25 EPIC Things You Need to Do in Key West, Florida
Oh Key West! An incredibly diverse, historic town at the veryyy end of Florida. Even though Key West is only 4.2 square miles, it certainly packs a punch!
It’s no surprise that Key West has TONS of incredible activities to choose from. From snorkeling and ghost tours to jet skiing and bar crawls, there are enough things to do in Key West to keep you busy for at least a week. However, you can squeeze in the major highlights in 3 perfect days in Key West.
In this guide, I’ll provide a list of the TOP 25 things there are to do in Key West. From couples to families with kids, there’s something for everyone on this list!
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A Complete List of the 25 Best Things to Do in Key West
Before we get into the list, here is a map of Key West with all of the activities below saved! You can export this map directly into your saved Google Maps to reference during your trip 🙂
#1. Eat Key Lime Pie (in all its forms)
Let me tell you something.. you can’t visit Key West and NOT eat key lime pie.. that should be illegal!
You’ll find tons of shops around town selling key lime pie, plus all kinds of variations at most restaurants. We had the famous key lime pie at Blue Heaven (featured later in this list), and it was pretty incredible!
My personal favorite, however, is chocolate covered key lime pie… on a stick! It’s absolutely wonderful. You can grab this or other key lime pie goodies at Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe right in front of the Key West Historic Seaport! Other popular spots to check out are Old Town Bakery and Key Lime Pie Bakery.
#2. Look for Dolphins
When we visited Key West last November, we went on this snorkeling and dolphin watching combo trip with GetYourGuide. Although the snorkeling was kind of sub par (after snorkeling in much better spots in the upper Keys), the dolphin watching portion was soo fun!
We got to see a few dolphins offshore and observe them in their natural habitat. I highly recommend picking a tour like this instead of swimming with them or dolphin “shows”, which are often unethical!
#3. Go Snorkeling
Like I mentioned above, the snorkeling in Key West isn’t the best compared to other areas in the Keys. If you’ve been snorkeling in places like John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo or Alligator Lighthouse in Islamorada, you might be a little disappointed with the snorkeling in Key West..
However, if you are not visiting any other parts of the Keys on your trip, I still recommend snorkeling while in Key West!!
For more info on which Key is best for different activities, make sure to check out my Key Largo vs Key West comparison guide!
#4. Visit Dry Tortugas National Park
The Dry Tortugas is a U.S. National Park that sits 60 miles from Key West in the middle of the ocean! Visiting the Dry Tortugas is definitely a once in a lifetime experience and something I absolutely recommend doing if you have the time and are up for a little adventure.
Within this national park is Fort Jefferson, an old military base that was used in the Civil War. The fort was actually never finished, but it is super cool to walk around and learn about the Florida history. Plus, the water around Fort Jefferson is GORGEOUS, and it’s great for sunbathing, snorkeling, etc.
To get here, you can take this ferry boat from Key West, which takes approximately 3 hours. If money isn’t a factor for you, you can also take a private sea plane to the park, which is definitely on my bucket list!
#5. Watch the Sunset at Mallory Square
Another must-do when visiting Key West is watching the sunset. One of the best places to do this is at Mallory Square, where they have a nightly sunset celebration! Here, you will find street performers, local vendors, and lots of people!
This is the most popular place to watch the sunset on the island, so expect crowds. If you want to get a good seat on the seawall with no one in front of you, I recommend arriving well in advance of the sunset!
Watching the sunset at Mallory Square is one of my favorite free things to do in Key West!
#6. Do the Duval Crawl
Ahhh.. the Duval Crawl. Have you heard of it?! If you’ve never been to Key West, you may not have. When the sun goes down, Duval Street becomes a party zone! Think of it like a mini Bourbon street in New Orleans, but a little more tame! Bars and restaurants line the street, and tons of people hop from place to place. The name comes from the theory (or fact?) that if you make it all the way down Duval, you’ll probably be crawling! Hah.
I don’t recommend coming here late at night with young children, as it does get a little rowdy. Most places will be 21+, so be prepared for that! Sloppy Joe’s Bar is one of the most famous spots on Duval Street and a great place to start your crawl.
#7. Explore the Key West Aquarium & Maritime Museum
If you have little ones, the Key West Aquarium is a great activity for your trip to Key West! Here, you can learn about our Florida ecosystem and its wildlife, like sharks, sea turtles, and more! You can even feed them here! Plus, tickets are very reasonable, starting at around $20 USD.
Right next to the Aquarium is another great Key West attraction to check out: the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. Here, you can see a variety of artifacts from different Key West shipwrecks that occurred in the 1600s! This includes Spanish gold, coins, jewelry, and more!
