With so many fun things to do in Key West, there was no way we could fit everything into our 4 days on the island. So, we made a list of our priorities: have plenty of relaxing time, try the local food, and do something fun in the ocean. Keep reading to learn all about our highlights!
Are you making the drive from Miami to Key West? We did too! Check out favorite stops to make from Miami to Key West here!
The Perry Hotel Key West
First, if you’re looking for a place to stay, check out The Perry Hotel Key West (And read my 7 reasons to stay at the Perry Hotel Key West here!). This place is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown Key West, and gives you a relaxing atmosphere with a great view of the marina. We could have spent our entire weekend at the pool and eating at their restaurants. If you don’t choose to stay here (which you should) at least check out The Salty Oyster or Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen! They are rated some of the top restaurants in the area!
Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe
Key Lime Pie originated in Key West, and although it’s a debate as to which key lime pie shop is the BEST, we decided to try a twist on the traditional key lime pie with a chocolate covered frozen key lime pie on a stick at Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe. This treat is delicious and made for an easy on-the-go snack as we walked around Key West. Kermit’s has 2 locations on the island, so make sure to try some of their other key lime goodies!
Mallory Square Sunset
Watching the sunset at Mallory Square is a Key West must do! Every night, everyone (and I mean everyone!) gathers at Mallory Square to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the US and it turns into such a fun place to be. Street vendors and performers line the square prior to sunset, so make sure to go early to walk around and get a good spot for the sunset! And try the guacamole stand if you get the chance 🙂
Fury Ultimate Adventure
We love ourselves some adrenaline, so we signed up for an all day adventure on the water with Fury. We couldn’t decided if we wanted to snorkel or parasail, so decided to do it all and then some! The Fury Ultimate Adventure leaves from Key West at 10 am and returns around 4. In these 6 hours, we were taken out on a catamaran to a spot in the ocean that served as our home base for the day. From there, we jet skied, parasailed, and played on a blow up water park! After this, the catamaran took us out to the coral reef where we snorkeled for an hour and saw the coolest fish! Then we sailed back to Key West with some drinks and music. Breakfast, lunch, and drinks were included in the cost – only $139 per person! This was a trip highlight for sure!
Cuban Coffee Queen
Cuban coffee is another must try in Key West! We loved seeing the Cuban influence all over the island so we had to try the coffee too! We ordered a cuban iced coffee with milk from Cuban Coffee Queen and it is seriously in the top 3 of my favorite coffee drinks I’ve ever had. We also ordered a cuban bagel – if you love everything bagels like me you need to try it. Also, don’t forget to take advantage of the Key West wall photo op!
First flight island restaurant and brewery
I usually make a list of places I want to visit when I travel, but always leave room to just stroll into any fun place we might see! First Flight was one of these places. We decided to stop in because of the music and laid back atmosphere and found ourselves in one of the coolest outdoor dining spaces. We sat down at the bar right in the middle of tree canopies and tried some of their locally made beer while the guitarist took our song requests. We later learned that this building was the original location of Pan-Am airlines when they first opened in 1927!
Mile marker 0
We had to stop by the 0 mile marker Key West. We literally hit the end of the road here and snapped a few ultimate tourist pictures. This marks the end of the longest North-South road in the US – Highway 1!
Duetto
Are you seeing a trend for what we like to do on vacation?? Eating and drinking is definitely up there 🙂 We had lots of island food and were in the mood for something a little different. We heard great things about Duetto, so we stopped in for some pizza by the slice. The pizza and casual atmosphere was just want we needed! They also have amazing-looking gelato.
Smathers beach
There aren’t any natural beaches in Key West, so Smathers beach was created by bringing in amazingly soft sand from the Bahamas. We rented a beach umbrella for $10 for the day and relaxed on our towels. There’s lots of other rental options available too, things from beach chairs to sailboats! The water was nice and warm (already in April!) which made for good swimming. There are also some great trails around this area that would be perfect for running or biking. We also stopped by Smathers beach at sunset one night and had the beach to ourselves with the prettiest views!
The lobster shack Key West
The Lobster Shack was one of our favorite stops in Key West. We were craving some lobster Mac and cheese the entire trip and finally came across this cute spot on our last day! Located near the beach, The Lobster Shack satisfied our craving and had the cutest island ambiance.
Badboy burrito
We were looking for some local, authentic food that was away from the craziness of Duval Street. We heard that Badboy burrito was the place to go, so we stopped here after we watched the sun set. Badboy burrito makes tortillas from scratch every day and is a little hole in the wall that makes for easy to-go orders. We both ordered a pork burrito and ate it at the outdoor seating around the corner. It was delicious!
Duval Street
It goes without saying that when you visit Key West, you need to spend some time on Duval Street. We loved strolling around Duval during the day and night but found ourselves spending our time at places that were away from all the people and off the beaten path. No matter what you are looking to do in Key West, make sure to at least take a stroll along Duval – there’s so much to see!
El Siboney
More cuban food anyone? El Siboney is one of the most talked about cuban restaurants on the island, so when we noticed there was a new location right next to our hotel we realized it was meant for us to try! We ordered the cuban sandwich and pork tenderloin. Everything was so yummy and the place was filled with locals which is always a good sign.
We only scratched the surface of fun things to do in Key West. What is your favorite thing to do on vacation?
