Things to do in Key West
Key West is a destination you must experience. The endless summer temperatures and vibrant ambiance keep vacationers returning time and time again. There are a bunch of incredible and fun things to do in Key West.
Chill at the beach, snorkel in the reefs, bar hop, and devour Key Lime Pie. Key West is the ultimate Florida Keys highlight. Key West is colorful, eclectic, relaxed, wild, and beautiful all at the same time. Be sure to check out these 24 best things to do in Key West.
Top 24 Things to do in Key West
1. Sunset Sail
Watching a Key West sunset from a boat is an essential experience. Hop on board and enjoy a whole day of boating fun, or just choose sunset. To get the true vibe of Key West, you really need to see it from the water.
A sunset sail is a perfect way to finish any day in Key West. Enjoy sailing with friends, and family, or as a romantic getaway. Relax on the deck in-between snorkeling and swimming sessions. You can’t beat unwinding after an adventure-filled day and watching the sky change color.
2. Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum (and the 6-toed cats)
This is one of the best things to do in Key West for literary buffs. Ernest Hemingway lived in this Key West home throughout the 1930s. This world-renowned author owned the house right up to his death in 1961.
The house is now a U.S. National Historic Landmark dedicated to preserving Hemmingway’s legacy and ties to Key West. Search around the home, and you’ll find memorabilia associated with Hemingway’s life and work. Explore his writing studio and perhaps get some inspiration for your own work. A ‘Farewell to Arms’ and ‘From Whom the Bell Tolls’ were written in this studio.
That’s not all you can see at the Hemingway Home and Museum. There are rather a lot of slightly abnormal cats too. The Museum grounds are home to around 60 cats. These are not just any cats, but six-toed cats! Hemingway was given a six-toed cat by a local sailor and named it Snow White. Some of the cats on the property today are descendants of Hemingway’s cat.
3. Mallory Square
Mallory Square is the ultimate sunset celebration. If you haven’t been to Mallory Square, then you’ve never been to Key West. That’s what people say anyway. Mallory Square is one of the most popular things to do in Key West.
Mallory Square is filled with food stands, cocktail booths, and eateries. There are also a bunch of boutiques, exhibits, and art galleries. If people-watching and good sunsets are your things, then head to Mallory Square.
Two hours before sunset, people start to gather at the square. Live music, performers, and comics line the streets, creating a fantastic vibe. Walk around this historic waterfront, and enjoy the atmosphere and a beautiful Key West sunset.
4. Duval Street Bar Hoping
Most of the best nightlife in Key West is centered around Duval Street. The north of Duval Street looks out over the Gulf of Mexico. Follow the road south, and you’ll meet the Atlantic Ocean.
If you are looking for good bars and an excellent night, head to Duval Street. Green Parrot Bar is arguably the best dive bar in Key West. This bar has been one of the best spots for live music for a long time. Jazz, reggae, and rock, there is music for every taste at the Green Parrot. Next, hop over to the Bull and Whistle. The Bull and Whistle is one of Key West’s oldest establishments, offering a casual atmosphere.
No bar-hopping experience is complete without a trip to Sloppy Joe’s. Now Sloppy Joe’s has nothing to do with the famed sandwich. Owner Joe Russel was a boat captain and friend of Ernest Hemingway. Joe used to run illegal speakeasies, but after the end of prohibition, he turned legit. Hemingway got Joe to change the bar’s name to Sloppy Joe’s after a bar in Havana. The bar may have moved across the road, but the name remains unchanged.
- Address: Duval Street, Key West
5. Visit the best beaches in Key West
One of the best things to do in Key West is chill at the beach. There are a bunch of great beaches in the city. Smathers Beach is the best beach in Key West. Its large sandy shoreline means there’s room for everyone. Grab drinks from one of the food stands and chill all day on the sand.
Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is one of the only natural beaches in the Florida Keys. Locally known as Fort Zach, this beach is perfect for snorkeling and relaxing.
Lined with palm trees and white sand, Higgs Beach is also a good shout. Although it’s just 300 yards long, Rest Beach is a popular local hangout. You can enjoy another colorful sunset at Rest Beach.
6. Sunset Pier
Sunset Pier at the north end of Duval Street overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. If you are looking for delicious seafood and sunset views, head to Sunset Pier.
The entire pier is covered in colorful bar stools providing plenty of seating. Order drinks from the Tiki Bar at the shoreline end and chill for the evening. Enjoy live music and a bustling atmosphere as you watch the boats go by. Sunset Pier is a good call for evening dining, especially for those seafood lovers.
- Address: 0 Duval Street, Key West
7. Key West Snorkeling and Dolphin Watching Tour
If you want to explore the ocean, why not take a Fury water tour? Fury Key West offers a bunch of excursions so you can snorkel and dolphin watch. These tours are the perfect option to add to your Key West itinerary.
Fury’s Dolphin Watch ECO Tour allows you to observe the magnificent bottlenose dolphins. Fury is the only company in Key West to have a Dolphin SMART certification. This means your dolphin trip is conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.
