Key West · Florida, USA
Things to Do in Key West: Tours, Tickets & Boat Trips
The best things to do in Key West, ranked by real traveller reviews: a sunset sail off Mallory Square, snorkelling the only living coral reef in the continental US, a mangrove kayak and dolphin trip, the Dry Tortugas catamaran to Fort Jefferson, the Conch Train through Old Town, the Hemingway House and Duval Street. Compare 150+ tours, tickets and boat trips side by side — most with free cancellation.
353 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Key West
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Key West
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Key West by interest
Whatever brings you to Key West — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
What to see
Top attractions in Key West
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Mallory Square
Sunset celebration.
50+ toursView tours
Coral Reef
Living reef.
50 toursView tours
Dry Tortugas
Fort Jefferson.
20 toursView tours
Duval Street
Old Town heart.
30 toursView tours
Hemingway House
Author’s home.
20 toursView tours
Jet Ski Tour
Island loop.
40 toursView tours
Southernmost Point
90 miles to Cuba.
30 toursView tours
Sailing Charters
Reef & sunset.
40 toursView tours
2 days
Key West in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old Town & reef
- 2Day 2: Dry Tortugas
- 3Sunset
- 4Watersports
2.5 hrs by catamaran awayDry Tortugas
Fort Jefferson’s 16 million bricks on a coral island 70 miles out, with snorkelling off the moat wall; breakfast, lunch and gear included.
from $215View trips
6 miles offshore awayCoral Reef Snorkel
The only living barrier reef in the continental US: two-hour sails with gear, morning mimosas or afternoon margaritas, and a sunset combo.
from $31View trips
Harbour awaySunset Sail
The famous Key West sunset from a schooner or catamaran with an open bar, live music and hors d’oeuvres; book the day before in season.
from $64View trips
Backcountry awayMangrove Kayak & Dolphins
Paddle the mangrove tunnels of the Key West Wildlife Refuge, then watch wild dolphins and snorkel the flats on the highest-rated eco tour.
from $64View trips
In town awayConch Train & Old Town
The 90-minute narrated loop past Duval Street, the Southernmost Point and the conch houses; hop-on trolleys run the same route all day.
from $39View trips
Old Town awayHemingway House
The 1851 house where Hemingway wrote through the 1930s, its writing studio and the 60 six-toed cats; guided walks pair it with the lighthouse.
from $20View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Key West visitor asks before booking.
Winter (Dec–Apr)
Warm, dry and sunny — peak season for the Keys.
Spring (Mar–May)
Warm and pleasant, with lively festivals.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot and humid, best for early-day water tours.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Warm and quieter; watch for the hurricane season.
For the sea
Winter and spring have the calmest, clearest water.
Best overall
December to April is ideal.
One day
Old Town, reef and a sunset sail.
Two days
Add the Dry Tortugas ferry.
Three days
Add watersports and fishing.
For the sea
The reef and Dry Tortugas.
For history
Old Town and the Hemingway House.
With kids
A trolley tour and reef snorkel.
On foot
Old Town is compact and easy to explore on foot.
Trolley
The hop-on hop-off trolley loops the main sights.
Bikes & scooters
Bikes and scooters are a popular island way to get around.
Tours & transfers
Tours include pickups; the Dry Tortugas ferry leaves from the port.
Where to stay
Stay in Old Town near Duval Street or the waterfront.
US dollar
The US uses the dollar; cards are accepted everywhere.
Book Dry Tortugas early
The ferry sells out weeks ahead — reserve as soon as you can.
Book sunset sails
Sunset cruises fill up fast — reserve ahead.
Sun protection
Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and water.
Bring swimwear
Wear swimwear for reef and sandbar trips.
See the sunset
Catch the nightly celebration at Mallory Square.
Winter season
Visit December to April for the best weather.
Dry Tortugas ferry
The ferry sells out weeks ahead — book early.
Sunset cruises
Sunset sails fill up — reserve ahead.
Reef snorkeling
Snorkel trips book out in season — reserve early.
