Things to Do in Key West
Things to do on Key West, where Old Town is small, the parking is not, and most of what you came for happens on the water.
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Museum & fun
Wildlife & nature
How to plan a Key West day
Old Town is the rare Florida destination you can do on foot. The museums, the aquarium, Duval Street and Mallory Square sit within a few blocks of each other, and once the car is parked you can leave it. Parking is the genuine problem. The city garage on Grinnell Street is the reliable option, first come first served and open around the clock, and paying there also covers the city bus routes for everyone in your car. The hop-on trolley is partly an answer to the same problem, since it loops the island and saves you moving the car between stops.
The water is the reason to come. The only coral barrier reef in North America sits about seven miles offshore, which means every look at it starts with a boat: there is no swimming out from the beach here. That splits cleanly by whether you swim. Snorkel trips run about three hours and put you in the water for roughly one of them, while a glass bottom boat keeps everyone dry and works for non-swimmers, small children and anyone who would rather watch. Both depend entirely on the sea state, and a windy day is the one thing no operator can refund you out of.
Sunset is a civic event here, and you have a free option and a paid one. Mallory Square's Sunset Celebration starts about two hours before the sun goes down and costs nothing beyond tips for the buskers. A sunset sail costs money and buys an unblocked horizon, a seat and a drink in hand. Either is a fine evening; the boats mostly suit people who want the view without the crowd. Getting here at all is the last thing to plan around, because Key West is roughly 160 miles down US-1 from Miami, and that drive is most of a day in each direction.
Where to stay in Key West
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Do you need a car in Key West?
Not once you arrive. Old Town is walkable and the attractions cluster tightly around Duval Street and Mallory Square. You need a car to get to the island unless you fly in, and then you need somewhere to put it, which is the real cost. The city garage on Grinnell Street is the dependable option and includes free city bus rides for your passengers.
Can you snorkel the reef from the beach in Key West?
No. The reef sits about seven miles offshore inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, so reaching it means a boat every time. Operators pick the day's site from a handful of reefs depending on conditions, which is also why you cannot choose your spot in advance.
How long is the drive from Miami to Key West?
It is roughly 160 miles down US-1 through the Keys, and the road is largely two lanes with a low speed limit for long stretches. Treat it as most of a day each way rather than a morning, and do not plan a boat trip for the afternoon you arrive.
Is a sunset cruise worth it when Mallory Square is free?
Mallory Square's Sunset Celebration is genuinely free and runs nightly, weather permitting, with performers working for tips. A boat is worth paying for if you want the horizon without a crowd in front of it, a seat, and drinks included. If the buskers and the street-fair atmosphere are the appeal, stay on land.
How many days do you need in Key West?
Two nights is the practical minimum given the drive. That gives you one full day for a boat trip, which is the thing worth protecting, and a second for Old Town on foot. Weather can scrub a reef trip, so booking it early in the stay leaves room to try again.