10 Things to Do in St. Augustine, FL on a Small Budget

Among the best free things to do in St. Augustine, Mother Nature’s generous bounty comes out on top. You haven’t really done Florida unless you’ve sprawled yourself out on its stunning beaches. With this level of white-sand beauty right on St. Augustine’s doorstep, why would you pay money to do anything else anyway? 

Numerous beaches in and around St. Augustine boast 42 miles of sandy stretches and clear water, with free public access (and in some cases free parking). Start at St. Augustine Beach, but also check out Butler Beach and Crescent Beach.

While the crowds head to famous Castillo de San Marcos, thrifty travellers can switch it out for Fort Matanzas National Monument (and if you visit San Marcos, know that you can enjoy sea views from the grounds without paying admission). 

Fort Matanzas was similarly used to guard St. Augustine in the first Spanish colonial period, except this fort sits at what was the city’s southern entrance. Not only is it free to take a tour or explore on your own, you’ll even be able to hop on a free ferry to Rattlesnake Island to get to it.

The impressive St. Augustine Beach Pier – also known as the St. Johns County Ocean Pier – stretches out over the waters of the North Atlantic and affords both incredible views and the chance to breathe in the sea air. 

For around a dollar you can head out onto the pier for a spot of sightseeing or simply to relax. Back on land, a splash park and playground beside the pier provide a safe place for kids to have fun. For a small additional fee, you can even partake in a spot of fishing from the pier itself.

St. Augustine is home to the San Sebastian Winery and the St. Augustine Distillery, and both offer free daily tours complete with the chance to sample the local liquor. When travelling to St. Augustine on a budget, who can say no to free booze?

Only a 5-minute walk from one another and just a few blocks outside the historic city centre, the winery and distillery’s tours depart every half hour or so. You’ll get to see the production process in action, and then taste a diverse range of award-winning Florida wines as well as bourbon, vodka, gin, and rum.

A tram tour is usually the chosen way to get around St. Augustine, but this city’s small size is a blessing, making it far more walkable than most. Indeed, there are few better ways to really get a feel for the historic significance of a place like this than to hit the streets yourself and discover it on foot. 

The downtown historic district is compact enough to enjoy on a self-guided walking tour in and around King Street – be sure to hit up Flagler College, Government House, and the Lightner Museum – while the city is also a pleasant one to cruise by bicycle.

Stopping by some of St. Augustine’s numerous art galleries is a great way to add a creative slant to what can be a notably history-heavy place to visit. The good news is that, once a month, almost 30 galleries across the city throw open their doors and welcome anyone and everyone for the free First Friday Art Walk. 

A walking tour map guides you between the venues, where you can expect refreshments and specially laid-on entertainment – most months, there’s even a free tram shuttle to get you around if you’d rather not walk.

In the summer season St. Augustine puts on a diverse array of free concerts out in the open air, meaning the night can drag on a little longer. When the weather is good, no one in the city wants to be heading back inside just because the sun is setting, and the evening is drawing to a close.

The historic Plaza de la Constitucion is a particularly evocative outdoor venue, playing host to a regular schedule of live music performances that usually run from June to August, while the Colonial Oak Music Park sees weekly outdoor movie screenings.

The historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is a recognised national monument, originally constructed in 1793 and – as the oldest Christian structure of its kind – still able to call itself ‘America’s first parish’ to this day. 

The Spanish colonial and renaissance revival architectural style, complete with stained glass and striking murals, make this a majestic site to explore. The Cathedral Basilica is easily reached in downtown St. Augustine and welcomes visitors free of charge (there is a fee for guided behind-the-scenes tours).

The downside of a small city like St. Augustine is that parking is often at a premium, and streetside meters quickly become costly. Fortunately, the publicly run Historic Downtown Parking Facility offers discounted flat rates beside the visitor information centre in the north of the city. 

Open 24/7 and with capacity for 1,200 vehicles, it’s a breeze to park here and be freed up to explore the city’s attractions on foot (it’s just a 3-minute walk to St. George Street). Also look out for park-and-ride services from just outside the city during peak visitor periods.

St. Augustine and the surrounding area are blessed with countless city, county, and state parks perfect for picnicking. Many of these green spaces offer free public access. 

A 20-minute walk from downtown, Davenport Park sports a restored antique carousel for old-fashioned family fun, and further out the 23-acre Vaill Point Park features numerous children’s playgrounds, a hiking trail, boating, and a fishing pier. Joe Pomar Park has a kayak launch dock that leads into the San Sebastian river.