Location: St. Augustine
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10 Sights & Landmarks in St. Augustine That You Shouldn't Miss
Saint Augustine is a luxurious, romantic vacation spot—you’ll find classic hotels and intimate restaurants. Those can be a dime a dozen, though. What sets Saint Augustine apart is its history—it’s the oldest European settlement in the U.S. And nowhere else in the world can you taste the waters of the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park (where Ponce de Leon may have landed). Who knows, if you vacation here, maybe you won’t need that Botox!
Restaurants in St. Augustine
1. Shrine Our Lady of La Leche
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By BarbM357 - Leicester, United States
This stop is on the Trolley Tour! It is beautiful and worth a visit. The grounds are beautiful with statues, beautiful views and even peacocks running around! Lots of history here also....with the very first Catholic Mass celebrated on these very grounds. There is a replica of the first altar also. After walking around stop into the small museum and gift shop. Don’t forget the Shrine itself....the most beautiful statue of our Blessed Mother I’ve ever seen! Check it out for yourself. Great way to end the day as this stop is near the end of the Trolley Tour.
2. St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Inc.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,545 reviews
A visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is more than you might expect! Climb 219 steps for a breathtaking view of both St. Aug and the beaches. Or go below to discover a 1782 British shipwreck. Take guided tours, free with admission, on the hour 11 am - 3 pm. Check out the exhibits in the Keepers' House and Maritime Archaeology Center. Visitors also encounter ghosts on the nighttime Dark of the Moon tour, which is the only St. Augustine ghost tour that gets you inside the Lighthouse. Book in advance because it fills up fast, and book mid-week to avoid crowds. For general admission purchase your tickets on-line in advance w/coupon code LH15 to get a 15% discount off regular admission prices. Or join as a family member for discounts to local attractions, and 20% off in the Museum shop as well as free admission all year long. Step up and make a difference at our non-profit museum. You help keep the light shining when you visit.
Reviewed By 28beverlyd
A beautiful light house with amazing views, very informative presentation before we walked up the lighthouse and the other buildings on the property were amazing to walk through and learn.
3. Fort Matanzas National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,076 reviews
This fort is on Rattlesnake Island and can be reached via ferry.
Reviewed By Whyme512 - Streetsboro, United States
Even though the dock had been washed away and we couldn’t get to the fort, the Park Ranger was very talkative and explained everything about the fort. He then explained about the critters and the plants in the area.
4. Fort Mose Historic State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 128 reviews
This fort is the first sanctioned settlement of black people in the U.S.
Reviewed By 975rodb
This small park has an impressive little museum that gives a thorough overview of the history in this area involving the English, Indians, slaves, and Spanish. It's an amazing story that should be seen. There is a short film that gives an overview and a neat Boardwalk that goes out to view the original fort site.
5. St. George Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,589 reviews
Reviewed By tedlong29 - Gulf Breeze, United States
St. George Street is the absolute heart of the city. I love walking down here at any time of the day. One can just feel the history all around them. It's also packed full of unique shops, great dining, pubs, museums, cool sites and talented street musicians at every turn. It feels like you are in some seaside village in Spain. It's just a timeless place and I cant ever get enough of it. Definitely come here while visiting St. Augustine. I would suggest early evening as it's not so hot especially during the summer months. It's best to park at the Visitor Center Parking Garage and start from the City Gates.
6. Old City
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,566 reviews
Reviewed By 266JosephG - Montreal, Canada
This was our first visit to historic St. Augustine. We parked at the Castillo and toured the fort and then strolled along the river, on St. George Street and in-between and beyond admiring the historic architecture of the basilica, former luxury hotels (now FlaglerCollege), the Governor House and the beautiful park Plaza de la Constitucion. We browsed in the many shops and halted in one of its landmark bars and enjoyed a nice seafood dinner in the colonial quarters. It was a magnificent sunny day, in a laid back atmosphere devoid of any overcrowding; truly a great outing and a promise to return.
7. Old St. Augustine Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 641 reviews
A city block of St. Augustine's history, with historic houses spanning the period from 1790-1910.
Reviewed By susangs2020 - Emmaus, United States
We had so much fun visiting the village. Frank, the jailbird, was great. He gave us a great tour of the jail (and was really funny). Over at the store, Abigail and Minnie explained how things were done back in the day. The pace of the tour was perfect!
8. Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,798 reviews
Reviewed By KateLorain - Lorain, United States
Stopped here during our trolley tour. It was a peaceful pause in a hectic day with time to light a candle and say some prayers.
9. Old Jail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,523 reviews
Reviewed By windyordfa - Chicago, United States
Great job in reinactment of events and educational very fun!!! showed the history very well and also had a small interesting history museum the trolley tour is great Melonie is a great tour guide!!!
10. National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,130 reviews
Reviewed By MarnetteS - Webster, United States
We were in town for a few days sightseeing. We like to take a city tour first thing to find those attractions we want to explore on our own. Nombre de Dios was one of them. We were ready for a quiet, serene place to spend our last day after the hectic days in town. The setting for the mission is lovely and you can just imagine Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales celebrating the first parish mass in the U.S. as he proclaimed the land in the: "Nombre de Dios" ~ "Name of God." He was the priest who accompanied St. Augustine founder, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, and the Spanish explorers. These first settlers brought with them a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and established the Holy Virgin’s first sanctuary in the U.S on the grounds. They build a chapel and dedicated it to “Nuestra Senora de La Leche y Buen Parto” ~ “Our Lady of the Milk and Happy/Safe Delivery.” The small chapel is a lovely place to sit, pray and reflect. This shrine has drawn thousands of mothers, mothers-to-be and families. We spent over an hour strolling the grounds and looking at all of the graves and monuments. Especially poignant are the “Seven Sorrows of Mary,” stone grottos along a walkway. Another interesting grave is those of six Sisters of St. Joseph, brought in to teach the slaves after the Civil War. And not to be missed is the 208’ bronze cross, the tallest cross in the Western Hemisphere. A gift from the Vatican, it was capped at that height to avoid the installation of a mandatory aircraft warning light. Is it any wonder, these grounds are called “The Sacred Acre?” We re-crossed the bridge (restored after Hurricane Matthew) and went into the mission church. Perpetual Adoration is held; exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is held from Monday through Friday following noon Mass until 2:45 p.m. Daily Mass is held Monday through Saturday at Noon. No Mass on Sunday. Spanish Mass on Saturday at 1:30. Chaplet of Divine Mercy is said Monday through Friday at 2:45 p.m. Confessions are said Monday-Saturday from 11-11:55 a.m. The shrine is open daily from Monday - Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. The parking rules are clearly stated: the gates close promptly at the designated time. If you do not remove your car before closing time, you need to wait until the next day. Another short bridge leading directly to the cross is currently closed for repairs. Plans include building a prayer garden in that area. We purchased prayer cards in the gift shop and spent a half hour with Greg who spent time explaining the history of the shrine and its importance to the Church. My husband is a retired professor from a Franciscan university and Greg was knowledgeable about the Franciscan contribution to the mission and Church in Florida. If you go, please take advantage of the docent’s knowledge to understand the importance of this sacred land to the history of the Church. This is a free attraction; donations help support it.
