I love living in St Augustine and get so excited when people share that they’re planning to come visit. This isn’t your typical Florida destination though, so if you’re thinking you’ll be experiencing something like Miami Beach or Walt Disney World, that’s not what it’s like here. There are a few things to know before you plan a trip to visit (or move here) and we’re happy to help you out! Consider this our Frequently Asked Questions about visiting St Augustine and our beaches.
If you have any questions that we don’t answer here, please let us know by leaving a comment or sending us a note. We are bottomless pits of St Augustine experience and are always out there trying the newest places and experiences. If we haven’t written about something yet, tell us and we’ll hop on it!
What’s Surprising about Visiting St Augustine?
Yes, St Augustine is full of charm and history, and when you arrive downtown you’ll love it. You’ll have to drive through some very standard Florida-ish areas before you get to the charm though, so just remember that when you exit I-95 or Highway 1, there really is something wonderful on the other side. Ignore the strip malls and gas stations, we’re more than that.
Like many Florida beach towns, St Augustine is split into sections. There is the main downtown area that has the historic quarter, the fort (Castillo de San Marcos), and tons of restaurants and inns; there are the outskirts, which you’ll drive through on your way into town; and then there are the beaches, which are separated from the main downtown by the Intracoastal Waterway. Staying downtown St Augustine isn’t a beach vacation on first glance, but don’t worry, it can be. Whether you are interested in spending time at St Augustine Beach, Butler Beach or Vilano Beach, it’s all doable and each is very different.
Something else that’s surprising about visiting St Augustine is how many museums and historic sites we have. Of course and America’s oldest continuously inhabited city (more on that below) you’re sure to find lots of learning opportunities and historic plaques, but like EVERY building downtown has something to ready outside and every few doors is a different museum or historic site. I think it’s really cool, but if history isn’t your thing… then you’ll enjoy the shopping and restaurants.
When is the best time to visit St Augustine?
We always get asked when the best time for visiting St Augustine is and our answer might surprise you. Remember, this comes from somebody who lives here year round and knows the city in every season. My answer for the best time to visit: SUMMER. That’s right. Summertime in St Augustine is awesome for a few reasons, but also it might be a bit too much for some people.
I think summer is the best time for visiting St Augustine because there are far fewer tourists than the winter. From early November and into the end of January it’s the annual Nights of Lights festival downtown. The whole waterfront and most of the buildings in the historic core (and all the trees) are covered in holiday lights and it’s beautiful… and it’s insanely crowded. You can’t sit down for a meal downtown without a crazy wait time. The pedestrians in the historic core are shoulder to shoulder. The vehicle traffic is ridiculous with looky-lou drivers who only just got a license to operate a car… That’s why you TAKE THE TROLLY TOUR FOR IT!
Spring is beautiful, but the spring break visitor count can get a bit wild. It’s not as severe as during Nights of Lights, but spring break is a lot to take in. Autumn is nice because it’s starting to cool down, but between the potential for hurricanes and the ramping up to Nights of Lights, there’s a fair amount of uncertainty for planning a visit to St Augustine. Our town does get very quiet for about two months beginning the Tuesday after Labor Day, so if you want to plan your visit for this time, it both feels like summer still AND there are even fewer people around than during the peak of summer heat.
What is the weather like in the St Augustine?
It really is beautiful here nearly all year long. “Endless Summer” is something we all say and silently chant as we walk on the beach in December, but that doesn’t mean that it’s always 85 degrees and sunny. Nope, weather in St Augustine is a hot-mess-bag-of-tricks. From May through October we have the standard weather which tends to be lots of sun, temps in the mid to upper 80s and then a daily afternoon thunderstorm. These storms usually roll through from 4:00 to 6:00 pm and can bring a ton of rain very quickly. If a rainstorm hits when it’s high tide, this historic quarter of St Augustine will often flood with a few inches of rain, subsiding after the rain has stopped or tide has gone down.
All this rain is why it’s so humid in the summer and why our gardens are so lush. Having said that, during the winter months the humidity drops and it cools off greatly. Yes, we do walk on the beach every Christmas and we do all go to the beach on New Years Eve for the fireworks, but it’s not cold. The cold sets in at the end of January usually. We do get a little more than a month of cold weather where we wear jackets and sweatshirts. We ever get freeze warnings from time to time, but it’s short lived
Hurricane season is a real thing here. We don’t get hit with a hurricane every year, and often times we just get the bouts of gross weather that come with them, but we do sometimes get one. Our old house flooded in hurricanes Irma, Matthew, Ian and Nicole (those last two were within a month of each other). This doesn’t mean that you should outright avoid St Augustine during the season, but just means that you should be aware and maybe get travel insurance. Shark tooth hunting after a hurricane is, in itself, a good reason to visit St Augustine in the late summer/early fall.
How long should I plan to stay in St Augustine?
