We are in Key West, the most populated and well-known city in the Florida Keys (or more simply Keys) archipelago, which stretches southward for 100 miles from the continental end of the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. This strip of tiny islands with their white coral sand begins 15 miles southwest of Miami.
It should be said right away: as famous as they are for their setting, Key West’s beaches are not the best in the Florida Keys. The city beaches are narrow, small, and quite crowded; moreover, the water, although warm, is not always crystal clear, as it is often clouded by algae and sand, which can cause some discomfort.
Of course, the sand is fine and white, and the presence of palm trees swaying in the wind blowing in from the ocean creates a pleasant tropical atmosphere, to be experienced while walking at sunset with a refreshing drink in your hand and taking souvenir photos and selfies; however, the Key West beach experience may disappoint the expectations of those who expect an incredible, flawless tropical paradise. In our opinion, the best beaches around Key West remain those at Bahia Honda State Park.
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The Best Beaches of Key West
In addition to the pleasant tree-lined streets with their delightful historic houses and Victorian B&Bs, the homes of Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams and President Truman, the aquarium, the lighthouse, and the tropical gardens, Key West also has some nice beaches to visit: we are here to tell you about them. Here is a map to get an overall idea of where they are in relation to the city center.
South Beach
Accessible from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., South Beach (1405 Duval St.) is a popular narrow public beach that is located at the south end of Main Street and extends eastward. In addition to the great swimming you can opt for here, this beach is a symbolic place because it is located in the area of the Southernmost Point buoy, the southernmost point in the United States.
Not surprisingly, because of this, everyone wants to take pictures, selfies and of course we did too. Here you can still relax on the sandy shoreline, enjoy the breeze, swaying palms and swim among the warm, shallow waters with a coral backdrop, but you should know that you will always be in plentiful company! Crowding aside, romance is assured at sunrise and sunset, two very suggestive moments. Parking is available on the road. A note of local history: the writer Tennessee Williams owned a house here and swam on this shoreline.
Higgs Beach
At 1000 Atlantic Boulevard, at the west base of the Edward B. Knight Pier, we find Higgs Beach: with shallow waters, this is a small sandy beach with tropical vegetation behind it that provides a bit of cool and shade. These crystal clear waters are marked for snorkeling (near the pier). You can relax in the sun (well protected), explore the marine life (sometimes you can meet stingrays), play tennis, volleyball and for the little ones there is a playground. Near the beach are the interesting garden of West Martello Tower (free entrance), a restaurant (it’s called Salute!, and managed by the same people as the famous Blue Heaven) and free parking.
Rest Beach
Adjacent to Higgs Beach, east of the pier, is Rest Beach (White St. & Atlantic Blvd., accessible from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.). It looks like a small park with a beach of soft sand where fragments of coral get deposited on the shore. There are picnic tables on the shoreline surrounded by vegetation; from the pier, also called White Street Pier, you can fish and watch beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
This is a very popular place for those who want to relax early in the morning, perhaps walking along the waterfront, and in the evening there are yoga classes. It is a perfect place to be outdoors with your dog. Free parking is across the street. The Key West AIDS Memorial is located here.
Smathers Beach
On the south side of Key West, outside the downtown area and not far from the airport, is the city’s largest beach: Smathers Beach (2601 S. Roosevelt Blvd.). Long but not deep, Smathers Beach offers a beautiful sandy beach shaded by palm trees. In addition to free parking, there are volleyball nets, picnic tables and, for those who like to exercise, there are bike trails. If you plan to spend a few hours here, it is advisable to bring water and food because there are no refreshment facilities in the immediate vicinity. On the other hand, you can rent beach chairs and boats for water sports, and for those who love sunsets, this is one of the most beautiful locations to admire them from. The coast is accessible from 7 to 23.
Dog Beach
Are you traveling with a four-legged friend? You can take them with you to Dog Beach (1500 Vernon Ave.), a small beach with soft, light sand, trees and bushes where dogs can play, run and swim in the only dog-friendly beach in Key West. Palm trees provide nice shade for the owners, too!
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic Park Beach
The beach we like to the west of the island is a beautiful natural area that also has some historical interest. In fact, as the name suggests, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic Park Beach (601 Howard England Way) is home to a fort that played an important role in the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. It can be visited daily via guided tours or freely. Short trails through the park can be traversed on foot or by bicycle.
Not far away, the southern end of the park ends with a very beautiful beach, still little known by tourists: the beach is partly rocky, while in the clear waters of the sea overlooking Cuba you can swim, snorkel and fish. For some locals, this is the best beach in Key West, and not only for the beautiful sunset, it offers.
Behind it is a pleasant shaded area with a covered picnic space. The $6 entrance fee for cars also includes a permit to park. Entrance on foot is $2.5. Snacks, ice cream, cold drinks and souvenirs are available at Cayo Hueso Cafe, which overlooks the shoreline.
If after the beach you feel like doing some shopping, you don’t have to move from the heart of the island. To buy something to remind us of Key West once back home, just walk along Duval Street, the streets that cross it, and Mallory Square.
