Key West is a tropical destination conveniently located in the continental U.S.. For us U.S. folks, you can have palm trees, tropical birds, sandy beaches, fresh seafood, tasty fruit and underwater creatures without going overseas. So if this convenient, relaxing, and fun location sounds like your next weekend getaway, keep reading for a full detailed 2 day Key West itinerary.
And why should you read our specific Key West itinerary? Because everything in this itinerary is actually in Key West. Lots of Key West itineraries out there will recommend day trips to Dry Tortugas or snorkeling adventures out at sea. And sure, those are fun. But we think that if you only have two days in Key West, you should actually spend it in Key West. Everything on this Key West itinerary is in Key West and walkable from the center of old town.
Fun Facts About Key West
Key West is the southern most Florida Key that you can get to by car. Also, it has the southernmost point in the contiguous United States. It’s actually closer to Cuba than it is to Miami! It is also the most densely populated key in the Florida Keys.
My favorite fun fact about Key West is that in 1982 Key West declared independence from the United States and named themselves the Conch Republic. The bid for independence was short lived but you can still get Conch Republic souvenirs when you visit Key West.
How Long To Spend In Key West
We think 2 days in Key West is the perfect amount of time. With more time, you’ll likely find yourself leaving Key West to do things.
You could also spend one FULL day in Key West and get your fill. However, this would require you spending two nights in Key West so that you can truly spend one complete day on the island. After our 2 day Key West itinerary, at the bottom of the article, we’ll provide a one day Key West itinerary as an alternative to our 2 day Key West itinerary.
Should you take a day trip to Key West from Miami?
No. There are lots of day trips advertised from Miami. But honestly we would not recommend it. Traffic on the overseas highway can be brutal. So once you get to Key West you’ll really only have a half day to explore. This just isn’t enough time.
When To Visit Key West
Key West is a popular destination for U.S. traveler year round due to the warm weather. Spring and fall tend to be the most popular times to visit due to the mild temperatures. Summer temperatures can be quite hot and humid but it’s still a popular time to visit. Winter can be cool and tends to be the lower season for visitors.
However, this is a popular tourist destination and you’ll find crowds throughout the year. The busiest month tends to be in March when U.S. schools have their spring breaks. The slowest months tends to be in the fall when hurricanes could potentially rain on your parade.
We’d recommend visiting in October. We think it is the best mix of good weather and fewer people.
Getting To Key West And Around
We have two different recommendations based on your budget.
If you are on a budget, fly to Miami. Miami has more inexpensive and more direct flights from around the U.S.. Once in Miami, rent a car and drive to Key West. The drive takes about 3 hours. You could also take a shuttle but a car rental is actually cheaper if you’re staying for only 2 days.
If you are not on a limited budget, fly directly in to Key West. Then you can just take a ride share into Old Town Key West and walk everywhere. Even if you are on a budget, check to see what flight prices look like from your home airport. Depending on where you’re flying from, you may find a good deal.
Whether you have a car in Key West or not, you’ll want to make sure to park it once you arrive and never use it again. Parking and driving in Key West is a huge time suck. Getting around on foot is the best!
However, if you are not able or willing to walk everywhere, consider purchasing a hop-on-hop-off tram ticket or use ride shares to get around. If you purchase using this link, we’ll earn a small commission at no extra charge to you.
You’ll see lots of people renting golf carts or scooters to get around. But you still have to pay for parking and the rentals are ridiculously expensive. We think this is a rip off that you should avoid.
Where To Stay In Key West
If you are on a budget, you’ll need to stay outside of Key West. If you have money to splurge, staying in old town Key West should be your priority as it will make walking places easier.
Here are three different options for various budgets:
- Budget: Seashell Motel
- Mid-Range: La Pensione Inn
- Luxury: Hyatt Key West
Key West Itinerary
Day 1 – Old Houses and Underseas Exploring
First, start your day with a tour of the Audubon House. This house actually was only ever visited by Mr. Audubon but the house is really cool if you’re a bird nerd like us. There are several Audubon prints on the walls and the house gives you a good history of the salvaging business, which was basically sanctioned pirating.
Next, head across the street to the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. This museum focusing on Mel Fisher hunt for one very large treasure. Spoiler alert: he found it and most of it is housed in the museum. There’s some cool history in this museum and it feels like something out of a movie.
