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Old Town Trolley Tours

Hosting a narrated tour of St. Augustine with 22 stops throughout the historic district.

At the Old Jail. 167 San Marco Avenue St. Augustine, FL 32084

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Old Town Trolley Tours offers visitors a fully narrated tour of St. Augustine and a convenient way to get around downtown, with 22 stops along the way.

The Old Town Trolley Tour route encompasses seven miles of fascinating history as recounted by one of Old Town Trolley's highly-trained and certified tour guides/conductors. The tour provides an excellent overview of St. Augustine, and free parking available at the Old Town Trolley Welcome Centers makes it easy to get around town without the hassle of searching for parking.

One full loop takes about an hour and a half to complete. Trolleys depart every 20 minutes, so it's easy to hop off at a stop and hop back on without a long wait.

Discounted attraction packages to other St. Augustine attractions can be purchased at the Old Jail and all the other Old Town Trolley ticket depots throughout town. Free parking is available at the Old Jail at 167 San Marco Ave.

The trolley tickets are good for one day of sightseeing, and a ticket for a second consecutive day is available for a nominal fee.

The trolley ticket includes free admission to the St. Augustine History Museum, complimentary shuttle service to most local hotels, and Beach Bus service to St. Augustine Beach.

The last trolley tour of the day goes out at 4:30 p.m.

Old Town Trolleys welcome service animals, those trained to provide specific tasks. No other pets are allowed on the trolleys.

For more information about their accessibility services, click here. 

Specialty Tours

Ghosts & gravestones tour.

Departing nightly at 8 p.m. from 27 San Marco Avenue, the Ghosts & Gravestones Frightseeing Tours invite guests on a spooky adventure to experience St. Augustine's darker side. A "Ghost Host" will chauffeur attendees to some of St. Augustine's most famous haunted spots, entertaining them with tales of the strange, creepy, and tragic sides of the city's history.

This special tour is also the only ghost tour in town that offers guests access to the Old Jail and The Chamber of Horrors at Potter's Wax Museum. This tour is rated PG13 and may be scary for younger kids, so parental discretion is advised. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please click here.

Ghost Town Trolley Tour

A haunting journey around the spookiest locations in St. Augustine, the Ghost Town Trolley Tour travels through the Ancient City for an hour. The hosts may or may not be ghosts and do provide lively tales about the people who lived here and those who may have never left. 

The stories include historical facts, descriptions of paranormal experiences, and personal accounts. The open-air trolley passes by the City Gate, Huguenot Cemetery, and the Old Jail  — one of the most haunted buildings in St. Augustine.   For more information, and to purchase tickets please click here.

Old Jail After Dark

Old Town Trolleys now offers a special 10-person tour of the Old Jail after sunset. Visitors can use the latest equipment to participate in paranormal investigations. The Old Jail is recognized as one of the more haunted places in St. Augustine, and the stories of these ghosts are not usually happy ones. This tour is limited to ten, allowing guests a more intimate experience and the opportunity to hear the stories and use the equipment to seek spirits and communicate with them. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Wedding Trolley

Old Town Trolley Tours also offers charters on its special wedding trolley. For information about a private charter, please go here .

Restaurants nearby

Dunkin' Donuts — Uptown

Alms + Fare

Subway: Historic

Cortesse's Bistro

Places to Stay nearby

Hilton Garden Inn -- Historic District

Holiday Inn St. Augustine

Best Western Historical Inn

Admission | Ticket Prices

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Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine

Visit the oldest city in the United States and get your dose of warm Florida sun and fascinating history. St. Augustine is known for its gorgeous sandy beaches, breathtaking architecture, antique buildings and its significance to the shaping of our nation.

When you climb on board Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine, you’ll have a chance to see the Ancient City in all its glory, from historical attractions like the site where Ponce de Leon first landed ashore, to unique attractions like the Alligator Farm. During the 90-minute tour, you’ll have the opportunity to get off and on the trolley as often as you wish, giving you a chance to stay at any of the stops for as long as you want.

Our local conductors make the tour even more entertaining by providing history and humor all rolled into one. Our conductors are recognized for their ability to captivate and entertain each of our guests. Local residents who come from various cities around the U.S., they share a common enthusiasm for history and talent to amuse folks. You’ll learn about the first settlers to the city and the powerful Spanish influence that still exists today. You’ll see the Castillo de San Marcos Fort that guarded the city against foreign invaders and is the oldest European fort of its kind still standing.

From museums to architectural masterpieces like The Ponce de Leon Hotel, now Flagler College, to the oldest wooden schoolhouse, you’ll see it all on the orange and green trolleys. Only Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine offers the best of the city in one delightful tour.

Did You Know?

St. augustine was founded by the spanish under admiral pedro menéndez de avilés in 1565..

Here are a few reasons why Old Town Trolley is the best sightseeing tour:

• 100% Satisfaction Guarantee*
• FREE admission to St. Augustine History Museum
• Over 100 points of interest
• Your ticket is good for all day on and off re-boarding at 22 stops
• FREE Beach Shuttle to Alligator Farm and the beach

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Should You Book the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour? Review + Tips

Last Updated: December 11, 2022 //  by  Ashley Smith 4 Comments

I spend a lot of time in Florida–but still never enough, am I right?–and a good chunk of my most recent trip was spent aboard the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour .

Because I visit quite often, I’m slowly working my way around this medium-sized, newsworthy state. Finally, I recently checked off an item high on my Florida bucket list: St. Augustine.

As you can imagine, there’s a lot to see in St. Augustine. It was founded in 1565 and is the oldest city in the United States. That means it has had over 450 years to rack up sights and attractions, tasty eateries and ghost stories. And I only had one day in St. Augustine to see it all.

It look a lot of planning, a bunch of checklists, and the help of a whole pride of peacocks. (You’ll see when you get there.) But I came, I saw, I conquered, I finished it off with a delicious coconut beer. Read on to see how the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour played a part in it all.

St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour

The St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour is the most popular way to see the sights in St. Augustine. You sit back and relax, feel that ocean breeze in your face, pick your hair out of your lip gloss, and learn about all of St. Augustine’s most famous landmarks while a guide makes dad jokes over a microphone.

