The St. Augustine Lighthouse is one of the city’s iconic structures, standing tall above the beautiful shores of Anastasia Island. Visitors to the St. Augustine lighthouse can enjoy some of the city’s best views, learn more about the Nation’s oldest port, and learn how this incredible monument to history played a pivotal role in St. Augustine’s maritime history.
The St. Augustine Lighthouse stands a majestic 165 feet above Anastasia Island, overlooking Matanzas Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The St. Augustine Lighthouse is still actively used as a navigation aid for maritime vessels today. Even so, inside the lighthouse, you’ll find a dedicated museum with various exhibits and stairs to the top. To reach the top, there are an impressive 219 stairs to climb. The climb may seem daunting, but the 360-degree view of the city and the ocean you’ll enjoy from the top is breathtaking and worth the journey.
If you’d like to see this historic building and watch a magical sunset from the top, then it’s time to start planning your trip to St. Augustine. There’s only one place to stay that offers you access to both the Old City and St. Augustine Beach, and it comes with all the fine value-added amenities you could possibly need, and that is the St. Francis Inn. Our historic bed and breakfast is one of the best places to stay in St. Augustine! Book your room today!
Your Guide to the St. Augustine Lighthouse
The Port of St. Augustine has been strategically important since its earliest days as a Spanish territory in the 1500s. The first St. Augustine Lighthouse was built originally as a wooden watchtower. At that time, it was used to protect the Spanish settlement from potential invaders and guide ships into the busy port.
The watchtower only lasted until 1586 before burning down, at which time a new structure replaced it. By 1683, a new lighthouse had been built, and that one stood for 200 years before toppling, thanks to shoreline erosion. Before that tower fell, however, a new lighthouse had already been constructed in 1874, further inland, and that is the tower that still stands today. Today, the St. Augustine Lighthouse is the oldest surviving brick structure in the city, serving as a living reminder of this city’s incredible history.
Aside from the standard daily tour, the St. Augustine Lighthouse also offers a series of specialty tours throughout the year.
- The Lighthouse Ghost Tour, or the Dark of the Moon Tour, is an exclusive guided paranormal tour and the only after-dark tour of the lighthouse. Guests can learn the ghostly history behind the light station and the keeper’s house, conduct their own paranormal investigation, and ascend the 219 steps for a nighttime view of the nation’s oldest city.
- The Lighthouse Keeper’s Tour is a personalized visit with the St. Augustine’s Lighthouse Keeper. You’ll tour the station, climb a working lighthouse, and get all of your questions answered.
- Sunset/Moonrise Tour, where guests can enjoy drinks and appetizers while they watch the sunset and the moonrise over the ancient city from the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Tickets to this once-a-month event often sell out well in advance, so make sure you plan well ahead of time.
- Sunrise Lens Room Tour offers visitors a personal tour behind the scenes of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. It includes special access to the Lens Room, where the original 1874 first-order Fresnel lens still shines. This tour is the only way to get inside the Lens Room.
Several educational exhibits at the Keeper’s House and the Maritime Education Center are worth checking out. Daily guided tours of the lighthouse are included with the cost of admission. Better yet, as a guest at our bed and breakfast, complimentary admission to the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum is included in your stay, plus discounts on purchases in the gift shops.
The Best Boutique Hotel in St. Augustine
There’s so much to explore in St. Augustine that one day is just not enough. From spending time visiting attractions like the St. Augustine Lighthouse and meandering the pedestrian-friendly streets of Old Town to lounging on the beach, you’ll soon find out that there’s nothing quite like historic St. Augustine. Especially when you have our elegant bed and breakfast as your home base!
Our property encompasses 19 unique lodging options, including everything from cozy guest rooms for solo travelers or couples to multi-room suites with kitchens, living spaces, and outdoor areas. No matter which lodging option you choose, you’ll be treated to a fantastic breakfast each morning and an afternoon social hour with snacks and beverages—always included in the cost of your room.
The St. Francis Inn offers all the amenities of a luxury boutique hotel, giving you the chance to see St. Augustine from every angle. This makes us the best choice for lodging in the city. Not only are we close enough to Old Town for you to walk and explore to your heart’s content, but we also offer exclusive and free amenities that other properties can’t match. It’s one of the many perks of staying with us at the St. Francis Inn. Start planning your summer getaways to our St. Augustine boutique bed and breakfast, and book your room today!
