The Florida Keys are a chain of over 800 tropical islands along the state’s southern coastline, known for its quirky shops and restaurants, aquamarine waters, and laid back vibes. From outdoor adventures to being a beach bum, you could spend months exploring this magical corner of the country. If you don’t have quite that much time to live your best island life, not to worry—here’s 24 incredible things to do in the Florida Keys.

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How to get to and around the Florida Keys

The best way to explore this area is with a Florida Keys road trip. 

Most visitors fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale and make their way south, heading from the northernmost island, Key Largo, and ending in the southernmost, Key West.

Along the way, you’ll be cruising along the incredibly scenic 113 mile Over-the-Seas Highway. This iconic road crosses 42 bridges and connects 44 islands, all surrounded by shockingly turquoise water. 

It’s worth mentioning that there is also an airport in Key West that you can fly into. From here, you can get a rental car to drive to and around the other Keys.

It’s definitely worth checking prices for airfare and rental cars from Key West, but, in our experience, it’s usually WAY more expensive than flying into either Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

My husband, Justin, and I have visited the Florida Keys a number of times and recently spent about 10 days road tripping around the islands earlier this year. While driving nonstop on the Over-the-Seas Highway would take you just about three hours, we weren’t able to see and do everything we wanted within our 10 day timeframe. 

So, regardless of where your road trip starts, pick which stops seem most interesting to you, give yourself a day or five to stop and explore, and soak up the unique vibes of the Keys. 

Best things to do in the Florida Keys

I’m breaking down the best things to do in the Florida Keys based on where they’re located, from the northernmost to the southernmost.

Let’s hit the road!

Key Largo

1. Watch sunset at the Caribbean Club

Located at: Mile Marker 104

Dating back to 1938, the Caribbean Club is an institution in Key Largo. Its main claim to fame is that it was actually used as a filming location for the Humphrey Bogart film, Key Largo. 

The bar’s interior feels a bit dive-y, but grab a drink (it’s cash only!) and head outside. The bar’s patio consists of an expansive stretch of sand, right along the water, with plenty of Adirondack chairs and picnic tables to relax at. 

If you want an even better view of the sunset, though, walk along the wooden dock and dangle your feet over the edge. Justin and I watched one of the best sunsets of our lives here, while drinking a Corona and watching a pod of dolphins leap out of  the water just a couple hundred of feet away. That’s some Florida Keys magic right there. 

2. Snorkel or scuba dive at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Located at: Mile marker 102.5

Key Largo is known as “The Diving Capital of the World” and is considered to be the gateway to the Florida Reef, the only living coral reef in the continental United States and the third largest coral reef on the planet. 

John Pennekamp, the country’s first underwater park, protects 70 square nautical miles of the reef, including several historic shipwrecks; abundant wildlife, including over 260 species of tropical fish and around 80 species of coral; and crystal clear water. 

The state park has a couple of small, but nice beaches and kayak/paddle board rentals, if you’d prefer to stay close to shore. However, the best way to experience its impressive coral reef is to get out on (and into!) the water. 

In fact, the park is largely considered to offer the best scuba diving in the continental U.S. and is an excellent place to spot a wide variety of sharks, rays, sea turtles, and even dolphins. Justin and I took this two-tank dive tour with Silent World Dive Shop and had a BLAST, diving around two shipwreck sites and seeing multiple turtles, rays, and the most massive pufferfish I ever did see.  

If you don’t happen to be a certified diver, there are plenty of shallower spots for snorkelers as well, like this tour that stops at two coral reefs in the park, or this half-day tour.

Tavernier

3. Grab a slice at Blonde Giraffe Key Lime Factory

Located at: Mile Marker 92

Listen, there are endless places to get key lime pie of all different varieties throughout the Florida Keys, but Blonde Giraffe is frequently voted as having the best slice in all of the land. 

