Travel guide · United States
Key West travel guide
Sunset at Mallory Square, Hemingway's house and reef trips at the end of US-1
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Radomianin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Key West is a small coral island at the end of the Overseas Highway, about 250 km from Miami and closer to Havana than to most of Florida. Old Town — Duval Street, Bahama Village and the harbour — is about 3 km across, so visitors get around by bike, on foot or on the free Duval Loop bus. Days revolve around snorkelling and sailing trips to the reef, Hemingway's house and conch-style cottages, and the nightly sunset gathering at Mallory Square. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are December–May.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- December–May
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- EYW
- Mid-range daily budget
- $320–$520 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Mallory Square sunset, Ernest Hemingway, Duval Street and Key lime pie
Why visit Key West
- Old Town's wooden conch houses, gingerbread porches and tropical gardens are compact enough to see by bike in a day.
- Snorkel and dive boats reach the coral of the Florida Reef in well under an hour from the Historic Seaport.
- Every evening, street performers, food carts and crowds gather on the Mallory Square dock to watch the sun set over the Gulf.
- Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park, a brick fort on a remote island ringed by turquoise water, is a day trip by ferry or seaplane.
- Key lime pie, conch fritters, Cuban coffee and fresh pink shrimp reflect the island's Bahamian and Cuban roots.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
Historic site · Old Town and Duval Street
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Hemingway lived and wrote in this Spanish Colonial stone house on Whitehead Street during the 1930s.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
Waterfront · Old Town and Duval Street
Mallory Square Sunset Celebration
Every evening the dock at Mallory Square fills with jugglers, tightrope walkers, musicians and food carts for the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
Street · Old Town and Duval Street
Duval Street
The island's main street runs from the Gulf to the Atlantic, with long-running bars such as Sloppy Joe's and Captain Tony's, galleries, cigar shops and restaurants.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Shopping
- Food
Landmark · Old Town and Duval Street
Southernmost Point buoy
A large painted concrete buoy at the corner of Whitehead and South streets marks the southernmost point of the continental United States, with the note that Cuba is 90 miles away.
- Time needed
- 15–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Beach · Truman Annex
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
A brick fort from the mid-19th century at the island's southwestern tip, with a state park beach next to it that has some of the best snorkelling from shore on Key West, picnic tables in pine shade and sunset views.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- History
- Nature
Experience · Historic Seaport
Snorkelling and diving on the Florida Reef
Catamarans and dive boats leave Key West Bight for reef sites such as Sand Key, where shallow coral heads hold parrotfish, angelfish and sometimes turtles and nurse sharks.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
Where to stay
Old Town and Duval Street is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, couples and food lovers
Old Town and Duval Street
Bars, shops and conch houses along the island's main street
$$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers and nightlife
Historic Seaport
Marina boardwalk at Key West Bight with dive boats, raw bars and schooners
$$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and luxury
Truman Annex
Gated former naval quarter by Fort Zachary Taylor and the Little White House
$$$ · Best for budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Bahama Village
Historic Afro-Caribbean quarter of small houses, roosters and casual restaurants
What to eat
- Key lime pie — Tart filling of small Key limes, condensed milk and egg yolks in a graham-cracker crust, topped with meringue or whipped cream.
- Conch fritters — Deep-fried balls of chopped conch, peppers and onion in batter, served with a spicy dipping sauce — a Bahamian-rooted island staple.
- Key West pink shrimp — Sweet, firm shrimp caught in local waters, served peel-and-eat, grilled, fried or in a basket with fries.
- Cuban sandwich — Roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard pressed in Cuban bread — a reminder of the island's Cuban cigar-making community.
- Cuban coffee — Strong, sweet espresso served in small cups or a 'colada' for sharing, or as café con leche with steamed milk and buttered Cuban toast for breakfast.
- Stone crab claws — Cracked, chilled claws with mustard sauce.
When to go
The best time to visit Key West is December to May, when the weather is dry and sunny with highs around 24–28°C. March is the busiest and most expensive month. April and May bring calm, warm seas with fewer crowds. June to November is hot and humid, with hurricane season peaking from August to October, but prices drop sharply.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | December–February | Dry, sunny and comfortable, the main season for visitors; occasional cool, windy spells can cancel boat trips. |
| Spring | March–May | Hot sun, calm water and the best diving conditions, with spring-break crowds in March and quieter weeks in May. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and humid with brief tropical downpours, very warm sea and lower prices; hurricane season is under way. |
| Autumn | September–November | September is peak hurricane season and very quiet; October brings Fantasy Fest and November the start of the dry season. |
Getting there and around
Key West International Airport (EYW) is on the island's south-eastern shore, about 5 km from Old Town — roughly 10–15 minutes by taxi. Many visitors instead fly to Miami (about 250 km) and drive or take a shuttle down the Overseas Highway.
Key West is about 6 km long and 3 km wide, and Old Town is flat and compact, so bikes, walking and the free Duval Loop bus cover most trips. Cars are more hindrance than help in Old Town, where parking is scarce.
Plan your days
Two days covers Old Town, the Hemingway Home, a sunset at Mallory Square and one reef trip. Four days leaves room for Dry Tortugas, a beach day at Fort Zachary Taylor and a slower pace; if driving down from Miami, add stops in the Middle and Lower Keys.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English and Spanish
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink; it is piped down the Keys from the mainland.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tip 18–20% at restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and pedicabs, and about 15–20% for snorkelling, fishing and sailing crews, who rely on tips.
Key West is generally relaxed for visitors, but bike theft is common, so always lock bikes, and drink-related incidents occur on Duval Street late at night. Sun and heat are intense year-round, and reef trips can be cancelled or rough in wind. Follow official evacuation orders if a hurricane approaches.
Flights to Key West
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Key West?
Two days covers Old Town, the Hemingway Home, a sunset at Mallory Square and one reef trip. Four days leaves room for Dry Tortugas, a beach day at Fort Zachary Taylor and a slower pace; if driving down from Miami, add stops in the Middle and Lower Keys. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Key West?
The best time to visit Key West is December to May, when the weather is dry and sunny with highs around 24–28°C. March is the busiest and most expensive month. April and May bring calm, warm seas with fewer crowds. June to November is hot and humid, with hurricane season peaking from August to October, but prices drop sharply.
+What is Key West known for?
Mallory Square sunset, Ernest Hemingway, Duval Street, Key lime pie, Southernmost Point, Snorkelling and Six-toed cats. Old Town's wooden conch houses, gingerbread porches and tropical gardens are compact enough to see by bike in a day.
+Is Key West expensive?
Key West is very expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $320–$520 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Key West?
No for Key West itself: bikes, walking and the free bus are easier and parking is scarce. A car is the most flexible way to drive down from Miami and stop in the Keys on the way, or to reach Bahia Honda and Big Pine Key.