St. Augustine Walking Tour: Nights of Lights and the Old City
Nine stops from the Castillo de San Marcos to Villa Zorayda, by way of the Foot Soldiers Monument, unveiled in 2011 in the plaza.
Christmas guide
Nights of Lights in St. Augustine, 2026: dates, parking and how to walk it
More than 3 million white lights over about 20 blocks of the old city, every evening from November 21 to January 18, free and meant to be seen on foot. Here's when to go, where to park, and two self-guided walks. What you hear is the old city's story; the lights are the backdrop.
2 walks for this trip
Stop 1 of each is free, no sign-up. The whole walk is $4.99, on up to 4 phones.
Haunted St. Augustine Walking Tour
Eight stops from the Castillo de San Marcos, begun in 1672, to the Bridge of Lions, whose donor died in 1924 before its lions went up.
Nights of Lights: this year's dates
| What | When | Where, and what it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Nights of Lights | Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027. Every evening, dusk into the early morning hours. | About 20 blocks of the historic district, from the Plaza to the Bridge of Lions. Free, no tickets. |
| Light-Up! Night | Sat, Nov 21. Entertainment from 4 p.m., lighting ceremony 6:30 p.m. | Entertainment at City Hall, 75 King Street; the ceremony in Plaza de la Constitución. Free. |
| Free Park & Ride shuttle | 1 to 11 p.m. Fri, Sat and most Sun, Nov 21 to Jan 2. Daily Dec 18 to Jan 2. None on Christmas Day. From 8 a.m. on Dec 5 for the Christmas Parade. | From 200 San Sebastian View, 198 W. King Street or 301 San Marco Avenue, to the Visitor Information Center, 10 S. Castillo Drive. |
| Paid ways to see it | Old Town Trolley nightly from Nov 22. Santa's Red Train, 30 minutes, from Ripley's. Boats and carriages from the bayfront. | Optional, and not needed to see the lights. Times vary by date. |
Checked November 2026. Dates and hours change: check the official sites before you go.
The evening we'd plan
- Leave the car
On shuttle days, park at one of the three free lots. The shuttle drops you at the Visitor Information Center on Castillo Drive, a short walk from the fort.
- Dusk, Castillo de San Marcos
Stop 1 of the Nights of Lights walk plays free here. Start while there's still some light on the coquina walls; the lights come on at dusk.
- After dark, the Plaza and the Bridge of Lions
These are the two spots the city itself recommends: the Christmas tree in Plaza de la Constitución, then the bridge, where the lights double in the water.
- King Street to finish
Flagler College, then the Lightner Museum, which has a free 360 video of the lights, and Villa Zorayda, whose candlelight tours are extra. The whole walk is 1.6 miles and about 66 minutes.
To be plain about it: the lights are free, and our walk doesn't switch them on. It tells you who built the old city around them, and it would be just as good in July. There's also a ghost walk for the same streets.
Where the walks stop
Where the St. Augustine Walking Tour stops: Castillo de San Marcos, The Oldest Wooden School House, Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, The Plaza and the Foot Soldiers Monument, Bridge of Lions, Flagler College, Lightner Museum and Villa Zorayda.
Where the Haunted St. Augustine Walking Tour stops: Castillo de San Marcos, Huguenot Cemetery, Tolomato Cemetery, Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, Flagler College, Casa Monica Hotel, Spanish Military Hospital and Bridge of Lions.
Nights of Lights, St. Augustine: questions people ask
When is Nights of Lights in St. Augustine in 2026?
November 21, 2026 to January 18, 2027, every evening, from dusk into the early morning hours. Light-Up! Night opens it on Saturday, November 21, with the lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in Plaza de la Constitución.
Do you need tickets for Nights of Lights?
No. The lights are free and need no tickets. You only pay if you add a trolley, train, boat or carriage tour.
Can you drive through Nights of Lights?
It isn't a drive-through. The city says it is meant to be seen on foot, and parking is limited, so leave the car at a Park & Ride lot on the days the free shuttle runs.
Where do you park for Nights of Lights?
The free shuttle runs from the St. Johns County Health Department lot (200 San Sebastian View), Broudy's Lot (198 W. King Street) and the San Marco Lot (301 San Marco Avenue) to the Visitor Information Center at 10 S. Castillo Drive.
Where are the best spots to see the lights?
The city names two: the Plaza de la Constitución, with its Christmas tree, and the Bridge of Lions, where the lights reflect off the water.
Is the Stories walk about the lights?
Mostly it's about the old city: the fort, the cathedral and Flagler's hotels, with the lights around you. Stop 1 is free, no sign-up. The whole walk is $4.99 for your group, on up to 4 phones.