Best Things To Do in Key West

Key West is America's top tourist attraction where you can enjoy excellent Cuban cigars, Caribbean rum and American-style museums just by crossing the Seven Mile Bridge, the bridge chosen by Tom Cruise for Mission Impossible, and the beaches, not to mention the beaches. Discover the essence of Key West through unique experiences.

Ride tourist trams and have paranormal encounters, see one of the best sunsets in the world according to Traveler, search for treasures in the museums, spot dolphins, arrive at a water sports paradise or simply the key that honours Ernest Hemingway. This archipelago, like the adventurous Old Man of the Sea, has a little bit of everything to suit all tastes. In doubt? Let's take a look at all the things you can see and do to make the most of your visit to Key West.

Key West is a natural habitat for dolphins, so it's no surprise that thousands of people book a dolphin watching tour every year. The activity takes place at the Key West Wildlife Refuge and ends with a chance to dive or snorkel. Which dolphins will you see? The playful Atlantic bottlenose dolphins or bottlenose dolphins.

Board a boat or catamaran in Key West harbour, and guided by marine biologists, explore the marine wildlife on this eco-friendly tour (it's the only way it's allowed by law, so you can take the tour at your leisure). The experience is a delightful one that connects you with nature.

In the late 1920s Ernest Hemingway, the legendary Nobel Prize winner for literature, moved to Key West with his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. And following his spirit of exacerbated adventure, he left his mark on this Florida archipelago. His house has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area.

Visiting the Hemingway House-Museum you will learn about the life of the author of the multi-award winning book The Old Man and the Sea, and the legends that arose during his time in Key West. Plus, of course, you'll explore his peculiar relationship with the cats, who, by the way, still roam the museum. Are they **Hemingway'**s original cats? Of course not, but they are direct descendants of the six-toed cat or Garritas that he cared for during his lifetime.

Hemingway's sympathetic style is kept alive in this house from the moment you enter. It is the only museum in Key West that only accepts cash payments. The guided tour lasts about 30 minutes which gives visitors a glimpse of the interior and gardens. You can get here with your ticket for the sightseeing tram, one block from the Key West Lighthouse.

Details of interest

• Address: 907 Whitehead St, Key West.
• Hours: Monday to Sunday 09:00 - 17:00 hours.

Despite Key West's 11 kilometres, its arts and entertainment offerings include an extensive list of museums and galleries. From the Hemingway House - undoubtedly the most popular of them all - to the Shipwreck Treasure Museum with its curious 29kg silver bar, it's worth taking the time to tour Key West's best museums.

Start your tour at the old customs building, right next to the US naval base, as you enter the Key West Museum of Art and History to contrast the island's cultural past and present. Another important stop is the entrance to the Truman Little White House in the house where Harry S. Truman, the former US president spent long periods of time living and working, earning the nickname and renown for this former naval base.

If you want to learn more about the more than 300 birds or the nearly 60 types of butterflies that make their home in Key West, you could also stroll through the colourful Butterfly and Wildlife Conservatory (you'll easily identify it on Duval Street by the two flamingos that decorate its entrance). Finally, buy your tickets for the Sails to Rails Museum where ships and railways from the 16th and 20th centuries are remembered.

When it comes to alcohol in Key West, rum is arguably the official drink of Key West. You've got at least a couple of iconic distilleries to sample, learn how it's made and enjoy various activities right in the heart of the island.

The Key West First Legal Rum Distillery has been in operation near Mallory Square since 2013 and offers free guided tours throughout the week from 12:00-17:00 (yes, there are free samples). Tours take place every 20 minutes and last another 15 minutes.

And if you fancy learning how to make mojitos, they also offer classes on Fridays and Saturdays. Want to keep the party going with this rum? Make a note of the Key West pub crawl experience in Key West. Sloppy Joe's Bar is one of the most popular places to go on a Key West pub crawl.

Another place to consider is Papa's Pilar. Just to give you an idea, their philosophy is "to capture the adventurous spirit of Ernest Hemingway in every bottle of rum. It's located near Mallory Square on Simonton St. Key West. Here you can also join a guided tour, this time longer, lasting about 45 minutes, and their cocktail bar classes seem to be the rum show in vogue.

Visit the first Key West tourist attraction to open in Key West: the aquarium. Opened in 1935, this centre boasts **Florida'**s only outdoor aquarium, which means that with your ticket to the Key West Aquarium you can immerse yourself in the marine world while enjoying the sunshine and the local atmosphere.

