Key West is known for its nightlife, but it’s also a great place to slow down, enjoy the sunshine, and spend the day eating well and exploring.
We only had one day to explore Key West on our most recent visit, so we focused on the stops that felt most worth our time and planned the day in a way that didn’t feel rushed.
The result was a day with sightseeing, a bit of local history, good food, and plenty of quality time together.
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The Best Key West One Day Itinerary For Couples
When you visit Key West, you really should plan to spend at least 2 full days here, but if you’re like us, some vacations can only fit a certain amount of activities.
So if you just have 1 full day to explore Key West, here’s what you’ll want to do.
This article is also featured on GPSmyCity.
To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Key West.
Morning: Conch Tour Train
The best way to see any new destination is by starting off with a tour to get your bearings.
Some places have horse-drawn carriage tours or golf cart tours, but in Key West, they have the Conch Tour Train.
It takes about 75 minutes to complete the entire tour and they make 3 stops along the way for you to get out and explore.
We always do tours like this at every new destination we visit because the guides will tell you the best places to go and the places you’ll want to avoid.
You’ll also understand the layout of the town better, which will be helpful for the rest of the day.
Click Here To Book Your Conch Tour Train In Key West Today!
Southernmost Point Buoy
Southernmost Point is a great place to get a photo of yourself standing at the southernmost point in the continental United States.
Across the street is the “Southernmost” bar that also has it’s own buoy.
The earlier you go in the day, the better, because there will be longer lines throughout the day.
Enjoy The Classic Architecture Around Key West
Key West is known for its unique architecture, which is a blend of influences from the Caribbean, Cuba, and the American South.
The most common architectural styles in Key West are Conch Houses, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Art Deco.
Lunch: Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
We normally don’t visit chain restaurants when we travel because why would we waste a meal on something we could get anywhere.
However, if you’re going to visit any Margaritaville location, this would be THE location to go to.
You’ll want to try all of the iconic menu items like the margarita, the Cheeseburger in Paradise, and the Key Lime Pie.
Key lime pie is one of our all-time favorite desserts and we get it literally everywhere we go in Florida and it never disappoints!
Alternative Lunch: Sloppy Joe’s Bar
If you want something a little more local, then I’d recommend Sloppy Joe’s Bar!
It’s a historic bar that is known for being a place where Ernest Hemingway would hang out when he was living in Key West.
Afternoon: Ernest Hemingway Home And Museum
Ernest Hemingway is one of my favorite American authors (with John Steinbeck being a close second).
The tour of his home in Key West lets you see behind the curtain of who he really was as a person and how he really lived.
Most visitors just want to see the 6-toed cats though, which are all descendants of Hemingway’s beloved 6-toed cat.
Harry S. Truman Little White House
The Harry S. Truman Little White House was once the winter home for President Harry Truman.
I visited when I went with my grandparents a few years before I started blogging, so I couldn’t find any photos from that trip unfortunately, but just imagine if they had built the White House in Key West instead of DC.
There’s a lot more Floridian elements, while still feeling presidential.
Click Here To Book Your Harry S. Truman Little White House Admission Today!
Dinner: Conch Republic Seafood Company
The best place for dinner on the water is Conch Republic Seafood Company.
They are best known for their famous conch chowder, which is more like a chili than a clam chowder, that I did not care for at all.
I’m not exactly sure what about it I didn’t like, but I took one bite and made JP eat the rest of it.
You can get pretty much any type of shrimp here, which is the direction we took with our dinner.
We got some regular breaded shrimp as well as some coconut shrimp (which was my favorite).
For dessert, they have a fantastic Hot Pineapple Upside-Down Rum Cake.
I also recommend their mojitos, which are actually refreshing after a long day of sight-seeing.
Evening: Mallory Square At Sunset
Mallory Square is the center of all the action in Key West.
There is a cruise port here, popular resorts, tons of seafood restaurants, and street entertainment, so it’s a great place for people watching and just enjoying the fresh air.
