Key West, Florida - Do & See

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Key West, Florida

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North America United States Key West, Florida Do & See

Overview

Do & See The guide was updated: 2023-03-23

When thinking about Key West City, the activities that come to mind are soaking in the sun on the shores of the multiple beaches and embarking in the multiple experiences the Atlantic Ocean has to offer. You can spend your days by paddleboarding, sailing the crystal waters on beautiful boats, snorkeling with your family and viewing the vibrant ocean life bellow, graced with colorful reefs and corrals.

You can also get in close contact with the dolphins in their natural habitat, take boat ferry rides to nearby attractions and escape on trolley tours to Old Town Key West, where whimsical local settings await you.

Don't forget to visit the many museums and galleries, dive into the variety of multicultural dishes and take long walks on the pier, all while enjoying the tropical climate and the palm leaves rustling above.

Southernmost Point, Key West

Southernmost Point, Key West

This landmark may be the most visited and photographed monument of Key West. It was created to bear a resemblance to a buoy and is supposed to point out the southernmost location in the continental U.S. The writing on the buoy states that from this very spot, it is only 90 miles to Cuba and if you squint you might actually catch sight of the island on a bright and sunny day.

Old Town Trolley Tours

Old Town Trolley Tours

Sit down, lean back and relax on Key West’s most comprehensive tour — the hop-on/hop-off trolleys. The local expert tour conductors will guide as well as entertain you through the vivid Old Town of Key West with its over 100 points of interest.

Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center

Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center

The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center is a unique ecological phenomenon with a one-of-a-kind underwater ocean laboratory that will take you to its depths. You will find the native flora and animals of the Keys and the spectacular and diverse ecosystem of this region. The living reef exhibit and the Center's theater give you easy access to information about both on-land and underwater life.

Mallory Square

Mallory Square

Representing the very heart of the city, Mallory Square gives you many options for shopping, flavorful food, exciting entertainment and spectacular sunsets. Here, every night is a festival: two hours before the sun goes down the Sunset Celebration begins. You will encounter performers of various kinds ranging from aerial acrobats and stunt dogs to bagpipers and local musicians.

Ernest Hemingway House & Museum

Ernest Hemingway House & Museum

Located in the Old Town, this was the official Key West residence of Nobel Prize winning author Ernest Hemingway, as in 1968 it enjoyed the distinction of becoming a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Tour the spectacular gardens, with an impressive variety of flowers and trees, and observe the 20,000-dollar swimming pool — an unusual opulence at that time. You'll also be able to visit the bookstore lined with the author’s famous books and a plethora of other souvenirs.

Duval Street

Duval Street

Duval is the most famous and most visited street in Key West. It stretches out from shore to shore, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, with a multitude of restaurants, pubs and shopping opportunities unfolding before you. Duval Street is not only home to Ernest Hemingway's favorite pub Sloppy Joe's, but also to a rich nightlife. Several times a year the street attracts crowds to take part in diverse festivals that celebrate art, lifestyle, history and culture.

Audubon House and Tropical Garden

Audubon House and Tropical Garden

Considered a gem of historical interior design, the Audubon House is a restoration project which is furnished as a replica of a prosperous 1800s Key West home. The constructor and first owner of the house was one of the ten most affluent men in the Florida Keys during this time. Both the house and its tropical garden give the visitor a glimpse of everyday life in a rich man's home of the mid-19th century. It has a cookhouse, a gift shop and a herb garden alongside 200 blooming orchids.

Ferry to Dry Tortugas & Fort Jefferson

Ferry to Dry Tortugas & Fort Jefferson

A ferry trip to Dry Tortugas is a full-day affair that is worth embarking on. This spacious ocean vessel offers comfort and relaxation as you drift along on the open blue waters. Explore the 19th-century fort and learn about this great piece of history, and enjoy snorkeling in the surrounding island waters. This 100-square-mile park is also a sanctuary for endangered species.

Key West Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters Museum

Key West Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters Museum

The Key West Lighthouse stands tall even after facing hurricanes, wars and urban construction. It housed the brave and dedicated Keepers who kept the light of the tower burning no matter what, and who have left footprints for you to marvel over as you find their belongings, photographs and lives put on display in the museum.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park Beach

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park Beach

Fort Zachary Taylor Park features one of the most famous beaches in Key West, situated in the park of Fort Zachary Taylor. With 87 acres of delicate sand, bask in the sun, take the time to read your favorite book, and peek up to watch the brilliant cruise ships enter and exit the harbor. Go for a swim or snorkel in the turquoise waters. For a small fee, this beach also offers grilling amenities and access to picnic tables.

Fury Water Adventures

Fury Water Adventures

Fury Water Adventures offers a variety of experiences: jet ski and glass bottom boat rides, catamaran cruises, parasailing, paddleboard rentals, snorkeling opportunities, dolphin tours and more, all to be enjoyed surrounded by crystal blue waters and local marine life.

Vandenberg Wreck

Vandenberg Wreck

Located 7 miles off the shore of Key West, this is an artificial reef made of a former military ship that was intentionally sunk in 2009. The ship is also a former movie star, since it appeared in the movie Virus in 1996. Today, the sunken ship is the second-largest artificial reef in the world and bucket-list dive for many experienced divers.

Key West Shipwreck Museum

Key West Shipwreck Museum

The Key West Shipwreck Museum, built as a recreation of a 19th-century warehouse, has live actors telling stories of shipwrecks and their salvages that go as far as 400 years back. Artifacts and engaging videos will further educate you on this piece of Key West's history.

Truman Little White House

Truman Little White House

This house on Front Street was President Harry S. Truman’s winter retreat and the location for many important presidential decisions. The landmark was converted into a museum in 1974. You can sort through photo and video galleries, and enjoy the museum store filled with memorabilia from the 33rd President's days of rule.

USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum

USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum

USCGC Ingham is a floating museum that is dedicated to honoring those who served during the World War II and Vietnam War. The U.S. coast guard history comes alive with this intriguing ship which has cruised the ocean waters during 50 years of service. You will get to know the life aboard while either guided by experts or at your own pace, finding yourself passing through a time capsule with crucial maritime moments from back in the day.

Key West Aquarium

Key West Aquarium

Built in 1933 during The Great Depression to stimulate the economy, Key West Aquarium exhibits countless sea creatures, especially ones native to Key West. Kids will love the petting and feeding tanks with stingrays and horseshoe crabs. Themed exhibits are available too, featuring sharks, alligators and jellies.

Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

An oasis with a spectrum of colors, here you can stroll through the climate-controlled exhibits with birds, plants, exotic flowers and serene waterfalls. With over 60 butterfly species, this also acts as a learning activity, featuring facts and trivia about the lives of these fragile creatures.

Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea

Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea

The Basilica of St. Mary made partly of limestone rock from the area offers opportunities for quiet contemplation, a visit to the shrine or simply a stroll in the garden nearby. Being the oldest Catholic church in South Florida, it has been given the title of "basilica" in 2012 because of its historical significance, its spiritual weight and being an excellent example of the eclectic period of American Victorian architecture.

Key West Garden Club & West Martello Tower

Key West Garden Club & West Martello Tower

The Key West Garden Club is an old Civil War fort and National Historic site that offers a variety of tropical flowering plants and trees, along with a lily pond and a small waterfall. They also offer services for wedding receptions. This is one of the area's few tourist attractions with no admission charge, since the Key West Garden Club is a non-profit organization.

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