Key West is an extremely beautiful place to visit – but it’s also very popular and expensive. It’s a one-of-a-kind town with dozens of unique things to do; plus, it is far from other lodging. All these aspects come together to form a welcoming oasis with a price. All that to say, Key West on a true budget is nearly impossible – but there are ways to keep costs slightly lower and still enjoy the general ambiance of a long weekend on Key West.
Chickens in Key West
Just FYI, Key West has a lot of chickens. They are cute, please leave them be. They are proud and colorful and represent the unique history of Key West. (To be fair, Key West residents have mixed feelings, but we are just visitors, so do not feed or harm them.)
Getting Around Key West
I personally recommend a bike if possible. Cars are kind of a pain around Key West Old Town, but bikes are prevalent and fun. If you stay farther away from Old Town, you will probably need to pay for parking each day, and parking can be hard to find. Overall, it is easier to stay near Old Town, park your car at your hotel (for free, if you are lucky), and bike around. Not only does it save money, you experience more freedom, beauty, and Key West “vibes.”
Day One: Key West on a Budget
Check in, if possible.
For a budget, stay at Seashell Motel and Key West Hostel. It is on the expensive side for hostels/motels, but it’s very cheap compared to the rest of the Key. Reviews are generally mixed, but I found it was really nice and well-kept!
Regardless of where you choose, try to stay around Old Town. There is a cluster of hotels about three miles from Old Town, but you will have a better experience staying near the heart of Key West.
Vegan Food in Key West
There are a decent number of options for vegan food in Key West, but to keep costs down I would only eat out a couple of times. I list the places I went throughout this post for you to choose/have some context, but you can also bring sandwiches or pre-made food with you. There are places with happy hours and some cheaper food (around the seaport, at least) if you do not have food restrictions.
The first place I stopped was Moon Dog Cafe, which is near Seashell Motel. They have The Green Giant burger (which is relatively expensive, but again – choices) that I was pleasantly surprised and delighted by. They also often have vegan baked goods in their bakery case by the cash register!
Pick a Museum
Most of the museums on Key West are relatively expensive when you are traveling to Key West on a budget, which is why I made the decision to only pick a couple and enjoy it to the fullest. The Ernest Hemingway Museum was my choice because they have polydactyl cats (they all have at least one paw with six toes), history, and lovely grounds (but let’s be honest, it was mostly for the cats). Even though the cats are what hooked me, the Ernest Hemingway Museum was incredible. The plants on the grounds were lovely, the tour guide was engaging and informative, and the history we learned was captivating. Visitors have the option to join a tour guide or walk around alone, but I highly recommend the tour.
Other museum options include the Key West Lighthouse, Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, Harry S. Truman Little White House, Oldest House in Key West, Shipwreck Museum (discussed below), and more.
The museums all close relatively early, so you can either get food (check out The Cafe for vegan key lime pie or vegan eggs benedict – maybe not my choice for dinner, though!), rest, or head to the Cemetery for a little while before sunset. You can either wander just to see the area or take this self-guided tour.
Mallory Square Sunset Celebration
If you want a good spot for sunset, make sure to get there at least an hour before the sun is actually scheduled to set. I commandeered a spot on the wall where no one could sit/stand in front of me, but there are vendors and performers who might draw you away from “your spot.”
I include this Sunset Celebration because it’s a popular place to watch the famous Key West sunsets (did you know they are famous?), but also because it’s home to a nightly art festival (with the vendors and performers I mentioned). Mallory Square may not realistically be the best place to watch sunset (boat tours often obscure the view), but it is a fun experience nevertheless.
Day Two: Key West on a Budget
Key West is not exactly famous for their sunrises because Old Town faces west – which means good sunrise views are a bit harder to find. However, there are a few nice places, and I chose to watch it at Higgs Pier and Higgs Memorial Beach Park. There is another pier, Edward B. Night Pier, farther down the key that some people enjoy too.
Make sure to stop by the Key West AIDS Memorial and African Cemetery while you are on this side of Key West. There are information plaques that were incredibly novel to me, and eye-opening about the history of the place.
Garden Club West Martello Tower (and Fort)
Not only are the Key West Garden Club grounds free to visit (donations appreciated), they are located in a National Historic Site, the West Martello Tower. It’s a Civil War fort turned tropical garden paradise by the sea – with chickens. The non-profit, volunteer run garden is really a site to behold and a must-see in Key West on a budget.
