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St. Augustine is in Northeast Florida, just 30 minutes south of Jacksonville.

Understand

St. Augustine Lighthouse

St Augustine is a small jewel of a city on the east coast, full of romantic ambiance and old world charm. It is best known for its remarkable historic streets, Spanish style architecture, and panoramic bay. Do take time to wander down St. George street, a promenade of sorts, and enjoy the art galleries, quaint shops, and restaurants.

History

St. Augustine is best known as the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States. Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon, claimed the land now known as Florida in the name of Spain on March 27, 1513. Originally the land was named La Florida, which means "Land of Flowers." The city was founded by Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565.

Climate

St. Augustine has a humid subtropical climate, with mild weather during winters and hot weather during summers. High temperatures average 64 to 91 °F (18-33 °C) throughout the year. High heat indices are not uncommon for the summer months in the St. Augustine area. High temperatures can reach mid to high 90s with heat index ranges of 105-115 °F. It is common for daily thunderstorms to erupt during a standard summer afternoon. These are caused by the heating of the land and water, combined with extremely high humidity.

During winter, the area can experience hard freezes during the night. Such cold weather is usually short lived, as the city averages only 15 nights below freezing. Even rarer in St. Augustine than freezing temperatures is snow. When snow does fall, it usually melts before touching the ground, or upon making contact with the ground. Most residents of St. Augustine can remember accumulated snow on only one occasion—a thin ground cover that occurred a few days before Christmas of 1989.

St. Augustine has suffered less damage from hurricanes than most other east coast cities. The city has only received one direct hit from a hurricane since 1871, although St. Augustine has experienced hurricane or near-hurricane conditions more than a dozen times due to storms passing through the state from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, or passing to the north or south in the Atlantic and brushing the area. The strongest effect on St. Augustine was from Hurricane Dora in 1964, the only recorded storm to hit the First Coast with sustained hurricane force winds.

Rainfall averages around 50 inches a year, with the wettest months being June through September.

Get in

By bus

Greyhound [1] has a limited bus stop here located at: 1711 Dobbs Road St Augustine, FL 32084-6202 (904) 829-6401, Tickets are not available for purchase from this terminal. You need to either purchase them online in advance or go to the Jacksonville terminal.

By car

St Augustine can easily be reached by car. Interstate 95 is just west of the city. From southbound I-95 (from Jacksonville), take exit 318, travel east to U.S. 1 or Business U.S. 1, then turn right (south). From northbound I-95, take exit 298 and travel northeast/north to King St. and turn right (east) to reach the downtown/attractions area. Major highways entering the city include U.S. 1, U.S. 90, S.R. 16, S.R. 207 and S.R. A1A.

The St. Augustine Parking Garage, an enormous, multi-level, state-of-the-art facility was opened in 2006. It is located across from Ripley's and at the far end of St. George Street. Parking charge is $10/day. Limited parking can also be found on the street as well as at the Castillo De San Marcos parking lot ($1.50/hr, limited to 4 hours).

By air

St Augustine/St. Johns County Airport (SGJ  IATA), Phone: +1 904 209-0090, [2]. 8,000 ft. runways accommodating most private and corporate jets. No commercial service is available at this time.

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX IATA) [3] is the nearest commercial airport and is served by nine airlines.

By train

Jacksonville is the nearest large city with an Amtrak station; it is served by the Silver Star and Silver Meteor [4] Miami - New York City routes.

Palatka is closer and is served by the two same Amtrak lines, however onward transport to St. Augustine is limited to the Ride Solution ($2) +1 386 325-9999, or taxi service (approximately $50). Palatka does not have luggage service, so if you're carrying anything more than a backpack, you would need to debark in Jacksonville.

Get around

Walking will allow you to see most of the historical buildings and shops with relative ease. There are also horse drawn coaches and tourist trains (trams) that give narrated tours of parts of the city.

  • Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine, 167 San Marco Ave. (located in the Old Jail House), +1 904 829-3800, [5]. On-and-off trolley bus visits all of the major attraction. Tickets are good for three days and include entrance to the Florida Heritage Museum and a free pass for the Augustine Beach Bus
  • Augustine Beach Bus

Sunshine Bus Company [6] The Sunshine Bus Operates M-Sa from 7AM until 6PM.* Fares are $1 per one way trip and are paid upon boarding the bus. Buy an all day pass for $3 or $1.50 for seniors, students and persons with disabilities.

See

  • Alligator Farm Zoological Park, 999 Anastasia Blvd, [7]. Open everyday from 9AM to 5PM (Extended summer hours: 9AM to 6PM). Prices: Adults (12+) $21.95, Children (Ages 3-11) $10.95. Discount coupon available at [8]
  • Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, One S. Castillo Dr (Located along the waterfront a half mile north of King St.). The Castillo is a large fort constructed by the Spanish in the late 1600s of Coquina limestone to defend Spain's interests in the area. There is not a lot to view inside the fort, aside from various carved graffiti from colonial times and a number of old cannons. However, it is still a great place to visit for an hour or two. There are living history demonstrations on weekends, including firing of cannons...an incredibly powerful (and loud!) experience. Lower level is handicapped accessible. Adults $7, under 16 free, but must be accompanied by an adult. Annual Castillo Park Pass ($30) is valid for 12 Months and admits pass owner and any 3 adults.
  • Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum, 29 St. George St. As you stroll through this garrison town, leave today’s world behind and discover life in another time. Visit with the blacksmith, carpenter, or soldier’s wife as they go about their daily activities. You'll see costumed historical interpreters tell the story of everyday life in 1740's St. Augustine when the city was a remote outpost of the Spanish Empire. The museum is open daily and tours are self-guided. Individual admission: Adult $6.95, Student (age 6-17) $4.25, Senior (age 62+) $5.95, Military and St. Johns County Residents - Free with ID.
  • Florida's Oldest House, 271 Charlotte St. The museum complex, owned and operated by the St. Augustine Historical Society, includes Florida's Oldest House, two museums, a changing exhibition gallery, an ornamental garden, and a museum store. The admission ticket gives entry to all facilities. The featured attraction, the González-Alvarez House is the oldest surviving Spanish Colonial dwelling in Florida. The site has been occupied since the 1600s and the present house dates to the early 1700s. Hours: open daily 9AM to 5PM, except Christmas Day, Thanksgiving and Easter. Guided tours begin every half hour, with the last tour starting at 4:30PM. Admission: Adult $8, Senior (55+) & Military ID $7, Student (6-18 & College) $4, Children < 6 Free.
  • Fort Matanzas National Monument. The small watchtower was built by the Spanish in the 1740s on a small island to control the southern entrance to St. Augustine via the Matanzas River. There are daily ferries to island. There is also a half-mile boardwalk nature trail on adjacent Anastasia Island. This attraction is free.
  • Flagler College, 74 King St. Located on 19 acres downtown, the Spanish Renaissance architecture is highlighted by the former Ponce De Leon Hotel, built in the late 1800s as a winter resort by Henry Flagler with the interior designed by Louis C. Tiffany. The liberal arts college was created in 1968.
  • Fort Mose Historic State Park, 15 Fort Mose Trl. The park is where the first free black settlement in America was established in 1738 by the Spanish for black slaves of British masters seeking asylum in Spanish Florida. The settlement is located about two miles north of St. Augustine.
  • Fountain of Youth, 11 Magnolia (off San Marco Ave N), +1 904 829-3168, toll-free: +1 904 356-8222. The Fountain of Youth Archeological Park is a 15 acre, historical attraction. Park Hours: 9AM to 5PM. Open everyday except Christmas. Prices: Adult - $8, Seniors (60+) - $7, Child (6-12) - $5, Child under 6 - Free (Price includes all exhibits and parking is free).
  • Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, 14 St. George St. Located near the City Gates, The Old School House is a surviving expression of another time. It was built over 200 years ago, while Florida was under the rule of Imperial Spain.
  • Potter's Wax Museum, 17 King St. Open Su-Th 10AM-5PM, and F-Sa 10AM-8PM. A fun and educational family attraction - with over 160 wax figures including authors, artists, inventors, athletes, scientists and explorers, from the Founding Fathers to present day events and celebrities. Admission: Adult $9, Senior (55+) $8, Child (6-12) $6, Child (5 and under) free.
Castle Warden, home of the first Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum
  • Ripley's Believe It or Not!, 19 San Marco Ave. Open Su-Th 9AM-7PM, Friday & Sa 9AM-8PM. Ripley's oldest Odditorium, located in the Castle Warden, was purchased shortly after his death in 1949 and opened in 1950. It is also rumored to be haunted. Segments of the most recent Ripley's TV series were filmed here, including the opening credits. Among the attractions here are a mummified cat, a 1/12 scale model of the original Ferris wheel made out of Erector sets, life and death masks of famous celebrities (including Abe Lincoln), and shamanistic apparatus from cultures around the world. General Admission: Adults (12+) $14.99+Tax, Children (5-12) $7.99 +Tax, Seniors (55+) $12.26 +Tax.
  • San Sebastian Winery, 157 King St. San Sebastian Winery is in Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railway Building just a few blocks from downtown historic St. Augustine. Complimentary Tours and Wine Tasting run about every 20-25 minutes, lasting approximately 45 minutes in length and offered seven days a week, (except for major holidays). M-Sa, 10AM - 6PM and Sunday, 11AM - 6PM
  • St Augustine Lighthouse and Museum, 81 Lighthouse Ave (near the Bridge of Lions). Built in the 1870s on the northern end of Anastasia Island. The museum contains exhibits about living and working at the light station. Open Daily at 9AM. Allow at least one hour to tour the site and climb the tower. The last ticket to climb the tower is sold at 5:45PM. The site closes at 6PM (sometimes later, check website).

