A quirky island city in the tropical heart of the Florida Keys, Key West offers an interesting mix of beach living, history, architecture, and culinary adventures. The tiny, 7-square mile island features literary festivals, Caribbean villas, edgy art, trendy cafés and bars. With year-round sunshine, very little rain and a constant buzz of activities and events, any time is a good time to visit Key West. Winter months from November – January attract snowbirds as well as travelers from other parts of the world. The year-end festivities and celebrations drive up the prices of hotels and flights during this time. From March – May, average temperatures stay around 78 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a good time to experience fewer tourists and take advantage of reasonable hotel rates. Summer and fall months from June – October are not only rainy and humid, but also prone to hurricanes. However, hotel rates hit rock bottom and you can have the beaches all to yourself. Just remember to book refundable flights and hotels if you visit during this time.
The month of July is another great option to travel to Key West, with average flight prices from United States averaging around $298.
The best time to book a flight to Key West from United States is 40 days out, which is when prices tend to be around $413. However, flight prices might be lower outside of this timeframe. For example, people recently found flights to Key West from United States for as low as $170 on momondo.
Our data shows that Monday is the least expensive day to fly to Key West. Tickets to fly out on this day can be as low as $401. Be sure to avoid booking your departure on a Friday as prices are generally higher than usual. According to our data, the average ticket price to Key West on Friday is $518.
Flying to Key West from United States in the afternoon is the least expensive time of day to depart. momondo users have found prices as low as $352 when looking at flights departing in the afternoon. In the morning is when there is more demand to fly to Key West, so prices are often more expensive at around $481 per ticket.
Users planning a flight to Key West during the months of August or September should anticipate rain. There are still things to do in Key West even when it's raining, though. Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is a great museum to visit near Key West and is especially great when the weather outside is less than desirable. Many tourists kill time during rain and storms by going to shopping centers in the area, like Duval Street. A family-friendly option for when the weather in Key West doesn’t cooperate is heading to Key West Aquarium, where you can enjoy all the ocean animals.
If you’re looking to do your hiking in warmer conditions, consider planning your flight to Key West for January. Parks like Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park are popular hot spots in those months.
The nearest zoo to the Key West city center is 0.6 mi away. Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is a popular attraction for area visitors as well as locals. If you are interested in visiting Key West, it is recommended to plan your flight to Key West for June, July, or October, when the weather is just right. The aquarium nearest to the Key West city center, Key West Aquarium, is just 0.5 mi away. Seeing as the aquarium is an indoor attraction, most tourists tend to visit when the weather does not cooperate. Months where the weather may be an issue in Key West are August.
The month of February, March, or April is often the best time to visit Key West to go to the beach due to the weather. South Beach is the most often visited beach in the area. Another popular area beach is Smathers Beach.
Currently, United States travel restrictions include travel to Key West. Entry restrictions
The United States has restricted the entry of all foreign nationals who have passed through or have been in China, Iran, Most European Countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City), the UK, Ireland and Brazil in the past 14 days. With the exception of certain travelers which includes certain family members of US citizens or permanent residents including; spouses, children (under the age of 21), parents (provided that his/her US citizen or permanent resident child is unmarried and under the age of 21), and siblings (provided that both the sibling and the US citizen or permanent resident are unmarried and under the age of 21); There is also an exception for travelers with the following visas: A-1, A-2, C-1, C-1/D, C-2, C-3, CR-1, CR-2, D, E-1 (as an employee of TECRO or TECO or the employee's immediate family members), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, IR-1, IR-4, IH-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 visa; Members of the US Armed Forces, spouses, and children of members of the US Armed Forces; Travelers with invitation of the USA government for a purpose related to the containment/mitigation of the Coronavirus (COVID-19); Travelers with documents issued by the US Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection, or US Department of State indicating that the traveler is exempt from the restriction; B1 crew crewmembers that are engaged in lightering, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activity, wind farm activity, private air/sea crew and other similar crewmember activities; Students with an F-1 or M-1 visa and their F-2 and M-2 dependents, if they arrive from or have been in Ireland, the UK or Schengen Area in the past 14 days.
Entry requirementsStarting on January 26, all travelers (including US citizens and transit passenger) must present a negative COVID-19 viral or antigen test result issued 72 hours prior to departure or have an evidence of having contracted and recovered from COVID-19 prior to boarding the plane. US citizens and permanent residents arriving from the UK must present a medical certificate with a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test result issued within 72 hours prior to departure.
