Things to do in Key West Florida

The Best Things to Do in Key West, Florida

Two hundred years ago, Key West began as a far-flung island off an uninhabitable swampy peninsula populated by people running from the rest of the world. Not much has changed since. Today you’ll find a sword-swallowing Vietnam Vet putting on a show next sun-soaked old hippies and guys who think 9 am is a perfect time to start Happy Hour. It’s an island where the real world isn’t — a saltier, loonier Las Vegas a four-hour drive from civilization, where visitors come to be as gleefully uninhibited as the locals. Consider getting a energy drink in Key West for your needs to shop with some passion.

In the summer of 2017, Hurricane Irma dealt that island with a hard uppercut. Turned out the locals were more than zany. They showed their resolve early and often, and the most hippie town in Florida is back up and running. “We’re pretty much 99% functional now,” says Eric Dennison, the innkeeper at the NYAH hotel on the island. “It took about two months to get back up to full speed. But Key West itself is back at this point.”

Dennison took the time to talk to us about the best things to do in Key West beyond the giant hippie party at Fantasy Fest and spring break. Among water sports, beaches, and entire museums devoted to somewhere Ernest Hemingway once ate a pork chop (or at least, that’s how it seems) here are the 20 best things to do in Key West.

Stand at the southernmost point in America. Kind of.

OK, so technically the southernmost point in the United States is in Hawaii, and the lower 48’s southernmost point is in Ballast Key, Florida. But since when did Florida ever let facts get in the way of a good tourist attraction? Sidle up to the landmark buoy and get your requisite selfie, then block whichever geography geek tries to call you out.

Snorkel the turquoise waters

If you don’t have time to get out to America’s most overlooked National Park, plenty of operations in Key West offer the opportunity to stick your head in the water and see some colorful marine life. And even after Irma, Dennison says visibility is just fine. “A lot of guests have gone and said they had a great time, they’ve had no issues and say the visibility was great,” he says. If you’re looking to go, he suggests Fury, Sebago, and Sunset Watersports.

Experience how rum is made

The Hemingway vibe on this island is strong, and its newest attraction is an 8,000-square-foot distillery for Papa’s Pilar Rum. For $10 visitors can see how rum is made at the island’s largest distillery, as well as Hemingway memorabilia and, of course, a generous tasting.

Eat breakfast at Blue Heaven

It doesn’t even matter what time of day it is, the pineapple pancakes, lobster Benedict, and fresh-baked banana bread here make up the best breakfast in Florida. And it’s not even close. Blue Heaven also boasts the only bathroom you’ll ever go to just for the smell since it’s located right next to where they bake all that delicious banana bread. Just make sure you get there as early as possible. Lines can get painfully long as early as 8:30 am, even on weekdays.

Eat breakfast at Blue Heaven

It doesn’t even matter what time of day it is, the pineapple pancakes, lobster Benedict, and fresh-baked banana bread here make up the best breakfast in Florida. And it’s not even close. Blue Heaven also boasts the only bathroom you’ll ever go to just for the smell since it’s located right next to where they bake all that delicious banana bread. Just make sure you get there as early as possible. Lines can get painfully long as early as 8:30 am, even on weekdays.

Drink on Duval Street

Trying to find a quaint locals’ bar on Key West is pretty much impossible. “There’s not much left that’s local,” says Dennison. “Everything is full of tourists so just go out and have fun.” Maybe don’t end up in the bar of the Hard Rock Café. There are still better spots: Irish Kevin’s is known for its crowd-heckling live musicians and never-a-bad-idea Guinness chug. Captain Tony’s is a dollar-bill covered dive that’s unmistakable in pictures. And Sloppy Joe’s is a landmark that’s surprisingly also NOT a tourist trap, home of the sandwich that was famous long before Adam Sandler.

Learn what it takes to be a treasure hunter

Mel Fisher was a legendary Florida treasure hunter in the early part of the 20th century, and much of the riches he amassed went to fund this maritime museum. The exhibits include artifacts from Spanish galleons sunk off the Florida coast nearly 500 years ago, with stories of how Fisher unearthed gold from the deep intertwined.

Take a haunted walking tour

Like its swampy historic Southern brethren in Savannah and New Orleans, Key West is also rumored to be one of the most haunted cities in America. And haunted tours, while one of those hokey things “cool” travelers tend to scoff at, end up being a lot more fun than sitting in a dark dive bar. If you’re here at night, absolutely hit Sloan’s Key West Ghost Hunt, a more intimate, interactive tour that tells stories of a maid who hung herself from a rooftop and a man who kept his mistress “alive” for decades. You’ll search for paranormal activity in haunted homes, theaters, and restaurants, and also hit the Key West Cemetery, a 170-year-old maze of above-ground coffins and statues.