Key West sits at the very end of the Florida Keys, the last stop on the Overseas Highway and closer to Havana than to Miami.

AT A GLANCE

Best time

December to April for dry, pleasant weather; late spring for fewer crowds.

How long

Three to four days, including a day trip to Dry Tortugas.

Getting there

Fly into Key West International Airport or drive the Overseas Highway from Miami.

Why visit Key West

Key West combines a walkable historic town with the warm, clear water of the Florida Keys. In Old Town you can tour the homes of Hemingway and Truman, climb a lighthouse, browse galleries and stop for a slice of key lime pie, all within a few blocks.

The atmosphere is a big part of the appeal. Key West likes to call itself the Conch Republic, after a tongue-in-cheek secession protest in 1982, and its laid-back, welcoming attitude makes it a favorite for couples, groups of friends and anyone who wants a slower rhythm.

Old Town landmarks

Mallory Square and the sunset celebration

On the Gulf side of Old Town, Mallory Square is where Key West gathers to watch the sun go down.

Allow one to two hours around sunset.

Duval Street

Duval Street runs across the island from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, lined with bars, galleries, shops, restaurants and historic buildings.

Allow a few hours, or several evenings. Practical tip: walk the full length during the day to see the architecture, then return at night for music.

Pastel storefronts, balconies and palm trees along Duval Street, Key West, Florida
Duval Street runs across Old Town from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic side of the island.Photo: Julian Lupyan, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

Ernest Hemingway lived in this Spanish Colonial style house on Whitehead Street during the 1930s, and wrote some of his best-known work in the studio behind it.

Allow one to one and a half hours.

Yellow-shuttered Spanish Colonial house of the Ernest Hemingway Home among tropical gardens, Key West, Florida
Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote in this house on Whitehead Street during the 1930s.Photo: Andreas Lamecker, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5

Key West Lighthouse

Directly across from the Hemingway Home, the Key West Lighthouse was first lit in 1848 and guided ships through the dangerous reefs around the island.

Allow forty-five minutes to an hour. Practical tip: the climb is steep and hot in summer, so go in the morning and bring water.

White Key West Lighthouse tower with a black lantern room above the trees, Florida
The Key West Lighthouse, first lit in 1848, now operates as a museum.Photo: Acroterion, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Harry S. Truman Little White House

In the Truman Annex, a former naval station, the Little White House was President Harry S. Truman's winter retreat, where he spent many working vacations during his presidency.

Allow about an hour. Practical tip: tours are guided only, so check the schedule on arrival, and walk through the shady Truman Annex gardens afterward.

White wooden Little White House with green shutters in the Truman Annex, Key West, Florida
President Harry S. Truman spent many working vacations at the Little White House.Photo: Bubba73, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Southernmost Point and Key West Cemetery

At the corner of Whitehead and South streets, a striped concrete buoy marks the Southernmost Point attraction, with a sign noting that Cuba is about ninety miles away.

Allow thirty minutes for the buoy and an hour for the cemetery. Practical tip: visit the buoy early in the morning or late at night when the line is shortest.

Striped concrete buoy marking the Southernmost Point in Key West, Florida
A painted concrete buoy at Whitehead and South streets marks the Southernmost Point attraction.Photo: Radomianin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

At the southern end of Duval Street, this glass-domed conservatory is filled with hundreds of free-flying butterflies from around the world, plus birds such as flamingos and finches, among tropical plants and waterfalls.

Allow one hour. Practical tip: wear bright colors, which may attract butterflies to land on you, and check the official website for current hours and fees.

Butterflies resting on tropical flowers inside the glass conservatory, Key West, Florida
The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory houses free-flying butterflies and birds under glass.Photo: C Watts, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Beaches, forts and the water

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

At the southwest tip of the island, Fort Zachary Taylor is a brick fort begun in the 1840s that remained in Union hands during the Civil War.

Allow half a day. Practical tip: the beach is rocky, so bring water shoes, and stay for a sunset that is often quieter than Mallory Square's.

Brick walls and cannons of Fort Zachary Taylor on the waterfront, Key West, Florida
Fort Zachary Taylor, begun in the 1840s, guards a state park with Key West's best swimming beach.Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Dry Tortugas National Park

About seventy miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park protects a cluster of small islands, coral reefs and Fort Jefferson, a vast nineteenth-century brick fortress on Garden Key.