At this cute little shop, you can get a whole pie or just a slice, as well as candy, cookies, and a solid latte from the coffee bar. Better yet, the shop has a beautiful, lush garden with tables in the back, perfect for enjoying your sweet treats. 

Islamorada

4. Snap a photo with the World’s Largest Lobster at Rain Barrel Village

Located at: Mile Marker 86

Rain Barrel Village is a collection of quirky boutiques, colorful art galleries, and open-air bars and restaurants. And while it’s absolutely worth meandering about in and of itself, it’s actually most famous for something else entirely—Betsy, a biologically accurate and MASSIVE fiberglass sculpture of a spiny lobster.

Betsy is quite the sight, measuring an impressive 30 foot high and 40 foot long, and is believed to be the largest lobster on the planet. She also holds the impressive title of the second most photographed attraction in the Florida Keys, after the southernmost point marker in Key West. 

And, I mean, did you really visit the Florida Keys if you didn’t get a photo with Betsy?

5. Get a beer at the Florida Keys Brewing Company

Located at: Mile Marker 91.5

This was the first brewery established in the Upper Keys and remains the only brewery that actually produces beers on the islands themselves. 

Florida Keys Brewing Company has an impressive variety of beers (which you can try as a flight!) and a fun, laid back atmosphere. The best part of the brewery, if you ask me, is its beer garden out back, which has some hardcore Florida Keys vibes, with colorfully painted tables and chairs, swaying palm trees, and live music.

6. Stop at the History of Diving Museum

Located at: Mile Marker 83

This small, but charming non-profit museum is worth a stop, whether you’re a diver or not. 

The History of Diving Museum focuses on the long and storied history of man’s attempt to explore the ocean, spanning dozens of countries and across thousands of years. It actually houses one of the largest collections of diving helmets (some of which look straight out of Doctor Who), armored suits, and other diving equipment on the planet, all of which are displayed in engaging and interactive exhibits. 

Plus, if you’re traveling with little ones, there’s also a fun scavenger hunt to keep them entertained.

7. Try at flight at Islamorada Beer Company

Located at: Mile Marker 82

Yet another brewery in Islamorada that’s worth a stop, the Islamorada Beer Company also has an impressive claim to fame—it’s the Keys’ only brewery and distillery.  This brewery has a friendly staff, a solid beer line-up and spirits to sample, and a massive beer garden in the back, with plenty of patio games to play and live music.

I still dream of the Frozen Key Lime Pie Cocktail here—SO refreshing on a sticky hot day!

8. See the tarpon at Robbie’s

Located at: Mile Marker 78

Stopping at Robbie’s, a marina, is inarguably one of the most popular things to do in the Florida Keys. 

The marina is primarily known for its ENORMOUS tarpon, which are fish that can weigh up to 150 pounds and grow up to eight feet long, and the aggressive pelicans that hang out around its piers. 

Admission to the pier is $2.50 per person and, if you’re a brave soul, you can hand-feed the massive tarpon (who may or may not weigh more than you!) with bait fish for $5 a bucket.  

Beyond its wildlife, Robbie’s is also home to a cute souvenir stand that offers everything from trinkets to fresh coconuts and Charli’s Shave Ice, an adorable Airstream that serves up the best shave ice in the Florida Keys. 

Marathon

9. Soak up the sun at Sombrero Beach

Located at: Mile Marker 50

In my opinion, Sombrero is the best beach in the Keys, with soft, white sand that’s lined with palm trees and clear, turquoise water. Beyond being gorgeous, the beach also has some of the nicest facilities in the area, with a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk, playground, two volleyball courts, barbecue pits, picnic pavilions, showers, and restrooms. 

In the warmer months, this is a good place to spot manatees right offshore and year round, you have a good chance of seeing other marine life here, like stingrays and dolphins. 

10. Save a turtle at the Turtle Hospital

Located at: Mile Marker 48.5

True to its name, the Turtle Hospital is a nonprofit organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and releases injured and sick sea turtles back into the wild. In fact, since its founding in 1986, the Hospital has successfully treated over 3,000 turtles! 

