St. Augustine walking tour & city guide

Castillo de San Marcos

The Castillo de San Marcos, completed in 1695, is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. It is built of coquina, a soft stone made of shells that absorbed cannonballs instead of shattering. Rangers fire historic cannons on many days.

The Gilded Age in St. Augustine

In the 1880s, railroad tycoon Henry Flagler turned St. Augustine into a winter resort for the rich. His Hotel Ponce de Leon, a Spanish Renaissance masterpiece with Tiffany stained glass, is now Flagler College and offers tours. The former Alcazar Hotel across the street houses the Lightner Museum.

A classic walk through the old town

Enter through the City Gate, the old stone gateway near the Castillo, and walk down St. George Street, the pedestrian heart of the historic district, past the Colonial Quarter, small shops and the Oldest Wooden School House. At its southern end is the Plaza de la Constitución, with the Cathedral Basilica facing it.

Walk west on King Street to Flagler College and the Lightner Museum, then return along the bayfront Avenida Menendez to the Castillo. Cross the Bridge of Lions for views back over the town. The walk is about 3 kilometers.

Visiting tips

Spring and autumn are ideal. From November to January, the Nights of Lights festival covers the town in millions of white lights. Climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse on Anastasia Island for views, and visit the beaches of Anastasia State Park.