The beautiful island of Key West, the last of the Florida Keys, is located only 90 miles away from Cuba and is the southernmost city in the continental United States. Plus, it is only three hours and a half drive from Miami and the drive along the Overseas Highway is one of the best road trips in the United States. At only 8 square miles the island is not very big, there are so many things to do in Key West that planning a trip there can get quite overwhelming. These great travel tips for Key West will hopefully make the planning process much smoother.
This post contains affiliate links. The Casual Travelist receives a small commission for any purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
The best time to visit Key West
The best time to visit Key West is in winter, from December to February, though you should know the word “winter” does not really apply to Key West since the weather is perfect and mild during the season with daily highs of 76 degrees F and lows of 67 degrees F. Also, holidays in Key West are such a treat! Summers in Key West can be quite warm with average daily highs around 90 degrees F with lows around 80 degrees F.
If you don’t have a lot of time, fly into the island
Even though the scenic drive from Miami to Key West is wonderful, if you don’t have a lot of vacation time, flying into the island is way faster than driving. The flight from Miami takes under an hour and prices are actually quite affordable.
Head to the Southernmost Point Buoy early in the morning
Snapping a pic for Instagram at the Southernmost Point is one of the most popular things to do in Key West. No matter the season, the line for taking a picture with the Southernmost Point Buoy (the one that marks the southernmost point of the United States) is always huge! To save precious time, head there right in the morning, before or after breakfast.
Plan a day for doing nothing
There is no place to relax quite like in Key West. Plan some time just to laze by the pool or head to one of several beaches on Key West. The best beaches on the island are Smathers, Higgs and the one at Fort Zachary Taylor.
Visit the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
A very cool – and totally free – thing to do in Key West with kids is visiting the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center. There’s a 2,500-gallon reef tank with tropical fish and an awesome movie theater that showcases movies about marine life in the Florida Keys. It is located close to the Truman Waterfront Park and has free parking.
Watch the Sunset at Mallory Square
A trip to Key West is no trip to Key West without watching the sunset from Mallory Square at least one time! Every day around 6 pm, locals and visitors gather at Mallory Square to watch and celebrate the sunset. A trip to Key West is no trip to Key West without watching the sunset from Mallory Square at least one time! Make sure to arrive early to secure a good spot and after the sun goes down, stay to have a drink and watch the street artists perform.
Plan your budget accordingly
Hotel costs, food, and tours in Key West can add up quite easily, so make sure to plan your budget and take enough money to have a good time and enjoy everything the island has to offer.
Book your tours and hotel in advance
All the best tours in Key West , like a tour out to Dry Tortugas National Park, sell out quite fast. Make sure to find the ones you want to take and book them early.
Visit The Key West Cemetery
Just as its residents, some headstones at the Key West Cemetery are quite quirky and unique. The most famous is one that reads “I told you I was sick.”
Have some Cuban food
With it’s close proximity to Cuba Key West is a great place to have Cuban food. From cuban coffee and pastelitos in the morning to mojitos and ropa vieja at night Key West is home to some amazing Cuban cuisine.Popular cuban restaurants include Cuban Coffee Queen and El Meson de Pepe.
To save money, make the most out of happy hour
A golden tip to saving money in Key West is making the most out of a happy hour in bars and restaurants. It usually happens around 4 pm and 7 pm (call ahead and ask the place you plan to visit!) and prices can go as low as 50% off.
Make restaurant reservations in advance
Make dinner reservations before your trip, especially for higher end or popular restaurants like Latitudes or Blue Heaven.
Make Sure to Try Key Lime Pie
Key lime pie is – not surprisingly – the most traditional dessert in the Florida Keys. That means you can find it pretty much anywhere. Trying to find the best key lime pie in Key West is like trying to find the best pizza in New York, but you can give it a go at Blue Heaven, Caroline’s, or Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe.
Be nice to the chickens
If you have never been to Key West, this might come as a surprise but Key West has a really, really big population of chickens. The chicken population grew so large that in 2004, Key West hired a chicken catcher to reduce the number. Today, the chickens are very well taken care of by the city’s wildlife center and are even protected by law.
Riding the Duval Loop is free
If you plan on staying close to Old Town, there is a free hop-on-hop-off bus called Duval Loop that runs around the neighborhood through several popular attractions.
Taxis are cheaper than uber
While staying in Key West, find the telephone of a taxi driver and keep it close. Calling a taxi is cheaper than taking an Uber around the island.
Rent a bike
Don’t even bother renting a car in Key West! Parking is extremely hard to find and the island is pretty much entirely walkable. On the other hand, renting a bike is a good idea to explore the city and experience Key West.
Best Places to stay in Key West
Here are some of the best hotels in Key West
That’s a wrap! I really hope you enjoyed these first-time-visitor tips to Key West. The island is absolutely beautiful and I am sure you will come home with lots of amazing memories!
If you like this article be sure to take a look at some of my other posts!
One Great Weekend: Miami Beach, Florida
One Great Weekend: New Orleans, Louisiana
Norwegian Cruise Lines – The Encore
Great Stirrup Cay – Norwegian Cruise Line’s Private Island
Author Bio
Camila Neves
I am a passionate twenty-something solo traveler that loves writing and inspiring women to go after their dreams. I love reading, exercising, meditating, and everything that involves self-development. I am a firm believer that anyone can travel and that the world is too big to stay in one place.
Leave a Comment