Outdoors · Key West · United States
5 best outdoor things to do in Key West
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Abraham Ortelius, Public domain
Quick answer
Start with Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Snorkelling and diving on the Florida Reef and Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 9–11 hours across 4 areas; all charge for entry.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 0
- Time to see them all
- 9–11 hours
- Areas
- Truman Annex, Historic Seaport and Old Town and Duval Street
Outdoors in Key West
Beach · Truman Annex
1.Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Wear water shoes; the beach is rocky and coral rubble underfoot, and fish gather around the rock groynes.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
- History
- Nature
Experience · Historic Seaport
2.Snorkelling and diving on the Florida Reef
Book a morning trip, when seas are usually calmer, and use reef-safe sunscreen.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
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Garden · Old Town and Duval Street
3.Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Wear bright colours; butterflies are more likely to land on you.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Rainy day
- Couples
Aquarium · Old Town and Duval Street
4.Key West Aquarium
Time your visit for a guided feeding tour; tickets are usually valid for the whole day.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
Garden · Stock Island
5.Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden
Visit in spring or autumn migration for the best birdwatching around the ponds.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Truman Annex | Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park | Half a day |
| Historic Seaport | Snorkelling and diving on the Florida Reef | Half a day |
| Old Town and Duval Street | Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory and Key West Aquarium | 45 minutes + 1 hour |
| Stock Island | Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden | 1–1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 2 low cost, 2 mid-priced, 1 expensive. Book ahead for Snorkelling and diving on the Florida Reef. The longest visit is Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Snorkelling and diving on the Florida Reef: Book a day or two ahead in winter and spring; trips can be cancelled for wind, so keep a backup day.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Truman Annex): Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Historic Seaport and Old Town and Duval Street): Snorkelling and diving on the Florida Reef → Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Old Town and Duval Street and Stock Island): Key West Aquarium → Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- February: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 5 rainy days, very busy crowds. One of the driest and busiest months; book accommodation and reef trips well ahead.
- January: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 6 rainy days, very busy crowds. Dry, sunny and warm; peak season as winter visitors arrive, with occasional cooler, windy days after cold fronts.
- March: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 5 rainy days, very busy crowds. Warm, dry and sunny, with spring-break crowds and the highest prices of the year.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Old Town and Duval Street — Bars, shops and conch houses along the island's main street
- Historic Seaport — Marina boardwalk at Key West Bight with dive boats, raw bars and schooners
- Truman Annex — Gated former naval quarter by Fort Zachary Taylor and the Little White House
- Stock Island — Working waterfront next door with marinas and fish-house restaurants
More of Key West
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Key West?
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.