Palm Beach, Florida, is a Palm Beach County town on the Jupiter-to-Key West coast. This guide covers 14 beaches, parks and attractions, 9 places to eat and 12 upcoming events, kept current from official sources. Top picks: Reef Road, Palm Beach ledges and Buccan. 3 of the activities are free. Nearest towns: West Palm Beach (1.2 mi) and Singer Island (5.5 mi).

Last updated October 19, 2026. Events refresh daily; places are hand-picked and re-checked monthly.

Palm Beach is the island of Worth Avenue, The Breakers and hedges taller than houses, but the Lake Trail bike path and the public beach at Midtown are free for anyone. Visit in season for the gallery openings and polo crowds, or in September for empty sand.

For the live version of everything below, open the Palm Beach page: beaches & parks · concerts · where to eat.

Beaches & Parks in Palm Beach

  • Reef Road (Palm Beach) — South Florida's big-wave spot — only breaks on major N/NE swell (hurricanes, Nov fronts). Experts only; residential walk-in parking.
  • John D. MacArthur Beach State Park (Singer Island) — Boardwalk over Lake Worth Lagoon, 2 mi of beach, snorkel-from-shore reef at high tide, kayak rentals. Price: $5/car · Dogs: leashed. (in nearby Singer Island, 5.5 mi)
  • Grassy Waters Preserve (West Palm Beach) — Cypress boardwalk plus a 16.6-mi shadeless levee loop for gravel bikes (Nov only). Price: Free · Dogs: no. (in nearby West Palm Beach, 1.2 mi)
  • Local spring substitutes (Coral Gables / FTL / Riviera Beach) — South Florida has no natural springs — they all sit north of Orlando. Local stand-ins: the spring-fed Venetian Pool in Coral Gables (1924 lagoon pool, $23, closed Mondays), the atoll pool at Matheson Hammock, the Snyder Park dog lake, and Peanut Island's snorkel lagoon. (in nearby Singer Island, 5.5 mi)
  • Other beaches worth knowing (Various) — Quietest natural beaches: Blowing Rocks / Hobe Sound NWR, MacArthur Beach, Mizell-Johnson, Cape Florida. Haulover's north section is Miami-Dade's legal clothing-optional beach. Closest everyday strand to Coral Ridge is Vista Park / NE 18th St with free street parking on the west side of A1A north of Sunrise. September heat rule: before 9 am or after 5 pm — sand and pavement burn paws midday. (in nearby Singer Island, 5.5 mi)
  • Phil Foster Park / Blue Heron Bridge (Riviera Beach) — Often called the best shore dive in the US: 5–20 ft, marked snorkel trail, seahorses, octopus, eagle rays. Go within an hour of high tide only. Force-E and Pura Vida rent gear nearby. Price: Free · Dogs: leashed (park). (in nearby Singer Island, 5.5 mi)
  • Peanut Island (Riviera Beach) — Snorkel lagoon and east-side reef; weekdays in October are quiet, weekends are a sandbar party. Price: $15–20 shuttle · Dogs: no. (in nearby Singer Island, 5.5 mi)
  • Ocean Reef Park & Coral Cove Park (Singer Island / Tequesta) — Rock reef 30–100 ft off the beach; high tide, calm days. Dogs: no. (in nearby Singer Island, 5.5 mi)
  • Lake Worth Pier & Boynton Inlet (Lake Worth / Boynton Beach) — Mellow sandbars north of the pier; Boynton's south jetty is a classic. (in nearby Lake Worth Beach, 6.4 mi)

Attractions & Activities in Palm Beach

  • Palm Beach ledges (Riviera Beach / Singer Island) — Turtle-heavy drift dives on Breakers Reef and the Mizpah wreck corridor. Pura Vida Divers (also Open Water certification ~$500–600 and Blue Heron Bridge guided shore dives), Walker's, Narcosis. Price: ~$95–110.
  • Sailing lessons (Fort Lauderdale / Miami / Palm Beach) — Fort Lauderdale Community Sailing / LYC (basic keelboat, Wednesday-night racing), Blue Water Sailing School (Bahia Mar; ASA liveaboard courses incl. Bahamas passages — Nov is prime), Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Palm Beach Sailing Club.
  • Norton Museum of Art & Flagler Museum (West Palm Beach / Palm Beach) — The two big cultural stops in Palm Beach County: Norton (free Fri/Sat for FL residents — check), Whitehall Gilded Age mansion. Price: Norton ~$18, Whitehall $26 · Dogs: no.
  • Loxahatchee NWR canoe trail & MacArthur Beach lagoon (Boynton Beach / Singer Island) — Marsh loop with gators; mangrove islands with manatees and rays. (in nearby Singer Island, 5.5 mi)

Shopping & Markets in Palm Beach

  • Worth Avenue (Palm Beach) — Via Mizner courtyards, Gucci to Il Bacio; famously dog-friendly street. Dogs: yes.