They created these sightseeing tours to take you around town and show you what’s what. The guide narrates your tour with historical anecdotes and you’re welcome to hop off and back on at designated stops all around the city. These tours are also available in Key West, Boston , San Diego, and a handful of others around the U.S.

You can relax and enjoy the entire 80-minute tour around the city, or you can use the trolleys as your own personal transportation around St. Augustine, hopping on and off at will, like I did.

Why I booked the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour

I booked the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour because I needed to see as much of the city as possible in just one day . I didn’t want to waste a lot of time driving from attraction to attraction, sitting in traffic, finding a place to park, etc. And I also didn’t want to spend a bunch of (beer) money on parking at all the different locations. 

I chose to book the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour because I figured it:

• would save me money on parking all over the city
• save me time commuting between the attractions
• while learning a lot about America’s oldest city at the same time

Am I glad I booked the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour?

So now that my trip’s over, am I glad I booked the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour? Overall, yes. I had a pleasant-enough experience. Can you label me a 100% satisfied customer? No.

I wasn’t completely satisfied with my Old Town Trolley tour experience, but I wasn’t entirely dissatisfied either. Let’s examine some things that makes this tour great, and some things that might turn you off.

St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour: Pros

I’m officially categorizing my St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour as “pleasant-enough.” There are definitely some good reasons to book your spot on the trolley, and some of them may be of more importance to some over others. For instance…

Sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and have someone drive you around town. The weather is beautiful in St. Augustine (even in January when I visited) and riding around town on an open-air trolley is sometimes just what your vacation ordered.

Free parking

When you book a St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour, you get to park for free (for the whole day) at the origin location. Then, you get chauffeured about town, never having to move your car or pay for parking anywhere else.

Great route

The St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour makes 22 stops around downtown St. Augustine at all the popular spots. Because of this, a trolley stop is never far away when you need one.

Also, they have enough vehicles in their fleet that you never have to wait long until the next one comes around. It’s pretty damn convenient actually.

Friendly service

Everyone I encountered, from the people at the ticket windows to the trolley drivers, was nothing but friendly.

Free beach shuttle

Though it makes a lot of stops, the Old Town Trolley doesn’t go everywhere you need it to go. For instance, if you wanted to visit the St. Augustine Lighthouse (which you do).

For that, the beach, and a few other sites, Old Town Trolley cooperates with a free shuttle bus to those sites from the center of downtown.

Hop on/Hop off service

The St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour doubles as your very own hop on/hop off transportation service. When you book a tour, you have full day access to come and go as you please, using the trolleys as much or as little as you want.

St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour: Cons

My St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour was “pleasant-enough,” but there were still a few things I could’ve done without or changes I would’ve made. For instance…

The commentary

I did like that the tours were 100% live-narrated and not pre-recorded commentary. But it wasn’t really what I was expecting. I mean, I did expect it to be a little corny, but I caught myself rolling my eyes more than anticipated.

I wanted it to be more about the history of the city and about specific sites, and less about the guide’s personal opinions on the things we drove past. (Like his utter distaste for Chinese art. And how, after telling us he thought these statues were so ugly said, “Leave it to the Chinese.” I don’t know what he meant by that, but I could’ve done without it.)

I also didn’t leave the tour with the feeling that the information we were told was totally accurate. There were many times I thought to myself, “Yeah, I better double check that.” I realize this is just a lighthearted sightseeing tour and not an intellectual seminar, but I still want my facts straight!

I think some of the things they said were just to get a few oohs , ahhhs , and giggles from the cheap seats in the back.

Not enough time

The last tour of the day is 4:30 PM and that is way too early. I booked the tour with the hopes that I wouldn’t have to drive the whole day, but I ended up having to drive to the last stop so as to not get stranded.

If you’re just using the trolley tour as a sightseeing tour, that won’t be an issue. But if you’re using it as a hop on/hop off service like they advertise, I think we can all agree 4:30 PM is entirely too early to end your day.

I wanted the Old Town Trolley to be a one-stop shop (ok, 22 stops) for all my St. Augustine sightseeing needs, but that it was not.

And though they do offer a free shuttle to the Lighthouse, it too stops running at 4:30. Not to mention, the Beach Bus, as it’s known, only runs once per hour . I waited a good 20 minutes for it at one point then gave up because I have a schedule to keep, people ! 

More Florida tours ─ Want to take some more cool tours while you’re in Florida? Head down to Tampa and check out my post on 7 terrific tours to take in Tampa before you do! It’s got big cats, beers, buccaneers, and beyond!

It’s pretty slow

Part of the reason I booked the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour was to save time walking from attraction to attraction. But there were many times I thought to myself, “I could’ve walked there faster than this.”

It’s not just that it moves slow, but it makes a lot of circles and backtracks a lot where, if you were walking, you could just walk across one park (or block or sidewalk) and already be there.

Sometimes it was so frustratingly slow I wish I’d just walked or taken my car. But I paid almost $30 so I just kicked back and enjoyed the breeze. 

Not 100% handicap accessible

Which I’m about to talk more about. Keep reading.

Things to Know Before you Book a St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour

The main thing you should know before booking a St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour is that it’s not entirely handicap accessible.

Is the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour handicap accessible?

Of the 22 trolley stops on the tour, the driver is only allowed to operate the lift at 5 of them. Stuff about level surfaces and sharing the road, etc.

At one of the stops, our trolley had to leave a man in a wheelchair behind because the driver wasn’t allowed to operate the lift at that stop. Needless to say, the man and his lady friend were pissed . The reasons are understandable enough, but these are two people who were clearly not told about those rules upfront.

They have only two accessible trolleys in their fleet and they ask for 24 hours notice of your arrival so they can make sure their handicap trolley is operating.

If this applies to you or one of your travel companions, you won’t be able to take advantage of the 22 stops the Old Town Trolley brags about.

In the case of the man we left behind, he had to backtrack a couple of stops and then wait again for another trolley to come by. Also, this was pretty damn close to 4:30 so that man and his lady could very easily have been stranded.