During your visit, you’ll get a 70-90 minute educational tour of the facility, including its hospital and rehab area. Depending on what’s going on the day of your visit, you might get to see a turtle undergoing surgery or one being released back into the wild. 

Be sure to reserve tickets online ahead of time—this is one of the most popular things to do in the Florida Keys, so it’s unlikely you’ll be able to join a tour if you just show up.

Insider tip: A good portion of the 90 minute tour of the hospital is an educational talk about sea turtles and their conservation, which might not be engaging for young children. If you have super little ones, I’d suggest skipping this one.

Big Pine Key

11. Hit the beach at Bahia Honda State Park

Located at: Mile Marker 37

Bahia Honda is mostly known for its three beaches, which are some of the best in the Florida Keys. However, this state park also has a nice hiking trail, kayaking and stand-up paddle board rentals, and excellent bird-watching.

When Justin and I visited the park, we spent a few hours swimming and soaking up the sun at Sandspur Beach, which had crystal clear waters and calm waves. However, Calusa and Loggerhead Beaches offer the best snorkeling in the park, with TONS of conch shells, tropical fish, and even rays. 

12. Add a dollar bill to the walls at No Name Pub

Located at: Mile Marker 30.5

Dating back to 1936, No Name Pub is perhaps the most famous bar in the Florida Keys.

It’s become something of a Keys legend for a variety of reasons—for about a decade, it was a brothel in addition to being a bar and restaurant; at least $90,000 of dollar bills have been stapled to its walls and ceiling; and its patio is one of the best places to spot Key deer, the smallest (and highly endangered) species of whitetail deer. 

Like any good pub, No Name has stick-to-your-ribs food offerings, like pizza, sandwiches, and burgers. I still dream of their thick, puffy fries and delicious pina coladas! 

13. Spot a gator at the Blue Hole Wildlife Observation Platform

Located at: Mile Marker 30.5

One of the best places to spot wildlife in the Florida Keys is the Blue Hole, a wooden platform that overlooks a flooded rock quarry, surrounded by dense flora. 

It’s usually a pretty quick stop, but there’s educational signs and frequently, knowledgeable volunteers here that provide interesting information about the animals that call this area home. When Justin and I stopped here, we saw two alligators happily sunning themselves on rocks and there were a few Key deer meandering about (although we kept missing them somehow!). 

14. See a Key deer at the National Key Deer Refuge Nature Center

Located at: Mile Marker 29

Big Pine Key is home to the highest concentration of Key deer, a tiny subspecies of white tailed deer that grows no taller than three feet and weighs no more than 65 pounds. Unfortunately, only about 800 Key deer still survive, so it can be hard to spot one here. 

If you want to learn more about Key deer, I’d recommend stopping at the National Key Deer Refuge Nature Center, which has informational displays and friendly rangers who can educate you on this unique animal and other wildlife in the Keys.

Occasionally, deer are spotted wandering around the parking lot here and, if not, the rangers can usually point you to where you may have a good chance of spotting them.

Key West

Key West is by far the most populated and well-developed of the Florida Keys, with TONS of bars and restaurants, museums, and other attractions. It also happens to be home to Mile 0 of the Over-the-Seas Highway, so I’ll leave the Mile Markers out for the town’s attractions.

Given you could easily spend at least a few days in this charming city, we plan on writing a whole post all about the best things to do in Key West, but, for now, here are our absolute favorites: 

15. Enjoy sunset from a floating tiki bar

One of our favorite things we’ve ever done in all of the Florida Keys is joining a sunset cruise on a tiki boat. 

It’s exactly as ridiculous as it sounds—you head out on a small motorboat that’s been retrofitted to look like a tiki bar (complete with a thatched roof!) and cruise around Key West’s shoreline, with a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain. The cruise is BYOB, although the tour operator provides ice, a cooler, and a Bluetooth speaker so you can jam out to whatever you’d like. 