The Museum is open daily from 10am to 4pm with admission starting at $17.50 for adults and $8.50 for children.
#8. Go on a Sunset Cruise
Another one of my favorite ways of seeing Key West is to take a sunset cruise! As I mentioned earlier, Key West sunsets are pretty legendary, and the best way to see them (in my opinion) is from the water!
You can check out my full blog post on Key West sunset cruises here if you need more information and help choosing the perfect one for you!
#9. Visit Ernest Hemingway’s Home
Even if you’re not a fan of literature, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is still worth a visit during your time in Key West! In addition to the beautiful Spanish colonial style home home and lush gardens, you’ll get to meet the famous six-toed cats! Admission starts at around $18 for adults, $9 for children.
Pssst: Planning a trip to the Florida Keys?? Don’t forget to check out my Ultimate Florida Keys Travel Guide for even more info on Key West!
#10. Take a Jet Ski Tour
Another super fun way to explore the island is to go on a jet ski tour! The island is not very big, so you’ll be able to circle the whole thing on a jet ski. It’s a great way to get out on the water and explore. This island tour on GetYourGuide has 5 stars.. you can’t beat that!
#11. Explore on Bikes
Key West is an extremely bike friendly town (and not very car friendly!). In fact, parking can be very limited and expensive in Old Town, so I recommend renting bikes as your primary method of transportation if you can! Either way, exploring Key West on bikes is super fun and relaxing.
You can rent bikes from Eaton Bikes and do your own tour from the top of the Key to the bottom. I recommend stopping at some of the sights on this list, like Smathers Beach, Zachary Taylor State Park, and Southernmost Point! Or you can book an organized tour like this one.
#12. Relax on Smathers Beach
Did you know there aren’t many true beaches in the Florida Keys? It’s one of the most common misconceptions I hear when talking to people about the Keys. Most people picture sprawling white sand beaches lined with palm trees, which are very rare in the Keys! Lucky for you, Key West actually does have a beach like this – Smathers Beach.
This beach sprawls over half a mile along the south side of the island, across the street from the Margaritaville Beach House hotel and the Key West Airport!
We visited this beach on our bikes in the early morning before the crowds arrived, which I highly recommend. At the right time, this beach is the perfect place to relax and escape the crowds of Old Town.
#13. Visit Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
If you’re looking to snorkel but don’t want to get on a boat, head to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. Located at the very bottom of the island, this gorgeous state park has some incredible snorkeling right off the beach!
#14. Check out the Key West Butterfly Conservatory
Another fun activity if you have children is visiting the Key West Butterfly Conservatory. It has actually been voted “Best Place to Take Your Kids” and “Best Thing to Do in Key West”!
Tickets start at around $17 for adults, and they are generally open from 9am – 5pm every day. In addition to over 5o different species of butterflies, they have a beautiful collection of tropical plants and foliage.
#15. Visit the Southernmost Point
Another Key West staple, you have to make a stop at the Southermost Point sign while visiting. It might be a little touristy, but I love this landmark. As a Floridian, this sign is often shown on TV during hurricanes and has had to be repainted a few times due to damage from storms.
If you don’t want to wait in line for a photo, I recommend getting here as early as possible to avoid the crowds!
#16. Eat Dinner on Sunset Key
Sunset Key is a tiny island off the coast of Key West, home to an award-winning luxury resort, Sunset Key Cottages. There is a free ferry that takes you to the island from Key West; however, to board, you have to have a reservation at the restaurant or be staying at the resort.
The restaurant, Latitudes, is very highly rated and has won several awards like “Most Booked Restaurant in the Florida Keys”. It is definitely pricey, but if you are looking for a high-end lunch or dinner during your time here, this is the perfect place!
#17. Try Cuban Coffee
It’s no surprise there is a strong Cuban culture in the Florida Keys.. Similar to Miami, Key West has played a central part in the Cuban diaspora to the United States. So it’s only appropriate to try a delicious Cuban coffee during your time in Key West.
My favorite place is the Cuban Coffee Queen right across from the Historic Seaport. If you’ve never had Cuban coffee, you won’t be disappointed!
P.S. Planning a trip to Key West? Don’t forget to check out my guide on What to Wear in Key West for all my packing tips, plus a free packing printable!
#18. Eat Brunch at Blue Heaven
Not far from the Southernmost Point sign is the famous Blue Heaven restaurant. Again, to beat the crowds, you need to get here as early as possible, ideally right when they open! However, if you do have to wait, I promise the food is worth it!
However, they do have a little bar across the street where you can get a bloody mary or mimosa while you wait for a table 🙂 Don’t forget to try the lobster eggs benedict and a slice of key lime pie!!!
