Key West is loaded with top tourist attractions and sights. From Key West's beaches and glorious sunsets to the numerous excellent museums, galleries, gourmet restaurants and hedonistic nightlife; there are attractions here for tourists and visitors of all ages and persuasions.Ernest Hemingway was a well-known and popular attraction of Key West during the 1930s and you can visit his former home, while St. Paul's church boasts incredible stained glass windows and the Old Trolley is ideal for a whirlwind tour of the sights.
City Cemetery
Address: Margaret and Angela Streets, Key West (FL), USA
Tel: +1 305 292 6718
Located in the center of town, the City Cemetery is a plot of land best known for its memorial and numerous intricate carvings in honor of the sailors who fell in the sinking of the battleship USS Maine. Visitors are permitted to wander around the cemetery, but guided tours are recommended as the best way to see the memorial. Tours of Key West's City Cemetery leave from the main gate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and advance reservations are necessary.
Open: daily - sunrise to 18:00
Admission: charge
Ernest Hemingway HomeAddress: 907 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida (FL), 33040, USA
Tel: +1 305 294 1136
The former home of the popular writer Ernest Hemingway and his wife Pauline is now a museum to the couple, who spent most of the 1930s and early 1940s here. Hemingway penned many of his classics while staying here and the museum contains photographs, books, mail and other artifacts as well as several of his cats' relatives, including the six-toed versions. A guided tour is included with the entrance fee or you can roam around by yourself in the house and lovely gardens.
Open: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge
Key West Aquarium
Address: 1 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida (FL), 33040, USA
Tel: +1 305 296 2051
The world's oldest aquarium has all manner of exotic sea creatures including sea cucumbers, starfish, crabs and even horse and queen conchs. The Key West Aquarium is great for kids and guided tours run throughout the day, with attractions including shark petting and hand-feeding.
Open: daily - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts for families and young children and tickets are valid for the whole day
Key West SunsetsCatching a sunset while in Key West is considered an attraction unto itself, with an overwhelming number of locals and visitor alike crowding into Mallory Square nightly for the spectacle. The square becomes a haven for numerous acrobats, artists and food vendors.
Other popular locations for watching the sunset are on the Hilton hotel's Sunset Deck on Front Street, next to Mallory Square, or Ocean Key Resort's bar on Duval Street, while the nearby Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa's Havana Docks at 1 Duval Street is right on the water and offers good views and live music.
Old Town Trolley
Tel: +1 305 296 6688
The Old Town Trolley is the ideal way to see the island, with pick-ups at many hotels along its route. Tours start at Mallory Square and have a running commentary provided by the knowledgeable drivers; all of Key West's major sights and attractions are covered on the tour.
Open: daily - 09:00 to 16:30, tours depart every 30 minutes
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, children under four free
Simonton Street Beach
Address: North end of Simonton Street, Key West, Florida (FL), USA
Located near the harbor, Key West's Simonton Street Beach faces towards the Gulf of Mexico and is ideal for watching boat traffic.
Open: daily 07:00 to 19:00
Admission: free
South BeachAddress: Foot of Duval Street, Key West, Florida (FL), USA
Facing the Atlantic, South Beach, also known as City Beach, is more popular than Simonton Beach and is lined with restaurants, although parking spaces are fairly limited.
Open: daily - 07:00 to 19:00
Admission: free
The Southernmost House Grand Hotel and Museum
Address: 1400 Duval Street, Key West, Florida (FL), 33040, USA
Tel: +1 305 296 3141
As the title suggests, this elegant property is the southernmost house in continental USA and the Southernmost House Grand Hotel has been the residence of five US presidents upon their visits to Key West.
Open: daily
Admission: charge
