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Delray Beach, Florida · checked Oct. 20, 2026

Plan a day trip to Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach

The short answer

Planning a day trip to Delray Beach, Florida? Atlantic Avenue runs from Swinton Avenue east over the Intracoastal to the beach at A1A. Saturdays from Oct. 24, 2026 to May 22, 2027 bring the GreenMarket, 9 AM to 2 PM. First Fridays bring the Art Walk, 6 to 9 PM. Lifeguards work 9 AM to 6:30 PM until Oct. 31, 2026. Many museums close on Mondays.

Last checked October 20, 2026

Close view of the yellow twin-towered facade of the Colony Hotel with American and Florida flags flying on top, red-and-yellow striped awnings over the entrance, against a deep blue sky.
Photo: DBFLUS, CC BY-SA 4.0

A day on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, Florida usually means the beach at one end, Old School Square at the other and lunch or dinner in between. This page helps you pick the day, build the route and know which rules apply. Everything here is from the operators’ own pages, checked Oct. 20, 2026.

Build your day

Pick a length, a start point and what you like. The planner puts stops from our things to do and restaurants lists in one walking order and warns you about closed days.

Decision tool · day planner

Plan your day on Atlantic Avenue

Pick how long you have and what you like. The planner chooses sourced stops on and near the Avenue, puts them in order from Atlantic and Swinton Avenue, and suggests where to park if you are driving.

Or start from one of three ready-made plans:

Saturday market morning

The GreenMarket at Old School Square (Saturdays in season), brunch in Pineapple Grove, then the beach.

  1. Old School Square and Cornell Art Museum (51 N Swinton Ave): The 1913 schoolhouse is the Cornell Art Museum, which the DDA says is free Wednesday to Sunday. The 1925 high school beside it is the Crest Theatre.
  2. Brule Gastro-Kitchen (200 NE 2nd Ave): An open-kitchen restaurant in Pineapple Grove with weekend brunch, in business there since 2007 in its own words.
  3. Delray Municipal Beach (A1A (Ocean Boulevard) centered at the east end of Atlantic Avenue (DDA lists it at 23 S Ocean Blvd)): The City's guarded beach at the east end of Atlantic Avenue. Ocean Rescue lifeguards, who are licensed EMTs, are on duty every day of the year.

History walk

The old schools, the Historical Society's cottage and the Spady Museum, then dinner on the Avenue.

  1. Old School Square and Cornell Art Museum (51 N Swinton Ave): The 1913 schoolhouse is the Cornell Art Museum, which the DDA says is free Wednesday to Sunday. The 1925 high school beside it is the Crest Theatre.
  2. Delray Beach Historical Society and Cason Cottage (3 NE 1st St (Historical Society) and 5 NE 1st St (Cason Cottage lot)): The Historical Society's home at 3 NE 1st St, a block north of Atlantic, with a free City lot next door.
  3. Spady Cultural Heritage Museum (170 NW 5th Ave): The museum in the Spady House, about half a mile northwest of Atlantic and Swinton. It lists hours Tuesday to Saturday, 11 AM to 4 PM.
  4. Jimmy's Bistro (9 S Swinton Ave): A chef-driven bistro just south of Atlantic on Swinton, open for dinner every day from 5 PM.

Beach day

The guarded beach at the end of Atlantic, lunch across the street, and the discovery center on A1A.

  1. Delray Municipal Beach (A1A (Ocean Boulevard) centered at the east end of Atlantic Avenue (DDA lists it at 23 S Ocean Blvd)): The City's guarded beach at the east end of Atlantic Avenue. Ocean Rescue lifeguards, who are licensed EMTs, are on duty every day of the year.
  2. Sandwiches by the Sea (1214 E Atlantic Ave): A deli steps from the beach, open every day 9 AM to 5 PM.
  3. Sandoway Discovery Center (142 S Ocean Blvd): On A1A about 0.2 mile south of Atlantic. Closed Mondays; $10 admission for ages 3 and up, as the center lists it.
  4. Anchor Park (340 S Ocean Blvd): A City park on A1A south of Atlantic, one of the City's beach parking permit lots.

Every stop comes from our sourced list of places on and near Atlantic Avenue (checked October 2026). Distances are straight-line estimates from OpenStreetMap coordinates, not measured routes. Time per stop is your chosen time split evenly, not an official duration. Check each place's hours before you go.

Spending more weekends on the Avenue than not? See what living in Delray Beach is like.