Combo tours allow nature enthusiasts to see and do everything, dolphins, snorkeling, and sunsets. Explore the Backcountry whilst discovering awesome, secluded locations for snorkeling. You can even head out to a remote sandbar! These tours are fantastic for families, couples, and water sports enthusiasts.
- Address: 0 Duval Street, Naval Air Station, Key West
8. Take a Seaplane or Helicopter tour over Key West
The Florida Keys archipelago is incredible. You can take a seaplane or helicopter right over the Keys. If you thought views from Key West were good, check them out from the sky.
Keys Seaplanes offer a bunch of flight routes over Key West and other Keys. Discover the Backcountry islands, lighthouses, reefs, and more, all from the sky. These Backcountry islands are only accessible by boat or air. You’ll therefore be visiting a place not many people venture to.
You can also take a helicopter tour with Fly Key West. Their Eco Tour will take you over Snipe and Mud Keys. You’ll be in for a good chance of seeing stingrays, sea turtles, and even sharks. Their Seven Mile Bridge Tour takes you right over the Lower Keys. This provides you with a longer flight and the ability to see more. This is one of the best things to do in Key West for couples. It’s the perfect romantic trip!
- Address: Key Seaplanes – 3491 S Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West & Fly Key West – 3471 S Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West
9. Key West Aquarium
This aquarium is one of the best things to do in Key West with children. Key West Aquarium first opened in 1934 and houses a variety of local marine life. The Key West Aquarium is one of the oldest in Florida.
Discover native puffer fish, snappers, and angelfish. Touch tanks allow kids (and adults) to interact with juvenile nurse sharks. See the famous Key West conch, as well as sea stars and sea cucumbers.
- Address: 1 Whitehead Street, Key West
- Buy tickets online here ($2 off)
10. Key West Lighthouse
The Key West Lighthouse opened in 1848 with a female keeper tending to it. During this time, female keepers were hard to come by in a male-dominated field. With the development of new technologies, the lighthouse was rendered unusable in 1969. Now the lighthouse is a museum dedicated to nearly a century of lighthouse keepers.
Families and history buffs will love exploring this Key West attraction. Climb 88 stairs to the top to enjoy views of the ocean and Key West. Learn about the lighthouse’s history and look through a bunch of historic lighthouse photographs.
- Address: 938 Whitehead Street, Key West
- Buy tickets online here ($1.50 off)
11. Have a slice of Key Lime Pie
Key West is the original home of Key Lime Pie. When you’re in Key West, you absolutely must try a slice or two! This zesty dessert is the perfect sweet vacation indulgence.
Condensed milk is an important ingredient in Key Lime Pie. In the 1930s, refrigerators in the Keys were hard to come by. It’s believed that condensed milk was used instead of milk, which would have gone bad. It is with this knowledge that most people agree on the dessert’s origins.
Practically every restaurant in Key West serves Key Lime Pie, but few can compete with Kermit’s Key Lime Pie. Kermit’s serves up the best Key Lime Pie in Key West. Choose a traditional slice of pie or something different, Key Lime Pie ice cream. Kermit’s frozen pie bars are served on a stick and coated in delicious Belgian chocolate. The best treat for a hot day in the Florida sun.
You should also check out the souvenir shop, which sells an array of Key Lime Pie products. They’ve got Key Lime lip balms, soaps, apparel, cutting boards, and more.
- Address: 200 Elizabeth Street, Key West
- Order Kermit’s Key Lime Pie online to be shipped to you
12. Southernmost Point
You can’t visit Key West without getting your picture at the U.S.’s southernmost point. A red, white, and black buoy marks this geographical spot. Taking a picture with the buoy has become a rite of passage in Key West. You’ll find people lining the block just to get a photo.
- Address: Whitehead Street & South Street, Key West
13. Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center is full of loads of super fun exhibits. Kids will absolutely love a trip to this center.
One of the center’s highlights is its 2,500-gallon reef tank. Discover animals and plants that are native to the Florida Keys. Interactive maps allow you to explore the Keys reef habitats and underwater creatures.
One of the highlights of a trip to the center is the underwater laboratory. Aquarius is an underwater laboratory located on Conch Reef, 5.4 miles off Key Largo. The Eco-Discovery Center has a mock-up of Aquarius. You can witness coral spawning and a bunch of other ecosystem processes at work.
There’s so much to see and do at the Eco-Discovery Center. It’s one of the best things to do in Key West for families.
- Address: 35 Quay Road, Key West
14. Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most isolated Florida Keys. Fort Jefferson is the main feature of the national park. The park is surrounded by coral reefs and diverse marine life. Tortugas offers some of the best snorkeling in Key West, if not Florida.
This has got to be one of the best Key West day trips. The Dry Tortugas National Park is 70 miles from Key West. You’ll need to charter a boat or take a seaplane or ferry to get there.
