St. Augustine, Florida is the oldest city in the U.S., with over 1,000 years of history and culture.

It has been declared as a National Historic Landmark and was the first permanent European settlement in what would become the United States, established on September 8th, 1565 by explorer Juan Ponce de Leon.

St. Augustine’s patron saint is Santa Ana Caerulea (also known as St. Agatha). St. Augustine is heavily influenced by Italian-Spanish architecture which you’ll notice when visiting its many historic landmarks including Castillo de San Marcos fort and Lightner Museum, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

History of St. Augustine

St. Augustine is home to Castillo de San Marcos Fort, a 17th-century Spanish Army fort.

The first European to explore St. Augustine was Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513, he named the area ‘La Florida’.

The French established Fort Caroline but the Spanish “see” their chance and successfully attack it (you can see where they left cannonballs).

Fort Saint Louis is built by the French to replace Fort Caroline but fails within a year due to inadequate resources and support from France.

In 1564, Pedro Menendez de Aviles establishes a settlement at Ft. Matanzas Inlet, which later becomes St. Augustine after realizing that there are no gold deposits on this land. Menendez arrives with only five ships and 300 men! The French still think they have a claim on La Florida so they send Dominique de Gourgues to drive out the Spanish.

Governor Mendendez was not at all intimidated by this show of force, he captures them all and later executes the Frenchmen.

Prince Philip II of Spain approves St. Augustine as the capital of Florida in 1572. The King’s decree also gave St. Augustine a coat-of-arms which has survived throughout St. Augustine’s history till today.

The old city was supposedly designed on a grid system based off of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy while some buildings were built according to the Alicante Plan which was used in most Spanish colonial towns during this period.

Old City Gates mark where two main roads into St. Augustine have been since early American history: the middle gates are now respectively called “Gates Street” and “King Street”.

St. Augustine served as a port city for much of its history, it was long known as the city’s fishing industry in town.

Sightseeing

There are tons of activities to do in St. Augustine for all ages.

Here are just a few suggestions:

St. Augustine offers a variety of fun attractions for kids and adults alike, here are just some suggestions:

Explore Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in a guided tour or through self-guided exploration. Be sure to check out the Fort’s popular summer camps which offer a hands-on experience at one of America’s oldest forts!

Explore Fort Matanzas by taking part in a ranger-guided walk, kayak tours, or private boat excursion.

Visit the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park to learn about its history and see what artifacts can be found throughout its site.

Take an airboat tour from the nearby Okefenokee Swamp for an up-close experience with alligators and other creatures that call this wetland home.

The Nombre de Dios shipwreck is a popular tourist destination on the beach of Anastasia Island.

Swim in blue-green waters at Marineland Dolphin Adventure, an oceanarium that houses dolphins and other marine life from around the world.

Take a riverboat cruise around downtown St. Augustine or head out to the Matanzas River where you can fish for your own dinner!

Enjoy a performance by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium, an interactive museum of the curious and strange.

Visit Ripley’s Old Jail to see what it was like being jailed in St. Augustine back when this city served as Florida’s capital from 1824-1845.

Take a ghost tour through historic St. Augustine to learn about its dark past and hear some stories you won’t find on a normal tour!

Stroll along the lighted boardwalk at night to take photos of famous landmarks that look even more beautiful once dusk has fallen. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll see a sea turtle nest hatch at Anastasia State Park after visiting one of their two rookeries during nesting season (May-Oct).

Take a day trip to nearby Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve, where you can kayak to explore the coast and other ecosystems in the area. Or head down south to Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge where you can go paddle boating or have a picnic.

Food & Drinks

Here are some local food and drink recommendations:

Before making your way into downtown St. Augustine, be sure to stop at Mac’s Landing for one of their famous restaurants known as “meat-lovers” pizza. It’s a must-try if you like big and tasty slices of pizza (they also serve pasta and subs). You’ll find Mac’s Landing along US 1 where it intersects with SR 312 (N Co Rd 312).

For another unique dining experience during your stay in St. Augustine, visit Cafe Alcazar for their three-course prix fixe dinner menu. Or just stop by to check out the beautiful interior design that resembles a palace courtyard!

And if you’re feeling adventurous, be sure to try some exotic cuisine at Taberna Del Gallo, an authentic Spanish tapas restaurant where they serve dishes from all regions of Spain plus other fan favorites.

You’ll find Taberna Del Gallo along SR 16 at the corner of King and Riberia streets.

Entertaining in St. Augustine

There are many fun things to do in St Augustine, including visiting charming specialty shops along narrow, brick streets or biking through historic downtown trails.

One of the best ways to enjoy St. Augustine is by doing what the locals do: take in some fresh air along with good food and drinks at one (or all!) of these places.

Take a break from sightseeing and head down to Sunset Vistas Restaurant & Bar, located on Anastasia Island where you can get an amazing view of Matanzas Bay while enjoying your meal or refreshments.

The Flagler College Otter Porch has live music every Friday night.

At the San Sebastian Winery, you can get a view of their grapevine-to-be wine bottles while listening to live music on Thursday nights.

Experience some unique events in Saint Augustine throughout the year: Celebrate San Agustin Festival in October Botanical Gardens’ Flamenco Fridays in January and February Annual Chamber Music Festival in March The Blessing of the Fleet Celebration in May

For live music and dancing, be sure to check out Cafe Eleven where you can grab dinner and enjoy an evening show upstairs. But if you’re looking for something more low-key, stop by Bud & Alleys for a variety of dishes served on their tiki-style patio overlooking Matanzas Bay with palm trees swaying in the breeze behind them.

For those who are 21+, grab some drinks at The Floridian since this is one of St. Augustine’s most popular bars. The Floridian is a popular spot to watch sports and play pool or darts. You’ll find this bar located along SR 206 (San Marco Ave) at the corner of King Street.

The Warehouse Bar & Grill has a dance floor and live bands, but their food isn’t too bad either! They’re open until 2:00 am every day except Sunday when they close at midnight.

And if you want something more refined, visit Zenaida Dove Winery for an intimate tasting experience in an elegant setting.

Hang out at the bay with friends or family and watch boats come in and out of harbor along St Augustine Municipal Marina’s waterfront promenade.

Fishing & Boating

Enjoy a variety of activities out on the water including fishing, boating, kayaking, or stand-up paddleboarding!

For those looking for some action on the water, head over to St. Augustine Charter Boat Association where you can rent boats or book a more personalized charter trip with their knowledgeable staff. If you prefer some time to yourself, take out your own boat at St. Johns County Pier where they have boat ramps and plenty of parking spots available.

For fishermen, this is one of the best places in Northeast Florida to cast a line since there’s no closed season for bottom fish (including grouper) or recreational finfish* along their jetties.

If you’re looking for an easier activity, take to the water in a kayak along downtown’s waterfront trails. It’s one of the most beautiful ways to enjoy St. Augustine since you get up-close views of the historic district’s many architectural wonders!

You can rent kayaks from the Nocatee Adventure Center or Amelia River Kayak Company located on A1A near Ponce De Leon Blvd.

An even easier way to check out the bay is by stand-up paddleboarding which you can rent at The SUP Shack where they have several different models available.

Amelia River Canoe & Kayak Rental offers canoe and kayak rentals for 4 or 6-hour trips. They’re open every except Wednesday and Sundays during winter.

Transportation

Here are some tips for …