A Day In Key West, Florida 🌊🐠
Sun, sand, music, culture, food and nightlife - just a few of the words that come up when thinking about Key West, Florida. Follow along for how you can spend a great day in this glorious place.
Morning
If a photo at the “Southernmost Point” is on your list, we’d recommend doing that first thing in the morning. We arrived around 8 am on a Sunday morning to no lines. We took our time taking our touristy pics and a line started to form by 8:30am.
Photo opp. at the Southernmost Point Buoy, placed in 1983 by the City of Key West .
After your photo opp, there’s no shortage of amazing Cuban Coffee and neighborhood spots for a good breakfast and strong coffee.
For a quick caffeine hit, visit one of the three Cuban Coffee Queen locations. You can find them in their original location on the Waterfront (284 Margaret Street), in the Clinton Square Market (291 Front Street #6) or Downtown (Key Lime Square). Our personal favorites are the Cuban Carmel Coffee and Cortadito.
For a bigger meal, head to Ana's Cuban Cafe and Southernmost Deli and Groceries. With made to order smoothies, coffee, sandwiches and entrees there’s something for everyone. The grocery store is also fun to look around for items you may need.
Delicious made to order smoothies at Ana's Cuban Cafe and Southernmost Deli and Groceries
Afternoon
You could spend an entire afternoon slowly wandering the streets of Key West and taking in the shops on Duval Steet and Mallory Square.
For outdoor lovers, there’s plenty of options to snorkel, get on the water, bike or visit historical sites. We spent an afternoon biking around Key West. Our rentals were through Barefoot Billy’s for $20 a day. This was a fun way to slow down and see the beauty of Key West. We also took our bikes around downtown, there’s plenty of spots to lock them up while you explore, eat and shop.
Bike rentals are a great way to get around Key West with shopping, historical sites, food and nature stops.
We also enjoyed a couple of afternoon hours hanging at the beach. We booked our stay on points at The Reach Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton. The property had a beautiful beach and outdoor bar, perfect for relaxing.
Enjoying a Piña colada at the The Reach Key West
If your accommodation isn’t on the water, head to Smather’s Beach for a more lively experience or enjoy both history and beach activities at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. Both locations require paid parking. $5 a hour at Smather’s Beach and Fort Zachary payment is $6 a day per car or $2.50 per pedestrian walking in.
Evening
Get on the water for a sunset cruise! We loved our Key West Wind & Wine Sunset Sail with Danger Charters. The sail was complete with wine and cheese tastings (beer was also available included in your ticket price). This 2 hour experience was a highlight of our time in Key West. This item may be a splurge depending on budget, it’s around $109 per person in 2024.
Sailing with Danger Charters
When you’re back on land, there’s plenty of spots for dinner. For a casual sit down, The Half Shell Raw Bar has great local options like conch fritters (something you have to try at least once in Key West). You could even start here with apps and drinks before going somewhere later for a full meal. Another yummy spot is Boat House Bar & Grill, we loved the fresh seafood and shareable portions.
Peel & Eat Key West Shrimp and Conch Fritters at The Half Shell Raw Bar.
Nightlife
Wrap up your day by enjoying live music, drinks, and entertainment on Duval Street. Some of the well known establishments like Green Parrot Bar and Sloppy Joes are fun places to get a sense of the local scene. If you head to Green Parrot, don’t forget to try the popcorn and look online to see if you were spotted on the live camera!
Live Music at Sloppy Joe’s Bar
When visiting Key West you can pack the day or take it slower. With so many outdoors, entertainment, food, shopping and water activities there is something for everyone. No matter how you spend your day in Key West, it’s bound to be a great one!