Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Built by the Spanish beginning in 1672, this coquina-stone fortress is the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and anchors the entire waterfront. Re-enactors in period dress, cannon firings, and sweeping views of Matanzas Bay make it the city's most essential stop.
St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Climb all 219 steps of this 1874 lighthouse for a panoramic sweep of the coastline and the inlet stretching toward Nassau Sound. Below, researchers with the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) conduct live marine archaeology, making this as much a working science site as a landmark.
St. George Street & the Historic District. A pedestrian-only colonial roadbed first laid out in the 1700s, St. George Street runs from the Old City Gate to the Plaza de la Constitución and is flanked by original structures, faithful reconstructions, local shops, and cafes. Walking it is the most direct way to feel the 450-plus-year layered history of…
Lightner Museum. Housed in Henry Flagler's grand 1888 Hotel Alcazar — a Spanish Renaissance Revival masterpiece designed by the Carrère and Hastings firm — this museum presents Tiffany lamps, Victorian mechanical musical instruments, fine art, and natural history specimens all within gilded-age grandeur.
Historic Tours of Flagler College. The former Hotel Ponce de León (1888) holds the largest collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany stained-glass windows under one roof — more than 79 panels illuminate the dining hall alone. Guided tours run daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. through Flagler's Gilded Age masterpiece.
Anastasia State Park. More than 1,600 acres of unspoiled Atlantic beach, ancient coquina quarries, tidal marshes, and maritime hammock sit minutes from downtown, with kayak and paddleboard rentals, 139 campsites, and nesting sea turtles in season.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. Open since 1893 and accredited by the AZA, this is the only place on earth where visitors can see all 24 living species of crocodilian. The park also houses lemurs, macaws, and rare reptiles, with keeper talks and scheduled feedings throughout the day.
Ghost Tours of the Oldest City. Founded in 1565, St. Augustine has outlasted wars, fires, and plagues — and its haunted streets have spawned some of the country's most acclaimed walking ghost tours, rated among the best in America by USA Today. Several independent operators lead nightly tours past the Castillo, Huguenot Cemetery, and Old City Gates.
Top-rated tours & activities in St. Augustine
Medieval Torture Museum with Ghost Hunting and Tiny Art Gallery — 4.9★ (2,279 reviews)
Dolphin and Wildlife Adventure of St. Augustine — 4.9★ (1,000 reviews)
Red Boat Tours - Dolphin Odyssey and Sightseeing Tour — 4.9★ (369 reviews)
Dolphin, Manatee and SeaTurtle SUP Adventure Tour of St Augustine — 4.8★ (1,512 reviews)
Sunset Cruise of St. Augustine — 4.8★ (1,358 reviews)
St. Augustine's Wine, Cocktail and Food Experience — 5.0★ (1,395 reviews)
A Sparkling Nights of Lights Journey by Golf Cart — 5.0★ (39 reviews)
Medieval Torture Museum with Ghost Hunting and Tiny Art Gallery — 4.9★ (2,279 reviews)
Dolphin and Wildlife Adventure of St. Augustine — 4.9★ (1,000 reviews)
Red Boat Tours - Dolphin Odyssey and Sightseeing Tour — 4.9★ (369 reviews)
Dolphin, Manatee and SeaTurtle SUP Adventure Tour of St Augustine — 4.8★ (1,512 reviews)
Sunset Cruise of St. Augustine — 4.8★ (1,358 reviews)
St. Augustine's Wine, Cocktail and Food Experience — 5.0★ (1,395 reviews)
A Sparkling Nights of Lights Journey by Golf Cart — 5.0★ (39 reviews)
Corks & Forks Pairing Tour (St. Augustine, Strolling) — 4.9★ (783 reviews)