Castillo de San Marcos Photos
More like Castillo de San Marcos
Recommended Reviews - Castillo de San Marcos
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Highly recommend coming to this fort only during the winter and never ever during the summer. The heat gets so intense that medics were taking older folks out in stretchers. I was almost one of them - really!!!. Visited here again in the winter months and was a much better experience. Aside from the heat, it was a really cool place and been inside twice on self guided tours. They have staff dressed up in colonial attire and they answer all our questions. The little stone walled rooms were extremely tiny but you then can understand how the Spanish military lived and fought to defend the fortress and the City of St. Augustine. There is a price per person but you can hear the cannons shoot for free outside. You can also get great free pictures with the stone walls of the outer fort and rusted cannons with the river.
What an amazing place with great views and lots of history! You can see the fort from shopping area! I wanna say regular admission was about $15 but we had a pass. We took steps up to top and steps were not too steep. I have trouble with my knees but had no problem accessing anything really. They had canons and lots of rooms like sleeping quarters and church you could see. I enjoy history and Saint Augustine has lots of it! Don't miss the opportunity to check out this spot!!
Castillo de San Marcos is a national monument and the oldest masonry fort in the US. Built by the Spanish in 1672 it was never captured or taken by hostile forces. There's so much history here and plentiful exhibits to learn about it. The fort is remarkably well preserved and it's a joy to walk around regardless of whether you decide to dig into the history. The second floor is especially stunning with gorgeous views of the water beyond and an impressive display of the fort-protecting cannons. Any ship sailing in those waters would be vulnerable to the cannon fire. This was one of the highlights of our Saint Augustine trip.
We showed up just in time for the cannon firing. It wasn't as loud as I was expecting, but it was still cool to witness and I'm glad we caught it at the right time. Since we were visiting St. Augustine for 5 days, we had checked out the ground level of the fort (which was free) and then a couple days later, we went back and bought an America the Beautiful pass so we got the group paid for (plus we got a pass for the next year out of it). It was neat seeing all the different rooms and they did a good job putting a lot of information in each that my dad ate up lol.
A magnificent fort well worth a visit. Great views of the river and the city from the fort. Spending the time to read each of the plaques as offers insight into the history of the city.
Cool historical place. $15 to get it but if you have the America the Beautiful Pass, it's free!
What a cool fort and dive into history. I would recommend visiting early in the day versus later as you'll avoid the strong sun as well as threat of thunderstorms. We spent about an hour and a half here. Definitely, you want to sit in on the in-person presentation by the M" national Park service associate. He was so thorough, detailed and entertaining in going through the A-to-Z history of the fort. He was really cool and the presentation was about 35 minutes long; but, quite speedy, detailed, and really entertaining. Remember to stop b the gift shop on your way out.
Expect to spend at least 2 hours here, and be aware that there is no air conditioning. From the portcullis at the entrance, to the area down by the water (the water battery), I was in awe of this fort. Castillo de San Marcos (St. Mark's Castle in English) is the oldest masonry fort in the continental US, according to Wikipedia. You enter through the main gate and end up in a courtyard. There are several rooms in the fort that visitors are allowed to enter, with displays and informational boards and plaques in each. Remnants of carved grafitti and paint can be seen in a couple of them. In one of the rooms, a ranger gives a regularly scheduled talk not only about the fort, but the history of the area of St. Augustine and why the fort was needed. There are bathrooms, vending machines, and drinking fountains available in a shaded area of the courtyard. Near the entrance to the courtyard is a stairway that takes you to the top of the fort. You will experience great views of the Matanzas Bay harbor and the city of St. Augustine. You can take a look at some original cannons, as well as the bell tower. There is only one way in and out of the fort, so when you exit, you can continue straight down to the water battery (the sandy looking area by the wall on the water) and walk around it and see the original moat. There are actual cannons here, as well, and if you continue walking tot he left, you can see where they were positioned behind the wall. The hot shot furnace is located here as well. There is a small gift shop located inside the fort, which sells the usual souvenirs, but ice cream, too. It's interesting to note that the fort was never lived in, so to speak. There were rooms for sleeping, but that was for when the soldiers were on duty in shifts, as everyone actually lived in town behind the city gates. The moat was never filled with water, and was used to house livestock when the city and fort were under attack. The townspeople would "move in" to the fort then as well. There is an entrance fee, but if you have a National Parks pass, you can use it here. Whether you are a history buff, or just like to learn new things, a visit here will be worth your while; put it on your list. 109/2025
Coming to Saint Augustine for the weekend we need to go visit the Castillo de San Marcos! A beautiful location, full of history for the whole family. We got to experience even one of the Canon fires. You have an option of doing the whole water on your own or doing a voice guided experience. Definitely recommend coming here during the holidays even though it might be a little bit busy, but it's great to experience the whole city in full .
