Key West holidays

Closer to Cuba than it is to Miami, Key West is the southernmost city in the continental US. Here, diverse cultures, rich artistic history and beautiful landscapes sit side by side. Fall in love with its palm-lined streets and colourful conch houses and cuisine bursting with flavours of Cuba and the Caribbean. Come for the beaches; stay for the party. A holiday to Key West promises an unforgettable island escape.

Key West holiday highlights

Scott Barnette

Hemingway hangout

One of the best things to do on a holiday to Key West is explore the city’s Old Town. Hop aboard the Old Town Trolley, get acquainted with a literary great at the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, and climb the Key West Lighthouse. After a busy day of sightseeing, grab some conch fritters and join the sunset celebration at Mallory Square.

Duval Street

Running from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, Duval Street is the city’s hub of entertainment. Lined with restaurants, bars and attractions, there’s plenty to see and do here on a holiday to Key West. Visit the Oldest House Museum and Garden or spend an afternoon at the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Feeling brave? Take on the infamous Duval Crawl featuring 43 bars.

Festivals for all

Book your flights and hotels to Key West to coincide with one of the city’s many festivals. You’ll find events to suit all tastes and interests. Hemingway Days, Fantasy Fest and the Key West Lobsterfest each attract countless visitors annually. Have a sweet tooth? Join the summer festivities at the world-famous Key Lime Festival.

Key West: Know before you go

Language

English

Currency

United States dollar ($)

Time zone

UTC-5 (EST) and UTC-4 (EDT)

High season

December – March

Low season

September – October

Find the best time to go to Key West

Weather in Key West

June – November: June is the beginning of Key West’s wet weather and also the start of hurricane season. Expect short, heavy downpours, particularly in the afternoons and evenings. But there are still plenty of days perfect for lounging on the beach. You’ll also find the best deals this time of year. Just make sure you pay close attention to the weather reports and take alerts seriously.

December – May: Dry season is the high season in Key West. Days are consistently sunny and warm, often in the mid-to-high 20s°C. This is a time when most travellers are fleeing colder climates, so prices for accommodation and attractions can rise. But you can usually find good deals in April and May, when the crowds thin slightly.

Events in Key West

Conch Republic Days (April): This fun event celebrates the time Key West jokingly declared it was seceding from the US due to annoying vehicle checkpoints by the government. Festivities include a staged sea battle and a pub crawl. And you can even get your very own Conch Republic passport.

Hemingway Days (July): Contestants with snow-white beards compete in a lookalike contest honouring the famous author and Key West resident. A fishing tournament, author readings and a short story contest round out the fun.

Fantasy Fest (October): This popular festival is equal parts Halloween and Mardi Gras. Locals decorate their homes and dress in outrageous costumes for several days of theme parties and parades.

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The best neighbourhoods in Key West

Bahama Village

Dating back to the 1800s, Bahama Village is Key West’s oldest neighbourhood. Today, Caribbean culture still thrives in its colourful conch cottages, local boutiques and Bahamian restaurants. Wander the cobblestone streets, shop for trinkets at Bahama Village Market, and dance to the Junkanoo street bands playing calypso music. Climb to the top of the Key West Lighthouse for fantastic island views.

Good for: History, local shops, Caribbean restaurants

Casa Marina

Casa Marina is where to stay in Key West if your top priority is hitting the beach. Home to the Southernmost Point, the 1920s Casa Marina Resort and both Smathers and Higgs beaches, it’s a great base for any holiday to Key West. While it’s more residential than other neighbourhoods, you can still easily walk to bustling Duval Street.

Good for: History, beaches, local lifestyle

Truman Annex

If you’re looking for an upscale experience, Truman Annex is one of the best areas to stay in Key West. Expect manicured grounds, white picket fences and enviable mansions in this gated island neighbourhood. Spend an afternoon visiting the Harry S Truman Little White House, the former president’s winter residence. Or make a beeline for Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and its beautiful beach.

Good for: Luxury hotels, history, scenic walks

Things to do in Key West

Key West

Beaches

With their powdery white sands and warm waters, it’s no surprise that the beaches in Key West are one of the city’s major draws. Snorkel around Higgs Beach, catch the fiery sunset from Smathers Beach, and spend an afternoon unwinding at the quieter Rest Beach. For a small admission fee, visit Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, known as ‘Key West’s favourite beach’.