Do

  • Flagler College Legacy tours, +1 904 823-3378. Daily on the hour from 10AM-2PM. Tour visits the Hotel Ponce De Leon, famous for its Tiffany windows and Spanish Renaissance Architecture. Legacy Tours and Shop [9]
  • Nightly Walking Tours, +1 904 97-5604. Open every day. Themed walking tours featuring tales and ghosts, romance, scandal, murder & politicians, pirates, adventures, explorers and more.
  • First Friday Art Walk Explore the city's downtown galleries and experience a night of new exhibits, music, art and entertainment on the first Friday of every month. [10]
  • St. Augustine Art Association, 22 Marine Street (1 block west of the bay front south of the Bridge of Lions), +1 904 824-2310. 12-4PM. Home to one of the oldest arts organizations in the Sunshine State, the St. Augustine Art Association is the premier gallery in the Historic District. The 5,000 square foot landmark features a permanent collection of Lost Colony art from the 1930s as well as monthly juried exhibits of local art. free.
  • Anastasia Watersports, Anastasia State Park (A1A South 2 miles over the bridge of Lions), +1 904 460-9111. 10-6. An affordable kayak, canoe, sail boat, and pedal boat rental located within the beautiful Anastasia State Park.
  • The St Augustine Pub Crawl, 23 Orange St (Near City Parking Garage), +1 904 540-3476. "The best way to explore history is to walk right through it." A historical walking pub tour, all inclusive ticket - The best adventure in St. Augustine
  • St. Augustine City Walks, 23 Orange St, +1 904 540-3476. Selection of walking city tours - Haunted Walking Pub Tour, Historical Walking Pub Tour, Guided Shopping Tour w/History! (Shop St. Augustine), and History, Mystery, and MAYHEM!
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Events

