Not only is it possible to take your St. Augustine tour on foot, but we actually recommend it. St. Augustine is a relatively small and dense city with a lot of popular tourist attractions, making it a bit of a nightmare to drive in. Finding parking can be difficult and it’s common to find yourself stuck in traffic if you try to drive during rush hour in the city. Luckily, St. Augustine is considered to be one of the most walkable cities in the United States, so there’s no reason to drive unless you’re heading to and from a hotel just outside town.
The most walkable part of St. Augustine just so happens to also be where most of the tourist attractions are located: the Historic District. When the city was founded in the mid-16th century by Spanish explorers, this neighborhood was its center. As St. Augustine has grown, the city has taken great pains to preserve the historic buildings in this district, turning them into historic landmarks. When you stroll through the Historic District, make sure you take in all the colonial-era Spanish architecture as you visit the neighborhood’s famous restaurants and boutiques.
The only downside of walking around St. Augustine is the heat, especially if you’re visiting during the summer. Florida’s heat can be pretty brutal if you’re not prepared for it, and it’s easy to become dehydrated just from strolling through the streets. Make sure you bring plenty of water with you, wear lightweight and breathable clothing, and put on sunscreen before you go out. Summer days in St. Augustine regularly reach the 90s with significant humidity, so prepare yourself and take it easy!
To make the most of your trip, check out our St. Augustine Self-Guided Walking Tour, or you can sign up for Action+ and gain access to over 100 tours for a single yearly price.