For more on their accessibility availability, head here . And it’s not just them, Florida actually has a pretty bad accessibility infrastructure . Yes, Florida, the state that I’m willing to bet has the most wheelchair users in the country. 

The last tour is at 4:30

And again, know that the last tour starts at 4:30. This will almost definitely affect your planning for your day in St. Augustine.

And just FYI, should you get stuck somewhere without a trolley back to your car, St. Augustine does not offer Uber . 

St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour or Ripley’s Red Train?

You should know, the Old Town Trolley is not the only sightseeing tour available in St. Augustine—the other is the Ripley’s Red Train tour . As in, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Ripley’s Entertainment, etc. Here are a few insights that may help you choose one over the other.

Little disclaimer here: I have not personally taken the Ripley’s train. I’m only sharing with you the research I did before I chose the Old Town Trolley.

Embarrassment level

First of all, the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley tour is definitely the less ridiculous-looking of the two . The Old Town Trolley is a typical tram-style, orange and green vehicle. The Ripley’s Red Train is little more than an oversized bright red choo-choo you can see a mile away, chugging into St. Augustine from Toon Town.

If you think you’ll feel awkward toot-tooting about town on what looks like a child’s ride you’d find on the sidewalk outside Costco, take the Old Town Trolley. Ripley’s Red Train = the little engine that could (make you look like a fool). 

Stops, times, and costs

The Ripley’s Red Train tour also has 22 stops and from what I can tell they’re exactly the same as the Old Town Trolley. However, Ripley’s last tour starts at 5:00 PM instead of 4:30. It’s not much, but there you go. Both tours are 80 minutes long, start to finish, with the option of hop on/hop off.

Costs for either tour are basically the same so that shouldn’t be a determining factor. Plus, Ripley’s also offers free parking at 5 of their stops.

Even though I didn’t ride the Ripley’s Red Train myself, I can still vouch for how annoying their drivers are. I could hear the shrill shouting of the Ripley’s tour guide/driver down the street, clear as day. And I wasn’t even on her train! Had I been on that tour, I most definitely would’ve hopped off for good. Probably while the thing was still in motion.

The Old Town Trolley drivers may have been cheesy and make questionable comments about other nationalities, but they didn’t make me want to shove Cuban sandwiches into my ear holes.

A bad reputation?

The good thing about Old Town Trolley is that it’s American owned and operated by a company called Historic Tours of America. Ripley’s Entertainment is part of a Canadian-based international conglomerate called The Jim Pattison Group.

Ripley’s bills themselves as “St. Augustine’s ORIGINAL sightseeing train tour!” But really, all they did was buy out St. Augustine Trains Inc. (who’d been operating train tours in the city since 1953) in 2004. Buy whoever you want to buy, just don’t lie to me.

Ripley’s vowed to keep all 46 of the St. Augustine Trains Inc. employees after the buyout but failed to discuss terms. However, there’s talk amid some online forums that when Ripley’s came in, the first things they cut were the health benefits for the employees, and turned their full-time employees to part-time ones. Just something to consider.

Add some beach ─ Heading south for some sun and sand? Check out my 5 favorite ways to spend a weekend in Clearwater, Florida . See, sometimes I do relax.

Would I Take the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour Again?

So would I take the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour again? Probably not. I don’t regret my experience with it, but I also could’ve done without it. This is based on my personal needs and reasons for booking it.

I wanted to save money on parking, but I was able to find free street parking when I needed it anyway. I ended up having to drive to the one place I couldn’t walk to anyway. And I wanted to save time by taking it place to place, but walking actually would’ve gotten me there faster.

Plus, St. Augustine is compact and one of the most walkable cities I’ve ever visited. Had I known this before my trip, I probably wouldn’t have booked the Old Town Trolley.

Also, I wanted to learn about St. Augustine, but the drivers didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already learn at the attractions themselves or from reading the informational placards around town.

Should You Book the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour?

If what the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley offers sounds good to you, then yes. Should you want more than what it offers, like I did, skip it. If you want to casually tour the city, learn some fun facts, see some sites, then it’s perfect.

If you’re trying to fit in more than humanly possible in a single day, using it to get around town in a hurry, and as an alternative to walking or driving, save the cash and use it for Sangria at Columbia! You’re better off on foot.

If you’re not great with walking, the trolley is a decent alternative. And it’s not such a huge investment that it’s a major financial risk.

One day in St. Augustine ─ If you’re visiting St. Augustine on a day trip or just for one night, check out my 1-day St. Augustine itinerary . It covers a crazy amount of sites, includes great spots for lunch and dinner, and gives some helpful sightseeing tips as well.

Alternatives to the St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tour

If you’re keen to explore St. Augustine more than just by walking through it, there are other tour options available that aren’t trolley or trains. Check out these optional St. Augustine tours:

History Tour of St. Augustine by Guided Golf Cart

This 1-hour and 15-minute private, guided, narrated tour takes place in your own personal golf cart fleet so groups are small and intimate. Think of it as your very own tiny trolley tour.

You'll pass by St. Augustine's most popular attractions and monuments while learning their interesting history. They make sure you get some great photo ops around town and you can choose between morning or afternoon tours!

This tour is a super popular, well-loved favorite in St. Augustine. NOTE: The price shown is for the whole group.

St. Augustine Boat and Walking Tour

I absolutely love taking boat rides whenever I'm in a city, well, that has water. It's such an interesting and unique way to see a city. 

The first half of this 2.5-hour tour starts with a relaxing boat ride through St. Augustine's Matanzas Bay. The second half includes a walking tour where you'll see many of the sites mentioned in my post on my 1 day in St. Augustine.

Sunset Cruise of St. Augustine

Another great way to see some of St. Augustine's most popular sites is from the water at sunset! This 1.5-hour tour includes:

• local guide with live commentary
• free parking
• amazing Florida sunsets
• and alcohol! 

This tour has rave reviews and a delightful price tag.

