Explore Key West
Plan Your Key West Holiday: Best of Key West
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Essential Key West
Traveller Guides
A nightlife guide to Key West
- Sloppy Joe's Bar8,316Easily the most legendary bar in Key West, Sloppy Joe’s has been around since 1933 and was a favourite of Ernest Hemingway. I love popping in for conch fritters and a frozen Rum Runner and enjoying the live music from local bands that play every day until closing.
- General Horseplay90One of the newer cocktail-driven spots in town, General Horseplay is where to go for a well-curated menu, housemade syrups, and fat-washed cognacs. Vibes are on point and the bartenders are super knowledgeable and always down to experiment with your palette. Don’t miss the more casual backyard area with live music and games.
- 801 Bourbon Bar429It’s no surprise that one of the country’s most LGBTQ+ cities has a bar with a drag cabaret. Downstairs always has music and karaoke, but upstairs is where the real fun happens. There’s a nightly drag show that takes place in a small, but cosy room with super affordable drinks. A warning: If you sit near the stage, you will be participating in the show in a big way.
- The Chart Room Bar34This place is a hotel-room-turned-bar that’s been around for decades. It’s super small and the type of spot you stop into for a drink and free bar snacks. In the 1970s, a young Jimmy Buffet would play here regularly, in exchange for free drinks, while he workshopped songs that would later become some of his biggest hits.
- Green Parrot Bar1,395This is a true dive bar in every sense of the word. You won’t find fancy drinks or food, but you will find incredible live music and tons of people living their best Florida Keys life. The staff is friendly and quick which means you’ll be spending way more of your time people-watching and taking in the cool music memorabilia on the walls than you will waiting for a drink.
- Rick's Key West53If you’re visiting Key West with a group, this is your spot. Rick’s Bar is a real choose-your-own adventure situation with eight bars in one. The highlights: Durty Harry’s, which is a rock music venue pub-like room; Rick’s Loft, where you’ll find legit cocktails; and Rick’s Upstairs for nightclub dancing. And there’s way more.
- 22&Co14Flamingos, tutus, and unicorns—oh my. Totally different from any other bar in town, 22&Co is all about embracing fun, silly, colourful lifestyles and not taking anything too seriously. The drinks are on the sweet and fruity side, filled with edible glitter made by bartenders with big personalities who really love their job. There’s bingo, tarot card readings, and drag shows weekly. Protip: Show up in a tutu and you’ll score 22% off your bill.
Explore Key West by interest
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Hit the water
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Step back in time
A taste of Cuba
Travelers' pro tips for experiencing Key West
In the words of those who've been there before ...
What is the best way to get there?
Flying:
The Key West International Airport is the main commercial airport serving Key West. Hotel shuttle buses and taxis are available.
Bus:
Greyhound offers bus services to Key West from Miami along with several private touring companies.
Driving:
Travelers driving to Key West have one way in: The Overseas Highway. It’s 165 miles from Miami to Key West, and should take travelers a little over three hours to complete.
Do I need a visa?
If you’re visiting Key West from overseas, use the state department’s Visa Wizard to see if you need a visa.
When is the best time to visit?
Key West is a late-winter, early-spring hot spot. During this time, the temperatures tend to hover between 70 to 80 degrees F (21-26C). The winter snowbirds will also be flying back north and the high tourism season will have yet to begin, making it an ideal time to get a great deal and stretch out a bit in Key West.
Bus
There are several public bus routes servicing the island. Fares start at $2 one-way, or visitors can pick up a day pass for $4.
Taxis and rideshare
Both taxis and ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft are readily available.
Driving
Parking is available at most hotels and rental homes, however, driving isn’t recommended on the island. The streets are small, and public parking is extremely hard to come by. Walk, bike or take the bus instead.