As you cruise around, you’ll watch out for marine life in the turquoise waters around you—when we went, we unfortunately didn’t see anything, but our captain said, during warmer months, it’s not unusual to see dolphins or manatees around the boat. And, at sunset, you’ll head out to the waters in front of Mallory Square to watch the sun sink into the Atlantic Ocean—but without all the chaotic crowds. 

We joined one of the Key West tiki boats for New Year’s Eve and had an ABSOLUTE blast—definitely a unique way to celebrate the last sunset of the year! You can either book a cruise by the seat, if you’re just going with a few other people, or book a private cruise for yourself! 

16. Pet all the six-toed cats at the Hemingway House

Ernest Hemingway, the emphatically macho author of For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Sun Also Rises, is Key West’s most beloved former resident, having lived here from 1931 to 1939.

The most popular attraction in Key West is the Hemingway House, a Spanish colonial-style residence, built in 1851, that Hemingway lived in with his wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. 

With your admission ticket (which costs $18 per adult), you can join a guided tour around the home that’s offered every 15 minutes. Even if you’re not a huge Hemingway fan, it’s fascinating to hear about Hemingway’s tumultuous life, from his adventures around the world to his womanizing and boozing. 

And the best part, of course, is his menagerie of six-toed cats. It’s believed that Hemingway was gifted his first six-toed kitty by a local fisherman, Captain Stanley Dexter. Sailors believed that polydactyl cats were good luck and better hunters than their five-toed counterparts. Currently, Hemingway House is home to almost 60 of these furry cuties, making this a paws-itively mandatory stop on your Florida Keys adventure.

Pssst… if you were as obsessed with Hemingway’s no-nonsense prose as I was in high school (just me? Cool, cool.), you’ll love how the author’s history and lure permeates multiple facets of Key West. If you really want to dive into his favorite local haunts in the area, I’d suggest going on this nighttime walking tour dedicated to the town’s favorite ne'er do well. 

17. Kayaking through mangroves

Mangroves, which is a salt-tolerant species of shrub and trees, is an important part of the ecosystem here. In fact, they line more than 1,800 miles of shoreline around the islands.

One of the best things to do in the Florida Keys is to get out on the water into the mangroves and explore them by kayak. Key West is an awesome place to do it—there’s tons of narrow channels of mangroves to navigate through and plenty of wildlife, ranging from fish and small sharks to stingrays and manatees.

We went on this two-hour tour with Lazy Dog Adventures and LOVED it—we had a ton of fun paddling through the mangroves and enjoying the wildlife, plus our guide taught us a ton about the Keys’ unique ecosystem and ecology. 

18. Get a photo with the Southernmost Point marker

This is a quick and inarguably touristy stop. But, still, you’re basically contractually obligated to stop at the Southernmost Point marker whilst in Key West!

I’d just recommend going early in the morning—if not, you’ll likely have to wait in a line that can get pretty long. On the bright side, it always moves pretty fast!

19. Barhopping on Duval Street

Duval Street is the main drag of Key West, with tons of bars, restaurants, and shops to explore. 

Key West is known for its buzzing nightlife—and, with over 100 bars, Duval Street is its party epicenter. Whether you’re looking for a wild night out or just a nightcap along the waterfront, you have plenty of options to choose from.

Some of our favorites include:

• Sloppy Joes: This is the most famous bar in Key West, known for being Hemingway’s favorite watering hole. Come for the history, but stay for the cold drinks and live music. 
• Captain Tony’s Saloon: This was actually the original site of Sloppy Joe’s from 1933 to 1938, until it moved across the corner to its current location. So, of course, Captain Tony’s also claims Hemingway as its most beloved former patron. I actually prefer Captain Tony’s to Sloppy Joes for its quirky decor, nightly live music, and friendly atmosphere.
• The Green Parrot: If the first two options are a bit too touristy for you, The Green Parrot is one of the oldest bars in Key West and has a more local, chill vibe. 
• General Horseplay: An upscale lounge, more suited for a date night, with killer hand-crafted cocktails
• Sunset Pier: This place is always packed and the service is usually quite slow, but the location of this waterfront bar can’t be beat. Order a frozen drink and enjoy the live music and island time, baby!