Most people who come to visit St Augustine tend to stay for a week, but sometimes friends come into town for just three or four days. It really depends on your travel style. St Augustine does have about four days of different activities, and then if you add some time doing relaxing beach days (three) and then a day or two exploring the freshwater springs (two) you can be here for a week or more. I think the best balance can be gotten from a 7 day trip.
Snow birds tend to come down to St Augustine for more than four weeks and they settle into the community for however long they’re here and then they depart. Most of the snowbirds in our neighborhood are here for part of December, all of January and February, and then they depart in March.
If you’re planning on visiting St Augustine just for a long weekend, you can enjoy a little time downtown, a little time at the beach, and a little time relaxing however else you see fit, but doing it all in just one weekend won’t cut it really. I’m not discouraging you from planning a short visit, but just encouraging a longer one so you can fall in love with our Ancient City to the fullest.
How do I get around St Augustine?
It’s best to have a car if you’re visiting St Augustine, but it’s possible to do it without one. We do have a small public transportation system called the Sunshine Bus (schedule here). The buses are not big and they only run a few times a day, but they are helpful for locals who don’t have cars. We also have Uber and taxis, so you can leverage them as well.
Downtown, there is a free shuttle bus that just goes along the outside of the historic core and makes two stops. The STAR Circulator runs from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm year round, and then during Nights of Lights it ends at 5:00 pm. You can pick it up at the hub at the Visitor Center / Parking Garage, at Cathedral Place near the Governor’s Mansion at St George Street, and then at the bend of Avenida Menendez near the Castillo.
Something unique we have in St Augustine to visitors between the historic downtown and St Augustine Beach is the Beach Trolly. Operated by Old Town Trolley Tours, this dedicate open air bus goes between several stops here in the Beach (we just call our neighborhood “The Beach”) and one primary stop downtown. It’s not free, but if you purchase the Old Town Trolly tour, you can ride the Beach Bus as well. This service starts at 8:30 downtown at St George Street near the plaza and then the last return to downtown from the Beach departs from the Embassy Suites at 4:15 pm.
What are the best places to stay in St Augustine?
People ask us all the time where we think they should stay when they’re visiting St Augustine and I always give the same answer: “Where do you want to wake up each morning? Historic downtown, the Beach or a quiet stretch of sand?” The reason I suggest choosing a neighborhood and then choosing your accommodations is because each will give you a very different visiting experience.
If you want to wake up each morning and stroll through the historic quarter before the daily tourists arrive and before the trolly tours start, then you should stay downtown. There are some beautiful properties in the historic part of town, including the Casa Monica Hotel, the Hilton St Augustine Historic Bayfront, the Renaissance St Augustine and others. And downtown has countless boutique inns and bed and breakfasts. The Collector is our top pick if that’s the sort of accommodations you’re looking for.
For people looking for a beach vacation dashed with some visits to downtown, we have LOTS of hotels here in St Augustine Beach. The Courtyard Marriott and Embassy Suites are our top two picks, but you can also just look for a good deal. The Hampton Inn is just off the beach, and the Hilton Garden Inn is a two minute walk to the sand. Hilton also recently took over the Castillo Real Resort (2025) so that’s going to be a cool spot to stay too. We’re not short on hotel rooms that are a very short walk to the beach.
For a more quiet beach vacation, you’ll want to choose something away from St Augustine Beach. Butler and Crescent Beaches have lots of vacation rentals, and this is also some of the best sand in all of Florida. If you head to Vilano Beach, there is a nice townsite with several hotels and as you head north along Highway A1A you’ll have lots of vacation rental options. Really, you have so many choices here!
What are the best activities in St Augustine?
I don’t pretend that we don’t live in a tourist town, and I think the fact that our town embraces it for the most part is what makes it so fun. It’s impossible to be bored here, whether you live in St Augustine or if you’re visiting for a long trip. There are lots of free things to do in town and all around St Johns County, so coming here can be done well on a budget. We also have lots and lots of tours and attractions that are great to plan for.
Check out our Downtown St Augustine Scavenger Hunt!
Visiting St Augustine usually is a combination of history, nature and food. As you’re thinking about what you want most from your trip, take a look at our suggestions and make your plan to fit YOUR interests. And you can always come back, so don’t feel like you need to conquer everything all at once.
What are the best beaches in St Augustine?
Starting with beaches, spending time at the beach is free, fun and full of fresh air. We have some of the best beaches in Florida with quite a variety of experiences. Basically, we have five beach areas (listed below) with ample access points. Check out our complete list of Beach Access Points in St Johns County
- St Augustine Beach – there are beach parking lots, showers and beach paths. St Augustine Beach is where you’ll find the St Johns County Pier also. This neighborhood also has lots of restaurants of all sorts. You can drive here or take the Beach Bus through Old Town Trolly Tours.