The Key West Wildlife Center is just across the street if you have time to visit!
Zachary Taylor State Historic Park
If you visit the gardens right when it opens at 9:30am, you will have about an hour to explore the grounds before heading to Zachary Taylor State Historic Park for an 11am tour. (It is relatively cheap to get in depending on your mode of transport and is good all day, so you can come back for sunset. I won’t post exact prices because everywhere seems to be increasing prices). The tour is not always available for some reason, but there’s a self-guided one if they do not have it (or if you want to stay at the gardens longer).
If you want to bring a picnic, there are places to eat all throughout the park to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea around the fort. Make sure to keep the ticket they give you because you definitely want to come back for sunset.
Old Town
There are dozens of shops and galleries around Old Town, and you can easily spend an afternoon or day exploring all the options. I am not a big shopper, so I only went to a few stores and galleries (Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe, The Spice & Tea Exchange, and most galleries I saw with names I do not remember).
I also did a free distillery tour of Key West’s First Legal Rum Distillery, which was fun if rum is your cup of tea. I got gifts for family at these various locations. Another stop I made was Sugar Apple Market and Cafe. They have a market paired with a cafe-type restaurant with tons of vegan options. I did not eat there (money and choices, remember), but I did buy some food from the market I had never had (best chocolate ever, Rawmio. I have not been able to find it since).
Key West Shipwreck Museum
After all this exploring, I still had a ton of time left in the day, but you may be tired and want to get some food or relax – Date and Thyme is another place with nice vegan options, and it also has a little market visitors can peruse!
However, if you want to pack your day full like me, I was able to fit in a visit to the Key West Shipwreck Museum. It was not part of my original plan because I thought it was geared towards kids, but when I was walking around I saw the huge tower sticking out the top – it was relatively inexpensive, so I decided to check it out, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! There is cool history and info inside paired with visuals. Plus, you can climb the tower that’s visible from the outside and get an amazing view of Key West and the ocean.
Zachary Taylor State Historic Park (yes, again)
Sunset from the beach at Zacahry Taylor was more calm than at Mallory Square, so I recommend it if you have time. There’s also cool rocks to climb on or take photos from. The staff at the park will “shoo” you out immediately after sunset, but it’s a nightly ritual for them and they mean no ill will.
Day Three: Key West on a Budget
Honest Eco Tour
The next morning you can walk around the seaport if you wish, but there is not much there unless you want to go to a restaurant. I chose to “splurge” a little and went on a boat tour, which was one of the most recommended things to do in Key West. Given the price of everything in Key West, the price for a 4 hour boat trip with snacks and lunch was reasonable. The company Honest Eco is extremely environmentally friendly, and their story is really cool.
If a boat tour does not interest you, there are tons of museums (many above) that you can visit on your last day in Key West on a budget. You can also spend time at the beach or visit one of the many other things to do in the Florida Keys! Throughout your trip, also make sure to check out the street art around town. Walking around town is always a great thing to do in Key West on a budget.
The afternoon is free for you to head home or do something from the day before that you missed. If you have extra time, consider visiting Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson. I wanted to, but was not able to make the dates they had available work with what I wanted to do (camping). (It also seems best to go with at least one other person because of the way campsites are set up.)
Southernmost Point of the Continental US
The line is usually super long, so I would get up early in the morning to visit this silly iconic spot if you want a photo. However, you can also just head over in the afternoon to get the “full experience.” It is a buoy marking the southernmost point of the continental United States. (I actually liked the art on the ground next to it that read One Human Family, Key West’s philosophy.
There’s also a sign people really like taking a photo of that marks the end of US Highway 1 – Mile Marker 0. I saw it just walking around but was not compelled to photograph it.
Gay Things to do in Key West
Key West is an extremely popular LGBTQ+ travel destination. “One Human Family” is the philosophy of Key West, and that shines with their rainbow crosswalks and LGBTQ+ street art. There are a couple of gay bars (801 Bourbon Bar, Aqua, Bobby’s Monkey Bar, etc.) you can attend in the evenings if that is your thing. There are also popular seasonal events like Gay Spring Break, Key West Pride, and Womenfest Key West. Tennessee Williams also lived with his partner in Key West, so you can learn some queer history at the Tennessee Williams Museum.
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