  • Night of Lights More than a million little white lights outline the Bayfront and buildings of the historic downtown from the weekend before Thanksgiving to the end of January. [11]
  • A Spring and a Fall Arts and Crafts Festival The St. Augustine Art Association has been hosting art festivals for over 70 years. Now located at Francis Field next to the Visitor's Center in the Uptown Arts District, this premier Art & Craft Festival is held twice a year: Thanksgiving weekend, and the weekend after Easter. See the works of over 150 top artists from across the country displaying painting, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, photography, fiber arts, glass and a variety of 2D & 3D works. Great food; KidZone; Festival Paint Out; Entertainment; Art Demos; Prizes and more. [12]
  • St. Augustine Christmas Parade The annual Christmas Parade has grown to be one of the largest parades in north Florida. It includes floats, bands, cars, horses, tigers, and the arrival of Santa. The parade generally starts at 10AM by the Mission of Nombre de Dios, then continues through the downtown streets of historic St. Augustine, and ends behind the Visitor's Center on Castillo Drive. Pictures with Santa follow in the Downtown Plaza. The event is sponsored by the St. Augustine & St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce. For more information call 904-829-5681.
  • Holiday Regatta of Lights A spectacular and colorful parade of boats held on the St. Augustine bay front between the Bridge of Lions and Castillo de San Marcos. This event reflects the maritime roots of the "Oldest City" and is in keeping with St. Augustine's historical seaborne image and rich nautical heritage. The Regatta is hosted by The St. Augustine Yacht Club and is usually held in early to mid December. Sailboats, trawlers, shrimp boats and many other vessels parade, decorated with the festive lights of the season in celebration of the holidays. [13]
  • Kingbuster Tournament A Southern Kingfish competition held at the St. Augustine Municipal Marina in June. [14]
  • Great Chowder Debate Annually in November, local restaurants compete, in various categories, for the best chowder, with samples tasted by the public. Proceeds benefit The Shriner's Children's hospital[15]
  • Rhythm & Ribs Festival The last weekend of March at Francis Field on Castillo Drive. Features championship BBQ and musical entertainment. [16]
  • Blessing of the Fleet First Sunday in April. Commercial and pleasure craft alike receive a blessing from the Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine. Ceremony begins at noon with a procession from the Cathedral Basilica. [17]
  • Easter Parade A parade downtown of marching bands, floats, drill teams, clowns, Royal Family and the city.s carriage horses wearing hats.
  • Gamble Rogers Folk Festival April. Held in various locations downtown, the three-day musical event features a variety of local and national bands, storytelling and songwriting workshops. A celebration of the music, stories and dance by local and national artists celebrating the Gamble Rogers legacy. [18]
  • Concerts in the Plaza Thursdays in the summer. Weekly concerts in the Downtown Plaza are free of charge and those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. [19]
  • Flagler College New Year's Eve Ball: December 31, 2008 from 8PM until 1AM in Flagler's elegant dining hall ornate with Louis C. Tiffany glass windows. This black tie affair raises scholarship money for deserving students. For more information please contact the Office of College Relations at 904-819-6282. [20]

Buy

  • St. George Street. Historic shopping district.
  • El Centro Imports. Imported Central/South American goods and hammocks.
  • St. Augustine Premium Outlets. The more upscale of the area's two outlet centers which are on oppositive sides of I-95. This one is an outdoor center with 85 stores including Calvin Klein, Coach, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Bahama and more.
  • Belz Factory Outlet World, 500 Belz Outlet Blvd, +1 904 826-1311, toll-free: +1 904 394-8318, .
  • Old City Farmers' Market, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A South. Sat. 8:30AM-12:30PM. Produce, flowers, arts and crafts.
  • Annual Fall Art & Craft Festival, Francis Field at the Visitors Center (U.S. 1 & W. Castillo Drive), +1 904-824-2310. 10-5PM. Held Thanksgiving weekend, this premier Art & Craft Festival features over 100 local, regional and national artists exhibiting pottery, jewelry, paintings, sculpture, photography, gourds, textiles and more. Local food, prizes and entertainment add to the festivities. The event is a fundraiser for the St. Augustine Art Association, a non-profit arts organization that promotes art excellence in the Ancient City. $1 donation.

