Key West in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Key West is an island city in 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 are 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'll tell you about in a moment.

The aim of this day is to visit as many of the historical and cultural destinations in town as possible: the Sails to Rails Museum, the Cemetery, Ernest Hemingway's 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 the city centre. Here you'll find artefacts and modern audio-visual presentations that will take you back to the so-called Age of Sailing to the days of the railway.

Tickets to the Sails to Rails Museum in Key West also give you access to a series of exhibits featuring antique artifacts, 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 am to 4:30 pm.

Key West Cemetery

About 3 minutes drive from the previous destination, you will find the Key West Cemetery. This is the resting place of some of the island city's most famous personalities.

You'll see the grave of the famous three-foot-tall general, Abe Sawyer; Florida's first millionaire, William Curry; US Secretary of the Navy, Stephen Mallory, among others. Also of note are the graves of the fallen of 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, and more.

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

Ernest Hemingway's House

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

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

• Price: approximately 17€ per person.
• Opening hours: from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Key West Lighthouse

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

In addition to climbing the lighthouse, you'll be able to 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, which will give you a glimpse of Key West 100 years ago.

• Price: the average cost is €9 per person.
• Hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

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, seeing 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.
• Opening hours: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

Another must-see destination is the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. You'll find it about a 3-minute walk from the Truman Little White House. You'll see an amazing display of artifacts recovered from the 1985 shipwreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha.

As you wander through the halls of this museum, considered one of the best museums in Key West, you'll see jewellery, gold coins and silver artifacts. You can also learn about the history of shipwreck exploration, enjoy an exhibition showing life at sea during the galleon era, and more.

• Price: Tickets start at €17 per person.
• Opening hours: every day from 9:00 to 17:00.

Key West Aquarium

From the above destination, 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're in Key West with children. You'll have a fun and educational experience with dozens of marine species.

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

• Price: Tickets cost an average of €21 per person.
• Opening 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. It is a building that started life 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. You can also sip cocktails and beer while listening to live music (jazz, rock, country). Definitely 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.
• Opening hours: from 11:00 to 2:00 and on weekends it is usually open until 4:00.

On this day you will enjoy some of Key West' s natural and historical sites. 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 Reserve

The new day's adventure begins at the Key West Nature Reserve, located 8 minutes from the city centre. 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 tranquillity of the mangrove forests of this sanctuary: freshwater ponds, mammals, birds, reptiles, fish. You may see some ospreys, raccoons, white ibis and deer.

• Price: access is approximately €14 per person.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 17:00, and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00.

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. This former military fort 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 for a privileged view of the island and the Atlantic Ocean. You will also have the opportunity to stroll through the green areas, which include a butterfly and cactus garden, tropical trees, picturesque flowers and plants.

• Price: entrance to the gardens is free. The tour of the defensive tower costs around €24 per person.
• Opening hours: daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Key West Old Town

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 neighbourhood with cobblestone streets and Victorian architecture, evoking a bohemian atmosphere that will grab you. And, if you're in Key West at Christmas time, you'll enjoy a picturesque scene led by seasonal decorations and lights.

You can explore on your own, discovering art and craft galleries, street performers and more along the way. You'll also find a wide range of bars and restaurants where you can recharge your batteries, sample the local cuisine and sip a cocktail or beer. An ideal place to start a gastronomic tour of the city.

USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum

The next destination is the USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum, located about 6 minutes drive from the Old City. This is an unmissable place to delve into the military and maritime history of the island and is often included as part of the itinerary of the best Key West tours.

Upon arrival you'll notice that the museum escapes from the particular, as it's housed inside a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, a 1936 Ingham cutter. You'll be able to walk around the ship, access the radio room 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.
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 17:00.

Key West Cruise Port

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

You will have the option of walking along the pier or visiting 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 to get a different view of the whole island, spot some seabirds, dolphins and turtles.

The tour bus is a great way to travel long dist ances and access major destinations with ease, especially if you don't know your way around Key West. You won't have to worry about wasting time on the streets looking for the address of the attraction to visit.

In town you'll find the Key West Conch Train, which offers the red and blue route, the latter being the ideal way to travel to places further away from the city centre. For example, the Key West Lighthouse, Ernest Hemingway's House, among other places.

In Key West there is a public bus service that runs around much of the island (west to south). This is an option that may be a little limited due to the time involved (waiting for the route, stops along the way, etc.) but it will certainly help you get around and save on your budget.

The service, operated by Key West Transit, offers a couple of routes, as follows:

• Route 1: available Monday to Saturday from 7am to 7pm and from 9am to 5pm on Sundays. This route covers the centre 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 from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.