Stand on the Southbank Riverwalk at dusk and the St. Johns River does most of the work: the downtown skyline stacks up on the far shore, the Main Street Bridge catches the last light, and Friendship Fountain throws water into the air beside you. Jacksonville is a river city before it is a beach city, and its best moments tend to happen along that water.
This guide suits travellers who want a compact downtown core of architecture and museums, plus historic neighbourhoods and Atlantic beaches within the same trip. It covers the landmarks, museums, parks and districts worth building a day around, with practical notes on when to go and what to pair with what.
Top things to do in Jacksonville
1. Downtown
Downtown Jacksonville sits on the St. Johns River and is made up of five districts. The Northbank holds many of the city's largest and most historic structures and serves as the government and financial centre for the region. Across the river, the Southbank has its share of iconic buildings and parks, most notably the Museum of Science and History and Friendship Fountain. LaVilla and Brooklyn are upcoming areas just west of the Northbank, while the Sports Complex lies to the east.
Treat downtown as your base for a walking day rather than a single stop. From the Northbank you can cross to the Southbank for the river views, then work west into LaVilla and Brooklyn.
2. City Hall (St. James Building)
At 117 West Duval St, City Hall is one of the most beautiful city halls in America and is open to the public. It was designed in Prairie School style by local architect Henry John Klutho, built as a department store in 1912, purchased by the city in 1993, and became the new city hall in 1997. Inside, a spectacular sunlit atrium is dominated by an octagonal glass dome, and the exterior is defined by large abstract decorative cornices.
Step inside for the atrium even if you have no business with the city. It sits in the middle of downtown, so combine it with the surrounding streets and the riverfront rather than making a separate trip.
3. James Weldon Johnson Park
This block-sized park is in the centre of downtown and is surrounded by City Hall, the United States Courthouse, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Main Library, the former Snyder Memorial Church and various restaurants. It was long named for Charles C. Hemming, who donated the Confederate monument that was the park's focal point in 1898; the statue was removed by the city in June 2020, and the park was renamed in August 2020 for the writer and civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson.
The downtown Main Library on the park's edge opened in 2005 and is the largest Main Library in the state of Florida, designed by Robert A.M. Stern with a Grand Reading Room and a quiet courtyard for outdoor reading. Use the park as a pause between the museum and the library.
4. Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA)
MOCA occupies the historic Western Union Telegraph Building downtown, across from James Weldon Johnson Park, and presents contemporary art exhibits by regional, national and international artists. It is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 11AM-5PM, Thursday 11AM-9PM, and Sunday noon-5PM. Adult admission is $8; seniors, military, students and children aged 2-12 are $5.
Admission is free between 5PM and 9PM on the first Wednesday of each month, and free to college students between 1:30PM and 5PM Tuesday through Friday. Pair a visit with the park and City Hall directly outside.
5. Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
At 829 Riverside Ave, this is an art museum with an expansive formal garden set alongside the Jacksonville waterfront. The collection features primarily European and American paintings as well as a large collection of early Meissen porcelain. Opening hours are Tuesday 10AM-9PM, Wednesday to Saturday 10AM-4PM, and Sunday noon-4PM. Adults pay $10; seniors, military and students $6; children 5 and under are free.
Admission is free to all on the first Saturday of every month, and college students enter free Tuesday through Friday. It sits on Riverside Avenue, the road that carries you from downtown into the Riverside neighbourhood.
6. Friendship Fountain
Opened in 1965 as the world's largest and tallest fountain, it is capable of spraying 17,000 gallons of water a minute to a height of 120 feet. The fountain and surrounding park sit directly across from the Northbank and offer some of the best views of the city. It is adjacent to the Museum of Science and History and forms part of the Southbank Riverwalk.
Come for the view across to the Northbank, and fold the stop into a walk along the Southbank Riverwalk rather than driving to it alone.
7. Main Street Bridge
Opened in 1941, this was the second crossing built over the St. Johns River. It is one of the most recognised structures in the city and offers some of the best views of the downtown skyline.
Use it as a viewpoint rather than a destination in itself, and time it with the river light. It links the two banks, so it works naturally into a downtown walking route.
8. Riverside
About a mile southwest of downtown on the banks of the St. Johns River, Riverside was built primarily between 1910 and 1930 and has a variety of historic homes, churches and apartment buildings. Its commercial centre is the eclectic Five Points, with unique retail and dining in a bohemian atmosphere. Memorial Park sits near Five Points adjacent to the river.
