they stand at the end of St. George’s Street. As you stroll down the street after breakfast you’ll make it to the gates and the first hop-on stop for the Trolley Tour.
Trolley Tour
From here the trolley tour will take you on a 1.5-hour long tour with 21 additional stops that allow you to hop on and hop off. The trolley comes every 15 minutes. It’s up to you which stops you may want to hop off at. For the rest of the itinerary, we will be traveling via Trolley.
Castillo de San Marcos
After a 45 minute ride exploring the city, hop off at the Castillo de San Marcos. Arguably the most popular destination in St. Augustine. It is centrally located near many other great activities so if you don’t want to do the trolley tour, you can park near here and walk around to explore many sights nearby.
Casillo de San Marcos is one of the oldest masonry forts in the USA built by the Spanish in 1627. It is a star fort made with coquina which was brought by the nearby Anastasia Island. Coquina is a limestone of broken shells and sand, making it incredibly strong.
The fort is administered by the National Park Service. A free regular daily program is offered. Additionally, for a small charge, there are ranger-led tours, cannon firings, and weapons demonstrations. Entrance fees are $15 for adults and free for kids 15 and under.
Lunch
Here is a perfect time to break for lunch! There are many delicious lunch places near Castillo de San Marcos. Given the fact that you’re on the water, getting some seafood for lunch is a great idea! We don’t always go for a long sit-down lunch, but it’s hard not to want a full sit-down meal at the many great places near Castillo de San Marco.
Afternoon:
Plaza de la Constitución
From lunch walk over to Plaza de la Constitución. It is the center of downtown with many shops and restaurants. You likely had lunch right near here. Additionally, there are monuments, memorials, trolley stops, and even the coast. Reading the historical markers is a great way to learn more about St. Augustine’s great history. Finally, this is the center place for all the street fairs, festivals, and markets. It is truly the center of life.
Bridge of Lions
Right across from the Plaza de la Constitución is the Bridge of Lions. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, this bridge was built in the mid-1920s. It connects Anastasia Island to the mainland. The lion statues are exact replicas of the Medici lions outside Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy.
Back on the trolley
From here jump back onto the trolley! We will go through and finish the trolley tour. You’ll see the Fountain of Youth, the Old Jail, the Oldest House, the Colonial Quarter, and Aviles Street. From here we will hop off at the next stop for some more exploring.
Fountain of Youth
The most famous thing that St. Augustine is known for is the Fountain of Youth. Of course, it is important to come down and see this fountain and maybe regain a little youth along the way. It is definitely one of the most touristy attractions, but then again we are tourists here!
You can drink from the fountain. Learn some history about the colonization of Florida. See some peacocks, which are abundant in Florida. And even walk along the river. If you get hungry before the snack break there is a small cafe for meals and water.
The Old Jail
Down the street from the Fountain of Youth is the Old Jail Museum. The Old Jail was built in 1891 and held prisoners for over 60 years before closing. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places. There are many compelling tours such as this one led by experts to get a full history of this jail.
A popular spot for families to visit, you’ll get a glimpse of the cell blocks, gallows, and sheriff’s quarters. There will even be a close up view of the men & women’s quarters, maximum security, and where death-row prisoners were kept. The deputies are incredibly entertaining with their tales of this Florida jail along with the “most feared sheriff”- Joe Perry.
Explore Magnolia Drive
As an optional activity after the Fountain of Youth and the Old Jail, you can stroll down Magnolia Drive to enjoy the cute street and beautiful architecture. Another great street to walk down for shopping, restaurants, and overall enjoyment. I put it as optional given that the next stop will be a snack break and exploring another cobblestone road.
Back on the Trolley
Pick up the trolley again at stop #1 at the Old Jail. This will then finish up the loop for a final look at the different sights, monuments, and memorials throughout St. Augustine. You’ll get a glimpse of the ocean, the churches, and the Colonial Quarters.
Snack Break
Jump off the Trolley at stop 13 to walk down to Aviles Street. Along the way may I suggest some good snack spots to take on the go. It’s important to stay refreshed in Florida. Some popular spots are The Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops with tons of fun Popsicle flavors. Cousteau’s Waffle and Milkshake Bar go for either the Belgian waffles or the milkshakes (or both!). Mayday Ice Cream even has dairy-free options.
Explore Aviles Street
With your snack in hand head down Aviles Street. This cobblestone street has plenty of shops, stops, and restaurants. A great time to get yourself a little souvenir of your time in St. Augustine. From here there is free time to explore the nearby churches, Flagler College, or cross the bridge into Anastasia Island. Afterward, it’ll quickly become time for dinner before the day in St. Augustine comes to a close.
Night
Dinner
After some exploring it’s definitely time for dinner. Some great options are The Floridian, The Ice Plant, Columbia Restaurant, and River & Fort Restaurant & Rooftop Lounge. Either by going back to St. George’s Street for Columbia Restaurant or staying near Castillo San Marcos for the other options, you can’t go wrong. We enjoyed sitting by the water with some Southern fare at River & Fort.