Free things to do in Palm Beach

Nothing here charges admission (parking may).

  • Grassy Waters Preserve — Cypress boardwalk plus a 16. (in nearby West Palm Beach, 1.2 mi)
  • Other beaches worth knowing — Quietest natural beaches: Blowing Rocks / Hobe Sound NWR, MacArthur Beach, Mizell-Johnson, Cape Florida. (in nearby Singer Island, 5.5 mi)
  • Phil Foster Park / Blue Heron Bridge — Often called the best shore dive in the US: 5–20 ft, marked snorkel trail, seahorses, octopus, eagle rays. (in nearby Singer Island, 5.5 mi)

Where to eat in Palm Beach

Casual & Family

  • Buccan (Palm Beach) — Clay Conley small plates — Palm Beach's hottest table since 2011. $$$ · book ahead.
  • Café Boulud at the Brazilian Court (Palm Beach) — Daniel Boulud's Palm Beach outpost. $$$$.
  • Sant Ambroeus (Royal Poinciana, Palm Beach) — The see-and-be-seen pair with Le Bilboquet. $$$–$$$$.
  • Le Bilboquet (Royal Poinciana, Palm Beach) — The see-and-be-seen pair with Sant Ambroeus. $$$–$$$$.
  • La Goulue (Worth Ave, Palm Beach) — Brasserie. $$$$.
  • Swifty's at The Colony (Palm Beach) — Pink-and-green poolside. $$$$.
  • HMF at The Breakers (Palm Beach) — Best drinks in Palm Beach. $$$.
  • Flagler Steakhouse (Palm Beach) — Breakers golf clubhouse. $$$$.
  • Meat Market (Palm Beach) — Steakhouse. $$$$.

What's on in Palm Beach

The next 10 events on the Palm Beach calendar (dates are America/New_York; confirm with the organizer before you go):

  • Chromatic Frequencies — Mon, Sep 7 – Sat, Oct 24, 9:00 AM · Armory Art Center · Festivals & Markets. Explore the art of color at Chromatic Frequencies.
  • Chromatic Frequencies — Thu, Sep 17 – Sat, Oct 24, 9:00 AM · Armory Art Center · Festivals & Markets. A vibrant art exhibition featuring a mix of colors and themes.
  • Chromatic Frequencies — Fri, Sep 25 – Sat, Oct 24, 9:00 AM · Armory Art Center · Festivals & Markets. Explore a unique art exhibition focused on color and sound. Price: Free
  • Chromatic Frequencies — Sun, Sep 27 – Sat, Oct 24, 9:00 AM · Armory Art Center · Festivals & Markets. An exhibition showcasing vibrant and colorful works of art.
  • Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch — Fri, Oct 2 – Sun, Nov 1, 10:00 AM · Downtown West Palm Beach · Festivals & Markets. Fall fun with pumpkins of all colors and sizes plus family-friendly activities! Price: Free
  • Chromatic Frequencies — Sat, Oct 3 – Sat, Oct 24, 9:00 AM · Armory Art Center · Festivals & Markets. Price: Free
  • Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch — Mon, Oct 5 – Sun, Nov 1, 11:00 AM · Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch · Festivals & Markets. Fall fun is popping up in Downtown West Palm Beach with pumpkins and activities! Price: Free
  • Chromatic Frequencies — Mon, Oct 5 – Sat, Oct 24, 9:00 AM · Armory Art Center · Festivals & Markets. Explore the vibrant world of art at Chromatic Frequencies.
  • Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch — Tue, Oct 6 – Sun, Nov 1, 11:00 AM · Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch · Festivals & Markets. Join in the fun at the pumpkin patch with family-friendly activities! Price: Free
  • Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch — Wed, Oct 7 – Sun, Nov 1, 11:00 AM · Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch · Festivals & Markets. Fall fun is popping up in Downtown West Palm Beach! Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch returns with pumpkins of every color, shape, and size. Price: Free

See the full list, refreshed daily: Palm Beach.

Getting there and planning your day

Palm Beach sits at 26.706, -80.036 in Palm Beach County. Parking rules, beach access and permits are on the Town of Palm Beach site; the Discover The Palm Beaches (official tourism board) calendar lists county-wide festivals; check the National Weather Service Miami – South Florida forecast before a beach or boat day (summer storms build after 2 pm); snorkelers and anglers should read the NOAA tides: Lake Worth Pier; Brightline (West Palm Beach–Boca–Fort Lauderdale–Aventura–Miami) is the car-free way in; the official John D. MacArthur Beach State Park page has hours and entry fees.

Nearby towns

Each has its own page in this guide:

Official sources and further reading

We link to primary sources so you can verify hours, fees and dates:

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