Living in Delray Beach

Pick the right day

Monday and Tuesday

Several stops close early in the week, according to their own pages. The Cornell Art Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, per the DDA. The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 AM to 4 PM. Sandoway Discovery Center is closed on Mondays. Arts Garage’s box office is open Tuesday to Saturday, 1 PM to 5 PM. A Monday trip is a good beach day; save the museums for later in the week.

  • The DDA says the Cornell Art Museum is free and open to the public Wednesday to Sunday. Delray Beach DDA: The Story of Old School Square
  • The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum (170 NW 5th Ave) lists museum hours of Tuesday to Saturday, 11 AM to 4 PM, or by appointment, phone (561) 279-8883. General admission is $10 per person; enhanced guided tours are $20; members and children under 12 are free. Spady Cultural Heritage Museum: Connect With Spady
  • Sandoway Discovery Center is at 142 South Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, FL 33483, phone 561-274-7263. Hours: closed Monday; Tuesday to Friday 12 PM to 4 PM; Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM; Sunday 12 PM to 4 PM; closed major holidays. It opens at noon on weekdays to accommodate school groups. Admission is $10 per person, ages 3 and up. Shark and stingray feeding is at 1 PM Tuesday to Sunday, with an extra Saturday feeding at 11 AM. Sandoway Discovery Center: home page

Saturday: the GreenMarket

The CRA’s GreenMarket runs at Old School Square every Saturday, 9 AM to 2 PM, from Oct. 24, 2026 to May 22, 2027. The CRA lists three Saturdays with no market: Dec. 12, 2026 (City Holiday Parade), March 13, 2027 (City St. Patrick’s Day Festival) and April 10, 2027 (Delray Affair). Use the date checker for a specific Saturday.

The first Friday of the month

The DDA’s First Friday Art Walk is a free, self-guided evening of galleries, studios and pop-up live music, 6 PM to 9 PM on the first Friday of each month. The next date the DDA lists is Nov. 6, 2026.

  • The DDA says First Friday Art Walk happens on the first Friday of each month, 6 PM to 9 PM, and lists Friday, November 6 (2026) as the next date. It is a free, self-guided evening of galleries, studios and pop-up live music. Delray Beach DDA: First Friday Art Walk

Big event weekends

The Delray Beach Open runs Feb. 12 to 21, 2027, and the Delray Affair runs April 9 to 11, 2027. Expect more people and harder parking on those days. All dates are on the events page.

Pick the right season

Lifeguard hours change through the year. The City lists 9 AM to 6:30 PM through Oct. 31, 2026, then 9 AM to 5:20 PM from Nov. 1 to Dec. 25, rising to 9 AM to 6 PM by Feb. 20, 2027. Details are on the beach page.

  • The City's Beach page says lifeguard EMTs are on duty 9 AM to 6:30 PM during daylight saving time, March 8 to October 31, 2026. City of Delray Beach: Beach (Parks and Recreation)
  • The City's Beach page lists standard-time lifeguard hours of 9 AM to 5:20 PM from November 1 to December 25, 2026; 9 AM to 5:30 PM from December 26, 2026 to January 15, 2027; 9 AM to 5:45 PM from January 16 to February 19, 2027; and 9 AM to 6 PM from February 20 to March 13, 2027. City of Delray Beach: Beach (Parks and Recreation)

NOAA’s National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. If you are booking a summer or fall trip, watch the forecast in the days before you travel. FWC says sea turtle nesting season ends October 31.

September is Restaurant Month, when the DDA lists 50 plus downtown restaurants offering prix fixe menus and deals.

A simple outline for one day

  • Morning at the beach. Park in a City beach lot at $2 an hour from 8 AM, or ride Freebee from downtown once it starts at 11 AM. Lifeguards start at 9 AM. Sandoway Discovery Center is just south of Atlantic on A1A.
  • Lunch on East Atlantic or A1A. See the restaurant list for published hours.
  • Afternoon west of the bridge. Old School Square and the Cornell Art Museum at Swinton (Wednesday to Sunday), the Spady Museum at 170 NW 5th Ave (Tuesday to Saturday until 4 PM), and Pineapple Grove on NE 2nd Ave.
  • Evening. Dinner downtown; Freebee runs until 9 PM Sunday to Wednesday and 11 PM Thursday to Saturday.