Although modest in size, the aquarium tour is among Key West 's favourite things to do with kids for activities such as shark feeding, getting up close with rescued sea turtles and of course, its touch tank. In the latter area, kids can interact with starfish, tropical fish, conch shells and other critters, all while an aquarium expert guides the tour.

One of the keys to understanding the little paradise of Key West is knowing its roots, from its culture to its name. The Key West archipelago welcomed the conquistadors with bones (or so the story goes), so stories of hauntings, ghosts and legends soon followed.

Get ready to explore the dark side of Key West with a ghost tour by tram. Accompanied by a guide dressed as a 17th-century gravedigger, you'll discover the buried secrets of the Marrero House and Porter Mansion - including the paranormal tale of **Robert the Devil Doll -**as you stroll through the old town.

The tour also takes you into the Shipwreck Treasure Museum to learn about the haunting history of the silver bar and Spanish galleons. For an hour of night-time exploration, the moonlit streets will take you through the island's ghostly legends with a touch of humour thrown in for good measure.

One of Florida' s 9 must-see attractions is the crossing of the Seven Mile Bridge. An aerial view allows you to see in detail the Overseas Highway, the engineering marvel of visionary Henry Morrison Flagler that connects 44 islands via 42 bridges, the Seven Mile Bridge being the most famous since its inauguration in 1912.

At that time Key West boasted of being the largest city in Florida. Today, although it is surpassed by others, the popularity of this bridge is more than ever emblematic and crucial to getting around Key West.

Duval Street is Key West's main street, where most of the bars, restaurants, shops and art galleries are concentrated. It's the perfect place to enjoy a Key West food tour, stroll, shop, drink and enjoy live music. What more could you ask for?

Don't miss the beers and rum at Sloppy Joe's, where Hemingway used to go; or Hog's Breath Saloon, where you can dance to country, rock and often honour Jimmy Buffet, one of the island's famed residents. Duval Street is the heart of the Key West party scene, so get ready to party.

One of Key West 's traditions is to gather at Mallory Square to watch the sun set over the sea, a spot that stands out on Traveler's map of the world's best sunsets.

When you sign up for a sunset cruise, you'll embark on a cruise from the Key West pier that will take you past island landmarks such as the historic Key West Lighthouse. Complimentary snacks such as cheese and shrimp cocktails are often included on these tours as you cruise the crystal-clear waters of the Florida Keys. Spot marine wildlife from playful dolphins to graceful sea turtles.

And the adventure doesn't end on the boat. On your return to Mallory Square you'll often find street performers, musicians, jugglers and acrobats to liven up the evening and prepare you for the island's nightlife, especially during the high season, which is why this activity is on the list of things to do in Key West at Christmas.

Southernmost Point, or the southernmost point in the United States, is a popular attraction on the island and is part of the city's main city-tours, including the tram, bike tours and the Key West tourist train route, and is definitely worth a visit.

The truth is that the title of this title should have the tagline "southernmost point accessible by civilians" added to it, because the real one is a naval base; the truth is that a visit to Key West without this photo raises doubts about the actual passage through the island. I recommend getting there early to get your photo taken at the least crowded time.

Embark on exciting water adventures in Key West. Join fellow travellers on a state-of-the-art catamaran for waterskiing, parasailing and snorkelling in crystal clear waters. Relax on the deck sunbathing, hop aboard the banana boat or book a jet ski tour.

Dive into a water park with trampolines and slides. To explore the mangroves, opt for a kayak ride, discovering their importance in the local ecosystem. If you're looking for an adrenaline rush, try parasailing or water skiing. When it comes to entertainment on the water, literally, in Key West you buy a water sports and adventure pass- get ready for a day full of fun and action in the waters of Key West!

Dry Tortugas National Park is a sanctuary of nature and historical legacy in Florida. Located 113 km west of Key West, it surprises its visitors with a coral re ef that is home to numerous shipwrecks, a reason that has earned the place its fame.

Also, some 300 species of birds live in the area and the popular Fort Jefferson exposes the traces of the wars waged by the United States around the 1800s. Another must on the tour is the Garden Key lighthouse, with the best views of this park made up of 7 islands.

The visit to this park tops the list of the best tours in Key West for the variety of activities available and the exclusivity, being away from the centre. You can hike, dive, swim, snorkel and lie on the sand, but pack everything you need because there are no beach bars, restaurants or other facilities (except at Jefferson's Fort).