Private Historical Tour of St. Augustine





Description
Best first way to see St. Augustine. See the highlights of St. Augustine the easy way on a small group golf cart tour. The best first way to see St. Augustine is with Explore Tours and PickUps, especially if it’s your first time visiting. You’ll cover more ground than walking tours while enjoying a personal, guided experience through the nation’s oldest city. Perfect for couples, families, and anyone wanting a relaxed but informative overview before exploring on their own. Cruise through the historic district while learning the stories behind St. Augustine’s most important landmarks. Your guide shares history, local insight, and recommendations so you know exactly what to do after the tour. Many guests choose this as their first activity to get a feel for the city and often search for us again after to plan future visits or recommend us to friends.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This is an extensive and educational tour of St. Augustine. Explore the cultural events that made St. Augustine a key component in world history. The tour is conducted on our electric vehicles in the downtown area of St. Augustine passing by all the main historical structures and areas. Between The Mission Nombre de Dios, Castillo De San Marcos, The Ponce De Leon Hotel (now Flagler College), The Cathedral Basilica, The Tolomato Cemetery, The Saint Francis Barracks, and The Plaza De La Constitución...there are endless adventures waiting to be discussed. The driver is your guide and you are welcome to ask questions. During the historical tour your guide will point out historical attractions and places of interests while discussing the history of charming St. Augustine.
Between The Mission Nombre de Dios, Castillo De San Marcos, The Ponce De Leon Hotel (now Flagler College), The Cathedral Basilica, The Tolomato Cemetery, The Saint Francis Barracks, and The Plaza De La Constitución...there are endless adventures waiting to be discussed.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is the oldest Catholic Church in the city and the oldest parish in the country.
Tolomato Cemetery is located in St Augustine, Florida, the oldest European-founded city in the United States, and was in use as a cemetery from the 18th century until 1884.
The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios traces its origins to the founding of the city of St. Augustine in 1565. On September 8, 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés landed and proclaimed this site for Spain and the Church. Menéndez named this site Nombre de Dios, meaning Name of God. He put Father Lopez in charge of the mission, making him the first parish priest in St. Augustine.
Located on Marine Street, the St. Francis Barracks were constructed of coquina between 1724 and 1755 by Franciscan friars. The barracks were converted for military use when Florida was possessed by the British in 1763. n 1821, Florida would be claimed by the United States and the US Army took control of the barracks until deactivation in 1900 when it was leased to Florida State Troops, the forerunner of the present-day National Guard, in 1907.
The Plaza de la Constitución sits at the center of our historic city. It is bordered by the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, Trinity Episcopal, and the Government House, the plaza faces the Bridge of Lions and features a central pavilion used for city events, private events, and live entertainment. There is also a public market that has been in use since the 1500s, when fish, vegetables, and other goods were traded here.
Pedro Menendez de Aviles founds the city of St. Augustine at the Timucua village of Seloy, located at today’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.
Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and interprets more than 450 years of cultural intersections.
Also known as the Gonzalez-Alvarez House, the structure is owned and operated by the St. Augustine Historical Society, and is the oldest surviving Spanish colonial residence in Florida.
Flagler's Memorial Presbyterian Church was dedicated on March 16, 1890. The old Presbyterian Church on St. George Street was vacated as the congregation moved to the new sanctuary with room for 480 worshipers. Flagler built the church for his daughter Jennie Louise Flagler, who died in 1889. He chose Carrere & Hastings, the same architects who built the Ponce de Leon Hotel. Its design is based on the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice, Italy.
Completed in 1927, the Bridge was constructed during the extravagant land boom times in Florida. It was designed as a work of art as much as a transport for cars, connecting downtown St. Augustine with Anastasia Island.
We will pass by without stopping.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(203)
We were recently scheduled to have a private tour with another tour company and the tour was cancelled due to a medical emergency, but the owner recommended Explore Tours, and it was a great recommendation. We purchased the private tour; the instructions were clear and Karen our tour guide texted me about 20 minutes before that she was on her way and where to meet her. She was great! Friendly, fun and lots of information about the history of St. Augustine and the area. Would highly recommend Explore Tours. We definitely would come back for a Night of Lights private tour in December.
Thank you for the kind review. We’re so glad everything worked out and that you found us. A private tour is such a great way to see St. Augustine at your own pace and ask questions along the way. We’d love to have you back for a Night of Lights tour in December.
This was a perfect way to get one’s historical and geographical bearings of St. Augustine. Our guide Karen was fabulous and had a wonderful style of weaving together the history. The transport was limited to a max of about 10 passengers which offered us more interaction with the guide. We really enjoyed the tour.
Thank you for the kind review. We’re glad the tour helped you get your bearings and that the storytelling brought the history together in a way you enjoyed. The smaller group size makes it more interactive. We appreciate you joining us.
Very informative. Private was nice.
Thank you for the review. We’re so glad you found the tour informative and enjoyed the private experience. It really is a nice way to explore the city at a relaxed pace. We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again when you’re back in St. Augustine.
Karen was a phenomenal tour guide. We were a group of 8 girlfriends and she made the tour interesting for all of us! We learned so much, and she really knew her stuff! Highly recommend!
Thank you for the great review. We’re glad your group had such a fun time together and that the tour kept everyone engaged. St. Augustine has so many stories to share. We appreciate the recommendation.
Fantastic tour! Very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. Quiet comfortable vehicle. I would highly recommend this activity.
Thank you so much for the great review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour, found your guide knowledgeable and friendly, and felt comfortable in our vehicle. As a small local business, we appreciate your recommendation it means a lot to us. We’d love to have you back again on your next visit to St. Augustine!
Mark was our tour guide. He is a retired History teacher, so you know this is his jam! He brings dates, humor, interesting facts, and photo opportunities to the tour. We could have gone another hour!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your tour with Marc. His background as a history teacher definitely shines through — he loves sharing his knowledge (and humor!) to make St. Augustine’s past come alive. We’re so glad you had fun and could’ve stayed even longer! Hope to see you again soon for another adventure.
Very nice experience and the guide knew a lot of information. We had a great time. The weather was perfect.
Thank you for joining us and for taking the time to share your experience! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour, the great weather, and our guide’s knowledge of St. Augustine. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back again soon!
Karen was fantastic. She is very knowledgeable and personable. She arrived early and ran a bit over our scheduled time, sharing history and interesting stories the entire time. She answered questions and made the tour very enjoyable. The cart was comfortable and felt safe.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that Karen provided a knowledgeable and personable experience, arriving early and sharing engaging stories to enhance your tour. We're glad you felt comfortable and safe in the cart, and that the overall experience was enjoyable. We look forward to welcoming you back for another great adventure!
This was an AMAZING experience with our tour guide Karen. She was so knowledgeable and pointed out some great spots- even though we’d been to St. Augustine before - this is totally worth it. Would highly recommend and will definitely be doing again when more family/ friends come for a visit! Thank you Karen- great way to kick off our day in St. Augustine!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that Karen made your experience in St. Augustine so memorable and that her knowledge and guidance added value even for those familiar with the city. Your high recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you and your friends and family back for another fantastic tour soon. Thanks again for choosing us to kick off your day!
Karen was our guide and she was very knowledgeable. She explained everything clearly and told interesting stories and answered any questions we had. I would recommend this tour to everyone.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Karen. It’s great to know that her knowledge and storytelling enhanced your experience. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you on another adventure soon!