- Butler Beach / Crescent Beach – this is just south of St Augustine Beach. The area is accessible through neighborhoods with a few beach parks. There are very few restaurants and businesses in these beach neighborhoods.
- Fort Matanzas National Monument – There are three parking areas to access this National Park Service maintained beach. One of the unusual things about this beach is access to Matanzas Inlet, which is great with kids.
- Vilano Beach – there are lots of beach parking lots and crossovers to access the beach. This fades into the GTM Reserve Beaches, which do have a $3 fee to park at. These are very shelly sand beaches and they have the best shark tooth hunting.
- Marineland – From after the Matanzas Inlet Bring to Flagler County there are random spots to access the beach and little parts of the inlet and sandbar islands. When you get to River to Sea Preserve at Marineland, there are amazing coquina rocks to explore at the beach.
What are the top attractions to visit in St Augustine?
I think the number one attraction in town is the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. It’s fascinating and really cool to explore with every age. It’s the icon of our city. If you have a National Parks pass, be sure to bring it for entry. The next most popular attraction is St George Street downtown. Yes, the whole street from the City Gates to the Plaza de la Constitucion is a great attraction and it’s peppered with museums, shops, restaurants and photo ops. It is pretty cool and at night is loaded with guided ghost tours. Also nearby is the Lightner Museum, which has a fantastic permanent collection and rotating special exhibitions.
Another one of the most popular attractions in St Augustine is the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. It’s pretty cool and interesting and full of peacocks, but I think one of the best parts of getting to visit is actually the road approaching the park: Magnolia Ave. This is the prettiest street in St Augustine and previously has been named the Prettiest Street in the USA, and it really is.
When you come to Anastasia Island, you’ll cross the Bridge of Lions and head towards the St Augustine Lighthouse, the Alligator Farm and Anastasia State Park, which is one of my favorite places for kayaking in St Augustine. You’ll come to the St Augustine Amphitheater, home to the Saturday farmers market and eventually to the beach. But here’s the secret: we have another National Park site on our island and it’s really cool! Keep driving south to Fort Matanzas National Monument to ride the tiny ferry out to Rattlesnake Island to tour Fort Matanzas while you watch for sea turtles, dolphins and manatees.
What are the must-try restaurants in St Augustine?
I’m going to go out on a limb and be vulnerable: I dislike Florida cuisine… and that’s why I love dining out in St Augustine! While we’re severely lacking on the really good Asian restaurants, we have some great places with unique twists on Italian, Cuban, Mexican and vintage cuisines. Yes, vintage cuisine is something here and you’ll love it. The Floridian (moving to Anastasia Island!) and Bea’s All Day Cafe are great, as well at Treylor Park for vintage recipes and fun food. The Forgotten Tonic is our go-to for vintage drinks and small plates.
For a really good meal despite the appearance of being the most touristy spots you could imagine, we’ve got three great picks: Casa Reina, River and Fort, and the Columbia. Also, St Augustine Seafood Co on St George Street is delicious. If you want to try something really good and surprising, head to Meehan’s Irish Pub (upstairs) and get the Minorcan Chowder. You’ll thank me. And SAINT is awesome for really quality Italian food with great seating options inside and out.
When it comes to our favorite spots on Anastasia Island and in St Augustine Beach, our favs are the Beachcomber Restaurant (on the beach), Odd Birds Lounge (coolest cocktails) and Osprey Tacos (super chill). We just get into our routine and keep going back to them. With the Floridian moving to the Island, that’ll be great for us! Other great options here on the island include Sarbez (grilled cheese w/ an arcade), the Black Fly, Sunset Grill and Beachside Diner. We have so many restaurants though, you can
How can I save money on my St Augustine vacation?
One of the most common complaints about visiting St Augustine is how expensive hotels downtown can be. Valid point. The best way to save money when you’re visiting St Augustine is to compromise on where you stay. Yes, it’s amazing to wake up and walk out into our 460 year old city on to wander onto the beach, barefoot hoping to encounter a sea turtle digging a nest… but you can spend just a third of those costs by staying close to I-95 or on Anastasia Boulevard. You can choose a national travel branded hotel like the Best Western Plus or Holiday Inn Express and sometimes save $200 per night.
If you are a family of four or more, you might find that getting a vacation rental is the best value for you, especially if you normally would book two rooms or a hotel suite. With so many types of accommodations, you’ll come up with a good plan that fits your budget, no doubt.
Another way to save money is to learn more heavily to the outdoors activities that are free. The beach is free. Walking the waterfront is free. Fort Matanzas is free. There are lots of options, and then if it’s rainy or too hot, most of the museums are relatively cheap. You can even get a combo trolly tour/museum pass that is a pretty big savings.
I think that’s everything I can think of to help your time visiting St Augustine be awesome! I’m sure there are more questions, so if you have some other inquiries, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help others plan unforgettable trips to our town. We know you’ll love it!