20. Soak up the sun at Smathers Beach

Smathers Beach is one of the prettiest beaches in the Keys, with soft white sand, floofy palm trees, and calm water. There’s also kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to rent if you’re more of an active beach bum.

I’d just recommend bringing water shoes or hiking sandals—while the sand on the beach is nice and soft, the ocean floor is quite rocky when you’re wading around. 

21. Visit Dry Tortugas National Park

Florida is actually home to three national parks, including Dry Tortugas, 70 miles west off the coast of Key West. 

Dry Tortugas is such a unique national park, with electric turquoise water, incredible snorkeling, and Fort Jefferson, a Civil War-era building that holds the impressive title as being the largest brick structure on the entire western hemisphere. 

Still, it remains one of the least visited national parks, due to its remoteness—and the expense of getting there. The only way to get to Dry Tortugas is via the Yankee Freedom Ferry, which costs $220 per person roundtrip, or via a seaplane, operated by Key West Seaplane Adventures, which costs an eye-watering $466 per adult for a half-day tour.

If you’re a U.S. National Park fangirl, like me; history buff; or just not on a tight budget, it’s definitely worth investing the time—and money—to see this magical area of the country. 

22. Explore Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

Fort Zachary Taylor has a lot going on. It has one of the best beaches in Key West, has incredible bird-watching opportunities, and has the largest collection of Civil War armament in the world.

Try to time your visit for 11 AM, when there’s daily tours around the Civil War-era fort, including the world’s largest collection of seacoast guns. Afterwards, soak up the sun on the beach—just remember to bring water shoes or hiking sandals as the sand is a bit rocky here. 

23. Attend the nightly Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square

One of the most iconic things to do in the Florida Keys is to watch the sun sink into the Atlantic Ocean from Mallory Square in downtown Key West. 

But this isn’t any old sunset. Dating back to the 1960s, every evening, the square is full of street performers and musicians, food and drink carts, and hundreds of visitors that are all gathered to watch the spectacular sunset. It’s free, fun, and a Key West tradition.

24. Get spooky on a ghost tour

Like any good Southern city worth its salt, Key West is hella haunted—in fact, The Travel Channel named Key West as one of the most haunted cities in the United States.

If you’re a spooky story lover (like me!), consider joining a ghost tour, where you can learn about the city’s darker side, from murders to its Yellow Fever epidemics. This adults-only walking tour focuses on Key West’s salacious past, perfectly balancing history with plenty of spooky bits thrown in.

When to visit the Florida Keys

The best time to visit the Florida Keys is December through April, when the skies are clear, the weather is pleasantly warm, and the mosquitoes are mostly at bay.

As mentioned above, during our last Florida Keys road trip, Justin and I visited at the very end of December. While we had near perfect weather, we dealt with LOTS of crowds and things being sold out, plus the temperatures were usually just a touch too cold for much beach time. Accordingly, if we were to go back and visit again (which I know we will!), I think we’d try to visit in March or April for slightly lower crowds and balmier weather.

Outside of these months, you can expect muggy, hot weather (with the heat index regularly exceeding 100 degrees); stormy skies (including even hurricanes!); and LOTS of mosquitoes. Plus, beaches on the Atlantic side are usually covered with sargassum, a smelly and unsightly seaweed, from May through September. 

That being said, you’re likely to get better deals on hotels, rental cars, and airfare and deal with lower crowds here—so it’s definitely not all bad! 

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There you have it—the best 24 things to do in the Florida Keys. Do you have any questions about visiting this magical corner of the country? Let us know in the comments below!