The 8 BEST Hotels Near the Regatta of Lights in St. Augustine in St Augustine 2026

Matanzas Bay views from the heart of the parade route. Some rooms look straight across Matanzas Bay, bringing the Regatta of Lights close from your balcony. The historic bayfront setting also puts you steps from the waterfront where you can watch the illuminated boats pass. From here, the Castillo de San Marcos, the Spanish stone fort, is a six-minute walk, as is the Oldest Wooden School House. You get a polished waterfront stay with St. Augustine’s history right outside.

Waterfront rooms put the glowing boats in view. Many rooms open onto balconies with views across Matanzas Bay, so the regatta feels close even before you step outside. A full breakfast and daily happy hour give the evening a warm, sociable start. Flagler College, housed in the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, is an eight-minute walk away, while the bayfront is right across the street. It’s a relaxed, romantic stay for lingering over the waterfront atmosphere.

Waterfront balconies face the lighted parade route. Waterfront balconies give you a front-row feel for the Regatta of Lights across Matanzas Bay. The inn’s historic character and easygoing poolside setting make coming back after the parade feel just as pleasant. The Oldest House Museum, a historic house museum, is a four-minute walk away, and the Castillo de San Marcos fort is about a six-minute walk. You get a charming bayfront stay with the parade and old town close at hand.

Bay-facing rooms keep the waterfront show close. Bay-view rooms make it easy to catch the glow of the Regatta of Lights without straying far from your stay. The hotel sits right in the historic district, so the parade-night atmosphere carries naturally into a stroll along the water. The Castillo de San Marcos, the Spanish stone fort, is about a six-minute walk away, and Matanzas Bay is across the street. You get an easygoing, practical stay with the bayfront at your doorstep.

A historic hideaway steps from the glowing waterfront. Bella Bay Inn brings you close to the Regatta of Lights in a small, characterful downtown setting. In-room kitchenettes make it easy to settle in between an evening by the bay and a morning exploring the old city. Old St. Augustine Village, a historic-house museum, is a three-minute walk away, and the Castillo de San Marcos fort is about a 12-minute walk. You get a relaxed, independent stay with the waterfront parade within easy reach.

A grand historic landmark near the bayfront lights. The ornate 1888 hotel gives your Regatta of Lights getaway a distinct sense of St. Augustine’s past. After watching the boats, you can return to an atmospheric landmark with Spanish-Mediterranean dining and a spa. Flagler College, the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, is a one-minute walk away, and the Castillo de San Marcos fort is about 12 minutes on foot. You get a refined historic stay within an easy stroll of the waterfront.

Marina views frame a relaxed walk to the parade. Rooms with marina or water views bring a coastal feel to your Regatta of Lights stay. The intimate property pairs its waterfront setting with a poolside view of St. Augustine’s skyline. Flagler College is about a 14-minute walk away, and the Castillo de San Marcos, the Spanish stone fort, is roughly 0.9 miles away. You get a calm marina-side retreat with an easy walk over to the downtown bayfront.

Historic rooms and a bayfront café share the view. This historic inn looks over Matanzas Bay, putting the illuminated boats and their reflections right in the scene. Its waterfront café adds a festive place to pause for a meal or drink before and after the parade. The Castillo de San Marcos, the Spanish stone fort, is about a six-minute walk away, with the downtown bayfront just across the street. You get an intimate, old-Florida stay made for a twinkling evening by the water.