Eat

  • Casa Maya, Hypolita Street. Mexican food from the Yucatan peninsula. No tex-mex here, just good organic food. Closed Tuesdays.
  • The Old City House, 115 Cordova Street. Features world cuisine with Mediterranean, Asian, South African, and Southern influences.
  • Le Pavillon, San Marco Ave. The restaurant serves Continental and German cuisine served in the European tradition.
  • O'Steens, Anastasia Blvd. The "local" favorite and regular winner of Best Seafood Restaurant. Family dining featuring is famous fried shrimp dinner. No alcohol, cash only, closed Sundays. Long lines outside.
  • Creekside Dinery, 160 Nix Boatyard Road. North. Florida low country cookin’ in a charming, waterfront setting and specialties include fresh local seafood and Florida favorites such as chicken, fish, or steak cooked on a thick oak plank.
  • Collage, 60 Hypolita Street. Artful global cuisine.
  • Gypsy Cab Company, Anastasia Blvd. Another local favorites which serves “Urban Cuisine,” an eclectic mix of seafood, steaks, poultry, pork, vegetarian items, and pasta dishes influenced by international cooking styles.
  • Raintree, 102 San Marco Ave. Florida Trend’s 10 Best in Florida Golden Spoon award.
  • Amici Italian Restaurant, 1915 A1A Hwy. S. Authentic Italian specialties.
  • Conch House Located one mile from historic St. Augustine, enjoy waterfront dining inside or outside on the decks overlooking tropical Salt Run. Featuring seafood, Caribbean cuisine, steaks, salads, and award-winning conch chowder, The Conch House Lounge offers the best in tropical specialty drinks served in a Caribbean atmosphere over the water and features live entertainment
  • Fiddler's Green, Vilano Beach. Voted St. Augustine's Favorite Oceanfront Restaurant for 20 years. Enjoy beautiful ocean views from every room while dining on fresh local seafood and excellent beef, chicken, and pasta sautés.
  • The Manatee Cafe. This delightful vegetarian restaurant caters to vegans and health enthusiasts looking for a healthy dining experience. Located less than 2 miles from the St Augustine Outlet, visitors will find its location convenient and the food delicious. $5 to $15
  • The Oasis. A1A South. This two story restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is a tourist-oriented. There is a full bar or raw bar on the upper deck.
  • Beachcomber Restaurant, at the end of "A" Street in St. Augustine Beach. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in unique casual atmosphere. Patrons can dine on an open deck that is only steps from the beach.
  • South Beach Grille. A casual dining seafood restaurant located next to the Crescent Beach access ramp.
  • Opus 39. Cordova Street. Fine dining.
  • Zhanras. Is located just east of the Bridge of Lions. Offers tapas-style dining in a contemporary art gallery setting that also features a cigar bar.
  • Georgies's Diner, Malaga Street downtown. Serving American breakfast, lunch, and dinner fare in a classic stainless steel and neon diner experience.
  • Outback Crab Shack. County Road 13 about 15 miles west of St. Augustine. This rustic eatery specializes in fresh seafood, including boiled, broiled, and fried seafood, catfish, crawfish, shrimp, clam strips, raw and cooked oysters, steaks, chicken, and fresh fish.
  • Panama Hatties A1A Blvd. in St. Augustine Beach. Features a huge upstairs oceanview deck, two full bars, and casual dining for lunch and dinner with some of the best prices at the beach.
  • Saltwater Cowboys, 299 Dondanville Rd. On the intracoastal waterway in a casual, recreated, turn-of-the-century fish camp surrounded by saltwater marshes. specialties including fresh seafood, delicious ribs, and chicken specialties.
  • Spanish Bakery, 1/2 St. George St. 42; entrance is under the sign for Whetstone Chocolates. Sells lunch and breakfast including freshly-baked authentic Spanish pastries, bread, and soups. Open daily 9:30 AM - 3 PM or until sold out. Outdoor seating only, accepts cash only.
  • Hyppo Popsicles, 48 Charlotte St. Next to Hypolita St. Sells gourmet popsicles in a variety of flavors. Limited indoor seating.
  • Coquina Beach Surf Club, 451 A1A Beach Blvd. St. Augustine Beach. The best in seasonal seafood, select beef entrees, seasonal produce, killer burgers, unique sandwiches and creative specials. Casual and comfortable outdoor dining, cool and cozy bar, clean and crisp drinks, interesting wine list and classic local décor creates the perfect setting for dining with friends. I love that happy hour is 11am to 7pm on Sat & Sun.
  • Georgie's Diner, 100 Malaga St. Located off of King Street on Malaga, look for the distinctive silver exterior of this authentic diner. Serving breakfast all day and lunch and dinner daily, Georgie’s features popular Greek specialties along with the comfort food you would expect. It's a well-kept 50s style diner with clean chrome accents, lustrous red, glittery seats, black and white checked floors. The fun decor features counter seating, cozy retro booths, and lots of shiny chrome. And it’s one of the most affordable places to eat in St. Augustine.
  • 1 Casa Benedetto's Italian Caffe, 6357 A1A S, +1 904-471-5999. An Italian cafe that sells sandwiches and pastas
  • 2 Sunset Grille, 421 A1A Beach Blvd, +1 904-471-5555. 11AM - 12AM. A place that sells American and Seafood Cuisines.

