Key West in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Key West is an island city belonging to the Florida archipelago. There, you will find incredible natural spaces with native fauna and flora, as well as a rich cultural and historical legacy that you can discover throughout your stay.

Among the best things to do in Key West that should not be missing in your 2-day itinerary is a visit to the Sails to Rails Museum, the Key West Lighthouse and the city's Aquarium. Also, the Key West Nature Reserve, the West Martello Tower and Key West Garden Club, among other places that I will tell you about in a moment.

The goal of this day is to visit as many historical and cultural destinations in town as possible: the Sails to Rails Museum, the Cemetery, the Ernest Hemingway House, the Key West Lighthouse, Truman's Little White House, the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, the City Aquarium and Capt Tony's Saloon.

Key West's Sails to Rails Museum

Your first day in Key West begins at the Sails to Rails Museum in Key West, a 5-minute drive from downtown. Here you will find artifacts and modern audiovisual presentations that will take you back in time to the so-called Age of Navigation until the days of the railroad.

Also, with tickets to the Sails to Rails Museum in Key West you will have access to a series of exhibits with antique objects, a model of Fort Jefferson National Park, a silver bar from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, sunk in 1622, among other treasures.

• Price: The entrance fee to the museum is about 14€ per person.
• Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Key West Cemetery

About a 3 minute drive from the previous destination, you will find the Key West Cemetery. It is the resting place of some of the island city's personalities.

You can see the tomb of the famous three-foot-tall general, Abe Sawyer; Florida's first millionaire, William Curry; U.S. Navy Secretary Stephen Mallory, among others. Also of note are the graves of the fallen in the Spanish-American War and the Civil War, a monument to the 260 sailors who died in the explosion of the USS Marine in 1898, etc.

• Price: free admission.
• Hours: daily from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Ernest Hemingway's House

For the next visit, you will have to walk along Southard St and Whitehead for about 15 minutes or drive approximately 4 minutes, arriving at the Ernest Hemingway House. This is an 1851 building with a Spanish Colonial architectural style, typical of this island city.

In this house, which became the home of writer Ernest Hemingway in 1931, you will find a series of antique decorations, ceiling fans, wooden furniture. You will also see the fishing tools used by Hemingway in his free time.

• Price: approximately 17€ per person.
• Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Key West Lighthouse

At the end of your tour of the Ernest Hemingway House, drive a couple of minutes down Whitehead St. and you will arrive at the Key West Lighthouse. You'll get a privileged view of the town from the observation deck of this 19-meter tower, built in 1825.

In addition to climbing the lighthouse, you can access the museum area, set up in what used to be the lighthouse keeper's house. You will find some notes from old newspapers of the city, nautical charts, among other things, that will give you a glimpse of the Key West of 100 years ago.

• Price: the average cost is €9 per person.
• Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Truman's Little White House

The itinerary continues at Truman's Little White House, located just a 4-minute drive or 16-minute walk from the Key West Lighthouse. This is a historic site that was the winter home of the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman.

With tickets to Truman's Little White House in Key West you will get a glimpse into the past and life of former President Truman. You will walk through all the rooms of this old building, contemplating the furniture preserved from the 1950s. You will also have access to Truman's personal diary, etc.

• Price: the entrance fee is approximately 26€ per person.
• Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

Another must-see destination is the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. You will find this place about 3 minutes walking distance from the Truman Little White House. You will be able to observe in its rooms an amazing exhibition with objects recovered from the shipwreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, which occurred in 1985.

Throughout your tour through the rooms of this museum, considered among the best museums in Key West, you will be able to see jewelry, gold coins and silver objects. Also, learn about the history of shipwreck exploration, enjoy an exhibit that shows life at sea during the galleon era, etc.

• Price: the price of tickets starts at 17 € per person.
• Hours: daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Key West Aquarium

From the previous destination you will have to walk an average of 3 minutes along Front St or Fitzpatrick St to find the city's open-air aquarium. This marine life enclosure is an ideal destination if you are in Key West with children. You will have a fun and educational experience with dozens of marine species.

At the Key West Aquarium you will have the opportunity to see flathead sharks, some sea turtles, angelsharks, hermit crabs and much more. You will also be able to interact with sea urchins, snakes, snails, horseshoe crabs, starfish, among other species found in the touch tank.