Back to the Hotel
Either go for some night time exploring or head back to the hotel from here. We had a wedding the next morning so we headed back to get some sleep after a full day of exploring St. Augustine.
Below are some more options of tours or sights that you may want to add to your itinerary. There is so much to do that you could even expand your trip by a day to get some more fun stuff in.
Popular Tours in St. Augustine
Secrets of St Augustine Ghost Tours
This ghost tour is ideal for families to see the spookiest sites in St. Augustine. It is a combination of light-hearted fun with spine-tingling tales of the city’s past. With a costumed guide you will visit cemeteries, Old Fort, and other haunted locations.
As a small group tour space is limited to keep the atmosphere suitable for the ghost walk. You can rent ghost-spotting equipment for an additional $5. This will help you keep your eyes peeled for the restless souls in the cemeteries.
St. Augustine Historic City Walking Tour
History buffs rejoice! This unique historical walking tour through St. Augustine’s historic district will uncover the history of this old city from its founding to the early 1900s. The tour covers nearly two miles looping through Castillo de San Marcos National Monument to Flagler College and the Tolomato Cemetery.
Make sure to bring comfortable shoes for this walking tour. Since it is Florida you’ll want to have some water as well. It’s a great stroll along the streets of the Historic District to learn about all the interesting periods in St Augustine’s history.
Sunset Cruise of St. Augustine
See St. Augustine from a new perspective with this incredible sunset cruise. This scenic cruise includes views of Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, the Bridge of Lions, and St. Augustine Lighthouse. On-board there is a bar to sip some wine or beer.
Not to worry there are also family-friendly options! If you want the 21+ experience with a bar get tickets to the Osprey. If you want a family-friendly cruise select the Island Breeze.
Other things to do in St. Augustine:
Flagler College
Another iconic attraction next to Castillo de San Marcos is Flagler College. Initially opened as the Ponce de Leon Hotel in 1888 it is now a college. Aside from being absolutely gorgeous, Flagler College is full of history.
This college was absolutely revolutionary for its time. It was the first hotel to be constructed entirely of poured concrete. It is one of the first buildings in the US to be wired for electricity (40 years before the White House). Plus Thomas Edison installed the electricity! Finally, here you can find the largest private collection of Tiffany Stained Glass.
Naturally, all these things combined make for a stunning college campus tour. The tours are open to the public for $16 per person. Additionally, you’ll need to reserve the tour ahead of time. They take 1 hour and depart daily from the main lobby.
Huguenot Cemetery
Near the Gates of the city, there is a tiny street that leads you to Huguenot Cemetery. What makes this cemetery special is that it is the only cemetery that was built for Protestants in the area. Soon after it was built yellow fever came through St. Augustine and wiped out a large portion of the population.
Spanish Trail marker
The Old Spanish Trail is a 20th-century route that mimics the same trade route used by the Spanish conquistadores. This 400-year-old route takes you from San Diego to Florida. It follows the southern border crossing 8 states and 67 counties. While you won’t be able to do this whole trail now, you can see the final or starting (depending on your perspective) marker in St. Augustine.
St. Augustine Beach
Found on Anastasia Island is St. Augustine Beach. The bus to the beach is included in the trolley tour ticket! Might as well make the most of it and get some beach time! Since you’re in Florida you got to hit up the beach. Miami is not the only place with lovely beaches.
St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
While you’re hitting up the beach might as well see the Lighthouse and Maritime Museum. Both are on Anastasia Island as well. The lighthouse is 165 feet tall. At the top of the 219 steps is a 360-degree view of St. Augustine. There is an entrance fee for the lighthouse and museum.
FAQs about St. Augustine, Florida
Is 1 day in St. Augustine worth it?
Absolutely! There is so much to do and see that visiting St. Augustine is completely worth it. There are so many things to see and do, but it is not overwhelming for one day only. While you could stay longer, it is also a great pit stop along a Florida road trip. Additionally the city offers something to everyone especially families traveling together.
Why visit St. Augustine, Florida?
As one of the oldest cities in the country, it is incredible to see the history and modern world co-exist. Going to St. Augustine is like stepping into another world. Here you can truly experience the history of Florida and see how our country developed. There is so much incredible USA history. Additionally, there is a beach! Can’t beat the history, fun activities, shopping, and the beach!
How many days do you need to see St Augustine?
You need at least one full day in St. Augustine. If you really want to do absolutely everything then I’d say 2-3 days will let you do that at a more relaxed pace. The city doesn’t have enough to offer for more than 3 days. So after 3 days, I’d say look to go to Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, or head all the way down to Miami.
Final Thoughts About A Day in St. Augustine
St. Augustine is a great place to visit! Not only is it driving distance from many large cities in Florida, but it also offers so much to all its visitors. Between the history and beach, it is a great vacation spot, especially for families. Given its walkability it is a great city to easily explore. Hopefully, the itinerary gives you a good picture of some great and fun things to do in St. Augustine.
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