More info for your time in St. Augustine

› Heading to St. Augustine? Find great places to stay here . › Don’t forget a Florida guidebook for the rest of your Florida sightseeing! › What else have I covered in the area? Check out  these posts . › Like this post? Have questions? Reach out on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

What will you do with your time in St. Augustine? Let me know below!

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About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a historian and Oktoberfest expert & tour guide. She has traveled to 33 countries and specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas that prioritize hiking adventures, museums of all kinds, cultural experiences, and jam-packed itineraries. She hails from Memphis, TN and currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline sidekicks.

Reader Interactions

January 8, 2023 at 2:56 PM

Hi there! I’m one of the newer trolley drivers and we definitely have more than 2 ADA lifts now. We TRY to make every other trolley in the route an ADA lift trolley. But yeah, there are only a few stops its safe to deploy the lift. If you ask, we have special maps that tell riders very specifically where. Everyone who uses the lift gets this map.

And, yes the last tour STARTS at 4:30 – but that means it is still going around town at 5:30, ending at around 6:00. So if you can do some math, you know that the last trolley is leaving stop 11 the Distillery at about 5:10. And this is top secret – but we have shuttles to come get you if you’re stranded. Just call.

Agree with you on your commentary issue. Some of the drivers are more history oriented than others. I have a degree in history. I think you would have enjoyed my tour. Same with riders. Some like the jokes and entertainment, restaurant recommendations more. Some riders want hardcore history. Others are bored with that. I think we have a little something for everyone, its just the luck of the draw. Fill out a comment card if there is something amiss. They watch those like a HAWK. The company really does want to make the experience as fun and valuable as possible.

Anyway, thanks for riding with us and thanks for the honesty!

January 9, 2023 at 8:42 AM

Hi Rachel, Thank you so much for all of your insight! This is all very helpful. (But maybe the fact that you have shuttles to rescue the stranded customers shouldn’t be top secret? Not knowing that could cause some real problems for people.)

November 21, 2021 at 11:28 AM

I absolutely love trolley tours. I haven’t done one in St Augustine yet. I hope to make it there some day. We have done tours with Old Town Trolley Tours in Savannah and always find them informative and usually very entertaining.

November 21, 2021 at 12:47 PM

I’ve done Old Town Trolley Tours in other cities too and they’ve always been enjoyable! The one in St. Augustine was definitely the least enjoyable of the ones I have done.

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St. Augustine Combo Package

Old Town Trolley Tours: With nearly 500 years of history, including rule by Spain, Britain, and the U.S., St. Augustine is full of sights and attractions that entertain and educate. For over 30 years, Old Town Trolley has provided tours highlighting the best of the city.

Hop aboard one of our trolleys and you’ll experience Transportainment ® , a delightful combination of transportation and entertainment.

Visit St. Augustine’s best Museums: The Old Jail, Oldest Store Museum Experience and St. Augustine History Museum.

The Old Jail: Built by Henry Flagler in 1891 and placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1987, the Jail was operational for more than 60 years and housed 72 prisoners at a time.

Oldest Store Museum Experience: Our local actors and storytellers make this tour with the items and inventions from the turn-of-the-century come to life!

St. Augustine History Museum: A combination of historical displays and private collections bring over 400 years of Florida history to life.

Your St. Augustine Combo Package Includes:

• 1 day of free unlimited re-boarding
• Hop On & Off at 22 Old Town Trolley Stops
• You may start your tour at any of our convenient stops
• Voted Best Guided Tour by 'Best in St. Augustine 2023'
• Open air sightseeing perfect for taking pictures
• Fully Narrated Tour of St. Augustine
• FREE Beach Shuttle to Alligator Farm and the Beach
• Complimentary hotel shuttle service
• 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
• Admission to The Old Jail
• Admission to Oldest Store Museum Experience
• Admission to St. Augustine History Museum
• Attraction tickets do not have to be used on the same day

St. Augustine Old Town Trolley Tours

Relive the story of the first settlement in North America as you visit Castillo de San Marcos, the Spanish fort built in the 17th century. Visit the world famous spring that Ponce de Leon deemed the Fountain of Youth , where you can actually sample the water. Explore the site of the first Mass in America at the Mission of Nombre de Dios. Experience early St. Augustine as you tour old St. Augustine Village, featuring houses from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Old Town Trolley Tours makes many stops including the Old Jail, St. Augustine History Museum, Potter’s Wax Museum, the Spanish Military Hospital, and the Ximenez-Fatio House. You’ll also see the Gonzalez-Alvarez House, the oldest documented colonial house in Florida, lived in by British, Spanish and American colonists. Visit the San Sebastian Winery; Explore Flagler College, built by Henry Morrison Flagler, an industrialist, railroad pioneer and oil magnate, who originally used the building as a hotel then known as Ponce de Leon hotel.

There’s no better way to see all the St. Augustine attractions than with Old Town Trolley Tours Look for the orange and green trolleys for the best sightseeing tour in town!

The Old Jail

Take a guided tour led by the “jailers” for a compelling look at the cells where imprisoned men and women once lived, the maximum security area reserved for the most nefarious criminals and a collection of weapons.

Visitors can also take a look at the cell blocks, gallows and sheriff’s quarters. See where the sheriff, his wife and children lived, right upstairs from the prisoners, and how they used their own kitchen to prepare meals for the inmates. A tour through this attraction will show visitors what life was like as an inmate and how the Old Jail helped shape St. Augustine’s history.

Oldest Store Museum Experience

Watch in amazement as our friendly clerks, butcher and snake oil salesman demonstrate the very latest inventions for turn-of-the-century living. Meet the proprietor, Mr. C.F. Hamblen. Step back in time and discover the latest and best time saving miracles from 1900!

St. Augustine History Museum

Henry Flagler was a powerhouse and catalyst for change in the real estate and transportation industries. His contributions to Florida are documented and displayed throughout the St. Augustine History Museum. As you tour through, you’ll also see authentic artifacts, unpublished photographs and learn about the evolution of St. Augustine and Florida under Spanish and British rule. More than 400 years of history is on display including toys and dolls from the early 19th and 20th centuries, a replica of a Spanish galleon and real gold, silver and jewelry found in lost treasures off the Florida coast. Housed on the Old Jail, the museum offers another level of insight into Florida’s past.

