Things to do in Key West
Winter and early spring bring warm, dry, breezy days and the season's lowest humidity, ideal for the water and the outdoors. Hurricane season runs June through November, and high summer is hot and very humid with frequent afternoon storms.
Best months: December, January, February, March, April
What is worth your time in Key West
Key West Butterfly and Nature ConservatoryDo not miss
A glass-domed tropical garden alive with hundreds of free-flying butterflies, birds, and two resident flamingos.
Activity · 1.1 hr4.8
Duval StreetDo not miss
Key West's mile-long spine of bars, galleries, cafes, and Conch Republic color, from the Gulf to the Atlantic.
Neighborhood · 1.8 hr4.7
Mallory Square Sunset CelebrationDo not miss
A nightly waterfront carnival of street performers, artists, and food carts that gathers to applaud the sunset.
Cultural Experience · 1.5 hr4.7
Ernest Hemingway Home and MuseumDo not miss
The Spanish Colonial home where Hemingway wrote for a decade, now roamed by his famous six-toed cats.
Historic Site · 1.3 hr4.6
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State ParkDo not miss
A Civil War brick fort fronting the island's best beach, with shaded picnic pines and clear snorkeling water.
Historic Site · 3 hr4.6
Harry S. Truman Little White HouseDo not miss
Truman's winter White House, preserved with its 1940s furnishings and a guided tour of presidential history.
Historic Site · 1.3 hr4.6
Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters MuseumDo not miss
Climb 88 steps up an 1848 lighthouse for a treetop panorama over Old Town and the Hemingway house across the street.
Landmark · 1 hr4.6
Mel Fisher Maritime MuseumDo not miss
Gold, emeralds, and silver bars salvaged from the 1622 Spanish galleon Atocha by legendary treasure hunter Mel Fisher.
Museum · 1.4 hr4.5
Southernmost Point BuoyDo not miss
The painted concrete buoy marking the southernmost point in the continental US, 90 miles from Cuba.
Landmark · 28 min4.5
Smathers BeachDo not miss
The island's longest beach, a half-mile of sand and turquoise shallows lined with palms and watersport rentals.
Beach · 2.3 hr4.3
Bahama Village Market
A small open-air warren of craft stalls, hot sauce, hammocks, and Caribbean goods in the heart of Bahama Village.
Market · 45 min5
Duval Street Shopping and Galleries
Browse the island's densest run of boutiques, art shops, cigar rollers, and souvenir stalls along Duval.
Market · 1.4 hr4.9
Key West First Legal Rum Distillery
A small-batch craft distillery on a back lane offering tastings of island rum and a free behind-the-scenes tour.
Activity · 1 hr4.8
Key West Garden Club at West Martello Tower
A romantic ruined brick fort overtaken by orchids and tropical gardens beside Higgs Beach, free to wander.
Hidden Gem · 45 min4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- The Old Town is small and flat; rent a bike or scooter and skip the car for most of your stay.
- Sunset is a daily event here; arrive at Mallory Square 30 to 45 minutes before to catch the buskers and the show.
- Reserve the Dry Tortugas ferry or seaplane weeks ahead in winter, when it sells out fast.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a hat; the sun is intense year-round and many reefs ban harmful sunscreens.
- Afternoon storms are common in summer; plan water trips and beaches for the morning.