Next, explore Mallory Square. Grab lunch here as well. We ate at El Meson De Pepe’s and it was a great Cuban restaurant!
Next, spend your afternoon exploring the Key West Aquarium. This is an old, some may say historical, aquarium. However, the exhibits are still really nice. There is even a petting and outdoor section.
Lastly, head over to the docks for your evening Sunset Sail. We booked this tour ahead of time, which includes dolphin spotting, food and drinks. It was the best thing we did on our two day Key West itinerary. However, the food is a bit light as it’s tapas. So we grabbed a key lime pie from Kermit’s and ate it before departing.
Day 2 – Famous Sights and People
Morning – History
First, take a tour of the Truman Little White House. This is the only presidential museum in Florida. It’s a cool old house to explore and learn a bit about the many presidents and historical figures who passed through it.
Next, explore Duval Street. Make sure you stop in to a bar to two along the way.
Then detour a bit off of Duval Street to visit the Hemingway Home. This was one of our favorite things to do in Key West and a highlight of our Key West itinerary. The tours here run every 15 minutes and are fantastic. If you’re visiting on a weekend, you may be waiting in line for quite some time so try to time this on a weekday if possible.
Next, cross the street to visit the Key West Lighthouse. Honestly, if you’re running short on time or board of old houses, you could skip this one as the lighthouse keepers quarters isn’t the most interactive and there is a lot of reading. Though props to Key West; they had a lady lighthouse keeper who weathered several storms! However, the highlight of the Key West Lighthouse are the views from the top. From the top of the lighthouse, you get 360 degree views of the city.
Afternoon – Tourism
Next, head back to Duval Street for a late lunch. I wish we could recommend somewhere to eat. Instead we can warn against eating at the Southermost Beach Cafe – I’ve never had slower service in my life.
Next, continue south to the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. This was another favorite stop on this two day Key West itinerary. We loved it. You can see butterflies in all forms. There are also some amazing tropical birds in the greenhouse as well.
Lastly, head to the Southernmost Point. There is always a line here. It may be short or it may be long. By waiting until the end of the day, it may be less long. Either way, it’s a quick moving line to get your picture next to the southernmost point marker.
If you want to watch the sunset again tonight, head back to Mallory Square for their sunset celebration.
Want To Adjust Your Key West Itinerary?
If you just have one day in Key West, we’d recommend starting with the Mel Fisher Museum or the Key West Aquarium. You likely won’t have time for both but choose one that best suits your interests. Next, explore Duval Street as you make your way south. Next, jump off of Duval Street for a bit to visit the Hemingway Home. Have lunch before heading to the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Lastly, hit the end of the road with a visit to the Southernmost Point. If you have time, make sure to watch a Key West sunset, either on a sunset cruise or a at Mallory Square.
What To Budget For Key West
Key West is an incredibly spendy place to visit. It actually is one of the most expensive tourist destinations in the U.S., up there with places such as Napa and NYC. For two days in Key West, budget $550/person.
Here’s a breakdown of typical Key West prices:
- Accommodation: $320/night
- Transportation: $40/day
- Food: $75/person/day
- Entertainment: $40/day/person
Tips Tor Saving Money In Key West
Food here is definitely overpriced, but you can find less expensive food if you’re willing to eat on the go. Lot’s of to go places, such as food trucks and pie shops, are cheaper than the sit-down restaurants in Key West. Additionally, drinks in Key West are so expensive! Try hitting up bars with happy hour specials or just drinking water to keep hydrated in the heat. While Key West is a popular party destination, we’d personally skip drinking here to save some money.
Next, you can save lots of money on accommodations by staying outside of old town Key West. However, this will come with a larger transportation bill, either in terms of taxi rides or parking fees. But because the prices for hotels and home rentals on the island are so high, you’ll likely still save money overall by staying on a different key.
Lastly, there are lots of free things to do on Key West, like exploring Duval Street and Mallory Square. Take a look at our post here to discover some options. If you have only one day in Key West, you can still have a good time by exploring only the free attractions. However, if you stay more than one day in Key West, you’ll likely get bored and need to start paying for attractions.
Well that is all the information we think you’ll need to plan your own perfect Key West itinerary. We had a fun time in Key West, despite the high price tag. Please leave and questions or suggestions you have about your own Key West itinerary below and we’ll be happy to get back to you. Additionally, if you’re planning on exploring more of Florida or the Florida Keys, check out our posts here.
