West Palm Beach Weekend Guide for First-Timers

First trip to West Palm Beach? Lucky you. We fell in love with this city on vacation and ended up making it home, so we get a little excited when guests ask us how to spend a first weekend here. This is the plan we'd hand a friend: an easy mix of downtown, the waterfront, art, and a day across the bridge on Palm Beach island, with plenty of room to slow down.

Everything below is a short drive (or a pleasant bike ride) from our homes in the SoSo neighborhood. Hours and seasonal schedules change, so check each place's official website before you head out.

Friday evening: Clematis Street and the waterfront

Start where the locals do. Clematis Street is downtown West Palm Beach's main street, lined with restaurants, bars, cafes and shops, and it runs right down to the waterfront along the Intracoastal Waterway. At the foot of Clematis you'll find the Centennial Fountain and the Great Lawn, with a palm-lined promenade along Flagler Drive that's made for an evening stroll, with views across the lagoon to Palm Beach island.

If you're in town on a Thursday, the city's free Clematis by Night concert series brings live music to the waterfront in the evening. Pick a spot on the lawn, grab dinner on Clematis afterward and call it a perfect first night.

Saturday morning: the GreenMarket and the Norton

From early October into late spring, the West Palm Beach GreenMarket sets up on Saturday mornings on the waterfront at the foot of Clematis Street. It's one of our favorite weekly traditions: local produce, flowers, baked goods, coffee, live music and lots of people-watching. Go early for the best selection and the coolest part of the day.

Next, head to the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach's landmark art museum. The collection spans European, American, Chinese and contemporary art and photography, and the museum's sculpture garden is a lovely, shady place to wander between galleries. Even if you only have an hour or two, it's worth it.

Saturday afternoon: across the bridge to Palm Beach

Palm Beach island sits just across the Lake Worth Lagoon from downtown, connected by bridges including the Royal Park Bridge and the Flagler Memorial Bridge. A few highlights for a first visit:

Worth Avenue. The island's famous shopping street. Even if you're only window-shopping, duck into the little courtyards (the "vias") tucked off the main avenue for fountains, bougainvillea and Mediterranean-style architecture.
The Lake Trail. A paved, mostly traffic-free path along the lagoon side of the island, popular with walkers, runners and cyclists, with views back toward the West Palm Beach skyline. E-bikes and other motorized vehicles aren't allowed on it.
Flagler Museum (Whitehall). Henry Flagler's Gilded Age mansion, completed in 1902 and now a museum. It's a fascinating look at the man who brought the railroad to South Florida and helped build both Palm Beach and West Palm Beach.

End the afternoon at the ocean. Palm Beach's Midtown (Municipal) Beach, along South Ocean Boulevard just north of Worth Avenue, is guarded by lifeguards year-round and has metered street parking. For more options, see our guide to the best beaches near West Palm Beach.

Saturday night: dinner your way

West Palm's restaurant scene has grown up fast. If you're celebrating, our guide to MICHELIN Guide restaurants in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach lists every local spot in the 2026 Florida guide. If you'd rather keep it casual, Clematis Street and CityPlace, the open-air shopping and dining district a few blocks away (it was called Rosemary Square for a few years and went back to its original name in 2024), have plenty of choices.

Sunday: slow morning, Antique Row and one more swim

Sundays are for taking it easy. Have breakfast on the patio, then browse Antique Row, the stretch of South Dixie Highway known for antique shops, galleries and design stores, just up the road from SoSo. Plant lovers should add Mounts Botanical Garden, and families with little ones will enjoy the Palm Beach Zoo. Our top 10 things to do in West Palm Beach has more ideas.

Before you head home, squeeze in one last beach walk or a sunset along the waterfront. Trust us, you'll start planning the next trip on the drive to the airport.

A few first-timer tips

Getting here: Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is a short drive from downtown, and Brightline trains stop at a station in downtown West Palm Beach.
Getting around: A car is the easiest way to combine downtown, Palm Beach and the beaches, but downtown and the Lake Trail are both great on foot or by bike.
Timing: Winter and spring are the busiest months. Our seasonal guide to West Palm Beach breaks down what each time of year is like.
Sun: Even in winter the Florida sun is strong. Pack sunscreen, a hat and a refillable water bottle.

Make SoSo your home base

Our owner-managed homes are in the SoSo neighborhood, south of downtown, so you can be at the waterfront, on Palm Beach island or on the sand quickly, then come back to a quiet house with room to spread out. Browse the BnBs, check dates on Airbnb, or send us a note with any questions. We're always happy to share our local favorites.