The oldest city in the USA (by settlers standards), St. Augustine is stone-cobbled and full of history. Established in 1565, it is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the contiguous United States and it has the historic sights to prove it. It also has beaches, art, a small town feel, and a modern touch. It is a unique blend of centuries old and new that is sure to hold appeal for a wide audience. This list of cheap things to do in St. Augustine focuses on adults, but kids will enjoy many of these too.
Cheap Parking in St. Augustine
There’s relatively little free parking (except Sundays and national holidays – all street parking is free!) in St. Augustine unless you park somewhere and take a cab, Uber, or Lyft into the main historic area. Either way, there will be a fee to visit this historic city even just for one day in St. Augustine on a budget. Street parking is $2.50/hr, which adds up quickly. Alternatively, there is a parking garage near downtown that is a flat $15 for one day in St. Augustine, so if you will be there for more than 6 hours, the parking garage is the best option – just don’t leave because it is not an in/out parking garage.
Visitor Information Center (VIC)
Once you park in the garage, the visitor center is just across the walkway. You may want to stop in to get a map, use the restroom, or explore more things that interest you (there are tons of pamphlets and ads if you want to spend more than one day in St. Augustine on a budget). There is also a gift shop and rotating exhibit (anything from Picasso to tributes on Black History) inside. If you are not interested in venturing inside, there are still two points of interest outside worthy of a quick stop.
Fuente de los Caños de San Francisco Replica
Next to VIC is what I call the “face fountain,” gifted to St. Augustine in 2005 by Aviles, Spain where the original Fuente de los Caños de San Francisco is located. The founder of St. Augustine, Pedro Menéndez, was born in Aviles and the two have been sister cities maintaining close ties since the twentieth century. Originally constructed in the late sixteenth century as a public works project to channel water to Aviles, the fountain is a renowned historic landmark, and now Floridians and visitors can see the replica.
Old Spanish Trail Zero Milestone
One of the country’s original interstates, the Old Spanish Trail ran from St. Augustine, FL to San Diego, CA, and it opened for use in 1929 – a year after the marker was erected. It is now highway 80 (southwest), 90 (south), and others, but the zero mile marker still stands at the VIC in St. Augustine! The unmissable marker is made of coquina shells (common here) just past the VIC. You will also pass the Huguenot Cemetery in this area if you want to pop by during your one day in St. Augustine on a budget.
Old City Gate
Arguably, the biggest draw of St. Augustine is the historic district, and the entrance to that area is the impressive Old City Gate. These two columns were originally built in 1808 and were the only way to enter St. Augustine. While that is no longer the case, many people like to take a quick photo here. It is definitely a cheap and free thing to do in St. Augustine!
Price: Parking. Plan for parking to the City Gate to take less than an hour unless you stop for many, many photos.
Note: Near the Old City Gate is micro-distillery City Gate Spirits. They craft Florida-inspired moonshine, vodka, rum, and whiskey and offer free tastings for those interested.
St. George Street
St. George Street and many of the surrounding side streets make up a pedestrian only mall-type area. The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, built in the 1700s, still stands on St. George Street as a reminder of where Juan Genopoly opened his house to learning students.
There’s also the Peña-Peck House, Medieval Torture Museum, Colonial Quarter, and Pirate & Treasure Museum in the area if you have more budget to work with, but they generally do not fit into the cheap and free things to do in St. Augustine category. You might also need to spend more than one day in St. Augustine if you want to visit extra museums!
In addition to the history, locally owned shops and restaurants line the streets. Stop by The Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops for a sweet snack (vegan options of course) or nearly any shops for a unique gift/souvenir (like Aunt Matilda’s Steampunk Trunk).
Price: Free to look, variable if you purchase or choose to visit one of the museums/experiences. You can spend anywhere from an hour to all day here, but for a budget plan for 1-2 hours of looking.
Lincolnville Historic District
Continuing on from St. George Street, visitors will quickly find the Lincolnville Historic District. To find the official plaque from St. George, you’ll go to Bridge Street, turn right, and you’ll find it on the corner of Bridge St and MLK Ave. This area is mostly private homes, but many visitors may enjoy roaming the streets to experience the city’s largest concentration of late Victorian Era buildings and history. Again, these are private homes so please be respectful when spending one day in St. Augustine on a budget.
The area was originally Indian Villages, colonial plantations, and orange groves, but in 1866 it became a settlement of emancipated enslaved people. Black people played a vital role in the history of St. Augustine, then during forced segregation the residents built their own churches, schools, and businesses. In 1991, Lincolnville was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Price: Free. Plan to spend 1 hour.
Tip: For those with a bigger budget, stop by the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center.
Lightner Museum
This art and cultural museum occupies the former Alcazar Hotel that was commissioned by Henry Flagler (railroad magnate) in 1888. The actual museum was founded by Otto Lightner in 1948. It houses a unique array of items from Tiffany lamps and decorative art to Victorian mechanical musical instruments.
While it may not be budget friendly to enter the Lightner Museum as a cheap and free thing to do in St. Augustine, the outside is a beautiful place to see and take some photos, which is what I did (some of the first two levels are also free to the public). The building is a Gilded Age resort building with a fountain out front, beautiful trees, and an interesting garden-esque courtyard in the center. Flagler College is right across the street if you’d like to walk around some more.
Price: Free to walk around outside. Plan to spend under an hour.
Villa Zorayda Museum
While this museum is not free, it is worth mentioning and potentially visiting because it can be worked into some budgets. Plus, it’s just beautiful – it is a Gilded Age masterpiece built in 1883 inspired by Moorish Revival Architecture (like the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain).
Inside the museum, there is an art collection and audio tour, but for me the big draw is the breathtaking architecture.
