Location: Key West
Top Things to do in Key West
10 Things to do in Key West That You Shouldn't Miss
Does time ever pass in the Florida Keys? Everyone and everything in Key West seems to go at its own pace, right down to the ice melting slooooowly in your margarita glass. Of course, it’s not all limes and leisure – Key West is known as the “Winter White House” because of its appeal to visiting U.S. presidents, and the island has been home to literary greats like Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams. The diving here is phenomenal, as is the kid-friendly Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center.
Restaurants in Key West
1. Dry Tortugas National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5,302 reviews
Reviewed By Vacation736046 - Boynton Beach, United States
We are so grateful we got to do this before the coronavirus shut everything down. Fabulous history and fabulous birds ( magnificent frigate birds, sooty terns, etc)..The boat ride over is pleasant with breakfast and lunch provided and info from a guide...This was a bucket list item and it exceeded all expectations!
2. Mallory Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14,573 reviews
Welcome to Mallory Square where the fun starts and the sun sets. Everything Key West is famous for comes together in this one special place set on historic waterfront. Mallory Square is home to shops, restaurants, and many of the islands most popular attractions. Come for the day and stay into the night. There's always something happening in Mallory Square.
Reviewed By EJAALOUK
Key West butterfly and nature conservatory and Mallory Square sunset celebration as well as Duval Street bars and restaurants and all the beautiful beaches in Key West are a must see.
3. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,798 reviews
Historic site of a Civil War-era fort, currently being excavated; also has a beautiful beach for swimming and snorkeling.
Reviewed By dansD4938BT - Key West, United States
Fort Taylor has the best beach in Key West the friendly staff that runs the park is excellent they do have a nice concession stand on the beach and chairs and umbrellas to rent highly recommend if you’re going to Key West to spend the day at this place
4. Duval Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14,150 reviews
Popular, busy street offers plenty of shops, restaurants and bars.
Reviewed By AllanS75
Duval St. feels like the best of a combination of La Rambla in Barcelona, Spain, Cape May ,NJ, New Hope, PA, and Bourbon St. in New Orleans. A 1.25-mile strip of great shops, bars, restaurants, and people watching. The town felt very safe to walk even at night and has a great vibe. Many of the attractions you want to see are on Duval or a short walk from it. It can get very crowed so if you plan on walking and are in a rush, take one of the parallel streets; either Whitehead or Simonton.
5. The Overseas Highway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,886 reviews
A charming 110 mile highway running the length of the Keys.
Reviewed By A3444WAmartinp - Malmö, Sweden
It was really like a dream when we drove to key west. Weather was perfect so many stops you can make on the way I would recommend to stop by right after 7 mile bridge bound key west and walk onto the old bridge and also Irie island eats as it’s one of the best food trucks we have ever eaten lunch at and we have tried many world wide!
6. Harry S. Truman Little White House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,407 reviews
As Florida’s only presidential museum, the Harry S. Truman Little White House was the winter White House for this country's 33rd president. Truman spent 175 days during 13 vacations in the home that is filled with original furnishing and memorabilia from Truman’s days. Presidents Taft, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter and Clinton also used the house. Guided tours offer guests a window into the world President Truman and life of a US president.
Reviewed By gemflanagan - Strokestown, Ireland
We loved the tour of this house in Key West. It was a great history attached to it and if you're interested in Presidential history then dont miss this attraction in Key West!
7. The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20,095 reviews
Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote in this for ten years. During that time he wrote seventy percent of his life-time works. Today we operate as a museum providing guided tours every fifteen minutes from nine to five. The Museum is available for weddings and corporate events. Visit this National Historic Landmark, Literary Landmark and recognized by the Library of Congress for its importance in U.S. History. Grand Architecture, Lush Gardens, Educational Tours, Book Store/Gift Shop and the world famous Poly dactyl (six-toed cats).
Reviewed By candiemerlot
Wonderful to see, the home and grounds are beautiful, six toed cats all around the house, loved the history and events of the Hemingway life.
8. Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,359 reviews
Reviewed By 673bambic - St. Petersburg, United States
We loved the conservatory & shop!! Staff was super friendly!! Loved all the beautiful butterflies & the flamingos are fabulous & entertaining!! They put on a show vocally while we were there!! So charming!!
9. Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,864 reviews
We are a fully accredited museum in the Florida Keys. Come discover a museum rich in history! We have amazing treasure in our 1622 Fleet exhibit of the Spanish galleons discovered by Mel Fisher and his crew. Also thought provoking Spirits of the Passage and Key West African Cemetery exhibits to glean insights into the transatlantic slave trade and Key West's unique role in it. And don't miss our three new exhibits -- Spanish Coins in the New World, the Real Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Science of Shipwrecks. You can even take a lab tour to see how history is revealed through excavation and conservation of shipwrecks. Make plans to visit. We're open seven days a week, 365 days a year!
Reviewed By curiosityseeker19
I wrongfully avoided this place the first time I visited Key West thinking it would be too dry and uninteresting. It turns out it's quite fascinating with it's exhibits, photography and wonderful gift shop. I didn't time it but I'd say you need an hour. It starts on the ground floor with an exhibition of Mel Fisher the deep sea diver whom made it his personal quest to find sunken Spanish treasure, which he dragged his whole family into his passion. Discovered the sunken treasures of Nuestria Senore de Atocha and Santa Margarita which the various finds are on display here along with family photographs and media cover articles. The treasures include a wide variety of objects from weapons to metal bars to jewelry. Upstairs are wonderful educational exhibits on slavery and the slave trade, African Cemetery, slave cargo shipping, The Cuban revolution and the Cuban Missile Crisis and ocean photography. My favorite was the honest and realistic historically accurate accounts of the god awful slave trade. Just unimaginable. Even included the illegal slave traders as well. Enjoyed the Cuban historic news exhibit. Don't forget the second floor, it's easy to overlook. Entry is by buying a ticket on your smart phone.
10. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham Maritime Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,167 reviews
327 Foot museum ship from WWII and Viet Nam. It is a National Historic Landmark. INGHAM served our country from 1936 to 1988 and in 1985 was the most decorated ship in United States Service as noted in a letter from President Ronald Reagan in the exhibit room. It is the last American Warship afloat to have sunk a German U-Boat (626) in WWII. It served as the Flagship for the seaside operation of General MacArthur's return to Corregidor in the Philippines. She served from 1936 to 1988. The ship is totally intact as if was on decommissioning day. Offering one of the best Sunset viewing venues in Key West on Friday and Saturday Evenings, serving wines and various Beers.
Reviewed By River55land
I've been traveling to Key West for decades and only learned about this maritime museum through TripAdvisor this trip. I've pretty much done everything there is to do in Key West and I was looking for something new when this popped up. The Ingham has been docked in Key West since 2009. A confession: I served on board the CGC Reliance as a radioman stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas for 18 months. As you might expect, there were some good and bad experiences. Throughout my 4 years in the Guard, I had heard about the Ingham. It was a thrill to tour such an historic ship. The ship, contrary to the photo on Trip Advisor which makes you think you have to take a boat to the ship, is moored at Truman Park, part of the Truman Annex. It's the star of the show. I was welcomed aboard a little before 10 am by a dedicated volunteer. When he found out I was a former CG, he broke off his briefing and said have at it. They provide you with a card that has all the "stops" with information on the card. Many of the stops are narrated. You pretty much get to see the entire ship. You can't go in some rooms but all are visible on the tour. My favorite was, of course, the radio room. When you tour this ship, it's like stepping into a time machine to WWII. Like any ship commissioned in 1936, it is showing its age and rust is a constant companion. Volunteers do all the work including chipping, scrapping, and painting. It's a donation entrance fee and they suggest $10. It'll be the best $10 you will spend. Part of the crew quarters and mess facilities are turned into a museum for WWII and Vietnam (Ingham participated in both). A ship this decorated (2 Presidential citations) has some interesting history: convoy duty where it sank a U-Boat, the Mediterranean during WWII, the Pacific Theater, also, WWII, and Vietnam. Be sure to wear shoes with good treads. They warn you of the steepness of the ladders (stairs for landlubbers) and there are quite a few on the tour. It's not really handicapped accessible but it would be pretty much impossible to do that. I would plan at least one hour for the tour. Getting there is a short walk from Whitehead Street. While in the vicinity, you should also visit Fort Zachary Taylor, another short walk from the ship.
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