Florida

St. Augustine vacation rentals

America's oldest city — a 17th-century Spanish fort, brick-paved streets, and 42 miles of beaches.

Best time to visit

March through May and October–November; the holiday Nights of Lights (November–January) is magical and books early.

Rental types

Historic district apartments · Beach condos · Anastasia Island cottages · Victorian homes

Getting there

Fly into Jacksonville (JAX), 50 minutes north, or Daytona (DAB), an hour south. I-95 exits lead straight to the historic district; park once and walk.

About St. Augustine

Founded by the Spanish in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States — and it looks the part. The coquina walls of the Castillo de San Marcos have guarded the harbor since 1695, and the old town behind it layers colonial, Gilded Age, and Victorian architecture into one walkable museum of a city.

Henry Flagler's 1888 Ponce de León Hotel — now Flagler College — remains one of America's most beautiful buildings, opposite his former Alcazar, now the Lightner Museum. Across the lion-guarded bridge, Anastasia Island holds 42 miles of Atlantic beaches, from lively St. Augustine Beach to wild Anastasia State Park.

Vacation rentals in St. Augustine

St. Augustine vacation rentals split into two trips: historic-district apartments and Victorian homes where you walk to everything, and beach condos and cottages on Anastasia Island where the sand sets the schedule. Many travelers split the week between both — they're ten minutes apart.

The Nights of Lights festival (mid-November through January) drapes the entire historic district in white lights and is the busiest season alongside summer. Book beach weeks and festival weekends well ahead. Ghost tours, the colonial quarter, and the fountain-of-youth legends keep the streets lively year-round.

Things to do in St. Augustine

Explore the Castillo de San Marcos and watch the cannon firing
Walk St. George Street's shops, courtyards, and colonial buildings
Tour Flagler College's Tiffany-glass dining hall and the Lightner Museum
Take a ghost tour through the old city after dark
Swim and surf at St. Augustine Beach and Anastasia State Park
Sip from the Fountain of Youth and climb the lighthouse for the view

History lovers, families, and couples

Few American cities deliver this much history this compactly — kids love the fort and the pirates, couples love the carriage rides and courtyard wine bars, and everyone loves the beach ten minutes away. Add the growing restaurant scene and it's a complete long-weekend destination.

Where to stay in St. Augustine

Historic Downtown

The pedestrian core — Castillo, St. George Street, Flagler College, and the bayfront.

Anastasia Island & St. Augustine Beach

Over the Bridge of Lions — the pier, the wide main beach, and beachside dining.

Vilano Beach

Quiet north-beach village with coquina sand and a fishing pier.

Lincolnville & Uptown

Historic neighborhoods of Victorian homes, antiques, and local restaurants.

St. Augustine FAQs

Is St. Augustine worth visiting?

Absolutely — it's one of the most distinctive cities in America, combining a 17th-century Spanish fort, Gilded Age architecture, walkable brick streets, and excellent Atlantic beaches in one compact destination.

How many days do you need in St. Augustine?

Two to three days covers the historic district's highlights; add a day or two for the beaches on Anastasia Island.

When is Nights of Lights in St. Augustine?

From mid-November through the end of January, when millions of white lights cover the historic district. Weekends book out months ahead; weeknights are the secret.