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Florida, United States

Key West

Spend 2 days: walk Old Town's history stops by day, catch the Mallory Square sunset and end on Duval Street. Give Key West two days: Old Town sights by bike in the morning, beach afternoons and Mallory Square at sunset. Below: 4 sights, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot, plus how Key West fits into a longer trip.

Plan Key West with friendsBrowse 13 places
Key West, Florida, United States
Places
13

4 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 3 Eat · 3 Drink · 1 Shop

Curated routes
2

Miami Beach Getaway, Florida Keys Adventure

Best season
Nov – Apr

also Dec – May

Warmest month
August

30°C / 86°F avg high

Coolest month
January

23°C / 73°F avg high

Wettest month
September

about 177 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Key West

13 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

4 sights worth building a day around across Old Town and Truman Annex.

  • Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key WestPhoto: Bobby Pierce · Google
    See

    Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

    Hemingway's 1930s home with guided tours and dozens of six-toed cats.

    Tip Tours run every few minutes; go at opening to beat cruise crowds.

    • Old Town
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Morning
  • Southernmost Point Buoy in Key WestPhoto: Radomianin · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Southernmost Point Buoy

    The painted buoy marking the southernmost point of the continental U.S.

    Tip Lines get long midday; come early or at night.

    • Old Town
    • Free
    • 15 min
    • Early morning
  • Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key WestPhoto: Bubba73 · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Harry S. Truman Little White House

    Truman's winter White House, shown on guided tours of the original rooms.

    Tip Tours are timed; buy tickets at the door or online.

    • Truman Annex
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Morning
  • Key West Lighthouse & Keeper's Quarters in Key WestPhoto: Jay Papanestor · Google
    See

    Key West Lighthouse & Keeper's Quarters

    88 steps to the top for views over Old Town, across the street from Hemingway's house.

    Tip Combine with Hemingway Home; climb before midday heat.

    • Old Town
    • $$
    • 45 min
    • Morning

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Old Town.

  • Mallory Square Sunset Celebration in Key WestPhoto: Keith Fairbank · Google
    Do

    Mallory Square Sunset Celebration

    Nightly sunset gathering on the harbor with street performers and food carts.

    Tip Arrive 45 min before sunset for a spot on the edge.

    • Old Town
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Sunset

Outdoors

1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Truman Annex.

  • Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in Key WestPhoto: Josh Shelton · Google
    Outdoors

    Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

    Civil War fort with the best swimming beach in town and shade under pine trees.

    Tip Bring water shoes; the beach is rocky.

    • Truman Annex
    • $
    • 3 hr
    • Afternoon

Eat

Where we would book a table in Key West across Bahama Village, Historic Seaport and Old Town.

  • Blue Heaven in Key WestPhoto: Gary J. “Livin the Dream!” Turek · Google
    Eat

    Blue Heaven

    Bahama Village garden restaurant with roosters underfoot; famous for breakfast and tall key lime pie.

    Tip Closes every year from the day after Labor Day to mid-October.

    • Bahama Village
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Breakfast
  • Pepe's Cafe in Key WestPhoto: Pepe's Cafe · Google
    Eat

    Pepe's Cafe

    Key West's oldest restaurant (1909), serving seafood and steaks under a backyard arbor.

    Tip Good for breakfast or an early dinner; small, so expect waits.

    • Historic Seaport
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Dinner
  • El Siboney in Key WestPhoto: El Siboney Restaurant (Downtown) · Google
    Eat

    El Siboney

    Cash-friendly Cuban restaurant serving roast pork and plantains in large portions.

    Tip Order the roast pork with black beans and yuca.

    • Old Town
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Key West across Old Town and Duval Street.

  • Captain Tony's Saloon in Key WestPhoto: Bubba73 · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Drink

    Captain Tony's Saloon

    The original Sloppy Joe's location (1930s), with a tree growing through the roof and live music.

    Tip Quieter than Duval's big bars; good first stop of the night.

    • Old Town
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Evening
  • Sloppy Joe's Bar in Key WestPhoto: Schwerdf · CC BY 4.0
    Drink

    Sloppy Joe's Bar

    Hemingway-era Duval Street bar with live music from noon to late.

    Tip Go in the afternoon for a seat by the open windows.

    • Duval Street
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Evening
  • The Green Parrot Bar in Key WestPhoto: Green Parrot Bar · Google
    Drink

    The Green Parrot Bar

    Locals' bar since 1890 with live music most nights and no TV screens.

    Tip Saturday late-afternoon sets are free.

    • Old Town
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Late night

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in Historic Seaport.

  • Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe in Key WestPhoto: Kermit's Key Lime Pie Shop - Elizabeth Street · Google
    Shop

    Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe

    Key lime pie on a stick (chocolate-dipped, frozen) and key lime goods.

    Tip Get the frozen chocolate-dipped slice.

    • Historic Seaport
    • $
    • 15 min
    • Afternoon

How to fit Key West into a trip

Key West shows up on 2 of our curated routes, so you can work it into more than one kind of trip.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Key West month by month

Average daily highs run from 23°C / 73°F in January to 30°C / 86°F in August. September is the wettest month, with about 177 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Key West weather and the best time to visit →

Near Key West

8 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.

Key West questions, answered

How many days do you need in Key West?

Our route notes suggest 2 days in Key West. On our Miami Beach Getaway route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 13 places add up to roughly 15 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Key West best known for?

Spend 2 days: walk Old Town's history stops by day, catch the Mallory Square sunset and end on Duval Street. Standouts on our list: Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum (Hemingway's 1930s home with guided tours and dozens of six-toed cats); Southernmost Point Buoy (The painted buoy marking the southernmost point of the continental U.S); Harry S. Truman Little White House (Truman's winter White House, shown on guided tours of the original rooms).

When is the best time to visit Key West?

Our routes through Key West are best Nov – Apr or Dec – May. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (30°C / 86°F), the coolest in January (23°C / 73°F) and the most rain in September (about 177 mm).

What are the best things to do in Key West?

Start with Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Southernmost Point Buoy, Harry S. Truman Little White House, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and Mallory Square Sunset Celebration. Our guide lists 13 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 3 places to eat, 3 bars & cafés and 1 shop.

Where should a group eat in Key West?

Our picks: Blue Heaven (Bahama Village); Pepe's Cafe (Historic Seaport); El Siboney (Old Town). Closes every year from the day after Labor Day to mid-October (Blue Heaven).

What is near Key West?

The closest destinations in our guides are Old Town & Duval Street (about 3 km / 2 mi), Bahia Honda & the Lower Keys (about 54 km / 33 mi) and Everglades (about 120 km / 75 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Key West with your crew

Open the Miami Beach Getaway route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 13 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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