FREE THINGS IN KEY WEST

  • 1. Mallory Square – Welcome to Mallory Square where the fun starts and the sun sets. Everything Key West is famous for comes together in this one special place set on historic waterfront. Mallory Square is home to shops, restaurants, and many of the islands most popular attractions. Come for the day and stay into the night. There’s always something happening in Mallory Square.
  • 2. Duval Street – This street is the bustling heart of Key West, and a great spot to experience the city’s culture and nightlife. It’s filled with fantastic restaurants, lively bars, art galleries, and shops selling unique gifts, clothes, and hand-rolled cigars. And don’t forget to stand in line to take a photo at the Southernmost Point Buoy, which is just a block away. In the evening, you sip on a margarita and enjoy an al fresco meal, or join a haunted pub crawl and ghost tour of the area. Visit during the shoulder season between March and May when the weather is still pleasant, and the crowds are smaller.
  • 3. The Southernmost Point – A colorful landmark buoy and spectacular sunsets make the southernmost spot in the Continental U.S. a special place to visit.
  • 4. Smathers Beach – Lap up the sunshine and score a golden tan at Key West’s largest public beach. The crystalline waters, palm-lined shores, and clear blue skies are all you need for a relaxing beach vacation. But if you’re up for some beach activities, there are beach volleyball nets, jet skis and paddleboard rentals available. Couples can opt for a romantic catamaran cruise while families with young kids can enjoy a splashing good time in the shallow waters. You can visit Smathers Beach any time of the year, but it gets particularly busy between March and April, when the spring break crowd rolls in.
  • 5 – Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center – Explore the different ecosystems, creatures, history, and conservation efforts of the Florida Keys at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center. Featuring more than 6,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, learn how to be a part of the solution to protect paradise. The center is located on the Truman Annex waterfront in Key West. Admission is always free (and so is parking), so be sure to stop by for a visit! This visitor center provides a range of accessibility features for every visitor to enjoy the exhibits. The center is a KultureCity Sensory Inclusive Facility. The videos within the exhibits are open-captioned and narrated, and the exhibit text is available in several languages, such as English, Spanish, German, French, and Haitian Creole. Visit our website to learn more information specifically about wheelchair mobility, service animals, sight and hearing impaired assistance, and sensory friendly assistance.
  • 6 – Key West Garden Club – The Key West Garden Club at West Martello Tower is a tropical garden paradise by the sea on the site of the remains of a civil war fort. It has garden rooms to delight you, the beach and sea to inspire you and history to intrigue you. This oceanside garden has free admission, free parking and is open to the public. West Martello Tower that houses the gardens has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. The garden is maintained by many dedicated volunteers.
  • 7 – US 1 Mile Marker 0 – Located at the corner of Fleming Street and Whitehead Street, this mile marker is one of the most popular photo spots in Key West.
  • 8 – Saint Mary Star of the Sea – This basilica is the only Catholic church on Key West. Explore its Victorian-style architecture, history and grotto, believed to protect the island from hurricanes.

RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS NEAR THE CRUISE PORT