To reach the area from downtown, take Jefferson Street, which becomes Riverside Avenue. Combine the neighbourhood with the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, which sits on that same avenue.
9. Memorial Park
At 1620 Riverside Ave, between Margaret Street and Memorial Park Drive, this park was designed by the Olmsted Brothers, who also designed many other national and city parks. It lies along the banks of the St. Johns River in Riverside, near the Five Points area, and houses the statue known as Life, which has become associated with Riverside in general.
It is a natural companion to Five Points and the Cummer Museum, all within the same stretch of Riverside Avenue.
10. Avondale
Along the St. Johns River just southwest of and adjacent to Riverside, Avondale was built during the 1920s Florida land boom as "Riverside's Residential Ideal". The stately historic houses were constructed in a variety of architectural styles, including Tudor, Georgian Revival, Prairie, Shingle, Mediterranean Revival and Bungalow. The commercial heart is the Shops of Avondale, along St. Johns Avenue between Talbot and Dancy Streets, with upscale dining and shopping.
Walk the residential streets for the architecture, then finish at the shops. It follows naturally from Riverside if you are already in that part of the city.
11. Springfield
Just north of downtown, Springfield is a historic neighbourhood with architecture ranging from Victorian and Craftsmen to Colonial Revival and Prairie School. It is characterised by large porches, iconic city parks and a blanketing oak canopy.
It is close enough to downtown to pair with a Northbank morning, and the porches and tree cover make it a comfortable walk in the heat of the day.
12. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
The zoo hosts more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and 1,000 varieties of plants, and is constantly growing and changing. It is a substantial stop, so give it a half day rather than squeezing it between downtown sights.
13. Florida Theatre
At 128 East Forsyth St, at Newnan, the Florida Theatre has been Jacksonville's premier entertainment centre since 1927 and offers 200 cultural and entertainment events annually. The restored theatre is recognised as one of the finest concert venues in the Southeast and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It sits downtown, so it pairs well with an afternoon of City Hall, James Weldon Johnson Park and MOCA before an evening performance.
14. Jacksonville Naval Museum
At 610 E Bay St, this museum features the USS Orleck, a WWII-era destroyer. Admission is $15, with free parking adjacent.
It is on the downtown waterfront, making it an easy addition to a Northbank or riverfront walk.
15. Ritz Theatre and Museum
At 829 N Davis St, this is a cultural museum showcasing the people and places that flourished within the Jacksonville African American community during the Jim Crow era. It sits in the LaVilla area, west of the Northbank, which you can fold into a downtown day.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start downtown at City Hall (St. James Building) on West Duval Street and look up into the sunlit atrium under the octagonal glass dome. Walk the short distance to James Weldon Johnson Park, then step into the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville across from it.
Afternoon: Take Jefferson Street, which becomes Riverside Avenue, out to the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens for the paintings, the Meissen porcelain and the formal garden on the waterfront. Continue into Riverside for Five Points and Memorial Park, and if time allows push on to Avondale and the Shops of Avondale.
Evening: Return to the river. Walk the Southbank Riverwalk past Friendship Fountain for the view back across to the Northbank, cross the Main Street Bridge for the skyline, and finish with a performance at the Florida Theatre if something is on.
Frequently asked questions
When is the cheapest time to visit the museums?
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is free to all on the first Saturday of every month, and free to college students Tuesday through Friday. The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville is free between 5PM and 9PM on the first Wednesday of each month, and free to college students between 1:30PM and 5PM Tuesday through Friday.
Is the Museum of Science and History open?
No. It is closed until 2026 and is moving to the north bank. You can still see Friendship Fountain and the Southbank Riverwalk, which are adjacent to it.
How do I get from downtown to Riverside?
Take Jefferson Street, which becomes Riverside Avenue. The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is at 829 Riverside Ave, and Memorial Park is at 1620 Riverside Ave.
Where can I see the downtown skyline?
The Main Street Bridge offers some of the best views of the downtown skyline, and Friendship Fountain and its surrounding park, directly across from the Northbank, offer some of the best views of the city.
Pick your dates around a first Saturday or a first Wednesday, and the museums and the river will do the rest of the planning for you.