Things To Do

Latitudes

Hands down, there’s no better place to watch the sunset in Key West than at Latitudes. Aptly located on Sunset Key, Latitudes is a short ferry ride from the main island. This upscale restaurant serves a seasonal menu with a tropical flair, yet no matter the season you can count on fresh, local fish and a variety of island ingredients. Make sure to make a reservation in advance, or Latitudes won’t seat you.

Blue Heaven

Well-known for their breakfasts and brunch! Plus, this quintessential Key West restaurant whips up some of the best key lime pie on the island – and piles it mile-high on top of a graham cracker crust. However, the pie isn’t the only draw for hungry tourists, it’s got something for history buffs, too. In fact, the Blue Heaven building used to host cock fights and Friday night boxing matches refereed by Ernest Hemingway. These days the roosters just roam around the backyard dining area and mingle with the cats. Just make sure you get there as early as possible. Lines can get painfully long as early as 8:30am, even on weekdays.

Louie's Backyard

Thirsty Mermaid

This place has a raw bar that is an oyster lover's dream

Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe

Key West = Key Lime Pie!

DJ's Clam Shack

You may have heard of this place before on a little TV show called Diners, Drive-ins', and Dives. Seriously, if Guy Fieri says it is good, you need to check it out. Must try their Maine Lobster Roll and Conch Fritters!

Cuban Coffee Queen Downtown

This coffee stand is a Key West staple. Situated on the boardwalk, Cuban Coffee Queen serves up some of the best coffee on the island. While you can hardly go wrong with any of the Cuban Coffee Queen’s concoctions, we especially like the café con leche or the Bucci, a shot of Cuban espresso. However, Cuban Coffee Queen also makes great – and big -- sandwiches. Grab one to share and stroll down the boardwalk.

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

The magical Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory is home to over 50 species of live butterflies and 20 exotic birds (even a few flamingos!). You can take a stroll through the climate controlled habitat and witness a small tropical paradise.

Truman Little White House

Harry Truman ran his winter operations from this former naval station command center on Key West, making 11 trips here during his presidency. The museum shows logs from Truman’s visits, giving visitors an idea of what crucial decisions were made here, as well as Key West historical documents and presidential artifacts.

The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this historic home in Old Town Key West isn’t that Hemingway called it home for a decade. It’s the famous Hemingway cats, several dozen six-toed felines that roam the property. Many are said to be descended from a white, six-toed cat named Snow White that Hemingway received as a gift from a ship captain.

Papa’s Pilar Rum Distillery, Hemingway Rum Company

The Hemingway vibe on this island is strong, and its newest attraction is an 8,000-square-foot distillery for Papa’s Pilar Rum. For $10 visitors can see how rum is made at the island’s largest distillery, as well as Hemingway memorabilia and, of course, a generous tasting.

Dive the USNS Vandenberg

The Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg was a World War II-era transport ship, sunk in 2009 about 7 miles off the coast of Key West. Though it stands 10 stories high, it's under 140 feet of water, so extensive exploration is probably best left to experienced divers. Those with the skill will find this wreck the best way to spend a day in Key West, making those post-dive beers on Duval Street hit just a little bit harder.

Key West Lighthouse

The 169-year-old Key West Lighthouse was originally built to help ships headed to the US Naval Station, and stood as a beacon to ships along the coast of Florida for some 120 years. Interestingly, when it opened in 1848, it was helmed by one of the first women to hold that job in US history. Now it’s a historic site across from the Hemingway Museum, where you can climb the 88 steps to the top for a sweeping view of the island.

Mallory Square

Every sunset is literally a party at Mallory Square, where tourists, street performers, and people who’ve stumbled over from Duval Street converge to watch the day end over the water. “My suggestion is to work your way down the seaport, get a bite to eat or drink at Turtle Kraals there, then end up in Mallory Square for the sunset celebration,” says local. “Everybody who stays with us says that’s their favorite thing.” In high season it can get packed, so scope out your spot early. There’s no shortage of bars that’ll serve you a drink to go, or musicians who will entertain you until showtime.

Tours - Kayaking, Jet-Skis, Snorkeling, and more!

Check out Get Your Guide for tons of different tours and day trips, depending on what you're into!

Fort Zachary Beach Area

If you want to get your Florida Beach on without the rest of your cruise ship right up in your business, hit Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. “Most of the people I work with take their day off at Fort Zach Beach,” says Dennison. “The water is really clear, and you can do your own snorkeling without a tour.”

Old Town Trolley Tours Key West

The Old Town Trolley "Hop on, Hop off" tour is a fun, affordable way to get around Key West with ease. They leave every half hour from 9am-4:30pm daily, plus they have 13 stops all throughout Key West, not just downtown.

Duval Bus Loop

Free option for getting around downtown - 16 stops, 7 days a week, running 6 am to midnight!

Key West Bike Tour

Key West is bite-sized, so if you want to see the whole island in a day it’s easily done on a bike. Rent a beach cruiser and poke around the old section of the city, then venture along the coast to the beaches and into some lesser-visited residential areas. Or if you’re not so big on decision making, Key Lime Bike Tours offers the best guided tours of the island.