I have lived in Saint Augustine for years and have never been here. Honestly, I thought it looked very boring but on a whim I took my kids met up with a friend and we ended up loving it. Kids are free adults are $15. There is some kind of deal where if you're a veteran you get in for free too. There are lots of rooms with cool stuff to see and they have plaques around so you can learn about the history of the fort. Once you go upstairs to the second level, the views are amazing. I did not expect to like this place so much but now it's on my list of places to bring people when they visit me.
If you are ever in St. Augustine, visiting Castillo de San Marcos is a must. Walking through it honestly felt like stepping back in time. The history there is incredible, you can feel it almost like a transport to a different time. It really gives you a deeper appreciation for how much this place has seen over the years. And the views... just wow. The water is something you have to experience in person just an incredible view. It's peaceful, beautiful, and just one of those moments where you stop and take it all in. I also loved how well everything is preserved and how much you can actually explore. It's not just something you look at, it's something you experience. Whether you're into history or just want to see something truly unique, this is definitely worth your time. Such a beautiful and meaningful landmark. I would 100% recommend it.
Interesting place full of history and fun facts about the origins of the fort, the area, how it was built, etc. beautiful view of the bay too. It took us about an hour to get through and that was reading 60-80% of the things. $15/adult with no park passes
This is one of the most gorgeous spots I've been too. Such a historical but beautiful place. You learn so much whilst on the tour and their is so much to enjoy and look at.
2 months ago
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is a must-see while in St. Augustine. Construction began in 1672 and ended in 1695, making it the oldest masonry fortification in the United States. While there used to be nine other forts in the area, they were all destroyed during years of conflict. Six different flags have flown over this fort in the last 350 years: Spanish (twice), British, U.S. (twice), and Confederate. The fort itself is constructed from coquina--a unique type of sedimentary rock formed from microscopic shells of tiny marine animals--and you can still see the shells embedded in the walls as you walk around. Once inside, you can wander from room to room to view the soldiers' quarters, powder magazine, and original graffiti drawn on the walls by Spanish soldiers centuries ago. Outside, we climbed the steps to the top level to see the cannons and defensive positions along the walls, which offer great views over the town, inlet, and beaches. At night, the illuminated fort walls are a beautiful sight to see. Park rangers run educational classes throughout the day, including firearm demonstrations (though we missed those on our visit). Parking here can be a nightmare with limited spaces and paid meters, so we took the trolley and were dropped off right at the site. After our tour, we checked out the gift shop--it's small, but did the trick. Every staff member we encountered was knowledgeable, friendly, and polite. I would definitely recommend visiting this incredible landmark. Entry fees: $15 for adults; children 15 and under are free. National Park Service (NPS) passes are honored read more
3 months ago
So far the highlight of my St Augustine trip. It ended up being a free entry day due to the holiday. So it was a bit crowded; combining that with the heat of Florida summer was a bit uncomfortable. The band was there and it was nice to hear them play live while we walked the top of the Fort. We were able to spend about an hour or two exploring and learning about the Fort. We read the majority of the signs and informationals. Gorgeous view of the bay and very informative about the history of the fort and the city. There were a few rooms playing videos about the history and a specific space for "ranger kids". It seems very well preserved and taken care of. The gift shop has AC but is very small and could use an upgrade. The parking area is very limited and the bathrooms were locked there. We found a parking garage about a mile away and it was the perfect location for the other activities planned. read more
Highly recommend coming to this fort only during the winter and never ever during the summer. The heat gets so intense that medics were taking older folks out in stretchers. I was almost one of them - really!!!. Visited here again in the winter months and was a much better experience. Aside from the heat, it was a really cool place and been inside twice on self guided tours. They have staff dressed up in colonial attire and they answer all our questions. The little stone walled rooms were extremely tiny but you then can understand how the Spanish military lived and fought to defend the fortress and the City of St. Augustine. There is a price per person but you can hear the cannons shoot for free outside. You can also get great free pictures with the stone walls of the outer fort and rusted cannons with the river. read more