Dry Tortugas National Park
A day trip that can only be done by air or by boat (The Yankee Freedom III – 100 Grinnell St.) and seaplane (Key West Seaplane Adventures-Key West Airport) is to Dry Tortugas National Park, 66 miles west of Key West. The island is occupied almost entirely by Fort Jefferson, built in the 1800s at the behest of U.S. Navy Commodore David Porter, who was looking for the perfect place to drive pirates out of the Caribbean.
History aside, here there is no lack of evocative blue waters, coral reefs, marine life and the conspicuous presence of birds that make you fall in love with this oasis of peace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can practice snorkeling, kayaking and scuba diving. The park can be visited on guided tours or independently.
Events on the beaches
In addition to the Sunset Celebration (every day at sunset on Mallory Square), the shoreline comes alive when events take place near the beaches.
- From January to August, the Key West Fishing Tournament takes place. These are sport fishing competitions divided into categories (men, women and children).
- In June there is Swim Around Key West, a race of about 12 miles around the island during which swimmers are accompanied by kayakers. Colors and atmosphere make it spectacular.
- One of the Independence Day events is the 4th of July Fireworks, which take place at the White Street Pier, a fireworks display that starts shortly after sunset. Many people watch the show from aboard a boat.
- The Annual Key West World Championship is a speed race that takes place in November in the offshore waters. Spectators gather at the harbor to watch the boats in action as they speed by at over 100 miles per hour.
Places to eat on the waterfront
Although there are plenty of clubs and restaurants to try in town – starting with Sloppy Joe’s (201 Duval St.), famous for its drinks with some catering and Ernest Hemingway as a loyal customer – other beachfront restaurants are great for enjoying good food while taking in the dreamy views.
As anticipated, at Higgs Beach we find Salute! on the Beach (Atlantic Blvd.) a restaurant open for lunch and dinner with an adjoining bar. The excellent food and the atmosphere in the restaurant make this adorable cafe on the beach worth a stop. Dishes are inspired by Italian and Caribbean recipes: spaghetti with tomato and meatballs, homemade lasagna, roasted chicken breast with Brussels sprouts, steamed mussels and the area’s signature Key Lime Pie.
On the private island of Sunset Key, which everyone notices and envies from Mallory Square, the luxury cottage of the same name is home to Latitudes (245 Front St.), which in 2016 was judged by Open Table to be the best restaurant in Key West, and in 2017 was among the one hundred most romantic establishments in the U.S. Here you can enjoy a great view of the Gulf of Mexico with the charm created by the torches that light up the night. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; in the morning, the pancakes with maple syrup, cream and blueberries are something to be tried! Some renowned house dishes are shrimp pasta, beef carpaccio, shrimp rolls and fish tacos. More formal attire is required in the evening and reservations are recommended.
At Decan Key Resort & Spa, we recommend Hot Tin Roof (0 Duval St.), a casual-chic island-style restaurant located on the waterfront overlooking the harbor. Dishes from Florida- and Caribbean-inspired menu can be enjoyed at breakfast, brunch and dinner. The cinnamon waffles with pecans, pancakes with blueberries, omelets, fettuccine with shrimp, spicy tuna tacos, crab cakes and grilled beef tenderloin are all worth a mention. The name of the restaurant is a homage to the play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” by Tennessee Williams, who, as mentioned, frequented Key West.
Directly on South Beach, we point out Southernmost Beach Cafe (1405 Duval St.) where you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner overlooking the ocean. In the morning the pancakes with fruit, chocolate chips and maple syrup are great. Try the creative cocktails and local dishes with fresh fish. Other delicacies include fish’n chips, tacos, filet mignon, seafood pappardelle and shrimp fried rice.
Key West hotels on the Beach
To better appreciate the charm and the atmosphere of the beaches of Key West it would be perfect to spend the night in hotels on the coast, so here are some particularly interesting ones.
- Coconut Beach Resort (1500 Alberta St.) is in a quiet area on the ocean. Rooms and suites (with full kitchens) are equipped with microwaves and small refrigerators; some have private balconies and others have spectacular panoramic views. The hotel provides an ocean-view spa, pool, jacuzzi tub and a small, very private, sandy beach.
- La Mer & Dewey House (506 South St.) has rooms with romantic ocean views, private balconies or porches, wi-fi, mini-fridges and coffeemakers. There are also three pools, a fitness center, a spa and two beaches.
- The Galleon Resort and Marina (617 Front St.) is a central resort overlooking the Gulf of Mexico near the historic marina. In a tropical atmosphere, the resort features spacious, bright accommodations. The hotel has a marina available for guest boats, a private beach, a bar overlooking the harbor, and a large waterfront-facing pool and a sauna.
- Also on Front Street, at number 601, we find the Hyatt Centric Key West Resort and Spa with its contemporary style rooms. The hotel has a spa, outdoor pool, restaurants, free wi-fi and waterfront views from the rooms.
If you want to have a more detailed idea of the hotels the city offers, please read our article entirely dedicated to where to stay in Key West.