Watersports
Jet ski and parasail tours have set times — book ahead.
Fishing charters
Popular charters fill up — reserve early.
Winter season
December to April is busiest — book everything ahead.
Sunset cruise
Around $60–100 for a sunset sail with drinks.
Reef snorkel
About $55–90 for a reef snorkeling trip.
Dry Tortugas
Roughly $200–250 for the ferry and park entry.
Jet ski tour
Around $130–170 for an island jet ski tour.
Old Town trolley
About $40–50 for a hop-on hop-off trolley.
How to save
Join group tours and combine a snorkel with a sunset sail.
When to visit
Key West through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Winter (Dec–Apr)
Dec–Apr
- Best for
- Peak & clear seas.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Best.
Spring (Mar–May)
Mar–May
- Best for
- Festivals & warmth.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lively.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Warm water.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Humid.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Sep–Nov
- Best for
- Quiet & value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Storm watch.
People also ask
Key West travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in Key West?
A sunset sail, reef snorkelling, a mangrove kayak and dolphin eco tour, the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson, the Hemingway House, the Conch Train, Mallory Square at sunset, Duval Street, the Southernmost Point and a jet-ski island loop. The boat trips are what travellers rate highest; Old Town fills the gaps between them.
How many days do you need in Key West?
Two full days, three if you want the Dry Tortugas. Book the Dry Tortugas catamaran first (it sells out weeks ahead in winter), put the reef snorkel on your other morning, and keep the sunset sail for whichever evening has the clearest sky. A day trip from Miami only covers Old Town.
What can you do in Key West for free?
The Mallory Square sunset celebration, Duval Street, the Southernmost Point buoy, the Mile Marker 0 sign, Smathers Beach, the Key West Cemetery, the waterfront at the Historic Seaport, watching the tarpon at the docks, the chickens, and Fort Zachary Taylor’s beach for a small state-park fee. Sunsets from the White Street Pier cost nothing and skip the crowd.
What are the best day trips from Key West?
The Dry Tortugas National Park (2.5 hours each way by catamaran, from $215, or 40 minutes by seaplane) is the only true day trip. Otherwise the boat trips — the reef six miles out, the backcountry mangroves and the sandbar cruises — are the island’s excursions, and the Overseas Highway to Bahia Honda and Marathon is a drive worth doing on the way in or out.
What is there to do in Key West at night?
The sunset sail or Mallory Square, then Duval Street’s bars (Sloppy Joe’s, the Green Parrot, Captain Tony’s), ghost tours of Old Town, the Key West Songwriters and drag shows at the 801 Cabaret, a full-moon kayak paddle, live music at the Historic Seaport, and the night snorkel or glass-bottom boat trips in summer. Sunset is early in winter, so evenings are long.
What can you do in Key West in winter?
Winter (December to April) is the best and busiest season: 24–27°C days, calm seas for the Dry Tortugas crossing, the clearest water for the reef, dolphin and sailfish season, the Key West Food and Wine Festival in January and the Conch Republic events. Book boats and rooms well ahead and expect the highest prices of the year.
What are the best things to do in Key West with kids?
The Conch Train, the Key West Aquarium’s shark feeding, the Eco-Discovery Center (free), the Hemingway House cats, Fort Zachary Taylor’s calm beach, a glass-bottom boat or a family reef snorkel trip, the Butterfly Conservatory, the sunset celebration’s street performers, the Shipwreck Museum’s lookout tower and the Dry Tortugas for older children.
When is the best time to visit Key West?
December to April for the calmest seas, dry weather and the best boat conditions, at the highest prices. May and November are the sweet spot: warm, quieter and cheaper. Summer is hot and humid but has the clearest snorkelling water; June to November is hurricane season, with September the riskiest month.
Is Key West worth visiting?
Yes — it is the only place in the continental US with a living coral reef, a national park you reach by catamaran, and a sunset celebrated nightly in the street, all on an island you can cycle across in 20 minutes. Give it two nights rather than a Miami day trip.
353 Key West experiencesfrom $30 · free cancellation
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