Travel tips for going to Key West
Key West is a unique city, at once peaceful and isolated, but alive with nightlife, shopping and local charm. It has been a favorite destination of the rich and famous since the days when Ernest Hemingway used the Key West lighthouse to find his way home after a night out in the town.
If you're going to Key West, take some tips from us on how to get there, where to stay, and what to do while you're in the island paradise. Our recommendations are our best advice, garnered from our own trips to Key West. We don't sell spots on this page, and don't receive pay or anything of value for making these recommendations to our visitors.
Enjoy your visit!
If you're going to Key West, take some tips from us on how to get there, where to stay, and what to do while you're in the island paradise. Our recommendations are our best advice, garnered from our own trips to Key West. We don't sell spots on this page, and don't receive pay or anything of value for making these recommendations to our visitors.
Enjoy your visit!
Travel to Key West
By Air
In a hurry? Key West International Airport is a regular destination for several East Coast airlines. You'll be able to fly directly to Key West from Miami and other major airports in Florida and other southern states, then rent a car or take a shuttle to your hotel from the airport. Check their site here: Key West International Airport.
By car
If you'd like to enjoy one of America's most scenic drives, consider flying into Miami International Airport and driving south to Key West. The 160-mile drive takes roughly three and one-half hours, and traverses some of the most beautiful landscape in the country. Plan to stop at one of the many local restaurants along this route and you'll find amazing seafood and other great local dishes, but remember -- don't feed the alligators.
For driving directions, visit the Florida Keys website at www.fla-keys.com/ and click "How to Get Here."
Driving in Key West
Driving in Key West is not a problem. Parking is.
Parking in Key West
If you're planning on taking your car to Key West, you should plan to stay at a hotel, bed and breakfast or guest house that provides free parking. Otherwise, the nearest open parking space is in Cuba.
Where to stay
Several of the big "name" hotel chains have locations in Key West. Most are just fine. The rooms are generally nice, and there will always be a pool, and likely a bar and a restaurant associated with your hotel.
By Air
In a hurry? Key West International Airport is a regular destination for several East Coast airlines. You'll be able to fly directly to Key West from Miami and other major airports in Florida and other southern states, then rent a car or take a shuttle to your hotel from the airport. Check their site here: Key West International Airport.
By car
If you'd like to enjoy one of America's most scenic drives, consider flying into Miami International Airport and driving south to Key West. The 160-mile drive takes roughly three and one-half hours, and traverses some of the most beautiful landscape in the country. Plan to stop at one of the many local restaurants along this route and you'll find amazing seafood and other great local dishes, but remember -- don't feed the alligators.
For driving directions, visit the Florida Keys website at www.fla-keys.com/ and click "How to Get Here."
Driving in Key West
Driving in Key West is not a problem. Parking is.
Parking in Key West
If you're planning on taking your car to Key West, you should plan to stay at a hotel, bed and breakfast or guest house that provides free parking. Otherwise, the nearest open parking space is in Cuba.
Where to stay
Several of the big "name" hotel chains have locations in Key West. Most are just fine. The rooms are generally nice, and there will always be a pool, and likely a bar and a restaurant associated with your hotel.
When in Key West, we prefer one of the many wonderful bed and breakfast inns and guest houses that dot Old Town.
On our last visit we stayed at the Coco Plum Inn, 611 Whitehead Street. It's located one block off Duval Street, and a short walk down Whitehead from the Green Parrot. This B&B is in a beautiful historic house nestled in a lush garden hidden behind a wall and gate. Our rooms were nicer than any hotel, and we enjoyed meeting people by hosting a little "happy hour" by the pool in the afternoons. We can highly recommend this place to you. See it for yourself at www.cocopluminn.com.
On our last visit we stayed at the Coco Plum Inn, 611 Whitehead Street. It's located one block off Duval Street, and a short walk down Whitehead from the Green Parrot. This B&B is in a beautiful historic house nestled in a lush garden hidden behind a wall and gate. Our rooms were nicer than any hotel, and we enjoyed meeting people by hosting a little "happy hour" by the pool in the afternoons. We can highly recommend this place to you. See it for yourself at www.cocopluminn.com.
What to do
Day or night, there's always plenty to do in Key West. Here are some things we suggest you won't want to miss while visiting:
Have a drink!
