Palm Beach, the United States: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Palm Beach County occupies the Atlantic coast of Florida between Miami and the interior of the state. The name comes from the island of Palm Beach, a narrow strip of sand between the ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon, where entrepreneur Henry Flagler brought the railroad in the late 19th century and built hotels and his own winter residence, Whitehall. The island became the winter resort for America’s wealthy families and still has mansions behind hedges, Worth Avenue, and promenades along the lagoon.

On the other side of the lagoon is West Palm Beach, the larger city, with the international airport, the train station, and a lively downtown by the water. There you’ll find the Norton Museum of Art, the region’s main art museum, and to the north the Riviera Beach manatee observation center. To the west, toward the inland fields, are the drive-through Lion Country Safari and the Rapids water park.

Boca Raton, in the southern part of the county, grew in the 1920s with Mediterranean-style architecture by architect Addison Mizner. It has beaches with public parks, the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center with sea turtles, and, a few kilometers away, the Japanese gardens of Morikami in Delray Beach.

Winter, from December to April, is high season: dry, mild days and a fuller cultural and social calendar. Summer is hot and humid with afternoon showers, and hurricane season runs from June to November.

This destination brings together 3 cities: West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Boca Raton.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Palm Beach is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Palm Beach

✈ Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), in West Palm Beach · 5 km to West Palm Beach

Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is in West Palm Beach, a few minutes from downtown. Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports are about 70 km and 110 km away. The Brightline train links West Palm Beach and Boca Raton to Miami and Orlando, and I-95 runs along the coast.

Suggested arrival point: West Palm Beach

Flórida · Palm Beach Suggested arrival point

West Palm Beach

City on the shore of the Lake Worth Lagoon, facing the island of Palm Beach, and the county gateway, with an international airport and a Brightline train station. The downtown area, around Clematis Street and the waterfront, houses restaurants and events. It has the Norton Museum of Art, the Manatee Lagoon manatee observation center, and, to the west, the drive-through Lion Country Safari and the Rapids water park.

Flórida · Palm Beach

Palm Beach

Narrow island between the Atlantic and the Lake Worth Lagoon, connected to West Palm Beach by bridges. It was turned into the winter resort for wealthy Americans by Henry Flagler, whose home, Whitehall, is now the Flagler Museum. It has Worth Avenue, a shopping street with Mediterranean-style passages, mansions behind hedges, and the Lake Trail, a promenade along the lagoon.

Flórida · Palm Beach

Boca Raton

City in the southern part of Palm Beach County, between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, marked by the Mediterranean-style architecture of architect Addison Mizner in the 1920s. It has beaches with public parks, the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center with sea turtles and a boardwalk through the mangrove, the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Mizner Park, and, a few kilometers to the north, the Japanese gardens of Morikami.

The local experience

Things to do in Palm Beach

Palm Beach · Florida · Museum

Flagler Museum

Whitehall, the winter home of entrepreneur Henry Flagler, built in 1902 in Palm Beach, now a museum of the American Gilded Age, with marble salons, original furnishings, and Flagler’s private railcar.

Boca Raton · Florida · Garden

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

Japanese gardens and a museum of Japanese culture in Delray Beach, created in memory of the Yamato Japanese farming colony, with a path of about 1.5 km around a lake.

West Palm Beach · Florida · Museum

Norton Museum of Art

Main art museum of South Florida, in downtown West Palm Beach, with collections of American, European and Chinese art, photography and a sculpture garden.

Boca Raton · Florida · Conservation center

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

A nature center on Boca Raton’s beachfront strip, with sea turtle rehabilitation tanks, aquariums and an elevated boardwalk through the mangroves and coastal scrub.

See 6 more places in Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · Florida · Wildlife observation center

Manatee Lagoon

Environmental education center in Riviera Beach, on the shore of the Lake Worth Lagoon, where manatees often gather in the warm water from the nearby power plant on cold winter days.

Palm Beach · Florida · Historic street

Worth Avenue

Shopping street on Palm Beach island, with 1920s Mediterranean-style architecture and small internal passages, the vías, featuring courtyards, fountains, and staircases.

Boca Raton · Florida · Museum

Boca Raton Museum of Art

An art museum in Mizner Park, downtown Boca Raton, with a collection of modern and contemporary art, photography, pre-Columbian and African art, and temporary exhibitions.

Palm Beach · Florida · Trail

Lake Trail

About an 8-km path along the Lake Worth Lagoon on the west side of Palm Beach island, walked or cycled through gardens, mansion backyards, and with views of West Palm Beach.

West Palm Beach · Florida · Safari park

Lion Country Safari

Car safari west of West Palm Beach, with lions, giraffes, rhinos, zebras and hundreds of other animals roaming in open areas, plus a park with attractions and animals to see on foot.

West Palm Beach · Florida · Water park

Rapids Water Park

Largest water park in Palm Beach County, in Riviera Beach, with slides, a wave pool, a lazy river and children’s areas, open in the warm season.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From December to April, with dry weather, mild temperatures, and Palm Beach’s social and cultural season. From May to October heat and humidity increase and afternoons often have showers. Hurricane season runs from June to November.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two to three days: one for the island of Palm Beach, with the Flagler Museum and Worth Avenue; one for West Palm Beach and the Norton Museum; and one for Boca Raton and Morikami. With four days you can add Lion Country Safari and a beach day.

Which city to stay in

Downtown West Palm Beach, near Clematis Street and the waterfront, leaves the Norton Museum and restaurants within walking distance and is one bridge from the island of Palm Beach. On the island, the streets between Worth Avenue and the Flagler Museum are the quietest. In Boca Raton, the Mizner Park area and the streets near the beach are convenient for those wanting the southern part of the county.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Palm Beach

What’s the difference between Palm Beach and West Palm Beach?

Palm Beach is the narrow island between the ocean and the lagoon, with mansions, Worth Avenue, and the Flagler Museum. West Palm Beach is the larger city on the other side of the lagoon, with the airport, the train station, the downtown, and the Norton Museum of Art. The two are connected by bridges.

When is the best time to go to Palm Beach?

From December to April, with dry, mild days and the busiest cultural season. Summer is hot and humid, and hurricane season runs from June to November.

Do you need a car in Palm Beach?

For downtown West Palm Beach and the island of Palm Beach, you can use trolleys, bikes, and rideshare apps. For Boca Raton, Morikami, and Lion Country Safari, a car is helpful. The Brightline train links West Palm Beach and Boca Raton to Miami.

Can you do Palm Beach as a day trip from Miami?

Yes. It’s about 110 km on I-95 or a little over an hour by Brightline train to West Palm Beach. To see the island, the Flagler Museum, and Boca Raton at a relaxed pace, it’s worth staying at least one night.

How many days to stay in Palm Beach?

Two to three days for Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, and Boca Raton. Four days allow adding the drive-through safari and a beach day.

Palm Beach

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.