Castillo De San Marcos is one of the most visited tourists’ spots in St. Augustine, Florida. Visiting this fort was actually my favorite part of St. Augustine.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the Old Jail, Gator Bob’s Gift Shop and Penny, Basilica of St. Augustine, viewing the tress on Magnolia Avenue (I even saw a peacock!) but nothing topped the views from Castillo De San Marcos.
You can pretty much see the fort from most parts of the area but if you want the best views, then walk up to the Bridge of Lions.
A Little History
Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. It was constructed by the Spanish between 1672 and 1695 and was built to protect St. Augustine from British attacks and pirate raids.
As time went on, it changed hands multiple times, serving under Spanish, British, and American rule. Today, it is a National Monument that allows visitors get a glimpse into Florida’s colonial past.
What It’s Like to Visit Castillo De San Marcos
When you arrive at the fort, you will receive a map to help guide your visit.
Visiting the inside of Castillo De San Marcos is not free for adults but it is free for children under 16 years. It currently costs $15 per adult. Something to keep in mind is that the receipt for payment can be used for seven consecutive days so that you can visit the fort if you are unable to see all of it on your first visit.
If you simply want to view the fort from the outside, it comes at no cost to you. I do recommend going inside and taking a walk down history lane!
On the ground level you would notice a small drawbridge as you walk in.
Once on the inside of the ground level, there are a number of rooms. Each room has information and placards with information about what you are viewing and historical facts.
Top of Castillo De San Marcos
Climbing up the stairs, there is a large walkway, and you will see an array of cannons. Some of the cannons have beautiful engravement and it is easy to visualize what they looked like in 1695 when the fort was completed.
At each corner of the top of the fort are lookout bell towers. Each bell tower had different heights.
Around each corner of the fort, you can see where cannons were placed. There are also benches around this area so you can sit here for awhile and relax and overlook the Matanzas River.
When you are done enjoying the views from the fort, it’s a good idea to take a walk along the Matanzas River. This was my second most enjoyable thing to do in St. Augustine. I walked from the fort to the Bridge of Lions and took so many beautiful pictures along the way.
The architecture of the fort is truly beautiful and allows you to sit back and imagine the history of this place.
Parking
There is a $2.50 per hour packing at the front of the fort. However, the spaces are limited, and people end up driving in a loop waiting for others to pull out. I am not going to lie but this part can be a little bit painful.
A short drive away (about 5 minutes) is another parking lot that costs around $25 for a 12-hour parking space. You can actually see it on the map you receive if you sign up for any of the Troller Tours. It is next to the visitor’s information center which is marked No. 2 on the map. It really depends on your budget and how much time you end up spending in the area.
If you are going to commit to the larger amount for parking, then I would say factor in how much time you would like to spend in that area and which attractions or activities you would like to do.
When I visited, I spent around six hours between visiting the fort, the visitor’s information center, walking along the Matanzas River, grabbing something to eat and just sitting outside to enjoy the breeze from the river, and visiting the Pirate Museum, which is just across the street from the fort.
Food
There are a lot of restaurants around Castillo De San Marcos serving seafood, burgers, and Spanish Cuisine.
Nearby Attractions
One thing I really liked about this fort is that it is located close to many other historic sites including St. George Street, Ponce de León’s Fountain of Youth, Flagler College, St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum, and St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.
You can also take a virtual tour of Castillo De San Marcos.
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