With over 100 bars in a square mile, and most of them featuring live music, Key West comes alive at night. Chances are, you'll be able to find any kind of music you like, played live, somewhere in Key West. The most famous bar in Key West is Sloppy Joe's (right), but there are plenty of others: The Hard Rock Cafe, Key West, is an excellent spot for a reasonably priced dinner, as is Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville (both on Duvall).
Day or night, there's always plenty to do in Key West. Here are some things we suggest you won't want to miss while visiting:
Have a drink!
With over 100 bars in a square mile, and most of them featuring live music, Key West comes alive at night. Chances are, you'll be able to find any kind of music you like, played live, somewhere in Key West. The most famous bar in Key West is Sloppy Joe's (right), but there are plenty of others: The Hard Rock Cafe, Key West, is an excellent spot for a reasonably priced dinner, as is Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville (both on Duvall).
Take a sunset cruise
Several companies offer evening sailing cruises on the ocean out of Key West. You'll depart shortly before sunset, sail out and gently cruise while watching the sun sink into the ocean. Often, champagne, wine or beer is included in the price of the cruise. (Be careful -- sometimes, it's more than one. )
One of the best of these is aboard the Floridays, a 60-foot sailing yacht docked near the Hyatt in Oldtown. You can see if for yourself at www.floridays.org/
Several companies offer evening sailing cruises on the ocean out of Key West. You'll depart shortly before sunset, sail out and gently cruise while watching the sun sink into the ocean. Often, champagne, wine or beer is included in the price of the cruise. (Be careful -- sometimes, it's more than one. )
One of the best of these is aboard the Floridays, a 60-foot sailing yacht docked near the Hyatt in Oldtown. You can see if for yourself at www.floridays.org/
Go scuba diving
The 120-mile long chain of islands that form the Keys is home to North America's only coral barrier reef, and the nation's only underwater national park. If you are a certified "Open Water" SCUBA diver, Key West has some amazing diving, and you won't need to go far from shore to find crystal clear water and a variety of undersea life.
Not certified to dive? There are also plenty of options to enjoy the beauty of the ocean around Key West, including snorkeling or even taking a tour around the island in a glass-bottom boat.
The 120-mile long chain of islands that form the Keys is home to North America's only coral barrier reef, and the nation's only underwater national park. If you are a certified "Open Water" SCUBA diver, Key West has some amazing diving, and you won't need to go far from shore to find crystal clear water and a variety of undersea life.
Not certified to dive? There are also plenty of options to enjoy the beauty of the ocean around Key West, including snorkeling or even taking a tour around the island in a glass-bottom boat.
Visit Ernest Hemingway's Home
The mansion and gardens at 907 Whitehead Street that once served as Ernest Hemingway's home is still the largest residential property in Key West. It was built in 1851, and the Hemingways moved in in 1931. You'll still find the descendants of Hemingway's polydactyl cats living on the property, and the house remains very much the same as when Papa lived and worked there. For fans of Hemingway's writing, this is the place, complete with a bookstore where you can buy copies of his work with the special "Hemingway House" stamp inside. Tour tickets are $13 for adults, $6 for children. See it on their website: http://www.hemingwayhome.com/
The mansion and gardens at 907 Whitehead Street that once served as Ernest Hemingway's home is still the largest residential property in Key West. It was built in 1851, and the Hemingways moved in in 1931. You'll still find the descendants of Hemingway's polydactyl cats living on the property, and the house remains very much the same as when Papa lived and worked there. For fans of Hemingway's writing, this is the place, complete with a bookstore where you can buy copies of his work with the special "Hemingway House" stamp inside. Tour tickets are $13 for adults, $6 for children. See it on their website: http://www.hemingwayhome.com/
See Key West from atop the Key West Lighthouse
This piece of Key West history was operated by the Navy and Coast Guard between 1823 and 1969. Today, the Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters are run by the Key West Historical Society. The property, at 928 Whitehead Street, is adjacent to the Hemingway House. The Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters are filled with maritime artifacts from its early days, when the light guided mariners through the reefs around Key West. It's open for pubic tours every day from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for children. Visit them on the web here: http://www.kwahs.org/visit/lighthouse-keepers-quarters/
This piece of Key West history was operated by the Navy and Coast Guard between 1823 and 1969. Today, the Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters are run by the Key West Historical Society. The property, at 928 Whitehead Street, is adjacent to the Hemingway House. The Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters are filled with maritime artifacts from its early days, when the light guided mariners through the reefs around Key West. It's open for pubic tours every day from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for children. Visit them on the web here: http://www.kwahs.org/visit/lighthouse-keepers-quarters/
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