How to Spend One Day In Key West

Key West is such a beautiful destination and is a must see for everyone. Patrick and I were able to spend time here a few months ago and we fell in love with this island! Here’s how to spend one day in Key West, but first let’s go over some basics.

Where is Key West?

Key West is located at the end of the small chain of islands known as the Florida Keys. It’s the southernmost point in the United States at the southern tip of Florida.

Best Time to Visit?

Hurricane season runs from June to November. Major hurricanes don’t happen every year, but it’s something to keep in mind when planning a trip.

The winter season runs from November to March and is the busiest plus most expensive time to visit.

April to June has beautiful weather with fewer crowds.

How to Spend One Day in Key West:

White Street Pier:

Start the morning off super early with sunrise on White Street Pier. The sunrises are supposed to be epic, unfortunately it was cloudy the morning we were there. Still recommend it, I mean you only have one day to spend in Key West.

Southernmost Point:

I recommend getting this iconic Key West picture early in the morning before the crowds get here. Even at 7:40 AM, there were already two other couples here taking pictures.

Brunch:

Brunch at Blue Heaven is a MUST DO! There’s usually always a wait, because it’s THAT good! They have an open air patio with live music and indoor dining. They have a huge waiting area across the street that serves snacks if you end up not being seated right away. I promise it’s worth all the hype!

Highly recommend the Lobster BLT Benny (Eggs Benedict). The banana bread and key lime pie are amazing too!! Check out the full menu HERE.

Ernest Hemingway House:

The Ernest Hemingway House is one of Key Wests main attractions and is open daily for walk in visits. There is a 20 -30 minute guided tour of the inside of the home, but we were also free to explore the house on our own.

Fun fact: The descendants of Hemingway’s original cats still live on the premises. Known for having six toes, they wander through the house and the gardens.

They accept cash only and for more information visit their website HERE.

Key West Lighthouse:

Located across the street from the Hemingway House, the Key West lighthouse is a fun place to explore. The 88 steps to the top are completely worth it for the amazing views of Key West and the ocean.

Duval Street:

Duval Street is the heart of Key West with funky shops, cute boutiques, and hole in the wall restaurants. Spend time shopping for souvenirs, admiring the cute architecture and people watching.

Key Lime Pie:

Eating a slice of Key Lime pie is a must on your one day in Key West! We stopped at the Southernmost Key Lime Shop on Duval. This is slice number 2 if you indulged earlier at Blue Heaven which we did.

Lunch in Key West:

I recommend stopping at something on Duval street that looks appealing to you. We ended up snacking our way down Duval, so we were not hungry enough for a big lunch and it was getting closer to dinner.

However we did stop at Two Friends Patio, near the end of Duval Street to rest our feet. They have a big open air patio with live music. We tried their conch Fritters, which are a Key West staple and Key Lime Colada. Both were delicious! Next time, I want to try their key lime french toast for breakfast.

Rum Distillery Tour

This was a fun experience during our day in Key West. First Legal Rum Distillery gives free tours everyday through their warehouse and teach you the art of making rum. It was cool to see the process and we learned a ton. Plus the free tastings at the end were great! Check out their website HERE for more information.

Historic Seaport Harbor Walk

This is a fun area to walk through and check out all the boats in the harbor. It’s also where you go for most water or sailing excursions. Next time, we plan on doing a snorkeling tour and sunset cruise. There are also amazing restaurants located in the area right by the water.

Dinner:

Speaking of amazing restaurants in the area, we had to try Conch Republic Seafood Company. You guys, we literally had a view of the boat that caught the fresh fish for that day! It’s a HUGE open air patio with live music and a great happy hour. We absolutely loved the vibe. Most importantly, the food was amazing!!

For dinner, we tried the Royal Reds (shrimp) for a starter because it was in season. Then bacon wrapped jumbo shrimp stuffed with lump crab, topped with a Korean BBQ and pineapple salsa. For dessert the Hot Pineapple Upside-down Cake was calling our name. All of it was cooked to perfection and delicious!

Sunset during on our one day in Key West:

After dinner, we headed to Mallory Square for their sunset celebration. Mallory Square is one of the most fun places to watch the sunset. They have many street performers that will do different acts to entertain you while waiting for the sun to go down. If they do amaze you with their skills, make sure to leave a them a tip. There’s also a bar nearby and food vendors if you are looking for a treat.

Bar Hopping

To end our amazing day, we had to partake in a little bit of the night life that Key West is known for. Since it was a long day, we only stopped at a couple bars before calling it a night.

Rick’s is known for great drink specials and live music.

Hog’s Breath Saloon is huge! There’s an indoor area and a huge outdoor patio with live music.

Sloppy Joe’s is the most famous bar in Key West. It’s one of the oldest, plus an Ernest Hemingway hangout.

That is how we spent one day in Key West. I would definitely recommend a longer stay, but we were able to see and do a lot during our day.

Need a place to stay in Key West? Check out our review of the Southernmost House Hotel.

Need more ideas? Check out this post on 7 Free Things to do in Key West.

Or this post The Ultimate Key West Bucket List!