How to Get Around in Key West

Key West is an island city with good road communications, so during your stay you will have no problem getting from one end of the island to the other. The main attractions are easily accessible, whether they are in the city centre or further afield.

There are several means of transport available : the tourist train, public bus, the popular golf carts, bicycle, taxi and rental car. With so many options for getting around town, you'll only have to worry about finding the best things to do in Key West.

If you want to get around Key West quickly, comfortably and safely then you'll want to connect with an organised tour by tram or tourist train. You'll cover a large number of attractions in a short amount of time, whether you're exploring on your own or taking a scenic ride.

Key West Sightseeing Tramway

The Key West Sightseeing Tram service is a type of organised excursion, which allows you to move around the city centre over 1 or 2 days (depending on the ticket purchased). On board you can enjoy a panoramic route accompanied by a professional guide who will tell you a little about the places you pass.

You can also hop on and off at the attractions of your interest to explore them on your own, with about 13 free stops. For example, Mallory Square, Truman's Little White House, Henry Flagler's Sails to Rails Museum, Key West Aquarium, Bahama Village Open Air Market, among others.

• Price: 1-day admission on the sightseeing tram starts at €52 per person. And, if you want to buy a 2-day pass to Key West, the price is around €83 per person.
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. The train runs every 30 minutes.

Key West Conch Train Sightseeing Tour

This Key West Conch Train tour is similar to the previous option. However, the difference is that you will not have any free stops. You'll move around the city centre and outlying areas, taking in the main historical and cultural sites, while listening to the commentary provided by the driver.

This could be one of the best Key West tours if you want to get around the city with the aim of taking a quick look at the history of the must-see sites. Such is the case of the Ernest Hemingway House Museum, the Southernmost Point Monument, the Key West Lighthouse, the Key West Shipwreck Museum, etc.

• Price: The average Conch Train ticket costs €43 per person.
• Hours: Daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Each tour lasts approximately 90 minutes.

The public bus is the cheapest way to get around Key West. You can travel around much of the city (west to south and vice versa) and access Key West's best museums, shopping and entertainment areas, natural areas, etc.

There are a couple of routes operated by Key West Transit, which depart from Key West Station at 301 Simonton Street. In fact, you can buy tickets (transit pass) for this service there. The cost is about €5 per day and about €2 per trip.

Regarding the Key West public bus routes, you should know the following:

• Route 1: is available from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm (Monday to Saturday) and from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Sunday). The route has about 22 stops and will take you all over the city centre, including the marina area where you can take a sunset boat ride around Key West. You'll also pass through the island's hotel zone, with the last stop being the Winn-Dixie shop.
• Route 2: runs from 9am to 5pm (Monday to Saturday) and offers around 18 stops. You will move through the old town, past the Hemingway House, the southern area of the island until you reach the Key West Cemetery.

Renting a bike is a great way to get around town, whether you plan to spend 1 to 3 days in Key West, or even more. With this option you'll get where cars can't, have fun and get some exercise. All this, while exploring the island at your own pace.

Bicycling in Key West is very popular with locals and tourists alike, because this is a small town, with flat streets and bike lanes. You can ride safely from one end of the island to the other, whether you go on your own or join a bike tour in Key West.

In the city you will find many bike rental companies in the downtown area, on Duval Street, around the main tourist attractions, etc. Some places where you can hire bicycles are We Cycle, Eaton Bikes, Fury Key West Bike Rentals, among many others.

Useful information

• Price: the price of renting a bike in Key West can be between 20€ to 40€ per day. It all depends on the type of bike and the company you connect with.
• Opening hours: Bike rental companies are usually open from 8:00 to 17:00 (Monday to Saturday). On Sundays, some places are closed and others offer reduced opening hours (approximately 10am to 4pm).

Taxis are another means of transport used to get around Key West. Although it is not the cheapest, it is the fastest option. Forexample, if you want to discover Key West at night and perhaps go on a pub crawl in Key West, then using a taxi is very convenient. Also, if the tour you booked to explore the city does not include a transfer and you need to get to another activity on time, then the taxi service will allow you to get around quickly.

In the city you will find many taxi ranks in the city centre, outside the airport and at the main attractions on the island. Some of the official lines include Key West Taxi, D.B. Taxi, Key West City Cab, among others.

Useful Information

• Price: The cost of taxi service in Key West is based on the meter. For example, for the first 300 metres you will pay approximately €2 and then around €0.5 for every 300 metres after that.
• Opening hours: Taxis are usually available at any time of the day (24/7).

If you are one of those people who like to take control of your travel, then you should rent a car to get around Key West. This is an excellent idea to make the most of your itinerary and start exploring the island as soon as you get off the plane.

With a rental car you can explore different parts of the city. For example, drive around the southern area of the city for a dip in the beaches, explore Duval Street in the city centre, visit the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum, and head to the Tortugas Secas National Park (about 113 kilometres west of the city).

You can select a compact, mid-size, large, SUV, minivan or luxury car. It all depends on your needs and the number of people accompanying you. Whatever the case, there are many car rental companies available in the city centre and airport area: Avis, Budget, Hertz, etc.

Useful information

• Price: The cost of a rental car can vary between 35€ and 100€ per day. This price will depend on the type of car you buy.
• Opening hours: Usually, car rental companies in Key West are open from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm (daily).

Golf carts are another means of transport used in Key West. It is a very popular option for tourists who want to get around the city on their own in a different and fun way. Ideal if you are travelling in a group or are in Key West with children.

You will have the freedom to move around all the streets in the city centre, the old town and reach the farthest parts of the island, as golf carts are legal throughout the island. Perhaps drive down Duval Street, go to the Sails to Rails Museum in Key West, travel south of town and visit Smathers Beach or Higgs Beachlas, among many other destinations.

To enjoy this type of transport you'll need to connect with one of the golf cart rental companies. For example, among the most popular are Fun Rentals Key West and Paradise Rentals KW. There are also many other locations available. Just do your research ahead of time to avoid any hassle.

Useful information

• Price: The approximate cost of a golf car rental in Key West starts at around 50€ per day.
• Opening hours: Generally, golf car rental agencies are open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm from Monday to Saturday. Some companies are usually closed on Sundays or offer reduced opening hours from approximately 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Key West is a small and well-connected city. As such, you'll have no trouble getting around by tourist train, car, bicycle, taxi or even golf cart. However, if you want to improve the experience it is important that you take into consideration some tips when moving around the island.

For example:

• If you are driving on your own you should be aware that the speed limit in the city is 25 mph.
• When using the taxi service, bear in mind that in Key West it is customary to tip up to 20% of the total fare.
• To rent a bike, you'll need a valid ID and be over 18 years old.
• Make sure you book the car, bike or golf cart you wish to hire, as Key West is usually very busy from December to April.
• You must have a valid driving licence with you if you are renting a car or golf car.
• Remember to have cash on you, as you'll need it when paying for public bus or taxi fares.
• Buy a day pass for the public bus. This way, you will save money compared to paying for each transfer separately.