Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Wonderful place!
A beautifully preserved antique, well-kept and authentic. The love and care of the staff is immediately visible.
A very informative exhibition, we walked around for two hours, looked around and read the explanations, just wonderful.
It’s good that there are many excursions for schoolchildren, children study real history using real buildings and exhibits, and this is wonderful!
You are unlikely to see so many ancient cannons in one place anywhere else.
A beautiful bay with Parisian trees and fresh sea air complete the picture.
Thank you very much!

Definitely worth the admission especially if you can time it around the cannons being fired. But, there are plenty of historical markers if you just want to walk around it. Also a beautiful place to sit and watch the sailboats or picnic on the large lawn. There is limited parking, but a large paid garage is across the street. They have nice restrooms and a small museum.

Samantha Brown's Places to Love was spot on with this feature attraction. Make sure to add to your list of things to do. Well kept by the National Parks and Recreation. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring water. It's very scenic. Park staff is very friendly. Must see if you're in the area. Active and retired military discount. They will register you in the database for Gold Star and military membership to visit ALL National Parks.

My family had a fun time at Castillo to say it was not a planned trip. It was like getting a fun history lesson of the fort. We spent about 1.5 touring the rooms of the fort (this will vary person to person). I would recommend going on a cool day as we did. In summer I assume it can get hot and the crowds of people.

As a point of historical significance, the reference and homage pair to this fort by the staff and local community is apparent from the ticket gate. The actors that interact with the public are very impressive with the attention to detail and period knowledge they exhibit and the cannon firing demonstration is a must see.

Nearby parking is very limited, but the available public transit and flat walkways make for a quick commute from wherever you can find a spot. The first floor and exterior are accessible to most mobility disabilities; and while a very shallow staircase prevents wheeled access to the ramparts, those with limited mobility in their legs should find a fairly easy climb.

Had a great time with the family here! Amazing historic fort! We were able to see a cannon fired and walk around all over the fort. Many stories and lots of history. The staff was very knowledgeable and helpful.

St. Augustine, Florida, is a charming historic city located on the east coast of the United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, it is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the country. Its cobblestone streets and Spanish colonial architecture create a unique atmosphere. The fortified Castillo de San Marcos, built in the 17th century, dominates the landscape and offers a fascinating insight into military history. Additionally, the city is home to charming shopping districts, such as St. George Street, where visitors can enjoy shops, restaurants, and art galleries. The fusion of history, culture and scenic beauty makes St. Augustine a picturesque and memorable destination.

Beautiful place, we visited just before Christmas and so the town of St. Augustine itself is great to visit and was crowded. We had NPS pass so it is helpful and good savings since we travel a lot. Well maintained and there is ranger tour available as well explaining more about the monument for the enthusiasts. We self guided ourselves, all the exhibits had its well defined explanations. We spent some two hours and then walked across the street where there is a St.Augustine old town walk which was great with shops and eateries.

Amazing fort with an amazing view. Staff in period time uniforms did a cool presentation with the cannon. Was a little too crowded for my liking but that’s not the fault of the park. Amazing to see what stands the test of time.

Don't miss the oldest fort in the USA! Built by the Spanish in 17th century when Florida was part of the Spanish Empire. This well-preserved national monument is well worth a visit!

Did you know that several times a day you can enjoy costumed soldiers firing a real cannon from the walls of the fort?

A well preserved Spanish fort in St. Augustine, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the US. It's part of the National Park system, and for those with a National Park pass, entry to the inside of the fort is free. Also, access the the area all around the outside of the fort is free to everyone. Scenes of life in the fort is recreated in several areas. Various canons and other equipment/supplies are on display. There is a small gift/souvenir shop (National Parks stamps available) just inside the fort entrance. Great views of the city and waterfront can be seen from all around the upper level of the fort wall. Although there is a paid parking lot on the grounds ($2.50/hour) parking can be a little difficult to find at peak times. This isn't a large fort, so one to two hours is plenty of time to see the whole thing. The spaces are large enough for large camper vans and smaller (class C) RVs. Our 22' van fit within the space markings. There are several small spaces for motorcycles . There are no oversized spaces in this lot, but there is a free parking lot for all sizes of RVs just a few blocks to the west (No overnight camping allowed). Overall, if you are interested in military/colonial historical sites, this fort is definitely a place to visit.

Love the history! Everyone was very nice. So glad our young have not torn this down like the desecration of our historic people. Without history, there is no mistakes to learn from.

This a very well preserved monument and a great place to check out when you're in St Augustine!

This is the only attraction in St Augustine that's a national monument/Park, and it's $15 per adult to enter (as of this review) and kids are free. Compared to the other attractions, this is very much worth the fee!

Many of the rooms are preserved and you can walk into and through them and learn a lot about the history of the fort. Then you can walk up to the top level and get some great views of St Augustine as well! This should be on everyone's list when they visit the area!

Visited the historic Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, FL, and it exceeded expectations. The panoramic views from the fortress were breathtaking, providing a fascinating glimpse into history. The historical cannon shoot added an immersive touch, making the visit truly memorable. A must-visit for anyone seeking a blend of stunning scenery and rich historical experiences.

Always love visiting the Fort. My family loves St. Augustine and visiting here and downtown are such a pleasure. Between the beach locations and the historic sites it's just beautiful year round.

This was quite an interesting place to visit. So much history here. We have a 4th grader so we we’re able to get in for free. You can get into any national park for free as part of a program for 4th graders nationwide. The displays were all very informative and the staff here was super friendly. There is a scavenger hunt game that is great for the kids. The views of the harbor and the Bridge of Lions were incredible. Parking here in the afternoon can get crazy. We had to drive around the parking lot a couple of times to catch someone leaving. You pay per hour to park but we took our time and we’re there just about 2 hours.

One of the oldest structures in America. Such a tremendous learning opportunity to visit there. The exhibits were outstanding.

Veterans day, they had free entrance. I think this is probably the biggest fort in the US that I have ever been to, it was spectacular and in great shape. They also had people dressed up from that times. It was so busy and so many families there from young to old, it was the perfect day.
I WOULD RECOMMEND

St. Augustine is such a beautiful place. The fort was amazing! So much history and the get to see a cannon fire. Don't think about it. Go to St. Augustine. Forget Panama City Beach!

The NPS does such a great job with everything they do. This was such a cool experience to learn about the history of the whole area. I loved learning about Coquina - it is amazing and such a unique building material. So much information and so many great things to see!