Should You Visit Saint Augustine?

Is Saint Augustine worth visiting?

This city is a good place to visit for three to four days. Located on the northeast coast of Florida, St. Augustine is filled with colonial Spanish architecture and charming cobblestone streets. As the oldest city in the United States, it offers a historic atmosphere that is different than many of Florida's cities. It's also near several great beaches and is filled with museums, shops, and local restaurants. We first visited in 2011 and have returned several times. During our time here, we fell in love with its charming atmosphere and colonial architecture.

St. Augustine, Florida

Reasons to Visit Saint Augustine

Historical Sights
As the longest running, continuously occupied city in the United States, the Historic Downtown is at the heart of the city. It's filled with quaint restaurants, historic hotels, and charming streets. You can take carriage rides or wander through the historic sites. Many of the buildings date back to the 1700s and offer a glimpse into Florida's past.

Museums
It's history is brought to life with many monuments and museums. The Lightner Museum, the Old Jail Museum, the Lincolnville Museum, and Castillo De San Marcos are among the city's most notable sights. Also worth a visit is the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.

Food
The food scene is influenced by the long history of the city. You'll find flavors that are influenced by Spanish, African, and Native American cultures. There are several popular dishes around town such as fried shrimp, clam chowder, and shrimp and grits.

Beaches
Head to the beach to relax and swim. There are miles of sandy beach nearby, with some of the most popular being Ponte Vedra Beach, known for its golf courses, Vilano Beach, with its charming atmosphere, and the scenic Anastasia State Park.

Shopping
The Historic Downtown has unique art galleries and boutiques. St. George Street is the perfect place to pick up a souvenir and Aviles Street is the oldest street in the United States. It's also filled with artisan boutiques. Plaza de la Constitución is known for its long running public market and it often has live entertainment.

Nightlife
There are wineries, pubs, live music venues, and a number of activities that take advantage of the outdoor setting.

Is Saint Augustine worth visiting in the Summer?

The high season for travel in Saint Augustine is the summer, so expect to see more tourists than usual. This destination is quite popular with tourists, and in the high season it's even busier than usual as this is when most people like to visit. Expect crowds to be large, and prices to be a bit higher than normal. However, there's plenty to do here this time of year, too.

The weather in Saint Augustine is fairly warm during summer, and stays around 28°C (82°F). But it can get as warm as 33°C (92°F) at times, too. It's also quite rainy during this season, so be prepared.

Visiting the nearby beaches is one of the most popular things to do this time of year, so give yourself some time to enjoy the waves and sand. You'll also find it quite easy to get around on foot, because this is a very walkable city, especially in the nice weather. During this season it's fun to experience the beaches, the famous sights and museums, and the historic old town. Also, you'll be able to dance the night away.

Is Saint Augustine worth visiting in the Autumn?

The warm weather in autumn is one of the reasons people visit at this time of year. Temperatures average around 21°C (70°F) with daily high temperatures often more than 27°C (80°F).

Autumn is the shoulder season for travel in Saint Augustine, which means slightly less visitors than in the peak season. This destination is quite touristy, so in the shoulder season you can still find plenty of crowds, but better prices.

Autumn is a great time of year to explore the numerous museums and landmarks around town. They are fun for the whole family as well great for couples. Soaking up that old town charm in the autumn is one of the favorite activities of visitors. The quaint scenery combined with the weather this time of year is quite nice. This is a great time of year to admire the wonderful scenery, admire the historic sights, and browse the museums.

Is Saint Augustine worth visiting in the Winter?

Winter is the low season for travel in Saint Augustine. This destination is quite touristy, but in the low season you'll see fewer crowds and much better prices.

You'll find the weather to be very nice here during winter with average temperatures around 12°C (53°F).

You'll find plenty to do during winter, as you'll be able to spend time at the museums, dine out at amazing restaurants, and browse around the old town. Also, you can take advantage of the local nightlife.

Is Saint Augustine worth visiting in the Spring?

This is the shoulder season for travel in Saint Augustine. This destination is quite touristy, so in the shoulder season you can still find plenty of crowds, but better prices.

The warm weather in spring is one of the reasons people visit at this time of year. Temperatures average around 20°C (68°F) with daily high temperatures often more than 27°C (80°F).

Soaking up that old town charm in the spring is one of the favorite activities of visitors. The quaint scenery combined with the weather this time of year is quite nice. During this season it's fun to experience the quaint shops, the museums and landmarks, and the beautiful scenery. Also, you can check out the historic old town and the nightlife.

Related

What is Saint Augustine most famous for?

Saint Augustine is most famous for being the oldest consistently inhabited city in the United States. The city is very popular for its historical sights. It is also known for its great museums, food, beaches, and shopping. And many visitors also come to this city for its nightlife. It is often described as historic, notable, and colonial.

What is the most famous sight in Saint Augustine?

The most popular sight in Saint Augustine is the Colonial Quarter. You can see prices and costs for this and other sights in Saint Augustine on our travel costs page.

Or, see tickets, activities, and tours for the Colonial Quarter and other attractions here.

How touristy is Saint Augustine? Is it a popular city to visit?

Saint Augustine is a popular city for tourists and travelers. Here are some of the most popular activities and tours. (Prices in US Dollars)

• St. Augustine Private Boat Tour Daytime, up to 6 people: $280
• Guardian Angels of St. Augustine Walking Tour: $27
• Private Golf Cart Tours, LLC in St. Augustine: $200
• Saint Augustine Evening Architectural Photo Tour: $99
• Four Seater Slingshot Adventure Rental & Self-Guided Tour: $250
• Bones Under Us, Ghost Tour with Archeology: $30
• Eco Dolphin Aqua Pedal Adventure St. Augustine: $45
• Story of St Augustine private golf cart history tour for up to 5 people!: $100

How long should I spend in Saint Augustine?

The ideal length of time for a trip to Saint Augustine is three to four days. Since Saint Augustine has a variety of activities such as historical sights, most people need this much time to see and do everything here.

If you have a specific amount of time for your trip, see our advice about how much time to spend here: Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Saint Augustine?, Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Saint Augustine?, and Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Saint Augustine?.