Best Places To Stay In Key West
There are a variety of resorts, hotels, inns, and timeshares all throughout Key West in just about every neighborhood with varying price ranges.
These are the ones we most recommend.
Best Location: Hyatt Centric Key West Resort And Spa
If you want to stay in the best location, treat yourself to ocean views, and have all the amenities of resorts, then Hyatt Centric Key West is for you.
It’s one of the pricier resorts in Key West, but it really can’t be beat.
It’s right next to the Conch Republic Seafood Company in Mallory Square also.
Click Here To Book Your Stay At Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa Today!
Best Budget: Doubletree Resort By Hilton Grand Key – Key West
If you’re on a budget, then there are still some great hotels and resorts to stay in.
The Doubletree is over near the airport, so about 10-15 minutes from the center of town, but they have a free shuttle that will take you into town all throughout the day and night.
We stayed here on our visit since we are Hilton Honors Diamond Members and tend to stay at Hilton owned properties as much as possible.
Click Here To Book Your Stay At Doubletree Resort By Hilton Grand Key – Key West Today!
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Key West
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get about making the best Key West day trip itinerary.
Is It Worth A Day Trip To Key West?
JP has only spent barely 24 hours in Key West and has seen a lot more than many visitors do on a long weekend.
The above attractions can all be visited in a single day and it’ll give you a great overview of almost everything you can do in Key West.
I still recommend 2 full days though to feel like you’re not being rushed.
Can You Drive To Key West For One Day?
I personally would want more time than that, but if you’re trying to squeeze in everything you can into your trip, then it’s definitely doable.
From the Miami area it’s about a 3 1/2 hour drive each way.
When I took JP for the first time, we drove down in the afternoon, stayed the night, then left the following afternoon.
Is Key West A Day Trip From Miami?
We tend to keep our day trips to about 2 1/2 hours each way, but it’s a scenic drive and there’s places you can stop along the way to break up the drive.
Is The Drive From Miami To Key West Worth It?
This drive is one of the most scenic drives in the world.
You’re surrounded by the bluest, clearest water the entire time.
There are many bridges you cross over as you drive from key to key.
I highly recommend driving to Key West at least once in your lifetime.
More Great Places To Visit Around Florida
There are so many places to go all over Florida that it can be hard to narrow down where exactly to go, but these are some of our favorite destinations we’ve visited, including my favorite secret things to do at Disney World.
St. Augustine One Day Itinerary For Couples
St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the US.
This historic town is the perfect place for couples to spend a day or weekend getaway.
From romantic carriage rides to haunted cemeteries, there’s something for everybody.
Kennedy Space Center One Day Itinerary
The Kennedy Space Center is an experience everyone should have at least once.
It’s on Florida’s Space Coast near Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach.
There are outdoor and indoor exhibits, interactive exhibits, and you can even meet real astronauts.
Florida’s Treasure Coast Two Day Itinerary For Couples
Florida’s Treasure Coast is made up of towns like Vero Beach, Port St Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Jensen Beach.
It’s a quieter and less visited area, but that makes it perfect for a couples getaway!
Biscayne National Park One Day Itinerary
Biscayne National Park is just outside of Miami and is almost entirely under water.
A day trip here consists of snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding, picnic lunches on an island, and more.
Everglades National Park One Day Itinerary
Everglades National Park is a great park to visit when you just have one day.
You can take airboat tours around the park and walk a variety of boardwalk and paved trails to see the local wildlife.
See The Best Of Florida In One Week
Key West was always on my bucket list, so I love that I’ve been able to visit a couple times over the years.
And I love that I was able to show JP around since he had never been!
When we visited, it was part of a larger one week Florida road trip.
We started and ended in Orlando, and we were able to visit places like St. Augustine, the Kennedy Space Center, Miami, Biscayne National Park, Key West, Everglades National Park, and Tampa.
Definitely check out this itinerary for more Florida travel ideas!
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