West Palm Beach

Understand

West of the smaller, more famous town Palm Beach, West Palm Beach is mostly commercial but has some attractions and landmarks worth visiting.

Getting there

By plane 1 Donald J Trump International Airport (DJT IATA) (formerly Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)), 1000 Turnage Boulevard, ☏ +1 561 471-7420. This is a small, yet highly adequate airport. While the Miami and the Fort Lauderdale airports are busy with international and domestic traffic, DJT is easy to get in and out of for travelers from other cities in the U.S. and Toronto, and is about five minutes from downtown West Palm Beach. Travelers flying into South Florida, Treasure Coast, or the Bahamas should strongly consider DJT. The airport serves airlines and general aviation aircraft. The airport has a 24-hour control tower and a U.S. Customs & Immigration port of entry facility. The general aviation traffic at DJT has a choice of three fixed base operators. North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport (F45) is in the north portion of the county and provides easy access to the Florida Research Park, Jupiter, and Palm Beach Gardens. The #44 bus connects the West Palm Beach Station (see below) to the airport.

By train

3 West Palm Beach station ((WPB IATA)), 209 S Tamarind Ave (downtown West Palm Beach). Served by Amtrak via its Silver Meteor and Silver Star trains, running from New York City to Miami via Washington, D.C., Savannah, Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland, Kissimmee, Sebring, Okeechobee and other cities along the eastern coast. The commuter rail service 2 Tri-Rail between Miami and West Palm also calls here. The Tri-Rail continues north from the West Palm Beach Station to Magnolia Park as its northern terminus. 4 Brightline (operated by Virgin Trains USA), 501 Evernia St (Main entrance at 501 Evernia St), ☏ +1 561 537-8059. Brightline is an inter-city between West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura, and Miami. As of June 2023 the Brightline trains continue west towards Orlando International Airport with plans to continue the Brightline route towards Tampa via Walt Disney World from Orlando.

By car West Palm Beach is easily

Getting around

By car The easiest way to get around West Palm Beach and South Florida is by car. The city is set up on grid system, and is fairly easy to navigate. Downtown is roughly 2 miles north east of Palm Beach International Airport. Palm Beach County is served by Interstate I-95 and U.S. Highway 1 and US 441. It is also served by Florida's Turnpike. In-Airport car rental companies include:

Alamo Rent A Car, toll-free: +1-800-462-5266. Avis Rent A Car, toll-free: +1-800-331-1212. (updated Oct 2018) Budget Rent A Car, toll-free: +1-800-527-0700. (updated Oct 2018) Enterprise Rent-A-Car, toll-free: +1-800-261-7331. Hertz Car Rental, toll-free: +1-800-654-3131.

By taxi Taxis are generally expensive, but available at almost any time and place.

Yellow Cab, ☏ +1 561 777-7777. The largest company in the city.

By bus 9 Palm Tran, (Intermodal Transit Center) 150 Clearwater Dr (bus station west of the railroad tracks from the train station building), ☏ +1-877-930-4BUS (287). Operates local public transportation in/around W Palm Beach and Palm County on multiple routes. (updated Jan 2021) Rose Trolley, ☏ +1 561 260-1838. A free shuttle on demand to within 13 mi (21 km) radius of the West Palm Beach Station. Ride West Palm Beach (Circuit), ☏ +1 561 494-1094. Fixed route shuttle between West Palm Beach Station (Amtrak, Greyhound, Palm Tran); Brightline, and the adjacent downtown areas. They also operate on demand service to wherever the traveler needs to go within the City of West Palm Beach. (updated Sep 2023)

By train Tri-Rail, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Commuter train which runs north and south parallel to I-95, connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Tri-Rail provides access to South Florida's three major airports, and links to Miami's Metrorail. Local West Palm Beach stations are in Magnolia Park (northern terminus of Tri-Rail), (Downtown) West Palm Beach, and Lake Worth which are served by Palm Tran buses and local shuttles.

See

1 Norton Museum of Art, 1451 S Olive Ave (In downtown West Palm on Dixie Hwy, about a quarter of a mile from Okeechobee Blvd), ☏ +1 561-832-5196, [email protected]. Th 11AM-5PM, F 11AM-7PM, Sa Su 10AM-5PM, 1st hour each day only for members and their guests. its permanent collection features American Art, Chinese Art, Contemporary Art, European Art and Photography. Its masterpieces of 19th- and 20th-century painting and sculpture include works by Brancusi, Gauguin, Matisse, Miró, Monet, Picasso, Davis, Hassam, Hopper, Manship, O'Keeffe, Pollock and Sheeler. The museum presents special exhibitions, lectures, tours and programs for adults and children throughout the year. Free. (updated May 2021) 2 The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is one of the premier performing arts centers in the Southeast with a growing national and international reputation. (updated Nov 2018) Graffiti Street Art you will find one of the most beautiful and biggest graffiti street art of Florida if you walk around wpb downtown Henry M Flagler Museum, 1 Whitehall Way, Palm Beach (easily accessible from Interstate I-95 and A1A, on the corner of Cocoanut Row and Whitehall Way in Palm Beach), ☏ +1 561 655-2833. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. This National Historic Landmark was built as a wedding gift for Henry M. Flagler's new wife. The 55-room winter retreat became more than a winter home and held many of the most modern pleasures of the time. Inside the museum you can see many of the antiques from their time in the home, as well as, walk through Flagler's own private railroad car. Also learn about his many contributions to American history and Florida. $18 for adults (ages 18+), $10 for youth (ages 13 - 17), $3 for children (ages 6 - 12), children ages 5 and under are free. (updated Apr 2022)

Do

There are over 40 miles of beautiful beaches in Palm Beach County. The proximity of the Gulf Stream keeps the waters warm year-round although many miles are private a nearby public beach in the city of Palm Beach has lifeguards during the day, and is easily accessible. Flags by the lifeguard announce hazardous conditions (red for dangerous surf conditions, and purple for dangerous sea life). For snorkeling, two places might satisfy. One is John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, on the north end of Singer Island. The beach contains a shallow reef full of fish. Be careful, shark and barracuda are seen occasionally. This park also has kayaking, music on Sundays, and some short hiking trails. Kayaking is popular in a calm inlet in the park, which is surrounded by mangrove swamps. Another snorkeling spot is the 'Breaker's reef on Palm Beach. The reef is nestled right behind the Breakers hotel. This reef is one long stretch that juts out into the ocean. You can park on the si