Getting around and staying safe

Freebee is free and on demand, east of I-95 to A1A. The DDA’s Downtown Safety Ambassadors wear yellow shirts and patrol by bike, golf cart and on foot. They offer safe walks within the downtown district and are on call Monday to Thursday 7 AM to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday 7 AM to 11 PM at 561-386-1134. The DDA office is at 350 SE 1st St, phone 561-243-1077. The DDA also lists a Visitor Information Center at 2 S Ocean Blvd, at the beach end of the Avenue.

  • The DDA's Downtown Safety Ambassadors wear yellow shirts, patrol on bike, golf cart and foot, and offer safe walks within the downtown district. They are on call Monday to Thursday 7 AM to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday 7 AM to 11 PM at 561-386-1134. Delray Beach DDA: Safety Ambassadors
  • The City says Freebee is a free, on-demand ride service in and around downtown, using low-speed electric GEM vehicles. Riders use the Ride Freebee app, call 855-918-3733, or flag down a driver. City of Delray Beach: Delray Beach Freebee

Remember City Code: no open containers on streets, sidewalks or the beach, except for seated patrons of a permitted sidewalk cafe. Parking and transit are covered on parking and getting here.

Where to stay on the Avenue

Night view of a yellow Mediterranean-revival hotel with twin towers and flagpoles, a lit arched entrance with striped awnings, and an empty street in the foreground.
The Colony Hotel at night, November 2025. Photo: Gatorfan252525, CC BY-SA 4.0

These hotels sit on or next to Atlantic Avenue. We list addresses only; we did not check rates or amenities.

  • The Colony Hotel, 525 E Atlantic Ave.
  • The Seagate Hotel, 1000 E Atlantic Ave.
  • Opal Grand Oceanfront Resort and Spa, 10 N Ocean Blvd, on A1A at the beach end of Atlantic.
  • Hyatt Place Delray Beach, 104 NE 2nd Ave, at the south end of Pineapple Grove.

Planning FAQ

Can I walk Atlantic Avenue with a drink?

No. City Code Section 113.02 bans open containers on public streets and sidewalks. Seated patrons of a permitted sidewalk cafe may drink at their table.

Source: Delray Beach Code of Ordinances, Chapter 113 Alcoholic Beverages (Municode)

Is there a free ride around downtown?

Yes. The City runs Freebee, a free on-demand service in small electric vehicles. Request a ride in the Ride Freebee app, call 855-918-3733, or wave down a driver. The service area covers most of downtown from I-95 to A1A.

Source: City of Delray Beach: Delray Beach Freebee

What are lifeguard hours this winter?

The City lists 9 AM to 5:20 PM from November 1 to December 25, 2026, then to 5:30 PM until January 15, 5:45 PM until February 19, and 6 PM until March 13, 2027. Daylight saving hours are 9 AM to 6:30 PM.

Source: City of Delray Beach: Beach (Parks and Recreation)

Who are the people in yellow shirts downtown?

The DDA's Downtown Safety Ambassadors. They help with directions, lost items and safe walks, Monday to Thursday 7 AM to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday 7 AM to 11 PM. Call 561-386-1134.

Source: Delray Beach DDA: Safety Ambassadors

What is the DDA?

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority. It says it works to sustain the economic vitality of downtown and produces events like First Friday Art Walk and Art & Jazz on the Avenue.

Source: Delray Beach DDA: Signature Events

When is hurricane season in Delray Beach?

NOAA's National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Climatology

Which museums are closed on Mondays?

The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum lists hours of Tuesday to Saturday, 11 AM to 4 PM, or by appointment. Sandoway Discovery Center also lists Monday as closed, and the DDA says the Cornell Art Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday.

Source: Spady Cultural Heritage Museum: Connect With Spady

How much is Sandoway Discovery Center?

Sandoway Discovery Center, 142 South Ocean Blvd., lists admission of $10 per person, ages 3 and up. It is closed Monday; open Tuesday to Friday 12 PM to 4 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday 12 PM to 4 PM. Shark and stingray feeding is at 1 PM Tuesday to Sunday, with an extra Saturday feeding at 11 AM.

Source: Sandoway Discovery Center: home page

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Delray Beach (official site)

Living here

Like a day on the Avenue? See what living near it looks like.

LPE Realty LLC, a licensed Florida real estate brokerage serving South Florida, is behind this guide. If a Saturday at the GreenMarket or an evening on Atlantic Avenue has you thinking about a home in Delray Beach, talk to us about buying or selling here.

Visit LPE Realty LLC Call LPE Realty LLC (561) 652-6917

What is it like to live in Delray Beach? · Thinking of selling a home near the Avenue?