Old Town Trolley Stops in St. Augustine

Hop on and off at any of our 22 convenient stops.

• 1 stop Old Jail
• 2 stop Visitor Information Center
• 3 stop Potter’s Wax Museum
• 4 stop City Gates
• 5 stop Colonial Quarter
• 6 stop Best Western/Bay Views
• 7 stop St. George Street
• 8 stop Churches
• 9 stop Villa Zorayda Museum
• 10 stop Lightner Museum
• 11 stop Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center
• 12 stop Augustine Distillery
• 13 stop San Sebastian Winery
• 14 stop Plaza de la Constitucion
• 15 stop Oldest House
• 16 stop St. Augustine Marina
• 17 stop Castillo de San Marcos
• 18 stop Ripleys Believe It Or Not
• 19 stop Old Town Trolley Welcome Center
• 20 stop Mission of Nombre de Dios
• 21 stop Old Senator Tree & Howard Johnson Hotel
• 22 stop Fountain of Youth

Booth Locations

Stop 1 – The Old Jail 167 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Stop 2 – Visitor Information Center 10 West Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Stop 3 – Potter’s Wax Museum 31 Orange St, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Stop 4 – The City Gates 3-17 Orange St, St Augustine, FL 32084

Stop 7 – St. George Street Hypolita & St. George Street

Stop 14 – Plaza de la Constitucion 38 Cathedral Pl, St Augustine, FL 32084

Stop 19 – Old Town Trolley Welcome Center 27 San Marco Ave, St Augustine, FL 32084

Old Town Trolley Tours

Daily. Tours depart continuously every 15 minutes. 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

July 4:  Last tour is at 3pm. Thanksgiving:  Last tour is at 3pm. December 24:  Last tour is at 3pm. December 25:  Closed.

Reservations are NOT needed or accepted.

Hours of operation may be extended during holiday weekends and during peak season. Please call (904) 829-3800 for details.

First Tour of the Day:

Stop #1: The Old Jail: 9:00 am Stop #2: Visitors Information Center: 9:07 am Stop #3: Potter’s Wax Museum: 9:11 am Stop #4: City Gates: 9:15 am Stop #5: Colonial Quarter: 9:16 am Stop #6: Best Western/Bay Views: 9:18 am Stop #7: St.  George Street:  9:22 am Stop #8: Churches: 9:25 am Stop #9: Villa Zorayda Museum: 9:30 am Stop #10: Lightner Museum: 9:35 am Stop #11: Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center: 9:50 am Stop #12: St.  Augustine Distillery : 9:40 am Stop #13: San Sebastian Winery: 9:42 am Stop #14: Plaza de la Constitucion: 9:50 am Stop #15: Oldest House: 10:00 am Stop #16: St. Augustine Municipal Marina: 10:04 am Stop #17: Castillo de San Marcos: 10:06 am Stop #18: Ripleys Believe It Or Not: 10:08 am Stop #19: Old Town Trolley Welcome Center: 10:10 am Stop #20: Mission of Nombre de Dios: 10:15 am Stop #21: Old Senator Tree: 10:19 am Stop #22: Fountain of Youth: 10:22 am

Last Full Tour of the Day: Please note that guests taking this tour will not be able to use the on/off feature.

Stop #1: The Old Jail: 4:30 pm Stop #2: Visitors Information Center: 4:37 pm Stop #3: Potter’s Wax Museum: 4:41 pm Stop #4: City Gates: 4:45 pm Stop #5: Colonial Quarter: 4:46 pm Stop #6: Best Western/Bay Views: 4:48 pm Stop #7: St. George Street: 4:52 pm Stop #8: Churches: 4:55 pm Stop #9: Villa Zorayda Museum: 5:00 pm Stop #10: Lightner Museum: 5:05 pm Stop #11: Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center: 5:20 pm Stop #12: St. Augustine Distillery: 5:10 pm Stop #13: San Sebastian Winery: 5:12 pm Stop #14: Plaza de la Constitucion: 5:20 pm Stop #15: Oldest House: 5:30 pm Stop #16: St. Augustine Municipal Marina: 5:34 pm Stop #17: Castillo de San Marcos: 5:36 pm Stop #18: Ripleys Believe It Or Not: 5:38 pm Stop #19: Old Town Trolley Welcome Center: 5:40 pm Stop #20: Mission of Nombre de Dios: 4:45 pm (Entry gates close at 5pm; 4pm on Sunday) Stop #21: Old Senator Tree: 5:49 pm Stop #22: Fountain of Youth: 5:52 pm

Tours depart continuously every 20 minutes. 9:00 am with the last tour departing at 4:30 PM.

December 24: Last tour is at 3pm. December 25: Closed.

Hours of operation are extended during holiday periods. Please call (904) 829-3800 for details.

Daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

December 24: Last tour is at 3pm.

December 25: Closed.

Self guided tours daily from 8:30 till 4:30 pm.

*Attraction tickets do not have to be used on the same day.

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Your Front Row Seat to the Ancient City is Here

Old Town Trolley Tours puts everything you want to see in St. Augustine within reach

Hop on, hop off. It’s that easy to get around and experience the best of the Nation’s Oldest City. Wherever you look, an Old Town Trolley is there ready to pick you and show you 100 points of interest around town while highly-trained and knowledgeable guides share stories spanning more than 550 years of history. Through its Historic Tours of America, visitors can step back in time and experience life in early St. Augustine. Start with a tour of the Old Jail Museum . With its original cell blocks and spooky gallows, it’s no wonder it’s listed on the National Register of Haunted Places. Both thrilling and bone-chilling, the Old Jail After Dark Tour allows visitors to participate in an actual paranormal investigation, complete with cold spots, wailing and unexplained phenomenon.