If you fancy extending your trip to Dry Tortugas, why not stay overnight? There are eight campgrounds located close to the Fort. It’s a unique experience camping in such a remote and breathtaking location.
- Address: 70 miles west of Key West
15. Floating Tiki Bar
It doesn’t get much more idyllic than floating around in your own private tiki bar. Visit the harbor, and you may just see some straw-roofed shacks floating in the water. These floating tiki bars are a blast to spend the day or evening on. It doesn’t get much more idyllic than floating around in your own tiki bar. Just picture yourself sipping fruit cocktails, listening to music, and drifting on the clear waters.
You can rent a floating tiki bar from Cruisin’ Tikis. They’ll provide water, ice, and soft drinks. You just bring the adult drinks.
- Address: Cruisin Tikis – 1605 N Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West
16. Shipwreck Museum
Step inside the Shipwreck Museum, and you’ll feel as if you’ve gone back in time. Key West has an illustrious shipwrecking history. During the golden age of sailing 100 ships, a day passed by Key West. The museum lets you discover everything to do with historic local shipwrecks. Learn about the wrecking of the Isaac Allerton vessel, which sank in 1856. The reefs near Key West were treacherous and caused many shipwrecks during the 19th century.
This is one of the best things to do in Key West for families. Be sure to climb the 65-foot lookout tower and see if you can spot any ships.
- Address: 1 Whitehead Street, Key West
17. Conch Train Tour
Walk around Key West, and you may notice a yellow and black train passing by. The Conch Train is a great whistle-stop tour of all the main Key West sights. Hop aboard, and you’ll visit Duval Street, Old Town, Hemingway’s House, and Mallory Square.
This 90-minute tour is jam-packed with historical facts and an amusing narration. Trivia and stories about Key West residents will give you a glimpse into local life. If you’ve got young kids, then you must ride the train.
- Address: 500 Truman Avenue, Key West
18. Kayaking through Mangroves with Lazy Dog Adventures
Kayaking with Lazy Dog Adventures is the best Key West activity for water sports lovers. Lazy Dog’s offers a variety of kayaking adventures in the Florida Keys.
Head to the Backcountry, where you can kayak among mangrove creeks and spot wildlife. You may be lucky enough to see dolphins, sharks, rays, and maybe manatees.
You can venture out on a single or double kayak. There are plenty of tours to choose from, or you can explore alone. And if you’re new to kayaking, don’t worry. Lazy Dog’s will give you a lesson.
- Address: 5114 Overseas Highway, Key West
19. Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
This nature conservatory offers some unexpected serenity from the hustle and bustle of Duval Street. This butterfly and nature conservatory is a great Key West attraction for families.
The glass conservatory is home to 50 species of butterfly and 20 exotic bird species. There are even some beautiful flamingos. Search for different butterflies and learn more about each species in the learning center. The conservatory also offers a closer look at a caterpillar feeding station.
- Address: 1316 Duval Street, Naval Air Station, Key West
20. Fort Zachary Taylor Historical State Park
Fort Zachary was built between 1845 and 1866. It aimed to protect Key West during the Civil War. This is a must-see spot for history buffs. You can walk around the fort and visit the large collection of Civil War armaments.
Once you’ve explored the fort, relax at Fort Zachary Taylor Beach. It’s one of the few natural beaches in the Florida Keys.
- Address: 601 Howard England Way, Key West
21. Harry S. Truman’s Little White House
For history lovers, you must visit the Harry S. Truman Little White House. The Little White House was the winter home of the 33rd U.S. President, Harry Truman. The house was also used by six other U.S. presidents. Traditionally built as a command headquarters, the house was later used as a presidential retreat.
Inside, you can see a range of memorabilia from the times each president stayed at the house. There is also an informative and detailed timeline of Truman’s time in office. You’ll surely learn a lot at the Little White House.
- Address: 111 Front St, Naval Air Station, Key West
22. Audubon House & Tropical Gardens
Audubon House was built for a wealthy ship wrecker, Captain John Geiger. Visit this house to learn how the 19th-century wealthy wreckers lived.
The tropical gardens alone are worth visiting. Tropical palms, orchids, and crotons offer tranquility right in the heart of Key West.
- Address: 205 Whitehead Street, Key West
23. Mile Marker 0
Mile Marker 0 marks the beginning of U.S. Route 1. This highway starts at Key West and heads 2,000 miles north to Fort Kent, Maine. Take a picture and grab a souvenir from the gift shop to prove you’ve been.
- Address: 501 Whitehead Street Suite 1, Key West
24. Sunset dinner at Latitudes
Latitudes is one of the most exclusive restaurants in Key West. Located on Sunset Key, this is one of the best restaurants in Key West. Dinner and drinks at Latitudes are the perfect end to your Key West vacation.
Reservations are a must and often are booked out months in advance during high season. Make sure to allow enough time to take the boat to the island. The only way to the restaurant is with a free boat transfer.
- Address: 245 Front Street, Key West