Shopping

Look beyond Duval Street’s souvenir shops, and you’ll find a world of excellent shopping in Key West. Explore The Shops at Mallory Square for handcrafted goods from local makers. Then take time to visit the boutiques along Bahama Village’s Petronia Street. For a truly unique shopping experience, tour the Rodriguez Cigar Factory, Key West’s oldest Cuban-style cigar manufacturer.

Take in the culture

Take a break from lounging on the beach to explore museums in Key West. Touch actual buried treasure at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, and uncover the city’s past at the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House. If you’re a book lover, you’re bound to enjoy The Hemingway Home and Museum and the Tennessee Williams Museum.

Nightlife

Get involved in the nightly Mallory Square Sunset Celebration, with live music and performers. Or do a pub crawl from Sloppy Joe’s Bar on Duval Street to the Green Parrot Bar, two of Key West’s most famous watering holes. With dive bars, beach clubs and live music joints across the city, the nightlife in Key West doesn’t disappoint.

Places to eat

Get ready to feast at the restaurants in Key West. Savour a slice of tangy key lime pie in the city of its birth. Tuck into seafood big hitters like conch fritters, Key West pink shrimp and spiny lobster. Enjoy Cuban sandwiches and Cuban coffee. Want to try Caribbean food? Blue Heaven in Bahama Village is something of a local legend.

Free things to do

Dive into the interactive exhibitions at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center. Or admire Atlantic Ocean views from the West Martello Tower and its botanical garden. Still on the hunt for free things to do in Key West? Stop by the Key West First Legal Rum Distillery for free samples and daily afternoon tours.

Plan your holiday to Key West

Budget

This sun-kissed city attracts travellers year-round. But for a cheap holiday to Key West, consider visiting during the wet season — some beach days may be interrupted by rain. You’ll find an inexpensive meal in Key West for about 20 US dollars ($). A domestic beer will cost you about $6 and a cappuccino close to $5. A short cab ride starts at around $8.

Day trips from Key West

Take a 40-minute seaplane ride (or two-hour ferry) to Dry Tortugas National Park. Here, you can swim in clear blue water, snorkel among coral reefs and explore a 19th-century fort. Drive just 40 minutes to visit Big Pine Key, where protected deer graze in a refuge of pine forest and marshland.

Getting around Key West

Once you arrive in Key West, it’s easy enough to get around on foot. There are also bike rentals and taxis, not to mention rideshare services. Or take advantage of the free Duval Loop bus, which serves Duval Street, the Historic Seaport, the Southernmost Point and other main sights. Buses run every 20 to 30 minutes from early morning to the evening.

FAQs about Key West holidays

The hottest month in Key West is August, with maximum temperatures of 30ºC (86ºF).
The wettest month is September, which gets an average rainfall of 15 cm. But don't let a few grey skies dull your Key West trip — there's still loads to do indoors like shopping, visiting an art gallery, or hanging out in cafes.
English is the language you'll encounter most often while on your city break in Key West.
January brings the coldest days of the year. Plan your Key West holiday then and you can expect lows of 18ºC (64ºF).
Whether you're interested in history, culture, or anything else, there are plenty of things to do in Key West. Mallory Square and The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum are just a glimpse of why this city is worth exploring.
Three to four days in Key West should give you enough time to enjoy its sights. Think about extending your holiday to a week, if you plan on exploring the other parts of the Florida Keys.
You'll be using the United States dollar (USD) for payments during your trip to Key West. Pay with your card when it's convenient, but carry a little cash for places that don't accept cards.
The cost of your city break in Key West will vary based on factors like where you're leaving from, the time of year, and your chosen stay. Key West flights and hotels are usually more expensive during busier periods, but you can save money by booking in the off-peak months.
Low crime rates make Key West a safe destination for travellers. It’s still wise to exercise common-sense precautions, including keeping an eye on your personal belongings around busy Duval Street and Mallory Square.
The best time to visit Key West is between March and May, when the winter crowds have dispersed and better holiday deals become available. If you want a cheap holiday to Key West, aim for the hot and humid summer months. But be aware that Key West’s soaring summer temperatures aren’t for the faint-hearted.