1 month ago
What an amazing place with great views and lots of history! You can see the fort from shopping area! I wanna say regular admission was about $15 but we had a pass. We took steps up to top and steps were not too steep. I have trouble with my knees but had no problem accessing anything really. They had canons and lots of rooms like sleeping quarters and church you could see. I enjoy history and Saint Augustine has lots of it! Don't miss the opportunity to check out this spot!! read more
Castillo de San Marcos is a national monument and the oldest masonry fort in the US. Built by the Spanish in 1672 it was never captured or taken by hostile forces. There's so much history here and plentiful exhibits to learn about it. The fort is remarkably well preserved and it's a joy to walk around regardless of whether you decide to dig into the history. The second floor is especially stunning with gorgeous views of the water beyond and an impressive display of the fort-protecting cannons. Any ship sailing in those waters would be vulnerable to the cannon fire. This was one of the highlights of our Saint Augustine trip. read more
We showed up just in time for the cannon firing. It wasn't as loud as I was expecting, but it was still cool to witness and I'm glad we caught it at the right time. Since we were visiting St. Augustine for 5 days, we had checked out the ground level of the fort (which was free) and then a couple days later, we went back and bought an America the Beautiful pass so we got the group paid for (plus we got a pass for the next year out of it). It was neat seeing all the different rooms and they did a good job putting a lot of information in each that my dad ate up lol. read more
What a cool fort and dive into history. I would recommend visiting early in the day versus later as you'll avoid the strong sun as well as threat of thunderstorms. We spent about an hour and a half here. Definitely, you want to sit in on the in-person presentation by the M" national Park service associate. He was so thorough, detailed and entertaining in going through the A-to-Z history of the fort. He was really cool and the presentation was about 35 minutes long; but, quite speedy, detailed, and really entertaining. Remember to stop b the gift shop on your way out. read more
Expect to spend at least 2 hours here, and be aware that there is no air conditioning. From the portcullis at the entrance, to the area down by the water (the water battery), I was in awe of this fort. Castillo de San Marcos (St. Mark's Castle in English) is the oldest masonry fort in the continental US, according to Wikipedia. You enter through the main gate and end up in a courtyard. There are several rooms in the fort that visitors are allowed to enter, with displays and informational boards and plaques in each. Remnants of carved grafitti and paint can be seen in a couple of them. In one of the rooms, a ranger gives a regularly scheduled talk not only about the fort, but the history of the area of St. Augustine and why the fort was needed. There are bathrooms, vending machines, and drinking fountains available in a shaded area of the courtyard. Near the entrance to the courtyard is a stairway that takes you to the top of the fort. You will experience great views of the Matanzas Bay harbor and the city of St. Augustine. You can take a look at some original cannons, as well as the bell tower. There is only one way in and out of the fort, so when you exit, you can continue straight down to the water battery (the sandy looking area by the wall on the water) and walk around it and see the original moat. There are actual cannons here, as well, and if you continue walking tot he left, you can see where they were positioned behind the wall. The hot shot furnace is located here as well. There is a small gift shop located inside the fort, which sells the usual souvenirs, but ice cream, too. It's interesting to note that the fort was never lived in, so to speak. There were rooms for sleeping, but that was for when the soldiers were on duty in shifts, as everyone actually lived in town behind the city gates. The moat was never filled with water, and was used to house livestock when the city and fort were under attack. The townspeople would "move in" to the fort then as well. There is an entrance fee, but if you have a National Parks pass, you can use it here. Whether you are a history buff, or just like to learn new things, a visit here will be worth your while; put it on your list. 109/2025 read more
