Itinerary · Key West · United States
One day in Key West
A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Key West, not crossing it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andreas Lamecker, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 4. Day 1: Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum and Mallory Square Sunset Celebration. Base yourself in Old Town and Duval Street.
Key facts
- Days
- 1
- Sights covered
- 5
- Day trips
- None
- Best base
- Old Town and Duval Street
- Book ahead
- Nothing essential
Day by day
Day 1: Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum and Mallory Square Sunset Celebration
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Mallory Square Sunset Celebration, Duval Street and Southernmost Point buoy, then Historic Seaport harbour walk in the evening.
Morning
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Go first thing in the morning before the tour groups and the heat; tours start frequently and are included in admission. Allow 1 hour.
Late morning
Mallory Square Sunset Celebration
Arrive about 45 minutes before sunset to find a spot on the water's edge and see the performers set up. Allow 1–1.5 hours.
Lunch
Lunch: Key lime pie
Bakeries and restaurants all over Old Town; frozen chocolate-dipped slices on a stick are a popular street snack.
Afternoon
Duval Street
Walk the full length once by day, then come back after dark when live music spills out of the bars. Allow 1–2 hours.
Late afternoon
Southernmost Point buoy
Queues for a photo can be long by mid-morning; come at sunrise or after dark. Allow 15–30 minutes.
Evening
Historic Seaport harbour walk
Look into the water near the fish-cleaning stations, where large tarpon often gather.
Before you go
If it rains
- Swap in Harry S. Truman Little White House (Truman Annex): The surrounding botanical grounds are free to walk; the house is by guided tour only.
- Swap in Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory (Old Town and Duval Street): Wear bright colours; butterflies are more likely to land on you.
- Swap in Mel Fisher Maritime Museum (Old Town and Duval Street): Try lifting the gold bar on display, a hands-on highlight for children.
Where to stay for this itinerary
$$$$ · 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
Pace and daylight
The sights in this plan add up to roughly 4–6 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.6 hours in December to 13.6 hours in June.
Getting between stops: Cycling. Bicycles are the island's main transport; rental shops deliver to hotels, and many guest houses lend them free.
More or fewer days
Questions travellers ask
+Is one day enough in Key West?
One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 4. How many days Key West needs.