Things to do in Key West for self travelers
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appAll self-guided activities
Ponder American politics during the time of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the USA. His former residence, the Truman Little White House, is now a museum packed with history - you can even see his pool table.
Welcome to quirky Key West, or the Conch Republic, at the end of the scenic Route 1 highway over the Florida archipelago. This audio tour explores the storied island apart from its party-town-only reputation. You will start the tour at Bayview Park and figure out what is the Conch Republic of Key West and its foundation plot. After that, you will browse the epitaphs at the Key West Cemetery to spot elements of fun and sorrow on the centuries-old gravestones. Walking down Duval Street, the island's main one, you will make it to the Buoy indicating Key West’s proximity to Cuba to snap a selfie with this famous fixture. Looking up at the Key West Lighthouse nearby, you will be surprised that in the era of male supremacy, it used to be kept by a woman for decades. Next, you will see the hallmark Hemingway Home with the garden and the pool dug in solid coral, which was a sheer luxury in the 1930s Key West, still worth marveling at. Towards the seafront, you will get a chance to meet the iconic live Queen Conch snail itself among the many sea critters at the Key West Aquarium. Finally, you will walk out to Mallory Square, where locals gather to celebrate the sunset. Also, there will be a few museums on the route that you can visit on your own to get a profound historical insight. Join the tour to experience what about Key West appealed to the American novelists and presidents alike and what makes the island special both at the daylight and at dusk!
Sample the history, culture, and cuisine of Key West in an easy, self-guided walking tour through the heart of "Old Town." This strolling (or biking) tour is perfect as part of a day trip to the island, or as an introduction to a longer stay. You'll be surprised at how much you'll get to do see, do and learn! No tickets are included with this tour, so go at your own pace and stop only where you want. Tread the same path as famous writers, presidents and pirates. Peruse a museum or two, do a little "Duval Crawl" through funky historic bars, find where the locals shop and eat. Don't forget the key lime pie! Using this self-guided audio tour, you can visit over 20 points-of-interest with approximately 2 miles of walking or biking. Get to know famous Duval Street and Mallory Square. Learn about the influence of the Bahamas and Cuba. Visit a presidential museum, a maritime museum and the Hemingway House. Snap a picture at the famous "Mile Marker 0" sign. See remnants of shipwrecks and a pirate's well. Stop at choice eateries, cool off on a city beach. You'll get a local's suggestions as to interesting things to do, the best places to eat, and at the end, the opportunity for a dip in the Gulf. This tour starts at Mallory Square, on the northwest side of the island, near where most cruise shops dock, and there's paid parking there. Zig-zag through downtown, ending a few blocks away from where you started, at little Simonton St. Beach.
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About Key West
The best walking tours to do in Key West are:
The best indoor tours in Key West for rainy days are:
The must-see attractions in Key West for a first visit are:
The best tours to do in Key West with kids are:
Insider tips for visiting Key West
Insight Guides is a local guide who has been publishing tours since 2022 for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Key West on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Key West.
When I visit Key West, I usually skip the car entirely. Old Town is compact, so the easiest way to move around Key West is by bike or on foot, especially between Duval, Bahama Village, and the waterfront. I like riding early, before the heat builds, then parking the bike near Mallory Square and wandering the lanes locals actually use, like Petronia and Margaret. If I’m heading farther out toward Higgs Beach or Stock Island, I’ll grab the Lower Keys Shuttle instead of dealing with parking. In my travel guide Key West tip sheet, that’s always my advice: slower travel makes the best things to do in Key West easier to enjoy when you visit Key West.
When I first bring friends to Key West, I tell them to split the day between the water and Old Town. Start early with a Cuban coffee on Petronia, then wander Bahama Village before Duval wakes up. For classic things to do in Key West, I like pairing a snorkel trip with a slow afternoon at the Key West Cemetery, where the quirky epitaphs say more about the island than any museum label. Around sunset, skip the busiest stretch of Mallory Square and walk to White Street Pier instead. If you’re comparing tours in Key West and attractions in Key West, that mix gives you the real feel for what to see in Key West.
When I visit Key West, I shop by neighborhood rather than sticking to one street. For local boutiques and island-made goods, I head to Bahama Village and the quieter blocks off Petronia, where you’ll find better finds than the loudest stretch of Duval. If I want galleries and home décor, I wander Old Town around Fleming and Whitehead, where Key West feels more residential and less staged. Around the Historic Seaport, I look for small shops with nautical antiques and handmade jewelry. In my travel guide Key West notes, that mix is one of the best things to do in Key West if you want to visit Key West beyond the obvious souvenir stops.
When I want quieter attractions in Key West, I slip off Duval and head for places many first-timers miss. I love the little lanes around Bahama Village, especially Thomas and Olivia, where Key West still feels lived-in. The West Martello Garden Club by Higgs Beach is one of my favorite hidden corners in Key West—lush, breezy, and rarely crowded. I also recommend walking the cemetery’s back sections for the island’s odd humor and history, then ending at Indigenous Park on the Atlantic side for a calmer sunset. If you’re sorting through tours in Key West, these spots give a better sense of what to see in Key West beyond the obvious.
When I visit Key West for nightlife, I base myself in Old Town, especially the lower half of Duval and the lanes spilling toward Bahama Village. That part of Key West gives you everything from live music and small cocktail bars to late-night Cuban food, all within walking distance. I usually prefer the side streets just off Duval—Greene, Petronia, and Angela—because they feel more local than the loudest main drag spots. In my travel guide Key West notes, it’s one of the easiest things to do in Key West if you want to visit Key West without worrying about driving or parking after dark.