Coming to Saint Augustine for the weekend we need to go visit the Castillo de San Marcos! A beautiful location, full of history for the whole family. We got to experience even one of the Canon fires. You have an option of doing the whole water on your own or doing a voice guided experience. Definitely recommend coming here during the holidays even though it might be a little bit busy, but it's great to experience the whole city in full . read more
I have lived in Saint Augustine for years and have never been here. Honestly, I thought it looked very boring but on a whim I took my kids met up with a friend and we ended up loving it. Kids are free adults are $15. There is some kind of deal where if you're a veteran you get in for free too. There are lots of rooms with cool stuff to see and they have plaques around so you can learn about the history of the fort. Once you go upstairs to the second level, the views are amazing. I did not expect to like this place so much but now it's on my list of places to bring people when they visit me. read more
If you are ever in St. Augustine, visiting Castillo de San Marcos is a must. Walking through it honestly felt like stepping back in time. The history there is incredible, you can feel it almost like a transport to a different time. It really gives you a deeper appreciation for how much this place has seen over the years. And the views... just wow. The water is something you have to experience in person just an incredible view. It's peaceful, beautiful, and just one of those moments where you stop and take it all in. I also loved how well everything is preserved and how much you can actually explore. It's not just something you look at, it's something you experience. Whether you're into history or just want to see something truly unique, this is definitely worth your time. Such a beautiful and meaningful landmark. I would 100% recommend it. read more
5 months ago
Interesting place full of history and fun facts about the origins of the fort, the area, how it was built, etc. beautiful view of the bay too. It took us about an hour to get through and that was reading 60-80% of the things. $15/adult with no park passes read more
9 months ago
This is one of the most gorgeous spots I've been too. Such a historical but beautiful place. You learn so much whilst on the tour and their is so much to enjoy and look at. read more
5 months ago
This is a really cool fort. Very old and historical. It wasn't open this day for some reason so didnt actually get to go inside but ventured around it and got some pictures. Its pretty cool it is right on the water and just outside the main town you can tell how they protected the town back in the day. Hope to go back when they are open read more
Walked right in to see the cannon fire exhibition! Didn't know they did that, but it seems to happen every few hours. It was a wonderful way to start our trip in St. Augustine! There were also several Spanish soldiers milling about which helped immerse you in the experience! The fort itself is beautiful and old, it's definitely a must see! Plus, I got my national parks passport stamped! Most importantly, if you buy a day pass, it works for a full week! So we were able to go two days in a row (just make sure you have the same credit card you made the initial purchase on you). Would definitely recommend! read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
We went to see the this fort just before Christmas 2024 and it was cold during that time. Our self guided tour was on a cloudy day. But it was still fascinating to see the oldest fort in the US and especially the cannons! They fire them once a week is what I understood. The day we went was crowded with tourists. I kind of liked that because I would not feel comfortable without a group of people around me as there are rumors of old Spanish soldier ghosts seen fighting at the fort. I highly recommend making this a priority to see when you come to St Augustine! It is well worth it. Once you get to the top, you will have beautiful views of St Augustine, the harbor, and the amazing Bridge of Lions! Good photo opportunities here! Tickets were $15. It is run by the National Park Service. There is a large parking lot next to the Fort. It took us about 1 1/2 hours to see everything. read more
I have been here a few times before. These pictures are from 2019 when I visited here. I have been visiting this place since 2017. My first visit was awesome. There is so much history within this fort. I have visiting here every year whenever time and weather permits. Parking is slightly difficult to find, being that this is a tourist city and there's random field trips always occurring. But, there is paid parking adjacent to the fort. One other option would be the parking garage a couple of minutes away from this place. Word has it, that this place is haunted by random soldier's ghosts that stayed there. This location was even featured on a paranormal TV show hosted by Zack Baggens. If you love historical places like I do, then I highly suggest visiting this old historical fort. read more
