What comes to mind for you when you think of Key West? Lazing on the beach under the shade of a palm tree? Sipping drinks in a bar on Duval Street? Watching the sun drop past the horizon from Mallory Square? It’s not a big place but there are lots of things to do in Key West, Florida. In this video, we’re going to look at some of the best destinations and activities on this laid-back island in southern Florida.
Be sure to stick around until the end of the video to learn some of the famous people that have called Key West home over the years. Some of them might surprise you!
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Visit Mallory Square
Mallory Square is in the middle of all the action and one of the most popular things to do in Key West. Hundreds of people gather here every night to watch the magical Key West sunset. You’ll find street performers, musicians, and vendors selling all kinds of foods.
You’ll find yourself in the middle of a party with a festive atmosphere. It’s a must-see for anyone visiting the island, but especially if it’s your first time there. And if you like the idea of having a drink in your hand while you watch the sun go down, check out Bistro 245 an hour or so before sunset. The bar and restaurant is next to Mallory Square so you’ll have a front-row view!
Bar Hopping on Duval Street
If an exciting nightlife is more your style, check out the bars along Duval Street. Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach might be the most well-known Spring Break destinations in Florida but you can spend endless days bar hopping along Duval Street too.
The most famous bar in Key West is Sloppy Joe’s. It opened the day after Prohibition ended way back in 1933 and was one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite spots during the years he spent in Key West.
There are plenty of other bars with fun things to do in Key West, Florida though. Hank’s Hair of the Dog Saloon offers live music throughout the afternoon and into the night. And right behind Hank’s, you’ll find Garbo’s Grill — a food truck that serves tacos and burritos with an Asian twist. Garbo’s is one of the island’s best options for cheap eats.
If rum is your drink of choice, be sure to check out the Rum Bar. They’ve got a long list of rums to choose from and their Rum Runners are amazing. Some of the other most popular bars include the Green Parrot, the Bull and Whistle Bar, the Green Parrot, and the Bourbon Street Bar.
Like we said, you could spend endless days hopping from bar to bar on Duval Street!
Learn How Rum is Made
For all of you rum aficionados, you can even learn how rum is made and do a tasting at one of the distilleries in Key West. The Key West First Legal Rum Distillery was the first to open, as you can probably guess from the name. It offers free tours all week. The 15-minute tours run every 20 minutes so you can drop in anytime.
Papa’s Pillar is a newer distillery that makes rum named in honor of Ernest Hemingway, who was well-known for his love of the amber elixir. Its tours are a little longer, lasting 45 minutes. They also offer cocktail classes so you can learn how to make some fantastic mixed drinks.
Take an Unforgetable Ride on a Floating Tiki Bar
We promise this list of things to do in Key West, Florida isn’t all about the best places to get a drink! But before we move on to other activities, we have to mention the floating tiki bar. You can cruise around the island while seated at a tiki bar, sipping on a tasty tropical cocktail.
You can choose from mangrove tours, sunset tours, or swimming tours or even take a private tour with up to six friends.
Lounge On One of Key West’s Gorgeous Beaches
Key West isn’t that big but it offers a surprising range of beaches, from popular hotspots to more private and secluded options.
Smathers Beach is the island’s most popular beach. The two-mile stretch of white sand is on the south side of the island, near the airport. You can rent beach chairs, umbrellas, paddle boards, kayaks, and Hobie sailboats from vendors along the beach. If you bring a volleyball, you can also strike up a game in one of the courts on the beach.
Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is in Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. This is another great thing to do in Key West, Florida but there is a small cost to this one. You’ll pay $6 per vehicle to enter the park, with lower prices for motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. The beach is open from 8am to sunset all year round.
You can do everything you would expect at a beach in Key West, such as sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling but there are some more unique activities as well. Take a yoga class on the beach, go fishing, or tour the fort for a change of pace.
Harry S. Truman Little White House
President Truman reportedly spent 175 days of his presidency in Key West, in a building that served as his “winter White House” starting in 1946. Official documents issued while he was there read “the White House, US Naval Station, Key West, Florida.”
In the years since, several other presidents have used it as a retreat, including Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Clinton. The historic building offers tours that run every 20 minutes. There’s even a VIP White Glove Experience that goes past what you see on a normal tour. Check your budget for the white glove experience though — you’ll spend more than $500 for the tour.
Visit the Southernmost Point in the Mainland U.S.
Key West is the southernmost point in the continental U.S. Hawaii is the only place further south in the entire country. And if you want to visit the actual southernmost point, you can get your picture taken beside the official marker. At that spot, you’re only 90 miles away from Cuba!
Take a Relaxing Day Trip to the Dry Tortugas
Dry Tortugas National Park is a group of seven small islands at the end of the Florida Keys. They’re surrounded by reefs that have caused many shipwrecks over the years. The United States took advantage of these reefs, creating one of the most strategic harbors in U.S. history.
Most of the park is water but you’ll also find coral reefs, nesting grounds for several types of bird, and historic Fort Jefferson. You can tour the fort, go swimming or snorkeling, or camp on Garden Key. You’ll need to take a seaplane, ferry, or private charter to get to the Dry Tortugas. Plan on spending at least a half day on the side trip but budget a full day if you can.
Take a Boat Tour of Key West
Boat tours are another one of the great things to do in Key West, Florida because you can combine several activities in one. You can choose from sailing, snorkeling, or kayaking tours as well as sunset cruises and fishing expeditions.
Several tours are designed for dolphin watching. The waters off the island are a refuge for hundreds of dolphins every year so you’ll see plenty of them swimming alongside your boat.
If you choose a snorkeling tour, you’ll likely end up at the Florida Keys Reef which is the only living coral barrier reef in North America. It’s about 6 miles off shore and the shallow waters are ideal for beginners.
Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters
If you don’t mind heights, the Key West Lighthouse offers some beautiful views of the island. You’ll climb 88 constricting steps to get to the top for the best views. The balcony at the top is also quite narrow so you’ll need to be patient if you go at a busy time.
After you take in the views, you can look around the keeper’s quarters which date back to 1848. The cozy quarters are a museum now, offering a look at the history of lighthouses in the Keys. The lighthouse and museum are open every day except Christmas and are located directly across the street from the fantastic Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum.
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Hemingway is one of Key West’s most famous residents. He lived on the island from 1931 to 1939 and his house is now a historic landmark. Hemingway’s home is one of, if not the most popular thing to do in Key West, Florida.
During your visit, you’ll learn about Hemingway himself as well as lots of great Key West history. Your admission fee includes a 20 to 30 minute tour of the property and if you’re a cat lover, you’ll be in heaven — Hemingway’s property is home to lots of them! When you see one, check out their tiny paws — they’re famous for having six or seven toes!
Other Famous Residents
We’ve already mentioned Ernest Hemingway and President Truman but they’re not the only famous residents of the island. The author Judy Blume spends a lot of her time in her home in Key West and the island is where Jimmy Buffet got his start in 1971, when he started his musical career by playing for drinks at the Chart Room Bar!
Even Bob Dylan has a connection to the island. He spent time in saloons on Greene Street going back decades, as immortalized in his song Key West (Philosopher Pirate).
Been to Key West before? What’s your absolute favorite thing to do in the area? Let us know in the comments below!