St. Augustine Nights of Lights 2026–27: Best Tours to Book
Prices & schedules checked October 17, 2026
Every evening of the season, millions of small white lights outline roughly 20 blocks of St. Augustine’s historic district — the Plaza de la Constitución, the Bridge of Lions, and the old Spanish-colonial streets around them. Seeing the lights themselves is free and needs no ticket. A tour is optional; it buys you narration, a seat, a different viewpoint (the water), or a way around the parking crush.
Key dates & logistics
- Light-Up! Night: Saturday, Nov 21, 2026. Live entertainment from 4 p.m.; official lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in the Plaza de la Constitución.
- Season end: Monday, Jan 18, 2027.
- It’s not a drive-through event. The city asks visitors to park at satellite lots and use the free Park & Ride shuttle (on select days; routes are posted closer to the season) and to explore on foot.
- Expect crowds, especially weekends and holidays. Budget extra time to park before any timed tour.
- Best free photo spots named by the county visitors bureau: the Christmas tree in the Plaza de la Constitución, and the Bridge of Lions looking back at the lit bayfront.
Quick picks
| If you want… | Book | From (as listed) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| The classic, family-friendly ride | Old Town Trolley “Famous Nights of Lights Tour” | $72.99 per row of up to 4 | ~30–45 min |
| A small boat on the harbor | St. Augustine Eco Tours Nights of Lights boat tour | $55 (13+), $35 (3–12) | 1 hr |
| Sunset + lights under sail | Schooner Freedom Nights of Lights/Sunset Sail | $75 + tax | 2 hr |
| Budget sightseeing boat | Scenic Cruise (Victory III) 4:30 p.m. Nights of Lights departure | $28.50 adult (standard rate) | Not stated |
| Free | St. Augustine City Walks one-hour walk (Mon/Wed/Fri, 6 p.m.) | Free | 1 hr |
The tours, in detail
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. Details
Old Town Trolley — Famous Nights of Lights Tour
- Season Nov 22, 2026 – Jan 18, 2027 (begins the night after Light-Up! Night)
- Price Sold by the row (max 4 guests): from $72.99 general, from $199.99 VIP (front-of-line) on the operator’s site
- Length Approx. 30–45 minutes; times vary by date
- Departs Visitor Information Center, 10 W. Castillo Dr.
- Extras Viewing glasses, carols; complimentary sugar cookies and apple cider at the end (per operator)
- Policy Operator site: reservations required, non-refundable, reschedule up to 24 hrs ahead by phone. Viator’s listing shows its own cancellation terms — read them at checkout.
- On GetYourGuide Nights of Lights Trolley Tour, from $81 per group of up to 4 (as of Oct 2026)
Best for families and anyone who wants the lights without the walking. Because you buy a whole row, a party of four pays the same as a couple. On Viator, choose 1 traveler for 1–4 people and 2 for 5–8 — the listing says so in bold because people get it wrong. Parking is in the adjacent Historic Downtown Parking Facility (check the city’s current rate).
Ripley’s Red Train — Nights of Lights Tours
- Season Sun, Nov 22, 2026 – Mon, Jan 18, 2027, 6:00–10:15 p.m. (per Visit St. Augustine listing)
- Departs Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 19 San Marco Ave. (lot parking $5/hour)
- Price Holiday pricing not published at time of checking — see booking page
The Red Train is lower to the ground than a trolley and nimble enough for narrow streets such as Aviles Street, per Ripley’s FAQ — a nice option if anyone in your group has trouble with steps. For how the Red Train and the trolley compare the rest of the year, see Old Town Trolley vs. Red Train.
St. Augustine Eco Tours — Nights of Lights boat tour
- Price $55 ages 13+, $35 ages 3–12, $25 ages 2 and under; private boat $300 (up to 6) or $600 (7–12)
- Length 1 hour, after dark on the harbor
- Boats 6- or 12-passenger boats
The calmest way to see the bayfront reflections without crowds around you. Small boats sell out on peak weekends, so book early. (Booked directly; we earn nothing on this one.)
Schooner Freedom — Nights of Lights / Sunset Sail
- Season Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 18, 2027
- Departs 4:15 p.m. from the City Docks next to the Bridge of Lions
- Length 2 hours (sunset, then the lit skyline)
- Price $75 per person plus tax; refreshments included
- Good to know Dog-friendly; USCG-certified 76-ft steel schooner; reservations highly recommended
The operator calls this its most popular sail. It’s the only option here that combines a real sunset with the lights coming on. (Direct booking; no commission.)
Other boat cruises on booking sites
- Nights of Lights by Water Adventure Boat Tours; departs 260 Vilano Rd (Vilano fishing pier); public boat up to 32 people or private boat up to 6
- Fury Nights of Lights cruise (power catamaran) Departs 260 Vilano Rd (Vilano fishing pier); choose the narrated sunset-and-lights option (about 1 hr 30 min) or the lights-only option (about 1 hr 15 min, no narration); water and soda included, beer and wine for purchase (per Viator listing)
- Nights of Lights Cruise (GetYourGuide) From $39 (as of Oct 2026); check the listing for the operator and departure point
Prices on these listings change by date and party size; check the live price before you pick a night.
Scenic Cruise — Victory III
- Nights of Lights 4:30 p.m. departure, Nov 21 – Jan 2
- Standard rates Adults $28.50, children 4–12 $12.50, seniors 60+ $25.00
- Departs Municipal Marina, 111 Avenida Menendez, just south of the Bridge of Lions
- Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; leashed pets welcome
The operator lists standard rates only; confirm whether the Nights of Lights departure is priced differently.
Free and walking options
- St. Augustine City Walks: free one-hour Nights of Lights walk, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 p.m.
- St. Augustine Experiences: 90-minute guided lights walk every evening at 5:30 p.m.
- Carriage rides leave daily from the bayfront near the Castillo; the visitors bureau lists Country Carriages from around $150 for groups of four and up.
- From above: the St. Augustine Lighthouse (219 steps) is promoted as a lights viewpoint — check its evening hours before you go, since regular hours end at 6 p.m.
Tips that actually help
- Go on a weeknight if your dates are flexible; the city warns weekends and holidays are the most congested.
- Book timed tours for at least 45 minutes after you expect to arrive. Parking is the bottleneck, not the tour.
- Pair a boat with a walk: the water gives you the skyline; walking the Plaza and St. George Street gives you the close-up lights. Neither needs a car once you’re parked. Outside the season, the same harbor has year-round sunset and dolphin trips — see our boat cruise guide.
- Download the official Nights of Lights app for parking, shuttle details and maps.
Sources
- Florida’s Historic Coast — Nights of Lights 2026–2027 (dates, Light-Up! Night, shuttle, walks, carriages, boats)
- Old Town Trolley — Nights of Lights tour (dates, row prices, duration, departure, policy)
- Viator — St. Augustine Nights of Lights Tour (row booking instructions)
- GetYourGuide — Nights of Lights Trolley Tour (from $81 per group of up to 4, as of Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide — Nights of Lights Cruise (from $39 as of Oct 2026)
- Visit St. Augustine — Ripley’s Red Train (Nights of Lights tour dates/hours, parking)
- Ripley’s Red Train FAQ (vehicle, Aviles Street)
- Visit St. Augustine — Eco Tours Nights of Lights boat tour (prices, length)
- Schooner Freedom (Nights of Lights/Sunset Sail details)
- Scenic Cruise — Schedule & Rates
- St. Augustine Lighthouse — Plan your visit (hours)