Palm Beach

Palm Beach, Florida is one of the wealthiest places on earth, full stop. Henry Flagler put it on the map in the 1890s when he extended his railroad south and built the grand hotels that drew Gilded Age millionaires. The town never stopped attracting them.

Today this 18-mile barrier island, never wider than three-quarters of a mile, holds about 40 billionaires, Mar-a-Lago, and some of the most expensive real estate in the country (median home price around $2.7 million in early 2026). Worth Avenue is the social and commercial spine: four blocks of Chanel, Gucci, art galleries, and hidden Mediterranean courtyards designed by architect Addison Mizner in the 1920s.

Private clubs (Everglades Club, Bath & Tennis, Sailfish Club) dominate the social calendar during "the Season," which runs roughly November through April. The rest of the year is quieter, hotter, and considerably cheaper. West Palm Beach sits just across the Lake Worth Lagoon via short bridge and offers a more democratic version of the good life: Clematis Street bars, the Norton Museum, and the emerging Nora district on North Railroad Avenue where chef-driven restaurants opened through 2026.

The cultural identity here is old money meeting new money, with a strong Lilly Pulitzer–and–polo-match aesthetic that is distinctly its own thing.

Dress the part. Palm Beach has an unofficial dress code called 'Palm Beach chic': resort wear, pastels, Lilly Pulitzer prints, linen shirts, polo shirts off the beach. Showing up at a Worth Avenue restaurant in athletic wear reads as tourist.

Light fabrics in pale or vibrant colors are the move.. Respect 'the Season.' November through April is when snowbirds descend, restaurants fill up, and reservations are mandatory.

Outside season (May–October), many businesses shorten hours or close entirely. Locals have strong opinions about seasonal crowds.. Tip 20% or more.

At upscale restaurants, 20% is the baseline expectation; 22-25% is common. Service charges are sometimes added automatically at high-end spots, so check your bill.. Private club culture is real and pervasive.

Many of the best pools, tennis courts, and social events are behind membership walls. Don't assume access unless invited. Everglades Club, Bath & Tennis Club, and Sailfish Club shape the winter social calendar..

Sunday Bingo at The Colony Hotel is a local institution. Guests and non-guests gather at Swifty's outdoor terrace for this throwback ritual. Colorful daubers, cocktails, and resort wear required..

Beach etiquette matters. Mid-Town Municipal Beach has free parking nearby if you read the signs. Reef-safe sunscreen is encouraged.

Lifeguards patrol the main guarded beaches but not all stretches of the 47-mile coastline.

Palm Beach Island itself scores extremely well on safety. All nine neighborhoods on the island received an "A" grade on crime indices, with an average crime score of just 0.013.

Property crime (opportunistic burglary, vehicle theft) is the main concern, not violent crime. West Palm Beach across the bridge is a different story: crime rates there run above the national average, though WPB is still safer than 49% of Florida cities. Neighborhoods like Grandview Heights, Flamingo Park, and Downtown WPB are the safer pockets on the mainland side.

Standard precautions apply: stay aware walking at night near The Square and Clematis Street, don't leave valuables visible in cars, and avoid the neighborhoods north and west of downtown WPB after dark. Hurricane season runs May through November, and Palm Beach sits squarely in "Hurricane Alley." Check NOAA advisories during that window.

Summer heat is legitimately dangerous: temperatures can feel like 100°F, so stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and take midday breaks indoors.

A car is the most practical way to get around Palm Beach County. Parking on Palm Beach Island can be pricey near the beach, but free spots exist if you check signs carefully. That said, there are solid alternatives.

Tri-Rail is the regional commuter rail linking West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, running 19 stations along 80 miles of South Florida coastline. Fares start at $2.50 one-way, with an all-day weekend pass for just $5.

The West Palm Beach station is at 203 South Tamarind Avenue, and a free Palm Tran shuttle connects it to Palm Beach International Airport. Brightline intercity rail also serves downtown West Palm Beach, giving fast connections to Miami (about 1 hour) and Orlando. Inside downtown WPB, the free RideWPB trolley and Circuit on-demand shuttles make getting around without a car genuinely manageable.

For Palm Beach Island itself, the town is walkable once you're there: Midtown puts Worth Avenue, the beach, and restaurants within a 1-2 mile radius. Biking along Flagler Drive on the WPB waterfront is popular and scenic. Uber and Lyft operate well across the county.