An assortment of shops and attractions line St. George Street

One Day on Foot in Historic Downtown

What can you do in one day in St. Augustine? A lot.

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In town for a day, having a staycation, or simply want to walk around downtown on your first day here? Created for those who like to walk, here's a one-day itinerary featuring the Historic Downtown and Lincolnville regions.

Serving everything from fried chicken to biscuits and gravy and corn bread to shrimp and grits, these eateries offer all the comfort of classic Southern food.

Breakfast

One hour

Let's start with breakfast, and let's make it a bit decadent because you will use up the calories. There are three iconic locally-owned diners/breakfast restaurants downtown:

Mary's Harbor View Cafe on the bayfront is known for their classic biscuits and gravy.
The Blue Hen Cafe in Lincolnville can please any palate. Meat lovers return for their grits with pulled pork.
Georgie's Diner on Malaga Street makes sublime eggs Benedict.

This directory lists all restaurants that serve breakfast in the Historic Downtown, and this article has more breakfast options throughout the area.

An obelisk at Robert B. Hayling Freedom Park — *Robert B. Hayling Park can be found in Lincolnville at the southern end of Riberia Street.*

Take a Walk

45 minutes

It's fun to simply stroll the side streets of the Historic Downtown and Lincolnville areas. You'll find beautifully renovated old homes, small parks, and a surprising number of historic markers. The best places to walk are just west of downtown in Flagler's Historic Land Neighborhood (found between King and Orange Streets,) and through Lincolnville. A (roughly) three-mile loop includes a walk from the Plaza through Lincolnville, out the far end of Riberia, and around Robert B. Hayling Park.

Castillo de San Marcos

Two Hours

No matter your route through Lincolnville and the Historic Downtown, end up at the Castillo after 9:00 a.m. and tour this historic fort. This national park is the oldest masonry structure in the continental U.S. Construction began in 1672 and the fort has flown Spanish, British, and American flags. During the warmer months, we like to tour the Castillo before the sun gets too high. If your one day in town includes a Saturday or Sunday, take the stairs to the gundeck before 10:30 a.m. to witness the cannon firing.

A historical photograph in black and white of the Villa Zorayda on King Street in St. Augustine, Florida. It is a coquina structure meant to mimic the Real Alhambra in Spain. It is a vine covered building with many differently shaped windows and a front garden full of shrubbery. — *Villa Zorayda, when it was a private home.*

More History

45 minutes to four hours

If history and architecture are your jam, St. Augustine can offer a myriad of ways to learn about days past and tours of incredible buildings. Opt for one or more of these:

The highly rated Spanish Military Hospital tour starts on the hour and may require pre-registration. (45 minutes)
The Oldest House Museum Complex features the González-Alvarez House (Circa 1720) and five other historic buildings and a garden. The complex is also home to the St. Augustine Surf Culture and History Museum. (60 - 90 minutes)
The Ximenez-Fatio House, built in 1798, highlights the years when different women owned the property, managing it as a hotel and boarding house. (45 - 60 minutes)
Villa Zorayda, a gilded-age masterpiece built in the Moorish Revival style, has an impressive audio tour detailing this unique, art-filled building. (45 - 60 minutes)
Flagler College's Legacy Tours offers a guided tour featuring architecture and art highlights from Flagler's former Ponce de Leon Hotel. (45 - 60 minutes)

Street view of Whetstone Chocolates on St. George Street

Lunch and Shopping

Three hours

If you'd rather simply saunter past historical buildings, dipping in and out of them to shop and eat, then take some time to wander along St. George Street and the blocks on either side. Part of the original walled city, this area is full of old buildings with historic markers. But most of these buildings sell clothing, gifts, and jewelry — or offer a comfortable restaurant or pub where you can sit, eat, and lift a glass (or two).

History, food, and shopping — what could be better?

