25 EPIC Things You Need to Do in Key West, Florida

As the most popular Key in the entire Florida Keys archipelago, it’s no surprise that there are tons of incredible things to do in Key West.

I grew up visiting the Florida Keys, and I never felt like we had enough time to do everything I wanted to in Key West. I am slowly chipping away at my list year after year, though!

From snorkeling and ghost tours to jet skiing and bar crawls, there are enough activities and events in Key West to keep you busy for at least a week (or more). However, most people squeeze in the major highlights during 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 for every type of traveler, so you can choose what speaks to you!

Map of Things to Do in Key West

Before we get into the list, here is a map of Key West with all of the activities I will cover in this blog post! You can save this map directly into your Google Maps to reference during your trip by hitting the little star next to the title 🙂

If you’ve never been to Key West before, this map is a great way to get familiar with the area.

As you can see, most of the activities in this list are clustered in the western side of Key West – Old Town. Old Town is the historic heart of Key West, where you’ll find colorful streets, Victorian houses, incredible restaurants, and plenty of things to do!

New Town, on the east side, is exactly what it sounds like! This is where a lot of the traditional hotels are, as well as chain restaurants, beaches, and the Key West airport!

➡️ Read Next: For more information on the different areas of Key West, check out my guide on Where to Stay in Key West!

#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 (a restaurant 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!!

To have the best experience, make sure to book a tour that includes visiting an actual reef!! There are some areas of Key West that are just grassy beds and not as exciting.

However, when you snorkel at a reef, you’re way more likely to see different kinds of fish and other marine animals. This reef snorkeling tour is the perfect option!

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 off the coast of 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! 

You can read more about visiting the Dry Tortugas here, from my friend Alexys!

#5. Watch the Sunset at Mallory Square

Another must-do when visiting Key West is watching the sunset! In my opinion, the Florida Keys have some of the best sunsets in the world.

One of the best places to watch the sunset in Key West 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!

However, if you don’t arrive early, don’t worry! You’ll be able to see the sunset from all angles.

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 at the center of Key West 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

Quite possibly my favorite thing to do in Key West is go on a sunset cruise. I mentioned earlier, Key West sunsets are legendary, but the land-based viewing areas get crowded, so the best way to see them is from the water! 

There are tons of different sunset cruises in Key West to choose from. Some include dinner and/or drinks, and some have live music or a full dance floor! There are options for every budget and type of traveler.

Need a recommendation? My favorite option is this Key West sunset sail with Sebago. For $80 per person, this cruise lasts 2 hours and includes an open bar and fresh hors d’oeuvres. Plus, there’s a live, local musician to help set the mood!

➡️ Read Next: If you want to compare all of your options, check out my full blog post on the top Key West sunset cruises!

best overall

Sebago Key West Sunset Sail

• Duration: 2 hours
• Cost: $80
• Rating: 4.7/5 stars⭐
• Includes: Open Bar, Live Music, Appetizers

book it here!

#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 and lush gardens, you’ll get to meet the famous six-toed cats!

Admission starts at around $18 for adults, $9 for children, and tickets can only be purchased in person at the ticket window. The entry cost also includes a 20-30 minute guided tour of the property! These tours start every 15 minutes with the first tour starting at 9:15am.

To avoid crowds, I recommend visiting first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon, especially during the peak winter months.

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. 

This is a great way to get out on the water and explore around Key West, especially for those who don’t love snorkeling!

On this jet ski island tour, you’ll explore over 28 miles around the island with a guide, as well as stop at a sandbar for some chill time. It’s the perfect combination of relaxation and adventure!

#11. Explore Key West on Bikes

Key West is an extremely bike friendly town (and not very car friendly in Old Town!). 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!

You can rent bikes from Eaton Bikes right in Old Town, and they will even deliver your bikes to your hotel for you!

Since we were staying in New Town on our last trip to Key West, we decided to do our own little island tour via bikes. From our hotel, we rode along the Florida Keys Oversea Heritage Trail past Smathers Beach and then down into Old Town.

Once in Old Town, you can stop at places like the Southernmost Point, Zachary Taylor State Park, and more!

Or, if you don’t want to explore on your own, consider booking an organized bike 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 takes up 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! The sand here was imported from the Bahamas!

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! 

It also tends to be less busy than Smathers since you do have to pay a small entry fee per vehicle (unless you have a Florida State Parks Pass!).

There is also an old fort here you can explore, so if you don’t have time to visit Fort Jefferson, this is a great alternative!

#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 to show how high the water is. It’s actually had to be repainted a few times due to damage from storms. It’s a Florida Keys icon!

It’s completely free to visit, but if you don’t want to wait in line for a photo, I recommend getting here as early as possible to avoid the crowds!

Or, if you don’t care about being IN the photo, you can just snap a pic of the sign in between group like I did below!

#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 in just a few minutes; however, to board, you have to have a reservation at the restaurant or be staying at the resort!

The on-site 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!  In fact, I think it’s the most romantic restaurant in Key West.

P.S. For other romantic options, make sure to check out my guide on Things to Do in Key West for Couples!

#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! They do not accept reservations for breakfast or lunch.

However, if you do have to wait, I promise the food is worth it! And 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!!! I’m still dreaming about the meal we had here.

#19. See a Drag Show

One of my favorite parts of Key West is the unparalleled 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!

Despite its adult-friendly nature, it’s one of the best places to get dessert in Key West!

#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!

Did you know 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?!

(You can learn more fun facts about the Florida Keys here!)

There are several different ghost tours to choose from in Key West. If you have older children, the ghost and gravestones trolley tour is a great option (not recommended for children under 13)!

Or, if you are visiting Key West with only adults, consider booking this Bone Island Haunted Pub Crawl!

#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 Kayaking Through the Mangroves

One of my favorite things to do in any Florida Key is to go kayaking through the mangroves!

The sandbar and kayak tour through Sunset Watersports is the perfect way to do this in Key West. This tour takes you to a sandbar off the island where you can kayak through mangroves or snorkel in crystal clear waters!

It’s the perfect activity to escape the hustle and bustle of Key West!

#24. Climb to the Top of the Lighthouse

Right across from the Ernest Hemingway Museum is the Key West Lighthouse!

For around $15 USD, you can climb to the top of the lighthouse as well as explore the Keeper’s Quarters Museum.

Since the lighthouse is just down the road from the Ernest Hemingway House as well as the Southernmost Point sign, I recommend lumping all of these activities together into one morning, potentially after eating breakfast at Blue Heaven!

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 Florida Keys 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!

You can also rent kayaks or snorkel equipment if you want to venture out into the beautiful, protected lagoon.

This is a popular place for campers as well, especially when the weather cools off in the winter!

Pssst: For more details on visiting the Keys in the winter, check out my Key West in December and Key West in January guides!

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!

One of my favorite ways to start my mornings when visiting the Keys is to go on a bike ride down the Old Seven Mile Bridge. Last time my mom and I did this while staying at Isla Bella Beach Resort, we saw sharks, stingrays, and eagle rays all from the bridge!

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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 favorite activities in Key West are visiting the Dry Tortugas, going on a sunset cruise, and eating all the key lime pie. Next up, check out my Ultimate Guide to the Best Key West Sunset Cruises to help choose the perfect one for you.

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.

Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!