It's only a 4 because it isn't open to see the inside. We've been here before and absolutely loved the history. Unfortunately, on this visit it was closed due to the government shut down. However, even the outside leaves a lasting impression of history and amazement. read more
Very cool fort with great views. It was an extremely hot day so I highly recommend bringing a bottle of water with you and maybe even a small towel. There were 2 main levels and you could self guide yourself through it although they had a guided tour option. There was zero shade when you're up on the top but you were able to see where they had the old firing cannons which was super cool. As you walk through each room they had plenty of artifacts and information which was helpful to understand. I felt that it was very well maintained and full of rich history! They do offer bathrooms inside as well. read more
I cannot believe I have never done a review for Castillo and only have a few pictures uploaded! I have been coming here for close to 15 years and visit at least once per year. I love bringing my nephew. He is now 13 but we have been visiting since he was about 4. It's a great way to spend a couple hours. They are continually adding displays, updating activities and provide a great about of information. They also participate in the junior ranger program which my nephew has done numerous times. The amount of pages required to get a badge increases as the kids get older so he has done it many times and it has gradually forced him to learn more. The staff are always incredible, willing to answer questions and involve kids. They do reenactments of cannon firings and talks with the volunteers in period style clothing. The cost is $15 for ages 16 and above and free for 15 and under. My sister has the America the Beautiful pass that admits 4 anyway so it makes going, easy and affordable. Parking can be a nightmare, especially in the summer or around the holidays but that is to be expected in the area. If you can't find parking in their lot, just head to the parking garage 3 blocks away. Also, don't forget to visit Fort Matanzas 13 miles down the river. It's another really cool stop! And completely free!! read more
2 years ago
This historic monument was built starting in 1672. It is the oldest masonry fort in America. It has actual canons and equipment all throughout the grounds. The Park Rangers are in authentic dress and answer all your questions. They even fire one of the canons daily ( without the ball ). The fort is large and takes about 1 1/2 hours to walk thru inside and out. From the top level there is a great 360 degree view of the harbor and the city. There is a wealth of history to be learned here. Admission is $15 pp. You can use a National Parks pass if you have. There is a large parking lot. The entry line gets long after 12 noon. read more
Hands on way to learn history, the battles, the conflicts, the architecture, and the way of life of people long ago. For $15 or an American the Beautiful pass (the pass that gets you into all the US National Parks for a year), you have entry to walk along the same buildings our ancestors did. While the battles were interesting, I appreciated the ability to peek into the day-in-the-life of these people, through carvings and trinkets. Very unique place. The rangers on site are very knowledgeable about the location and will answer your questions enthusiastically. Not a lot of parking so we walked from the BnB we were staying in. read more
6 months ago
Came here for a school project and staff was very kind and ready to help answer any of my dumb questions read more
1 year ago
Gorgeous, beautiful and I can't find more words about this magical place! Inside or out, they'll steal your heart...we saw the most gorgeous rainbow and also breath taking view...Castillo San Marcos has rich history and it's worth to see this place! Adorable! I ended up to park my car in a parking that I paid $16 so im not sure if there is free parking around... read more
Page 1 of 13
More info about Castillo de San Marcos
Castillo de San Marcos Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Castillo de San Marcos
How long does it generally take to cover this landmark?
I would allow a couple hours and try to plan it so you see a cannon reenactment some time during your visit. Check their website for times.
Review Highlights - Castillo de San Marcos
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
25 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
3 years ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
9 years ago
3 years ago
4 months ago
12 years ago
10 years ago
7 years ago
9 years ago
4 years ago
11 years ago
7 years ago
10 years ago
7 years ago
14 years ago
11 years ago
9 years ago