Price: $5-$17 depending on discounts and tour. Plan to spend an hour.
St. Augustine Distillery and San Sebastian Winery
If you like bourbon, cocktails, and wine, these two stops are perfect for you. Both St. Augustine Distillery and San Sebastian Winery offer free tours and tastings after the tour (although your budget might not like you after if you like the tastings enough!). I’ve done so many tastings and tours (plus I am not a huge fan of alcohol), so I skipped these, but I know they are very popular whether you are looking for free things to do or spending one day in St. Augustine on a budget.
Price: Free. Plan for 1 hour per tour. Note the Winery tour is self-guided.
Note: Nearby, there is also a popular chocolate stop called Whetstone Chocolates. Their tours are not free, but they do have samples and vegan options.
Plaza de la Constitución
Heading back towards St. George Street from the tours, you can enjoy the Plaza de la Constitución in the center of the city. Tons of events happen here, like concerts and a market, but if you visit when there is not an event, you can still visit the multitude of monuments and canons. To name just a few, there is the Foot Soldiers Monument (civil rights commemoration) and a tribute to American Revolution prisoners.
Furthermore, the plaza was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970, and there is even a well from the pre-1700s that has been designated an American Water Landmark. The gazebo in the center of the park is also a lovely photo spot, and the Plaza de la Constitución is bordered by even more history that visitors may want to see, like the 1700s-era Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine (called The First Parish) and The Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum.
Price: Free. Plan to spend under an hour here.
Note: Near here is the famed Bridge of Lions. It’s on most must-see lists of St. Augustine because of its history.
Art Galleries and Stores
There are even more stores and places to experience around the Plaza de la Constitución, including art galleries and more museums. In fact, less than half a mile from the Plaza de la Constitución is one of the oldest standing houses in the country, the Gonzalez-Alvarez House. With so much history, there’s plenty of options for spending one day in St. Augustine, but I lean towards roaming.
While the galleries are always free to visit, the First Friday Art Walk is a fun option if you are there at the beginning of the month.
Price: Free unless you choose to buy. Plan to spend an hour looking at a couple galleries unless you really love art and want to explore longer.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
In addition to St. Augustine being “America’s Oldest City,” Castillo de San Marcos is one of the biggest draws to visiting the area. The fort is the oldest masonry fortification in the continental US and has more than 450 years of cultural intersections to learn about. The fortress is self guided, but you can see weapons demonstrations, views of the water and city, talk to living historians (volunteers), and more.
The history of the fort and area is more inclusive, expansive, and informative than I was expecting. It’s also presented in a straightforward format so visitors can easily follow through history. You can also enjoy the views of the ocean without visiting the fort!
Technically, the fort is not free to visit, but I had an America the Beautiful National Parks Pass and entered at no charge. The pass is very cost effective and beneficial if you visit more than three or four parks in a year.
Price: $0-$15 (more for annual passes). Plan to spend 2 hours here.
Fort Matanzas National Monument
For an even less expensive historic exploration, visitors can go to Fort Matanzas National Monument. The Fort defended St. Augustine from the Southern approach of the Spanish militia. You must take a (free) ferry to Rattlesnake Island where the fort is, but you will enjoy the different trails and self-guided tours. This experience is one of the biggest “bang for your buck” free thing to do in St. Augustine.
The journey is 1.5-2 hours round trip and you will need a pass to board the ferry. The island you head towards also protects nearly 300 acres of Florida coastal environment containing dunes, marsh, maritime forest, and threatened and endangered species.
Price: Free. Plan to spend 1-2 hours on the island plus 1-2 hours of travel time.
Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM Reserve)
If you have done everything in this plan for one day in St. Augustine on a budget, you may be ready to head home. However, if you have extra time or are more interested in nature, the GTM Reserve is a free ($3 parking), preserved area near St. Augustine. The Reserve is split into a Northern and Southern area, and both have beautiful sights to see. You could easily spend a day or two in the Reserve itself, but even if you only have a few hours it is worth a stop.
The Visitor Center is located in the Northern section ten miles north of St. Augustine. The center has displays about estuaries, plus weekly programs about the flora and fauna of the area. The Northern area (associated with the Tolomato and Guana River estuaries) also has 10 miles of trails, beaches, boardwalks, kayaking, biking, and other outdoor activities.
The Southern section is associated with the Matanzas River and contains several state parks (some of them do have small fees). Guided hikes and lectures are offered monthly at the field office in the River to Sea Preserve at Marineland. Pellicer Creek Aquatic Preserve, Faver-Dykes State Park, and Washington Oaks Gardens State Park are also options to visit and kayak, canoe, hike, or even see formal gardens on a beachfront (Washington Oaks).
Price: Variable, but under $5/park. You can spend anywhere from a few hours to a few days at these protected areas.
Note: There used to be free walking tours offered by Flagler College students, but I can no longer find that information. St. Aug City Walks also used to have several free walks, but there are none listed on their schedule, so it seems unlikely that any company is offering this type of tour anymore.
Vegan Food in St. Augustine
For such a popular city, there are few vegan options. There are two fully vegetarian places, though. Buena Onda Cafe serves Latin American-inspired breakfast and lunch, and most things can be veganized. It would be ebst to stop here for breakfast before starting your day in St. Augustine. The Sprout Kitchen is fully plant based, but does have some items with honey – they are near the Plaza de la Constitución, so perfect for a lunch spot! The Kookaburra coffee shop also offers vegan milk options and pastries. There are a variety of other restaurants with vegan options as well, be it a vegan burger or hot dog to Vietnamese or sushi.
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Excited to work with Rainbow Travel Life to find affordable options to see St. Augustine in only one day. Discovering this historical treasure without going over budget seems like the ideal experience.