Palm Beach in 5 days

Gilded Age mansions, Worth Avenue and Florida's most polished island. Best time to visit: November-April. Average daily budget: $220 to $600 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Worth Avenue & Midtown, Luxury shopping vias, the Colony Hotel and cafe-lined courtyards.

Morning: Flagler Museum (Whitehall). The railroad baron's 1902 palace, the island's defining Gilded Age mansion.

Afternoon: Explore Worth Avenue & Midtown, Luxury shopping vias, the Colony Hotel and cafe-lined courtyards.

Evening: Worth Avenue. Window-shop the vias and courtyards of America's most elegant retail street.

Eat: Stone crab claws (Oct-May) at Joe's in West Palm or PB Catch

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: Palm Beach Inlet & North End, Quieter beaches, big estates and the Sailfish Club.

Morning: Lake Trail bike ride. Pedal the Intracoastal path past mansions, docks and giant banyans.

Afternoon: Explore Palm Beach Inlet & North End, Quieter beaches, big estates and the Sailfish Club.

Evening: Palm Beach Municipal Beach. Wide, groomed Atlantic sand with the clearest water in South Florida.

Eat: Brunch at Sant Ambroeus on Worth Avenue's prettiest corner

Day 3, Local neighbourhoods

Base: South End, Residential stretch near Mar-a-Lago with public beach access points.

Morning: The Society of the Four Arts gardens, a free sculpture oasis off Royal Poinciana Way. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore South End, Residential stretch near Mar-a-Lago with public beach access points.

Evening: Sunrise at the Lake Worth Pier just south of the island. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Conch fritters and key lime pie at a dockside spot on the Intracoastal

Day 4, Day trip or nature

Base: Downtown West Palm Beach, Clematis Street nightlife, the Norton Museum and the Brightline station.

Morning: Pan's Garden, a native-plant preserve hidden behind Worth Avenue. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Downtown West Palm Beach, Clematis Street nightlife, the Norton Museum and the Brightline station.

Evening: The Breakers' lobby and seafood bar, open to non-guests for a splurge drink. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Hibiscus House or Buccan for the island's best dinner scenes

Day 5, Slow finish

Base: Palm Beach Gardens, Inland golf country with PGA National and major shopping.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Palm Beach Gardens, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Palm Beach Gardens, Inland golf country with PGA National and major shopping.

Evening: Dinner at Stone crab claws (Oct-May) at Joe's in West Palm or PB Catch, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Palm Beach Gardens.

Eat: Stone crab claws (Oct-May) at Joe's in West Palm or PB Catch

Hidden gems

The Society of the Four Arts gardens, a free sculpture oasis off Royal Poinciana Way
Sunrise at the Lake Worth Pier just south of the island
Pan's Garden, a native-plant preserve hidden behind Worth Avenue
The Breakers' lobby and seafood bar, open to non-guests for a splurge drink

Getting around

Fly into Palm Beach International (PBI), 10 minutes from the island, or take the Brightline train from Miami (70 min), Fort Lauderdale or Orlando. A car helps for the mainland, but the island itself is best by bike: rentals are everywhere and the Lake Trail is flat and shady. Rideshare covers nights out on Clematis Street.

Safety

Palm Beach is one of America's safest communities, with vigilant policing. Real concerns are environmental: rip currents at the beach (swim near lifeguards), strong sun year-round, and hurricane season from June to November, peaking August to October. Traffic on the bridges clogs in season; factor it into dinner reservations.

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