United States · Florida · Jacksonville
Southbank, Jacksonville — Area Guide & Where to Stay
The Southbank faces downtown Jacksonville across the St. Johns, a mixed district of towers, museums and a riverwalk.
About Southbank
Where to stay in Southbank
Where you base yourself shapes the visit — here's the character of each area.
The Southbank is downtown seen from the other side. The Riverwalk runs the whole water frontage past Friendship Fountain and the Museum of Science and History, the Skyway crosses to the centre from San Marco, Riverplace and Kings Avenue, and the water taxi does the same trip more slowly. Riverplace Tower marks the skyline.
San Marco begins to the south.
About Southbank
What are the main landmarks in Southbank?
Friendship Fountain sits on the water. The Museum of Science and History stands beside it and Treaty Oak Park keeps its oak a short way inland, while Riverplace Tower, the Aetna Building and the Peninsula at St. Johns Center make the skyline that faces downtown. Baptist Medical Center takes the southern part.
What is the history of Southbank?
The Southbank is a made district. It covers about half a square mile between the St. Johns and Interstate 95, bounded east by Bishop Kenny High School, and the city has worked at tying it more closely to downtown and to San Marco on either side. Office and residential towers share it.
The Riverwalk joins them up.
Where is Southbank?
The Southbank lies on the south side of the St. Johns in Jacksonville, between the river and Interstate 95.
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Updated September 2026