The best way to explore downtown St. Augustine is on foot.  For one, driving in the oldest part of the city isn’t allowed, and where it is, parking can be a pain.  But walking also allows you to see and appreciate so much more of the historic architecture as you meander.

Below, we’ve compiled a guide of the top 10 attractions to see and do while visiting the historic downtown St. Augustine, starting at our hotel, the St. Francis Inn. If you completed this walking itinerary all in one day, it would take you around 2 hours (in addition to any time spent at each attractions, of course).

Without further ado, here are the best things waiting for you as you walk around downtown St. Augustine:

1. About 7 minutes away up St. George Street (and one block to the west), you’ll find the Lightner Museum, which stands as a beautiful tribute to the Gilded Age era when it was built, and houses a wonderful collection of art, history, and design.
2. From the museum, head back to St. George Street and continue to the Plaza de la Consticion, which is at the very heart of the historic city center, and is surrounded by beautiful buildings, including the cathedral.
3. Just across the street is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, a beautiful example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, and the oldest Christian congregation in the country.
4. To the east of the Cathedral on Cordova Street is the historic Flagler College. The college is still active today, and the historic campus is a beautiful place to walk around.  There are also historic tours of the campus available.
5. Once you’ve toured the historic college grounds, head back towards the Cathedral and continue on to Ponce de Leon Circle and the Bridge of Lions – one of the most iconic sites in the city.
6. Once you’ve taken pictures of the Bridge of Lions, it’s time to head back to the pedestrian-friendly St. George street, and up to the Colonial Quarter, where you can journey back through time in St. Augustine. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk away, with plenty of great shops to see along the way.
7. The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse is next, which is a unique treasure housed in an old Minorcan homestead from the 1700’s. Nearby, you’ll find the old city gate.
8. Continue on to the historic Castillo de San Marcos, which was built by the Spanish to defend Florida and the Atlantic Trade Route. It’s the oldest masonry fort of its kind left in the country, offering visitors more than 450 years of history and confluence of cultures.
9. From the fort, walk about 20 more minutes to the north, where you’ll find the old Jail of downtown St. Augustine.
10. Finally, end your walking adventure at Ponce de Leon’s famous Fountain of Youth, a beautiful place to sit down, relax, and enjoy the end of your walking tour of historic downtown St. Augustine!

Of course, there are many more museums and sites to see in downtown St. Augustine than the few we’ve listed here, but this should at least serve as a good guide to walking historic downtown St. Augustine from south to north. Another way to see the city is to hop on the Old Town Trolley, and enjoy the sights that way.  It’s a hop on hop off tour, and a great way to get yourself oriented to the city.