Key West Travel Guide

Complete guide for things to do & see in Key West. Plan to enjoy island life.

Key West, Florida

Key West's most photographed spot, the Southernmost Marker. Laid back, free-spirited, artistic, quirky, and scenic, Key West is one of the most unique places in the United States. Known for its live-and-let-live attitude, tropical climate, and seemingly continuous happy hour, this tiny Florida Keys island has been welcoming visitors seeking a vacation from the normal for two centuries.

Since its earliest days, people have come to the end of the Florida Keys island chain to fish, write, carouse, and rejuvenate. From the famous, including Ernest Hemingway, John J Audubon, and Tennessee Williams – to infamous, Key West has always been a place where you can be yourself, find yourself, or re-invent yourself.

Key West Travel Guide is an extensive, up-to-date guide packed with local information and concierge advice.

Learn from the local experts about restaurants, hotels, nightlife, boat cruises, attractions, and other fun things to do in Key West.

Best Wishes from Key West,
-Gordon & Dave

This Week's Weather

Thursday December 5, 2019 – Mostly Sunny; 0% chance of precipitation; 74° high/69° low; wind Northeast 10mph; 65% humidity
Friday December 6, 2019 – Sunny; 0% chance of precipitation; 75° high/70° low; wind Northeast 7mph; 63% humidity
Saturday December 7, 2019 – Sunny; 0% chance of precipitation; 76° high/71° low; wind North-northeast 7mph; 66% humidity
Sunday December 8, 2019 – Sunny; 10% chance of precipitation; 79° high/74° low; wind East-northeast 10mph; 67% humidity
Monday December 9, 2019 – Sunny; 10% chance of precipitation; 80° high/75° low; wind East-southeast 10mph; 71% humidity
Tuesday December 10, 2019 – Sunny; 10% chance of precipitation; 81° high/75° low; wind Southeast 9mph; 77% humidity
Wednesday December 11, 2019 – Mostly Sunny; 20% chance of precipitation; 80° high/73° low; wind Northwest 9mph; 79% humidity

Quick facts about Key West

Date first explored: 1521,
Ponce de Leon visits Dry Tortugas
Date as a U.S. territory: 1822
Size: 2 x 4 miles
Population: 24,909
Average hi/lo temperature, winter (F): 76°/66°
Average hi/lo temperature, summer (F): 89°/80°
Sunny or partly-sunny days per year: 259
Area code: 305
Zip code: 33040
Distance from Miami: 160 miles
Distance from Cuba: 90 miles
Geographic fact: Southernmost point in the U.S.
Official motto: “All people are equal members of One Human Family”

Fun things to do in Key West

Ultimate Watersports Package

Six-hour trip includes breakfast & lunch, beverages, snorkeling the coral reef, sailing, parasailing, jetskis, kayaks, and big water toys

Backcountry Snorkel, Kayak, & Sail

Instead of visiting the reef in the Atlantic, this trip heads to the Gulf Side for snorkeling smaller patch reefs and exploring the mangroves with kayaks.

Waverunner Jet Ski Tours

Have fun zooming across the water all the way around the island of Key West.

Boat Ferry to Ft. Jefferson & the Dry Tortugas

Full-day trip from Key West to the Dry Tortugas which includes breakfast, lunch, and snorkeling.

Sunset Sail – Booze Cruise

Large capacity, constantly flowing drinks, and cheap prices make for a tropical party atmosphere.

Sunset Sails – Schooners & Tall Ships

Hoist the sails - if you like - aboard the grand dames of Key West's sailing fleet, and enjoy the famous sunset.

Sunset Sail – Wind & Wine

An upscale sunset cruise aboard a traditional working schooner - serving premium wine, beer, and snacks.

Catamaran Snorkeling Trips

Large and stable sailboats provide comfortable and affordable reef snorkeling trips.

Private Snorkeling Charters

Have the boat and Captain to yourself, allowing for custom trips to suit your wishes. Six passenger limit on these vessels.

Traditional Sailboat Snorkel

Smaller group, impressive mono-hull sailboat, offering relaxed snorkel trips to the reef.

SNUBA

Snorkeling, but you can breath underwater thanks to scuba air tanks floating on the surface.

SCUBA Diving

With some of the world's best warm-water wreck and reef diving, Key West is a great place to scuba dive.

Parasailing in Key West

Tethered by parachute to a slow moving boat, it's an exciting way to get a bird's-eye view of Key West and the ocean.

Party Boat Fishing

Fish with a large group for snapper, grouper, and other pan fish. Stable boat provides inexpensive fishing trip.

Light Tackle Fishing

Catch snapper, grouper, tarpon, and more on these versatile fishing charters.

Flats Fishing

Stalk bonefish, tarpon, and permit in the shallow, calm water of Key West's backcountry.

Deep Sea Fishing

Key West deep-sea fishing is world class - legendary for large and powerful game fish.

Kayak Tours

Easy and rewarding kayaking trips that explore offshore mangrove islands and seagrass habitat.

Glassbottom Boats

Explore the coral reefs, located six miles offshore of Key West, aboard an air-conditioned, glass bottom vessel.

Seaplane to Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas

Fly from Key West, land on the water, and hop out onto the beach on this amazing trip.

Dolphin Encounters

See local Key West dolphins in the wild & up close. Swim and snorkel nearby patch coral reef.

Bike Tour

Relaxing, laid-back bicycle tour in the historic quarter of Key West, sampling wild grown island fruit along the way.

Dry Tortugas Camping

Information for camping in Dry Tortugas National Park, including campsite map, regulations, and advice.

Bahia Honda State Park

State Park and Locals Favorite, 40-Minute Drive from Key West

Our Key West News Stories

Interesting news about our quirky little island, written by the locals experts at Key West Travel Guide. See all of our Key West News Stories here

Ban Sunscreens that Harm Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys & Key West

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