#19. See a Drag Show
One of my favorite parts of Key West is the strong LGBTQ+ culture. Key West has been a safe haven for members of this community for years, and it shows! The streets are lined with pride flags, rainbow crosswalks, and more.
To help celebrate LGTBQ+ culture, seeing a drag show is such a fun option while you’re in Key West! There’s a handful to choose from, but the most highly rated are the Aqua Drag Show and La Te Da.
#20. Eat Dessert that’s Better than Sex
A little dirty, and probably not suitable for children, Better than Sex is a dessert restaurant that is absolutely to die for. The menu is all sex-themed, and it is an experience to say the least!
#21. Meet the Ghoulish Residents
Like most old towns with complex histories, Key West has a collection of spooky tales you can learn about on a ghost tour. In fact, Key West was originally named “Bone Island” (Cayo de Huesos in Spanish!) since there were bones scattered across the island when the Spanish settlers arrived! Creepy right?!
#22. Ride the Conch Train
This one is a bit cheesy, but riding the famous Key West Conch Train is kind of like a rite of passage! You can buy a one day or multi day ticket and use the train to get around the main sites in town. Along the way, you’ll be treated to facts, trivia, and stories all about Key West by the train engineer!
#23. Go on an Island Adventure Eco Tour
The Island Adventure Eco tour through Sunset Watersports takes you to a sandbar off the island where you can kayak through mangroves or snorkel in crystal clear waters. This seems like the perfect activity to escape the hustle and bustle of the island and reconnect with nature! I will definitely be booking this tour next time I visit Key West.
#24. Climb to the Top of the Lighthouse
For around $15 USD, you can climb to the top of the Key West Lighthouse as well as explore the Keeper’s Quarters Museum. The lighthouse is just down the road from the Ernest Hemingway House as well as the Southernmost Point sign, so it’s possible to lump all of these activities together into one morning!
Fun fact: This Lighthouse opened in 1848 with a woman keeper which was quite unheard of for the times!
#25. Explore the Harry S. Truman Little White House
One more historical activity and we will wrap it up! While visiting Key West, another highlight is to visit the Harry S. Truman Little White House. They offer guided tours where you can learn more about the president and his time in Florida! Plus, this is the only presidential museum in all of Florida.
Bonus Activities Nearby
If you are renting a car while visiting Key West, there are a few more activities less than an hour away that I highly recommend adding to your itinerary!
National Key Deer Refuge
For those wanting to get off the beaten path, visiting the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key is one of the coolest things to do in the Keys! The Refuge is just 30 miles outside of Key West, and here, you can learn all about the famous Key deer, the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer in North America!
The Refuge’s Visitor Center is open from 10am-3pm, Wednesday- Saturday. However, the trails are open to the public one half hour prior to sunrise through on half hour after sunset. You can also see Key deer by driving slowly around Big Pine Key and No Name Key and looking for them! Please remember to respect these wild animals!!
Bahia Honda State Park
One of my favorite places to visit in the Keys is Bahia Honda State Park! Located just 45 minutes outside of Key West, Bahia Honda is the perfect place to spend the day and get out of the hustle and bustle of Key West.
It costs $8 per vehicle to enter the park, or free with a Florida State Parks Pass! Within the park, you’ll find beautiful beaches, walking paths, and stunning views of the old railway bridge!
Drive Over the Seven Mile Bridge
Just north of Bahia Honda State Park is the famous Seven Mile Bridge, which connects Marathon to Little Duck Key. There are actually two bridges here: the new bridge that you drive over and the old bridge where you can walk, bike, and fish off of!
For more fun facts about the Seven Mile Bridge, make sure to check out my blog post Fun Facts and FAQ About the Florida Keys!
Other Things to Do in the Keys
In my opinion, Key West just scratches the surface of things to do in the Florida Keys. In fact, I highly recommend extending your trip by taking a road trip from Key Largo to Key West so you can see ALL the Florida Keys have to offer.
On this road trip, you’ll be able to snorkel in Key Largo at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, eat at the best restaurants in Islamorada, visit the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, and so much more!
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there is no shortage of incredible things to do in Key West. Whether you have one day or one week in this historic town, you are bound to have a great time here!
Out of all the things I listed above, my personal favorites are visiting the Dry Tortugas, going on a sunset cruise, and eating all the key lime pie. BUT I promise you can’t go wrong with any of these options!
Make sure to check out my other Florida Keys blog posts to help plan your trip!
Ultimate Florida Keys Travel Guide
Best Time to Visit the Florida Keys
Key Largo vs Key West: Which Key is Better?
Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!
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