Key West can be an expensive place to visit, but you don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy its distinctive character. From historic streets and waterfronts to beaches, gardens and the famous sunset celebration, there are plenty of ways to experience the island for free.
We’ve gathered some of our favorites to help you make the most of Key West without stretching your travel budget.
Table of Contents
Our Favorite Free Key West Experiences
- Duval Street
- Art Galleries
- Historic Marker Walking Tour
- Southernmost Point in the Continental US Monument
- Mile Marker 0
- Key West Waterfronts
- Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
- Key West Beaches
- African Cemetery at Higgs Beach
- Key West Nature Trails
- Key West Garden Club
- Key West Cemetery
- Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
- Biking around Key West
Map of Free Things to do in Key West
Duval Street
Walk Duval Street, the heart of historic Old Town Key West, and admire the interesting architecture. Visit its many galleries and shops which are often in the century-old buildings. Key West’s Oldest House, at 322 Duval, was built in 1829.
Take a selfie with Marilyn Monroe in front of the Tropic Cinema, just south of Duval on Eaton Street. The beautiful St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is on the northeast corner of Duval and Eaton.
Check out the Walgreens in the old Strand Theatre at 527 Duval.
Wander south on Petronia Street into Bahama Village and past open-air restaurants where there is often live music. This residential area has colorful Bahamian-style houses with clapboard siding, large windows and louvred shutters.
Art Galleries
There are small galleries spread all over the city. The galleries on Duval tend to be in clusters. Between Southard and Angela Streets find Art on Duval, Key West Gallery, Wyland Gallery and more. Another cluster is further south between Catherine and Louisa Streets where the Alan Maltz Gallery is well known.
For lovers of contemporary art, don’t miss the Studios of Key West. This complex, at Eaton and Simonton Streets (1 block east of Duval), is dedicated to contemporary art programming. It has a large theatre, four galleries, a rooftop terrace for outdoor programming and more. The galleries are free to visit and the rooftop terrace provides a great spot to look out over the city.
Historic Marker Walking Tour
In 1971 four thousand acres of Key West was designated as a US historic district (and then enlarged in 1985). It is the largest historic district of frame buildings in the United States. There are 120 historic markers throughout the district. Each marker includes a short history of the site. Eight self-guided free Historic Marker Walking Tours have been developed to discover this incredible town.
To launch the handy walking tour app on your phone, visit the Key West Art and Historical Society’s free Key West Walking Tour app.
Southernmost Point in the Continental US Monument
Visit the Southernmost Point in the Continental US. The spot is marked with a super-sized, colorful buoy at the corner of Whitehead and South Streets. Just look for the line of people waiting to get a picture. The line moves quickly so don’t miss out on a selfie. Cuba is only 90 miles away!
Mile Marker 0
The Mile Marker 0 sign, at Whitehead and Fleming Streets, marks the beginning of the Overseas Highway. The miles between Key West and Florida City are “marked” and used as reference points for locations along the highway. It is suggested that this practice started with Henry Flagler’s railway mile markers (MMs) and was continued when the highway was built along the same route.
Along with the MM0 sign there is also an End US1 sign. This is the most southerly extent of US Route 1. US#1 is the longest north-south road in the US running between Key West and Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canadian border.
Key West Waterfronts
Walk the waterfront at Mallory Square. There are lots of shops to check out in the Shops at Mallory Square. Today, the 1800s structure, built and used as a US Navy coal depot is a 2-level shopping mall with several “faster food”-type eateries. See the Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden with busts of people important to the history of Key West and the Florida Keys Historical Military Memorial.
Cruise ships dock at the square or at the pier next door. For a great place to window shop, people watch and enjoy the breeze, check out the unique boutiques of the Sunset Waterfront Shoppes. And of course, Mallory Square is home to the free, nightly Sunset Celebration.
The Truman Waterfront stretches along Weech Way. Visit the Key West Farmers Market every Thursday. Grab pictures of the Wavehenge Sundial Sculpture and the US Coast Guard Cutter Ingram. The kids can have fun at the splash pad in the park. The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center is nearby.
