A Day on Palm Beach Island from West Palm Beach

One of the best things about staying in West Palm Beach is how close Palm Beach island is. It sits just across the Lake Worth Lagoon, a few minutes over the bridge, and you can see a lot of it in a single relaxed day. Here's the simple plan I'd suggest to guests who want history, gardens, a waterfront walk and a little window shopping without rushing.

Hours, prices and parking rules change, so check each official site before you go.

Morning: Whitehall at the Flagler Museum

Start with the Flagler Museum. It's Whitehall, the Gilded Age mansion Henry Flagler built in Palm Beach, and it tells a big part of the story of how Florida's east coast grew up around his railroad and hotels. Your visit covers the first and second floors of the house, the grounds, and the Flagler Kenan Pavilion, where you can see Flagler's private Railcar No. 91.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. It's closed Mondays, plus Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is $28 for adults, $14 for kids 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under. Parking on site is free during museum hours, which is a real perk on the island.

Admission includes free docent-led tours of the first floor at set times, or you can use the museum's free app with your own earbuds. One tip: large bags and backpacks aren't allowed, so travel light. If you're visiting this season, the museum's new exhibition on Chicago's 1893 World's Fair and how it shaped Whitehall is scheduled to open November 10, 2026.

Midday: the Four Arts gardens

From Whitehall it's a short trip to The Society of the Four Arts, near the corner of Royal Palm Way and Cocoanut Row. Its two gardens are one of the island's best free stops. The Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden has about 20 sculptures set among palms, pergolas and fountains. Next door, the Four Arts Demonstration Garden dates to 1938 and is split into themed spaces, including a Chinese garden, a palm garden and a fragrant moonlight garden.

The gardens are open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting, and there's no charge. You're welcome to snap casual photos on your phone, and picnicking on the garden furniture is allowed, which makes it an easy lunch break. Pets and bikes aren't permitted, and the gardens close on major holidays. The Four Arts also runs concerts, films and talks, mostly from November through May, so check their calendar if you're in town for the season.

Afternoon: walk or ride the Lake Trail

Next, head to the Lake Trail, a 5.5-mile paved path along the lagoon side of the island. It runs from South Lake Drive near Peruvian Avenue north to just past the Sailfish Club, with views back across the water to the West Palm Beach skyline.

You don't need to do the whole thing. Even a half hour out and back is a lovely walk. The trail is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., the speed limit is 10 mph, and no motorized vehicles are allowed, including e-bikes and electric skateboards. A regular bike or your own feet are perfect.

Late afternoon: Worth Avenue and its vias

Finish on Worth Avenue, Palm Beach's famous shopping street. Even if you're not shopping, the real treat is the vias, the small Mediterranean-style courtyards and passageways that branch off the 200 and 300 blocks. There are eight of them, and the first ones were designed by architect Addison Mizner. Via Mizner was completed in 1924, and Via Parigi followed in 1926.

Look for the fountains, tiled stairways and tucked-away cafés. In Via Mizner you'll also find a famous local oddity: the grave of Johnnie Brown, Mizner's pet spider monkey. It's a fun way to end the day before heading back over the bridge for dinner in West Palm.

Parking and getting there

Most street parking in Midtown Palm Beach, including around Worth Avenue and the beach blocks, is metered and paid through the ParkMobile app, and on commercial streets it's usually limited to two hours. Rates are posted on the signs, and beach-block spaces cost more than inland ones. Leave yourself time, because spaces fill up fast in season.

If you'd rather skip the car, a rideshare over the bridge is quick, or see our guide to getting around West Palm Beach without a car.

A few quick tips

Go Tuesday through Saturday so the Flagler Museum is open with full hours.
Bring water and sunscreen for the Lake Trail, since there's not much shade on parts of it.
Pack a light lunch to enjoy in the Four Arts gardens.
Ask us. If you're staying with West Palm BnBs, we're happy to suggest the easiest route from your rental.

Palm Beach island can feel like another world, but it's right next door. Spend a day there, then come back to West Palm for a relaxed dinner.

Chris Linteris hosts guests through West Palm BnBs in West Palm Beach, Florida.