Itineraries for Your Trip to Key West
1 Day in Key West for First Timers
What I love most about Key West is how the island combines beachy fun-in-the-sun with historical and cultural treasures. I can spend my mornings lounging on the white-sand beaches in Key West or kayaking its clear waters, before heading to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum—where Ernest Hemingway wrote his most famous works—sightseeing along colorful Duval Street, or visiting the former home of President Truman (the Harry S. Truman Little White House) of an afternoon.
Simply put, the city is full of charm—and activities. Cases in point: the cute Conch Train and hop-on hop-off trolleys which amble past the city’s top attractions. If you only have one day in Key West, here’s exactly what to see and do.
Key West is usually hot, sunny, and humid, so pack a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
If you only have time for one thing, make it the Key West Historical District and its 19th-century Bahamian conch houses.
You can easily walk around Key West’s Historical District, but on a 1-day visit you’ll cover more ground if you opt for a bike tour. That way, you can first glide past highlights including Mallory Square, home to shops and restaurants overlooking the Key West Cruise Port. Then, you can stop at the Southernmost Point of the Continental USA to snap a photo with the famous statue that informs you you’re just 90 miles (144 kilometers) from Cuba (as well as at the farthest point south in the continental United States).
After soaking up the city, head into nature—Key West’s mangroves are an important part of the Florida Keys’ landscape. Spend the afternoon canoeing or kayaking through the mangroves on a guided tour and learn more about this unique habitat that aquatic birds and tropical fish call home. Afterward, visit the Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, where you can hear the history of Civil War cannons or swim and snorkel at some of Key West’s best beaches.
Sunsets are a thing in Key West, and one of the top spots to catch the sun going down is in Mallory Square, where you can also grab a slice of key lime pie or hear some live music at one of the portside restaurants. However, you can also admire the sky and sea at dusk from a boat cruise, during which you can sip Champagne, snack on appetizers, and watch from the waves as day turns to night.