At Potter’s Wax Museum , the first and oldest in the country, over 160 wax figures of the most influential and remarkable personalities, from Elvis to Churchill and Marie Antoinette, await visitors looking to have selfies taken with their favorites. Be sure to visit the wax studio where the magic happens, as figures are sculpted, painted and prepped for their debut. Do you like scary things? You’ve come to the right place. The Ghosts & Gravestones Tour does not disappoint. It is truly a “fright-seeing” tour as your host on the Trolley of the Doomed shares the darker side of St. Augustine’s haunted past. Hear stories of spirits encountered, tales of murder and mayhem, ghostly apparitions, hauntings and legends and so much more to make your head spin.

For something completely different, step into the time machine that is The Oldest Store Museum . Experience what a general store in 1908 would look like, complete with tonics and elixirs and even a goat-powered washing machine. There’s all sorts of gadgets and gizmos to entertain the entire family, literally thousands of objects from the days of yore on display, making this a treasure trove of authentic goodies from a bygone era.

Related Content:

Old Town Trolley Tours St. Augustine 167 San Marco Ave. St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Old Jail Museum 167 San Marco Ave. St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Oldest Store Museum Experience 167 San Marco Ave. St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Ghosts & Gravestones Tour 27 San Marco Ave. St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Potter's Wax Museum 31 Orange St. St. Augustine, Florida 32084

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A Day on the Old Town Trolley in San Diego

T he warm breeze blew through the windows as the open-air car glided through San Diego .  It was great to be back in the southern California city’s near-perfect weather.

This post contains affiliate links.  For more information, click  here .

I used to visit San Diego just about every year.  I have dear family there, and for a while maintained a relationship with a local reporter.  But this was my first visit since lockdown, and my first solo trip ever.  I was spending a few days before meeting up with family and boarding a cruise to Mexico .  I decided to reacquaint myself with the city by taking a tour on the Old Town Trolley.

Old Town Trolley Tours provide transportation to popular sites in eight places around America.  It’s a fun way for American-history lovers to pinpoint sites to explore.  Day-time tours are hop-on/hop-off, meaning that you can ride all day, disembarking and re-boarding to explore as many of the stops as you like.  The tours are narrated, and the conductors fill you in with important information, humorous anecdotes, and trivial tidbits about each of the stops.  You can buy a one- or two day ticket.

I used a GoCity Explorer pass .  A GoCity pass provides access to lots of sites, tours, and activities at a given destination.  It’s available in 31 places around the world.

The Explorer Pass gives you access to your choice of two to seven sites over a period of 60 days.  In San Diego, one of the options with the Explorer pass is a two-day ticket for the Old Town Trolley.

There is also a (misnomered) All-Inclusive Pass, which gives you access to as many sites as you can see over your choice of one to seven days, but the Old Town Trolley Tour is not one of the included options in San Diego.

As of this writing, Rakuten is giving 1 percent cash-back on GoCity pass purchases.

Stops on the Old Town Trolley Tour

There are 11 stops on the Old Town Trolley Tour in San Diego.  You can start and stop your tour at any of them.  The Tour covers 25 miles, and riding time is about 100 minutes.

Five of the stops have ticket booths:

Stop A – Old Town

4010 Twiggs Street

Stop C – Embarcadero

1004 North Harbor Drive

Stop D – Seaport Village

825 North Harbor Drive

Stop F – Gaslamp Quarter

4th and Island Avenue

Stop I – Coronado – Orange Ave.

1107 Orange Avenue

I started at Seaport Village, a short walk from my hotel.  A polite representative scanned my GoCity pass, and handed me a receipt, a map/schedule, and a sticker to wear.

A few minutes later, the Trolley arrived, and I climbed on board for a ride covering the following stops:

Seaport Village — Stop D

Seaport Village is an open-air mall along San Diego Bay .  It features dozens of shops and restaurants.

Marriott Marquis and Marina — Stop E

This upscale hotel boasts two pools, several restaurants, and (you guessed it!) a marina.

As of this writing, Rakuten is offerring 1.5 percent cash-back on Marriott bookings.

Gaslamp Quarter — Stop F

The Gaslamp Quarter is a historic neighborhood with lots of Victorian buildings, boutique shops, and a vibrant night life.  It takes its name from its gas-lamp street lighting.

The neighborhood houses one of my favorite hotels in San Diego, the historic U.S. GRANT , where my reporter friend and I used to nibble and tipple at the Grant Grill Bar & Lounge.

East Convention Center | Petco Park and Hilton Bayfront — Stop G

The San Diego Convention Center features lots of indoor meeting space and outdoor terraces with beautiful views.

Petco Park is the home stadium of the San Diego Padres ; I’ve enjoyed several baseball games there with family.

Hilton Bayfront offers a spa, a pool, several restaurants, and spectacular views.

Barrio Logan — Stop H

Barrio Logan is a Mexican-American neighborhood known for its public art, including massive murals.

Coronado | Orange Avenue — Stop I

Coronado is a peninsula in San Diego Bay.  It boasts the spectacular Coronado Beach .  The Trolley stops at Mc P’s Irish Pub & Grill .

The peninsula is perhaps best-known for the Victorian Hotel del Coronado .  The Hilton -affiliated resort has hosted presidents from Benjamin Harrison to Ronald Reagan and celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Charles Lindbergh .  It has been the setting for movies including Some Like It Hot  with Marilyn Monroe .  I’ve spent splendid summer days and Christmas Eves there.

Balboa Park | Zoo — Stop J

Balboa Park is an enormous cultural oasis in San Diego.  It features Spanish Colonial Revival structures built for the Panama-California Exposition, a two-year celebration of the Panama Canal , which opened in 1914.  I’ve visited Balboa Park several times and enjoyed exploring its science museums and the world-renowned San Diego Zoo .

Little Italy — Stop K

Little Italy was settled in the 19th century largely by Italians and Italian-Americans who worked in San Diego’s then-robust tuna industry.  Today the neighborhood boasts Italian markets, art galleries, and lots of cultural festivals.

It also has plenty of places to eat, including three Michelin / Bilt restaurants:

• Born & Raised
• Herb & Wood
• Juniper & Ivy

Old Town Market — Stop A

Old Town San Diego is a historic neighborhood that was the site of the first European settlement in modern-day California.  I’ve visited several times.  The trolley stops at Old Town Market, which features dozens of kitschy shops.  The neighborhood also boasts lots of Mexican restaurants.