• Price: tickets have an average cost of 21 € per person.
• Hours: daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Capt Tony's Saloon bar

Capt Tony's Saloon is the last stop of the day, and is about a 3 minute walk from the previous destination. This is a building that began in 1852 as an ice house, became a mortuary and, in 1890, served as a telegraph station. Finally, in the 1930s, it acquired the identity of a bar.

When you arrive, you will see the walls covered with dollars and some photographs with personalities who were once there: Truman Capote, Hemingway, among others. In addition, you can drink cocktails and beer while listening to live music (jazz, rock, country). Undoubtedly, a good starting point if you want to start a pub crawl in Key West or discover Key West at night.

• Price: admission is free.
• Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. and on weekends it usually extends its hours until 4:00 a.m.

This day you will enjoy some of the natural and historical sites of Key West. Such is the case of the Key West Nature Reserve, the West Martello Tower and Key West Garden Club, the Old Town, the USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum and the Cruise Port.

Key West Nature Preserve

This new day's adventure begins at the Key West Nature Reserve, located 8 minutes from downtown. This is a green space of great importance, where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of the streets and enjoy the native fauna and flora.

During the tour you will enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the mangrove forests of this sanctuary: freshwater ponds, mammals, birds, reptiles, fish. You will be able to see some ospreys, raccoons, white ibis and deer.

• Price: access costs approximately 14€ per person.
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The West Martello Tower and Key West Garden Club

From the above destination, walk 10 minutes in the direction of Atlantic Blvd to the West Martello Tower and Key West Garden Club. It is a former military fort that is located in a botanical garden, combining an important part of the city's history with its natural beauty.

You can access the Martello Tower to get a privileged view of the island and the Atlantic Ocean. You will also have the opportunity to stroll through the green areas, where the butterfly and cactus gardens, tropical trees, picturesque flowers and plants stand out.

• Price: admission to the gardens is free. For its part, the tour of the defensive tower has a general cost of about 24 € per person.
• Hours: daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The old city of Key West

After leaving the West Martello Tower and Key West Garden Club, you will have to drive about 4 minutes or walk 18 minutes to the so-called old town. This is a neighborhood with cobblestone streets and Victorian architecture, evoking a bohemian atmosphere that will grab you. And, if you are in Key West at Christmas time, you will enjoy a picturesque scene led by seasonal decorations and lights.

You can explore this place on your own, discovering along the way some art and craft galleries, street artists and much more. You will also find a wide range of bars and restaurants where you can recharge your batteries, taste the local cuisine and have a cocktail or beer. Ideal to start a gastronomic tour of the city.

The USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum

The next destination is the USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum, located about 6 minutes drive from the old city. This is a must-see place to delve into the military and maritime history of the island, which is why it is often incorporated as part of the itinerary of the best Key West tours.

Upon arrival you will notice that the museum escapes the particular, as it is located inside a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, a 1936 Ingham cutter. You'll be able to walk around the ship, access the radio and engine room. You'll see weapons, artifacts, clothing and much more. Plus, enjoy interactive exhibits that put you in the shoes of a Coast Guard sailor.

• Price: The approximate price to enter the museum is €9 per person and you can enjoy free guided tours.
• Hours: daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Key West Cruise Port

The Key West Cruise Port is another place not to be missed on this second day. It is approximately a 7-minute drive from the USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum. On the other hand, before returning to the hotel and connecting with the shuttle service to the airport, you can enjoy a splendid sunset.

You will have the option to walk along the pier or visit some of the restaurants and bars located on the terraces of the place. You can also choose to take a sunset boat ride around Key West and get a different panoramic view of the whole island, spotting some seabirds, dolphins and turtles.

The tourist bus is a good option to travel long dist ances and access the main destinations with ease, especially if you don't know how to get around Key West. You will not have to worry about wasting time on the streets looking for the address of the attraction to visit.

In the city you will find the Key West Conch Train, which offers the red and blue route, the latter being ideal for traveling to the places farthest from the city center. For example, the Key West Lighthouse, Ernest Hemingway's House, among other places.

In Key West you will have the public bus service that runs through most of the island (west to south). This is an option that could be a bit limited due to the time required to use it (waiting for the route, stops along the way, etc.) but, without a doubt, it will be a great help to move around and save on your budget.

This service, operated by Key West Transit, offers a couple of routes, these being the following:

• Route 1: available Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays. This route covers the center of the island, passing through Mallory Square, the cruise port, among others.
• Route 2: which passes through the old town and places such as the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, the Key West lighthouse, the island's cemetery, etc. This service operates Monday through Saturday from 9:00 to 17:00 hours.