Solo travel · Key West · United States
Solo travel in Key West
How to enjoy Key West at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, Public domain
Quick answer
Key West is very easy alone: bars are sociable, guest houses often have communal pools and breakfasts, and group snorkel and sailing trips mean instant company. Many solo travellers base themselves in Bahama Village.
Key facts
- Base
- Bahama Village
- Getting around
- Cycling
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Language
- English and Spanish
Solo travel tips
- Pick a guest house with a communal pool and breakfast to meet other travellers.
- Group reef trips and sunset sails are easy to join as a single passenger.
- Sit at the bar at the Historic Seaport raw bars for easy conversation.
- Rent a bike for the whole stay; it is cheaper than taxis and how locals get around.
- Keep an eye on your drink and belongings in crowded Duval Street bars.
Where to stay
$$$ · Best for budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Bahama Village
West of Duval around Petronia and Thomas streets, Bahama Village was settled by Bahamian immigrants and keeps a more residential, local feel, with backyard-style restaurants, free-roaming chickens and small guest houses. The Hemingway Home and the lighthouse are on its edge.
- Good
- Local character and good casual food; Short walk to Old Town; Somewhat better rates
- Watch out
- Roosters crow early; Fewer hotels
- Nearby
- Hemingway Home, Key West Lighthouse, Duval Street
Great on your own
Historic site · Old Town and Duval Street
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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
Waterfront · Old Town and Duval Street
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.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
Beach · Truman Annex
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
Landmark · Bahama Village
Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters
It is opposite the Hemingway Home, so climb it straight after your tour.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- History
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Historic site · Truman Annex
Harry S. Truman Little White House
The surrounding botanical grounds are free to walk; the house is by guided tour only.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Old Town and Duval Street
Key West Cemetery
Enter from the Margaret Street gate and pick up a map to find the famous headstones.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
Meeting people
- Key lime pie comparison — Try slices at a few different bakeries and restaurants in Old Town to compare meringue, cream and frozen versions.
- Dockside dinner on Stock Island — Eat fish caught that day at restaurants on the working waterfront, where commercial boats unload alongside.
- Lower Duval Street — The busiest stretch near the Gulf, with Sloppy Joe's, Captain Tony's Saloon and many live-music bars.
- Upper Duval Street — The heart of the island's LGBTQ+ nightlife, with cabaret and drag shows.
Sensible precautions
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.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Staying connected
- Free Wi-Fi in most guest houses and cafés; US mobile networks cover the island and the Overseas Highway.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Key West good for solo travellers?
Key West is very easy alone: bars are sociable, guest houses often have communal pools and breakfasts, and group snorkel and sailing trips mean instant company.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Key West?
Bahama Village: Historic Afro-Caribbean quarter of small houses, roosters and casual restaurants.