Graced by the beautiful St. Johns River, and minutes away from pristine white sand beaches, Downtown Jacksonville is truly unique. Cross over one of the bridges spanning the river or take a sunset water taxi ride for the best city views! Listen to live music by local musicians, enjoy a guided nature talk and delight in the marine life that can only be found along the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. Don't miss seeing the St. Johns River dolphins from the river taxi .
Nestled between skyscrapers and the St. Johns River, Downtown Jacksonville's North and South banks have an urban vibe with a cool atmosphere. Fortune 500 companies call the City's core home. During the week, thousands of professionals and visitors fill the streets enjoying unique lunch and dining destinations, world-class museums , and a variety of nightlife options, from casual bars to upscale lounges.
Downtown Jacksonville boasts 5.6 miles of beautiful riverfront, including almost 3 miles of riverwalk, perfect for a stroll or a jog by the St. Johns or stop at the iconic Friendship Fountain.
The NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars play Downtown at the Sports Complex, as does the city's minor league baseball team, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp , the Jacksonville Icemen , arena football team the Jacksonville Sharks and the ABA's Jacksonville Giants . Downtown museums include the Ritz Theatre & Museum , the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville , and the Museum of Science and History . Other attractions to visit include Sweet Pete's (our local candy factory with free tours!) don't leave without tasting Pete's signature sea salt caramels. Visit the Jacksonville Public Library and don't miss the Imagination Squared Exhibit! or the outdoor courtyard! You can get out on the water on one of the many tours offered by St. Johns River Taxi and Tours .
We have a visitor center in downtown Jacksonville on North Laura Street in the heart of the city, one at The Jacksonville International Airport and one inside the Beaches Museum & History Park, stop in to say hello and learn more about things to do in the area from a local expert. Grab some info on downtown talking tours.
There are many ways to get around Downtown , drive and park at one of the more than 43,000 public parking spaces or use public transportation or the Skyway. The Skyway connects Downtown's Southbank to its Northbank in less than five minutes for free. You can also enjoy incredible views and move between Downtown points of interest on the water taxi . To help you find your way, Downtown Ambassadors are always nearby ready to give directions and suggestions to visitors, spot them by their bright orange shirts. Go Tuk'n partners with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) to offer pay-to-ride shuttle service in the Downtown Jacksonville, to view the stops download the Tuk'n Ride app from the Google Play and Apple app stores.
The city's core has over 90 restaurants to choose from, anything from food trucks, to casual eateries, to upscale bistros with eclectic menus
While visiting Downtown be sure to enjoy a great meal at Bellwether , Super Food & Brew, MOCA cafe, Indochine , Burrito Gallery , Cowford Chophouse , Morton's The Steakhouse , Olio , River City Brewing Company or the Chart House . Grab a whisky sour at The Volstead . Here are some of the best bites.
The original square miles of incorporated Jacksonville is now a great place to immerse yourself in the history and fun of our sun-filled city.
Welcome to Jacksonville's Downtown Historical Building Tour. The architectural history of Jacksonville's Downtown area is very unique due to a 1901 cataclysmic fire that burnt down the majority of the Downtown area and sparked an architectural renaissance which changed the face of the city. Within this Downtown tour are four tour loops, we hope you will choose to explore them all, but if you have time for only one, that's great too! The first three loops are very manageable as walking tours, but we suggest that Loop #4 is done as a driving tour since they pull together several buildings located on the outskirts of the Downtown area. We have chosen many historical buildings to include in this tour, but we couldn't include them all, so we welcome ideas to those you feel should be added. This Downtown Historic Building Tour would not have been possible without the support and effort from Councilwoman Lori Boyer, the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Historical Society. Much of the information gathered for this tour would not have been possible without the book Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage: Landmarks for the Future which was created by the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission and Written and Designed by Wayne W. Wood. These tours are also featured in Visit Jacksonville's free App which can be downloaded through the Apple store or the Google Play store. Within the app an audio tour accompanies each tour stop. Now get out and explore these historic buildings
Minutes away from Jacksonville's city center, a natural wonderland awaits. Let's Have an Adventure!
The abundant parks, waterways and ecological preserves in Jacksonville provide an unforgettable opportunity to escape city life and get active in nature's playground!
Get to know the birds, plants, and animals that inhabit our wild and untouched state parks and nature preserves. Hike, bike, or run on miles of shaded trails or experience the great outdoors with an evening of camping. For an unforgettable wildlife adventure, bring the whole family to one of our many animal related attractions .
Miles of untouched woodlands, marshes, beaches, and waterways await your observation and discovery. Jacksonville proudly boasts the largest urban park system in the country, with more than 80,000 designated acres, including the 46,000-acre Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve .
Explore Northeast Florida's unique ecosystem by hiking or biking along miles of designated nature trails, where you may spot one of hundreds of local bird species . Escape the everyday by spending an evening camping under the stars in one of our exquisite parks.