Drink

Old Mill in St. Augustine
  • A1A Ale Works. King Street.
  • Ann O'Malleys, Orange street.
  • Barley Republic, Spanish Street.
  • Beachcomber, "A" Street.
  • British Pub, 213 Anastasia Blvd
  • JP Henleys, 10 Marine Street.
  • King's Head British Pub, US1 (north of the airport).
  • Mardi Gras, San Marco Avenue.
  • The Oasis, A1A South.
  • Prince of Wales English Pub, Spanish Street.
  • Scarlett O'Hara's. Hypolita Street.
  • St.George Tavern, Saint George Street.
  • Stogies, Cuna Street.
  • Sunset Grille. A1A.
  • Rendezvous, Saint George Street.
  • Trade Winds Lounge, Charlotte Street.

Sleep

  • Our House of St. Augustine B&B, 7 Cincinnati Ave., +1 904 347-6260. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Combines historic restored 19th-century homes with updated features. Three rooms and two kitchenette studios include full breakfast, on-site parking and Wi-Fi. Located in the Uptown Antiques District just north of the Old City Gates and St. George Street's shops, sights and restaurants. From $129.
  • Pirate Haus Inn (Pirate Haus Inn), 32 Treasury Street, +1 904 808-1999. Check-in: 11AM, check-out: 10AM. Pirate-themed inn, is in the middle of the Historic District. All you can eat Pirate Pancakes for breakfast, pirate toys and pirate bedtime reading for the kids. Private room rates from $50, and include free parking. Dorm beds from $20. Right in the middle of the historic district, 150 feet to the bay and 150 feet to St. George Street From $50.
  • Ramada St Augustine, 2535 State Route 16, +1 904 829-5643.
  • St Francis Inn, 279 St. George Street, +1 904-824-6068, toll-free: +1-800-824-6062, fax: +1 904 810-5525. A historic bed-and-breakfast located at the corner of St. Francis and St. George Streets, built in 1791. Private courtyard with gardens, balconies, whirlpool tubs, breakfast, fireplaces, quiet location, free parking and swimming pool.
  • St. George Inn, 4 St George Street, toll-free: +1-888-827-5740. Twenty-five hotel rooms and suites, many with balconies and views of the Intercoastal Waterway, the Castillo de San Marcos and the City Gate. Facilities: internet access, private baths, and a complimentary continental breakfast.
  • Victorian House Bed and Breakfast, 11 Cadiz St, +1 904-824-5214. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Located on the oldest street in St. Augustine, this beautiful victorian house was built 1885. Guest rooms have private baths and are furnished with antiques. Guests are welcomed to a full hot breakfast, wifi, and free parking. from $99 per night.

Connect

  • Visitors Center +1 904 829-1000, Toll Free: +1-800-653-2489.

Go next

Routes through St. Augustine
Jacksonville ← Ponte Vedra ←  N  S  Palm CoastDaytona Beach
Jacksonville ← Ponte Vedra ←  N  S  Palm CoastDaytona Beach
JacksonvilleJacksonville Beach  N  S  MarinelandDaytona Beach


This city travel guide to St. Augustine is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.