Since it’s the first stop on the Tour schedule, I had to hop off and change to a different trolley for the ride back.  So I decided to spend a few hours exploring.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park recreates life in 19th-century southern California.  It features original buildings from 1820-70.  There are several shops and museums.

The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant accommodated 19th-century stage-coach travellers.

It reopened as an operating venue in 2010.

Mormon Battalion Historic Site

In 1846, President James K. Polk called for midwesterners to join the U.S. Army, which was then heavily engaged in the Mexican-American War over territory in the West.  In response, hundreds of followers of Brigham Young and the Latter-day Saints movement formed the Mormon Battalion.  They marched nearly 2,000 miles from Council Bluffs , Iowa , to San Diego.  They improved pioneer trails along the way.  Some helped build Fort Moore in Los Angeles ; others helped build Sutter’s Mill in northern California.  The Mormon Battalion Historic Site commemorates their contributions.  It features an interesting video, historical artifacts, and demonstrations on gold panning and brick-making.

Whaley House

Whaley House is the oldest brick building in southern California.  It was built in 1857 as the home of Thomas Whaley and his family.  He was born on Manhattan in 1823, went to San Francisco during the Gold Rush, and finally settled in San Diego in 1851 and opened a store there.

The Greek Revival building has at times housed the Whaley store, San Diego county’s second courthouse, and the city’s first commercial theatre.  Today it is a museum open for tours.

After a few fun hours in Old Town, I boarded another Trolley for the ride back to the Bay.  Along the way, the conductor pointed out the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot , reminding me of the fascinating few days I spent at its sister boot camp on Parris Island , South Carolina .

Maritime Museum — Stop B

The Maritime Museum of San Diego features nine historic vessels that you can explore:

• San Salvado r, a replica of a 1542 full-rigged Spanish galleon
• H.M.S. Surprise , a replica of an 18th-century British frigate
• Star of India , an 1863 bark
• Berkeley , an 1898 steam-powered ferry
• Californian , a replica of a 19th-century topsail schooner
• Medea , a 1904 steam-powered yacht
• a 1914 wooden Pilot boat
• Dolphin , a 1968 submarine
• the 1968 PFC 816 Swift Boat

Embarcadero Marina — Stop C

The Embarcadero is a stretch along San Diego Bay.  The Trolley stop is close to the B Street Pier , where I would return in a few days to board my cruise ship.

But that’s another story.

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I've Lived in Florida for 27 Years — and These Are the Best Affordable Beach Vacations in the State

A local weighs in on the best cheap beach vacations in Florida without the high price tags.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Hundreds of miles of coastline keep Florida top of mind for a beach vacation year-round. And despite the Sunshine State's perpetual popularity, you might be surprised by how much terrain there is for a cheap beach getaway filled with fun.

After 27 years in Florida, I’ve done my fair share of poking around for the finest sandy stretches the state has to offer.

When friends come to visit from across the country or around the world, I always point them to a few places they’d likely never discover on their own — all the better for having a unique Florida experience while saving some money. With that in mind, here are some of some of my favorite places for a cheap beach vacation in Florida that doesn't skimp on sun and fun.

Apalachicola

Lynne Buchanan/Getty Images

Famous for its oyster bars and seafood shacks like LongBill’s, this friendly community along Florida’s Panhandle is prime for an affordable beach vacation, especially when you stay at a historic property like The Bowery Inn or Taranto House , both of which date to the early 1900s, or the lovely Gibson Inn , another historic hotel with a breezy wraparound porch.

“This community captivates the heart and soul of Old Florida charm with a relaxed vibe, incredible fishing, one-of-a-kind boutiques, and the liveliest locals slurping down fresh oysters and plenty of libations,” says Jason Bogan, general manager of The Gibson Inn. “So, come on down, pull up a stool, and immerse yourself in some genuine Southern hospitality.”

Among the many unspoiled white-sand beaches in Apalachicola and the Forgotten Coast are stretches lining the beautiful barrier island of St. George. Laura Byrne of Tampa Bay Parenting says she first fell in love with the island’s beaches while living in Tallahassee some years ago (Florida’s state capital is about 80 miles northeast of St. George Island).

“I’m from Tampa and was used to the beautiful sugar-sand beaches of Clearwater, and St. George Island State Park did not disappoint,” says Byrne. Grab a kayak or canoe from Island Outfitters and paddle in the Gulf of Mexico or along the Apalachicola River Paddling Trail System , or rent a golf cart to explore Apalachicola’s historic district, home to many interesting buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cocoa Beach

Valerie de Leon/Travel + Leisure

Cocoa Beach was always my preferred destination for an affordable beach weekend when I spent a few years after college living in nearby Orlando. Just about a one-hour drive east of Orlando puts you along these dune-backed beaches where pro surfer Kelly Slater grew up shredding waves. You can rent a board at Ron Jon Surf Shop and paddle out near the Cocoa Beach Pier , or sign up for surf lessons at the School of Surf . Budget-minded hotels in the area include Beach Place Guesthouses — one of my favorites in all of Florida for a low-key stay — strung with hammocks and fronting a quiet stretch of sand with loaner surfboards at the ready. Rise early from August to September for a beach walk here, and you might even see baby sea turtles hatching. Also be sure to check the rocket launch calendar for a free show in the sky. "The Wizard of Oz" fans will want to shell out a few bucks to pop into the quirky Wizard of Oz Museum , home to a private collection that spans decades of memorabilia. With all this and more, it's no wonder Cocoa Beach is one of the best beaches near Orlando .

New Smyrna Beach

VisionsbyAtlee/Getty Images

New Smyrna Beach , another popular option not far from Orlando, is a safe and beautiful bet for an affordable beach vacation in Florida. Oceanfront condos for rent line the packed sand, plus you can consider a riverside stay at one of my favorite bed-and-breakfasts in the state — Black Dolphin Inn , which fronts the Intracoastal Waterway. A quintessential Florida feed awaits on the river at JB’s Fish Camp , a local favorite for its fabulous grouper sandwich and fish dip. You can rent kayaks and paddleboards here, too, and paddle out into the surrounding river. Florida’s largest stretch of undeveloped coastline also awaits at Canaveral National Seashore , with 24 miles of pristine sand for sunbathing, shelling, and swimming.