Quarantine requirementsTravelers returning to the US are advised to stay home as much as possible, avoid being around people and consider getting tested for COVID-19 after returning from travel and participated in higher risk activities.
All other infoTravelers are subject to COVID-19 measures set by the state/territory of their final destination. For more information go to CDC website.
If you are planning to travel to Key West at this time, it is recommended that you stay up to date on current restrictions and follow proper safety measures while in public.American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Silver Airways are the main carriers that serve Key West International Airport.
Located in the heart of the city of Key West in Monroe County, Key West International Airport is just 2 miles from the city center. Most visitors landing at EYW prefer to use the hotel-provided transportation, or book private vehicles to travel from the airport. Here are some other options for ground transportation from the airport.
Buses
Key West Transit operates a few bus routes, one of which passes the airport and runs towards the city. Head to South Roosevelt Boulevard, a 10-minute walk from the airport, and ride the Blue Route bus up to Flagler Avenue and Grinnell Street in 9 minutes, or to Emma Street and Petronia Street in 19 minutes. The fare is $2.00 USD per ride.
Taxis
Several taxi companies operate from the Key West International Airport. While single passenger rides are usually based on the meter, some companies offer flat rates by zone for groups of 2 or more people. A typical zone-based fare from the airport to the city center will be $9.00 USD per person. For metered taxis, flag down is $2.95 USD for the first 1.5th mile, followed by $0.70 USD for every additional 1/5th of a mile, and $0.70 USD for every 50 seconds of wait time. Ride-share options such as Uber and Lyft are also available from the airport.
Courtesy shuttles and limousines
Several hotels offer their guests complimentary rides to and from the airport. Courtesy shuttles are available outside the airport arrival halls. You can also pre-arrange a door-to-door ride from various private companies that offer limousines or shuttles.
Car rentals
A number of rental car companies are present at the Key West International Airport. You can also check for deals on car rentals with momondo.
Key West is a small, island city and compact enough to explore on foot. Most of the popular attractions are likely to be just a brief stroll from your hotel. If you don’t want to walk everywhere, here are other ways to get around in the city.
Cycling
Cycling is an interesting way to explore Key West. Many bike shops rent bikes at affordable rates and deliver them to your hotel for your convenience. Several hotels also carry their own fleet of bikes, so check for availability at the hotel where you stay.
Buses
Key West Transit operates a few bus routes across the city. A single trip costs $2.00 USD while a day pass for $4.00 USD allows you unlimited rides for 24 hours. However, the routes and frequency are not comparable to a big city’s public transport network.
Taxis
For a fast and convenient way to get around, you’ll easily find taxis throughout the city. You can hail one in the street or call for a taxi using the app, TaxiASAP, or just give the local taxi company a call. Ride-share options such as Lyft and Uber are also popular ways to commute in Key West.
Driving
The city’s narrow roads are always bustling with tourists on foot or on bikes, which makes driving the city streets slightly tedious. In addition, parking can be quite a hassle, as many inns and small motels do not have sufficient space. However, you can use the City of Key West Old Town Parking Garage and pay $3.00 USD per hour or $18.00 USD per day. With a valid Park N’ Ride Garage ticket, you can board the local buses for free.
No visa is required for domestic travelers within the U.S. For foreign nationals, please check the U.S. Department of State website.
Known for its arty and eccentric side, vibrant nightlife, thrilling water sports, and magnificent sunsets, Key West has plenty to offer all kinds of travelers. Most visitors come to Key West (also known as the ‘Conch Republic’) to relax and sunbathe under the golden sun during the day, and party through the night. However, you may choose to add a few more activities to your itinerary and wander around historic sites, admire art, or indulge in a culinary exploration.
Explore the Key West eateries
Key West’s dining is unique and casual, and features plenty of seafood with Caribbean and Cuban influences. For the best authentic Cuban food, try the family-friendly El Siboney Restaurant or Frita’s Cuban Burgers. If you want to sample some classic Florida Caribbean plates, don’t miss a meal at the funky Blue Heaven. For a seafood-focused menu, try the unassuming, blink-and-you-will miss-it restaurant, Seven Fish.
Experience the literary side
Key West prides itself on being the winter home of renowned authors such as Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams. The Key West Literary Seminar, held each year in January, brings several celebrated authors to the island and is a great time for literary enthusiasts to mingle with other literary fans, and meet with their favorite writers from across the world.