Allow a full day. Practical tip: book the ferry or seaplane well in advance, as trips often sell out, and bring sun protection, as there is little shade.

Hexagonal brick walls of Fort Jefferson surrounded by turquoise water on Garden Key, Key West, Florida
Fort Jefferson covers most of Garden Key in Dry Tortugas National Park, west of Key West.Photo: U.S. National Park Service, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Snorkeling, diving and sailing

The Florida Keys reef tract lies a few miles offshore and is protected by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Allow half a day per trip. Practical tip: use reef-safe sunscreen, never stand on or touch coral and choose operators that follow sanctuary rules.

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Food and local flavors

Key lime pie is the island's signature dessert, made with small, tart key limes and condensed milk, with fierce local debate over whether it should wear meringue or whipped cream.

Cuban influence runs deep, a legacy of cigar makers who moved here in the nineteenth century. Order a Cuban sandwich and a cafe con leche or strong Cuban coffee from a walk-up window.

Popular dishes to try in Key West

Key lime pie in Key West, Florida
Key lime pie Food and local flavorsKey lime pie is the island's signature dessert, made with small, tart key limes and condensed milk, with fierce local debate over whether it should wear…Photo: runarut, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Conch fritters in Key West, Florida
Conch fritters Conch fritters, made from chopped conch meat in seasoned batter, are another classic, though the conch is now imported because harvesting it in Florida is prohibited.Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Cuban coffee in Key West, Florida
Cuban coffee Order a Cuban sandwich and a cafe con leche or strong Cuban coffee from a walk-up window.Photo: Elizabeth Nicodemus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Stone crab in Key West, Florida
Stone crab Seafood is the heart of most menus: try local pink shrimp, grilled yellowtail snapper, mahi-mahi and smoked fish dip, and in season, from mid October to May, stone crab claws…Photo: ell brown, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Where to stay

Old Town is the best base for most visitors, with historic inns, guesthouses and small hotels within walking distance of Duval Street, Mallory Square and the museums.

The Historic Seaport and Truman Annex areas are convenient for boat trips and harbor views. New Town, on the eastern side of the island, has larger hotels and more parking but you will need a bike or bus to reach Old Town.

Where to stay in Key West

Duval Street, Key West, Florida
Duval Street Where to stayOld Town is the best base for most visitors, with historic inns, guesthouses and small hotels within walking distance of Duval Street, Mallory Square and the museums.Photo: Julian Lupyan, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Truman Annex, Key West, Florida
Truman Annex The Historic Seaport and Truman Annex areas are convenient for boat trips and harbor views.Photo: w_lemay, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Lower Keys, Key West, Florida
Lower Keys Stock Island and the Lower Keys offer quieter, sometimes more affordable stays and suit travelers with a car who want fishing or nature.Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Key West old town, Key West, Florida
Key West old town One of the best areas to base yourself in Key West.Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Best time to visit

The peak season runs from December to April, when the weather is warm, sunny and comparatively dry, and when room rates and crowds are at their highest.

Summer is hot and humid with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, but the sea is calm and warm for snorkeling.

Getting there and getting around

Key West International Airport, on the east side of the island, has flights from several US cities and connections through Miami and other Florida hubs.

Once on the island, you do not need a car. Old Town is easily walkable, and bicycles are the local way to get around.

Long span of the Seven Mile Bridge crossing open blue water in the Florida Keys, Key West, Florida
The Seven Mile Bridge carries the Overseas Highway between the Middle and Lower Keys.Photo: United States Department of Transportation, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

A suggested itinerary

First day

Start early at the Southernmost Point, then tour the Hemingway Home and climb the Key West Lighthouse across the street.

Second day

Take the ferry or a seaplane to Dry Tortugas National Park to explore Fort Jefferson and snorkel in the clear water.

Third day

Tour the Truman Little White House in the morning, then spend the afternoon swimming and snorkeling at Fort Zachary Taylor.

Practical tips

  • Book Dry Tortugas ferry or seaplane trips well in advance.
  • Reserve accommodation early for winter, spring break and festival weeks.
  • Rent a bicycle and lock it securely; theft of unlocked bikes is common.
  • Use reef-safe sunscreen and wear a hat; the sun is strong year-round.
  • Bring water shoes for rocky beaches and coral rubble.
  • Check the cruise ship schedule and visit popular spots when ships are not in port.

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