St. Augustine, FL
St. Augustine events and things to do, including Castillo de San Marcos, St. George Street, ghost tours, trolley tours, Nights of Lights and nearby beaches.
St. Augustine Events & Things to Do: Castillo de San Marcos, Ghost Tours & Nights of Lights
Quick answer: The best things to do in St. Augustine include touring the Castillo de San Marcos, walking historic St. George Street, climbing the St. Augustine Lighthouse, taking a trolley or ghost tour, and relaxing on St. Augustine Beach. Coming up: fall ghost tour season and Nights of Lights (November 21, 2026 through January 18, 2027).
Planning things to do in St. Augustine today, this weekend, or with kids? The nation's oldest continuously occupied European-founded city (1565) has the 17th-century Castillo de San Marcos, pedestrian St. George Street, Flagler College's Gilded Age architecture, famous ghost tours, and the holiday Nights of Lights display. St. Augustine Beach and Vilano Beach are a few minutes away.
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- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Tours & Tickets: Historic tours and guided visits.
- St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum Tours & Tickets: Museum tickets and guided visits.
- Oldest Store Museum Tours & Tickets: Museum tickets and guided visits.
- Flagler College Tours & Tickets: Top-rated tours, tickets, and experiences.
- St. Augustine Food, Wine & Nightlife: Browse food, wine & nightlife in St. Augustine.
- Fountain of Youth Tours & Tickets: Top-rated tours, tickets, and experiences.
- St. Augustine Ghost & Vampire Tours: Browse ghost & vampire tours in St. Augustine.
Quick Links: St. Augustine Tours & Activities • St. Augustine Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises • St. Augustine Seasonal & Special Occasions • St. Augustine Outdoor Activities
Upcoming St. Augustine Events in 2026 and 2027
- Fall concerts and festivals: St. Augustine's calendar fills with concerts at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and weekend festivals through October.
- Ghost tour season: October is peak season for ghost tours, haunted pub crawls, and lantern-lit walks through the historic district.
- Nights of Lights: Millions of white lights glow across historic downtown, November 21, 2026 through January 18, 2027, beginning with Light-Up Night.
Find Tickets: St. Augustine Art & Culture • St. Augustine Sightseeing Tickets & Passes • St. Augustine Christmas
How Do You Visit the Castillo de San Marcos?
The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S., built by the Spanish in the late 1600s. Adult entrance is 15 dollars and valid for 7 consecutive days, and first admission is at 9 a.m. with last admission at 5 p.m. Watch for cannon firing demonstrations on the gun deck.
Explore: St. Augustine Old Jail Tours & Tickets • Oldest Wooden School House Tours & Tickets • Spanish Military Hospital Museum Tours & Tickets
What Is There to Do in Historic Downtown St. Augustine?
Walk pedestrian-only St. George Street, visit the Colonial Quarter, tour Flagler College (the former Ponce de Leon Hotel), see the Cathedral Basilica, and explore the Lightner Museum. Trolley tours and horse-drawn carriages make it easy to see the highlights.
Explore: Lightner Museum Tours & Tickets • Flagler College Tours & Tickets • Ripley's Believe It or Not! St. Augustine Tours & Tickets
What Is Nights of Lights in St. Augustine?
Nights of Lights is St. Augustine's award-winning holiday display, with millions of white lights across historic downtown. It runs November 21, 2026 through January 18, 2027, and trolley and boat tours offer the best views.
Explore: St. Augustine Kayaking & Canoeing • St. Augustine Sunset Cruises • St. Augustine Water Tours
St. Augustine Food, Drink & Beaches
Try datil pepper dishes (a local specialty), fresh shrimp from the Atlantic, and Minorcan clam chowder, then tour a local winery or distillery. Nearby, St. Augustine Beach, Vilano Beach, and Anastasia State Park offer wide, uncrowded sand.
Explore: St. Augustine Cooking Classes • Medieval Torture Museum Tours & Tickets • Mission Nombre de Dios Tours & Tickets
Things to Do in St. Augustine With Kids
Traveling with kids? Climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse, watch cannon firings at the Castillo, visit the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, ride a trolley, and see Nights of Lights from a holiday boat tour.
Explore: St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum Tours & Tickets • St. Augustine Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises • Potter's Wax Museum Tours & Tickets
Free Things to Do in St. Augustine
- St. George Street: A pedestrian lane of shops, cafés, and historic buildings in the Colonial Quarter.
- Castillo de San Marcos grounds: Walk the bayfront lawns and seawall outside the fort.
- Nights of Lights: Millions of white lights across downtown from mid-November through January.
- Flagler College exterior and Plaza de la Constitución: Gilded Age and Spanish colonial landmarks.
Things to Do in St. Augustine for Adults & Couples
- Ghost tours: Lantern walks and haunted pub crawls through the old city.
- Sunset sail on Matanzas Bay: A classic schooner cruise past the Castillo.
- Aviles Street dining: Wine bars and bistros on the oldest street in the city.
- St. Augustine Lighthouse: Climb 219 steps for sweeping coastal views.
Things to Do in St. Augustine This Weekend & Today
A St. Augustine weekend is easy on foot: the Castillo in the morning, St. George Street at lunch, and a ghost tour after dark. From mid-November through January, plan an evening around Nights of Lights and book trolley tours early.
Browse Now: St. Augustine Tours & Activities • St. Augustine Art & Culture • Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum Tours & Tickets • Memorial Presbyterian Church Tours & Tickets
Popular St. Augustine Questions
What are the best free things to do in St. Augustine?
Free favorites in St. Augustine include St. George Street, Castillo de San Marcos grounds, Nights of Lights, and Flagler College exterior and Plaza de la Constitución. See the free things to do section above for details.
What are the best things to do in St. Augustine for adults and couples?
Popular picks for adults and couples in St. Augustine include ghost tours, sunset sail on Matanzas Bay, Aviles Street dining, and St. Augustine Lighthouse.
When is Nights of Lights 2026?
Nights of Lights runs November 21, 2026 through January 18, 2027 in historic downtown St. Augustine.
How much does it cost to visit the Castillo de San Marcos?
Adult entrance is 15 dollars and valid for 7 consecutive days; children 15 and under are free.
What are the Castillo de San Marcos hours?
First admission is 9 a.m. and last admission is 5 p.m.
How far is St. Augustine from Orlando?
St. Augustine is about a two-hour drive northeast of Orlando.
When is the best time to visit St. Augustine?
Fall brings mild weather and ghost tours, winter brings Nights of Lights, and spring brings beach weather and festivals.
What is there to do in St. Augustine this weekend?
Browse St. Augustine tours and activities for trolley tours, ghost tours, and experiences you can book for your dates.
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Plan Your St. Augustine Trip
Tour the Castillo de San Marcos, stroll St. George Street, climb the lighthouse, take a ghost tour, relax on St. Augustine Beach, and see Nights of Lights.
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