Panama City Beach

Jacqueline Anders/Getty Images

This former party-heavy destination has pivoted in recent years to become a favorite among families seeking an affordable and cheerful beach vacation in Florida. Panama City Beach’s unpretentious vibes pair with gorgeous Gulf of Mexico beaches, making it a top Panhandle destination. Scuba divers like me flock to the area to blow bubbles underwater at five shipwrecks that are part of the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail . And you only need a mask and snorkel to fin out from the beach and explore the rock jetty and artificial reef attracting tropical fish, rays, and more at St. Andrews State Park . Book an affordable room at the beachfront Flamingo Hotel and Tower ; hit Shrimp Basket for a budget feast of oysters, wings, and shrimp; and simply bask in the mellow beach vibes.

Pensacola Beach

mrolands/Getty Images

With accommodation options that range from camping at Fort Pickens to the beachfront Pensacola Beach RV Resort and chain hotels to the gorgeous Pensacola Beach Resort , this is another affordable Panhandle destination in Florida. You can explore the area on a budget aboard the 145-passenger Pensacola Bay City Ferry, which connects downtown Pensacola, Fort Pickens, and Pensacola Beach. But you’ll want to jump in the car to visit other gorgeous area beaches, too, like Johnson Beach at Gulf Islands National Seashore and the dune-backed white strand at Perdido Key State Park . From April through October, free bands play at Pensacola Beach, and people bring lawn chairs and settle in for the evening.The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are at home in Pensacola, so you might even be treated to a free show in the sky. Lastly, don’t miss Atlas Oyster House for a lively brunch in town plus cheap bloody marys and bottles of bubbly.

Bradenton Beach

DIANETTE GARCIA/Getty Images

A vacation in Bradenton Beach along Florida’s Gulf Coast puts visitors within a quick drive of some of the region’s most gorgeous beaches along Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key — all for a fraction of the price. You can still find old-school properties like Beach Dreams and BridgeWalk fronting the white sand and historic district here. You can also explore the area for free aboard the Island Trolley , which makes a loop from Bradenton’s Coquina Beach north to Anna Maria Island’s City Pier. Weekends boom with families descending for all-you-can-eat pancakes served with Gulf of Mexico views at the beloved Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe . And the lively Coquina Beach Market , next to Longboat Pass and with all kinds of crafts and handmade items for sale, always makes for a fun, free outing on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

St. Augustine Beach

St. Augustine may be one of Florida’s most touristic (and historic) cities, but you can have a surprisingly affordable beach vacation here, too.

Tour St. Augustine offers free historic walking tours of the downtown attractions every Saturday and Sunday, as well as other options. My kids love riding the free passenger ferry to Rattlesnake Island to play pirates at Fort Matanzas National Monument, which has gorgeous views overlooking the Matanzas River. There’s also a playground that kids love at Lighthouse Park , where you can picnic under the oaks and take in the lighthouse views. When it comes to beach time, there’s no better free activity than bodysurfing and searching the sand for shark teeth at St. Augustine Beach or Vilano Beach, where you'll still find affordable, mom-and-pop properties like Magic Beach Motel .

Lake Worth Beach

Karl Weatherly/Getty Images

Just south of tony Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach is a great option if you’re looking for an affordable vacation along this notoriously pricey stretch of South Florida. The City of Lake Worth Beach pier is a favorite spot among surfers and has a buzzing breakfast joint — Benny’s on the Beach , where the kids can fill up on French toast and pancakes, then scoot down to the sand, while the bloody marys and mimosas flow for adults. Between Lake Worth and Lantana, just south, there are plenty of mom-and-pop hotels within a short bike ride of the beaches, including Beachway Inn and Barefoot Mailman Inn & Suites . The Lake Worth Beach Waterside Farmers Market is a lively place to spend a Saturday morning from October through April, with coffee, music, and dancing in the street. Free concerts and festivals with lagoon views often play out at the bandshell at Bryant Park Pavilion, too.

Indian Rocks Beach

Joel Waldrop/Getty Images

Beloved by locals, but often overlooked where it sits between busier St. Pete Beach to the south and Clearwater Beach to the north, Indian Rocks Beach is one of my go-tos for an affordable beach vacation in the Tampa Bay area, where I live.

Sign the family up for surf lessons with Sister Jo’s Surf School (the waves are almost always ideal for beginners) and stroll the boardwalk through a marshy forest at the small but beautiful Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve. “I love that you can enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkeling here, and the white sand is perfect for building castles and finding unique shells,” says Karimah Henry of Crafting a Fun Life .

When I visit with my own family, I love staying just south of Indian Rocks Beach, in Indian Shores, at the affordable Legacy Vacation Resorts . A certified B Corp property, it fronts the Intracoastal Waterway and has an outdoor grilling area where we cook hot dogs and hamburgers to save on dining out while enjoying some of the best waterfront views around.

Bonita Springs

dosecreative/Getty Images

Just north of flashy Naples, Bonita Springs offers an affordable Florida beach vacation with access to equally lovely Gulf of Mexico sand. Make the Hyatt Vacation Club at Coconut Cove your base, and enjoy the 1,000-foot lazy river, fire pit, barbecue area, and tiki bar. Nearby, Lovers Key State Park 's two miles of undeveloped sand beckons for shelling and boogie boarding. Dive into more of the area’s singular tropical nature at Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary , where you can stroll along a boardwalk through the largest old-growth bald cypress forest in North America. When hunger strikes, follow the neon to Mel’s Diner , which serves comfort foods like pot roast melts and pulled pork sandwiches that won’t break the bank.

Related: I've Lived in Florida All My Life, and These Are the Most Beautiful Places in the Sunshine State

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure .

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OLD TOWN TROLLEY TOURS ST AUGUSTINE (St. Augustine) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go