How to See St. Augustine in 1 Day

St. Augustine in 1 Day

Stop 1

The Old Jail, built in 1891 by Henry Flagler, is a really cool historical site for adults and kids. It should take less than an hour to tour the cells, see the gallows and view the authentic weapons used in real crimes. After, check out the Oldest Store Museum experience, where you’ll see a lot of interesting items that date back to the early 1900s and learn what life was like in that era.

Stop 4

Disembark for some history and shopping. View the City Gates, take a walk through the Spanish Quarter and see the Oldest Wooden School House. Take some time to walk down St. George Street, the historic pedestrian mall lined with shops, restaurants and some important sites like the Old Drug Store.

Stop 5

Allow 90 minutes for a tour of the iconic Castillo de San Marcos. This massive fortress was built to protect the city from foreign invasions during Spanish rule and is the oldest remaining European Fort in the USA. See the cannons, watch historical reenactments and walk inside the walls of this amazing structure made of coquina stone. It’s the #1 rated attraction in St. Augustine. After, head over to the Pirate & Treasure Museum. Perfect for families, this unique museum has interactive exhibits, 300 years of pirate history and a huge collection of rare pirate artifacts.

Stop 8

Now that you’ve seen some of the city’s most significant historic sites, take a few minutes to view some of the most exquisite architecture in St. Augustine. There are three magnificent churches at this stop, including Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church, Ancient City Baptist Church and Grace United Methodist Church. Take a tour of Flagler Memorial Presbyterian. Built by Henry Flagler in 1889 as a memorial to his only daughter, Flagler, his first wife, daughter and granddaughter are buried here.

Stop 14

Then, grab a seat aboard the Beach Shuttle where you’ll be transported to the Alligator Farm. Seeing everything at the Alligator Farm could easily take two hours, so allow some extra time.

Stop 14

Tour the Spanish Military Hospital Museum and the Ximenez-Fatio House, which was built in 1798 and is one of the oldest structures still standing in the city.

Stop 22

What better way to end the day than a drink from the eternal spring? The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park offers at least an hour of fascinating discovery. You’ll be on the actual site where the Spanish Explorers first came ashore in the United States. The park offers a myriad of educational experiences including learning about the life of Ponce de Leon. There’s also a Navigator’s Planetarium, a reconstructed Timucuan Native American village and much more to explore here. 

Seeing the Old City in one day can be fun and entertaining without the stress of driving and searching for parking. Just climb aboard the Old Town Trolley Tour!