Velvet 45 with Ian Opalinski at the mic, playing music on Ann O'Malley's porch — *Velvet 45, a duo featuring Ian Opalinski, plays frequently on the porch at Ann O'Malley's Pub*

Live Music

Three to eight hours

On most days, live music begins at noon in the Mill Top Tavern, followed at 1:00 p.m. or so at the Tradewinds Lounge, and continues until 10:00 p.m. or later at a score of other establishments, including the Colonial Oak Music Park. Local musicians perform jazz, folk, rock, Americana, and their original music every day. Our LIVE Music calendar and app are the best ways to find out who is playing right now.

The Victory III of Scenic Cruise, traveling down the Matanzas on a bright day — *Scenic Cruise of St. Augustine operates The Victory III, and takes passengers along the bayfront on both sides of the Bridge of Lions.*

Take a Boat Ride

One to two hours

St. Augustine EcoTours, the Black Raven Pirate Ship, the Schooner Freedom, and the Victory III all offer tours from the St. Augustine Municipal Marina, next to the Bridge of Lions. Check their schedules to see what cruise fits your day. We like any cruise near sunset.

A bartender serves the Castillo gin and tonic, made with Butterfly Pea Flower Gin and Fever-Tree Tonic, and garnished with grapefruit and rosemary — *The house gin and tonic, made with Butterfly Pea Flower Gin and Fever-Tree Tonic, garnished with grapefruit and rosemary from the Castillo Craft Bar and Kitchen.*

Drinks

Who's counting?

Time for a libation? No problem. There's a pub or bar (or three) on every block. While some serve only beer and wine, most establishments have a full bar and some of those serve craft cocktails.

On one end of downtown, the Ice Plant, at 110 Riberia Street, serves craft cocktails with fresh juices, bitters, and specially made syrups. On the other end of downtown, near the Visitors Center, the Castillo Craft Bar and Kitchen in the Renaissance Hotel offers wine, beer, and their signature cocktails. In the middle along the bayfront, you'll find the Tini Martini Bar, home of large martinis, served with a view of the bay. The drinks are cold, delicious, and potent. Fortunately, it's a short walk from the Tini Martini to a score of restaurants and sandwich shops.

A seafood and asparagus dish offered at the Castillo Craft Bar + Kitchen in St. Augustine — *A seafood and asparagus dish offered at the Castillo Craft Bar + Kitchen.*

Dinner

Two to four hours

From tacos and burritos to white tablecloth service and French cuisine, locals agree that the food in Historic Downtown and Lincolnville can satisfy any palate. There are other wonderful places to eat all over St. Johns County, but if you're staying downtown and playing in downtown, make sure to try any of the nearby restaurants open for lunch, brunch, and dinner. One may offer only counter service, while another around the corner has a full complement of waitstaff, including a sommelier. A few along St. George Street are part of a national chain, other eating establishments are offshoots of older Florida restaurants, and many others are stand-alone eateries locally owned and operated.

Cousteau's Waffle and Milkshake Bar offers authentic Belgian waffles in the hearl of downtown St. Augustine. — *A signature Belgian Waffle from Cousteau's Waffle and Milkshake Bar, at 15 Hypolita Street.*

Dessert

Again, who's counting?

After dinner, many of the locals will check the Live Music Calendar again, or simply wander around listening to music and window shopping until it's time for a little something sweet. Fortunately, if you know where to look you can find sweets until late in the evening. At Bar Harbor Cheesecake Company, 6 Cordova Street, you can sit in their cozy interior and enjoy wine, French chocolates, and a wide variety of individual cheesecakes until 11:11 p.m. Cousteau's Waffle and Milkshake Bar also stays open late, until 11:00 p.m., and their specialty is Belgian Sugar Waffles served hot off the waffle press, or topped with ice cream, fruit, chocolate, and pretty much anything you can imagine. Mayday Ice Cream, on the corner of St. George Street and Hypolita, serves 16 kinds of hand-crafted ice cream with house-made sprinkles until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and until 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Don't worry about the indulgence. If you completed most of this day as outlined here, you surely completed more than 10,000 steps. Go for it.

Barbara Hart

From Maine, Barbara landed in St. Augustine after 5 years at sea and changed her writing focus from boating and the Caribbean to all things St. Augustine.