Walk the harborwalk along the waterfront at the Historic Seaport and Bight Marina. Admire the beautiful yachts, fun shops, and unique waterfront restaurants. There are events happening year-round.
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
This huge center, open Wednesday through Saturday, has 6000 square feet of interactive exhibits. Learn about the ecosystems of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the four Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges, Dry Tortugas National Park and Everglades National Park.
Key West Beaches
Spend the afternoon on a Key West Beach. The city beaches are free to enjoy. While the beach at Fort Zachary State Park is not free, admission to the state park is very economical. The waters at the state park are great for snorkeling and fishing (with a license).
| Beach Name | Known for |
| Smathers Beach | Long stretch of sandy shoreline with jet ski rentals. Most popular. |
| Higgs Beach | Picnic areas and a fishing pier. Notable as the site of an 1800s African slave cemetery. |
| South Beach | This beautiful small beach is located at the southern end of Duval Street. |
| Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Beach | Blend of history and natural beauty. Good snorkeling |
African Cemetery at Higgs Beach
Visit the beautiful memorial at the east end of Higgs Beach. It honors the lives of those buried in the African Cemetery and explains their story.
The cemetery holds the bodies of Africans brought to North America in 1860 aboard 3 illegal slave ships. When the ships were captured by the navy, the Key West community came to the aid of the unfortunate captives. They provided food and shelter for the almost 1500 ill-treated people. Unfortunately many still died. They were buried near Higgs Beach.
While the burials were documented, the exact location of the cemetery was lost over the decades. A 2002 ground-penetrating-radar survey found clear evidence of shallow graves near the beach. A later survey found more graves further inland. All bodies were left undisturbed and further development is prohibited, protecting the area.
Key West Nature Trails
Explore the natural beauty of the Key West Nature Preserve. Walk the quarter-mile trail to the undeveloped, but walkable, beach through a mangrove forest. See lots of birds, butterflies, lizards and even snakes. The trail starts at the end of George Street on Atlantic Avenue.
The Indigenous Park is a native tree and bird park. The Key West Wildlife Center is on the same property and is open to the public several hours most days. Check the specific hours on the Key West Wildlife Center website. Both the park and the wildlife center are free to visit.
The park’s nature trail is a great place to spot migrating birds during both the fall and spring migrations. The Wildlife Center provides treatment to injured and sick wildlife with the hope of rehabilitating all patients and releasing them back to the wild. Donations toward this work are always welcome.
Key West Garden Club
Visit the Garden Club within the historic Fort West Martello. The lush gardens, which include native and exotic plants, make a great protector of the old fort. The garden club hosts events, exhibits, and educational programs. While it is free to enter, donations are always welcome.
Key West Cemetery
Enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the cemetery with a map available at the main entrance (Angela and Margaret Streets). The map gives tidbits of information about some of the cemetery’s famous residents. The cemetery is known for its quirky tombstones and epitaphs, reflecting the unique humor of the island. Snap a selfie with the “I told you I was sick” gravestone.
The USS Maine blew up in Havana Harbor in 1898 killing 268 sailors, about three-quarters of her crew. The US declared war on Spain shortly after, launching the four-months long Spanish-American War. The citizens of Key West erected the memorial in the cemetery to honor those men. The remains of 24 crewmen from the USS Maine are buried in the plot.
Guided tours are available by contacting the Sexton’s office. Unfortunately they are not free but the funds raised are dedicated to Cemetery preservation.
Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
Be sure to join the free party in Mallory Square at the end the day with the Key West Sunset Celebration. Street performers entertain all through the evening.
Biking around Key West
Key West is very bike-friendly, making biking a great option for getting around Key West (other than on foot). Bring your own bike and pedal around town for free, easily getting to everything in our list.
Bike rentals, while not free, are very reasonably priced. See the list of local Key West bike rental companies.
Know Before You Go – Parking
In general, parking in Old Town is not free. While there are some spots in Old Town’s residential areas that are free, most are marked for Residents Only. Buy a lottery ticket if you manage to grab one of the free spots available to visitors.
Free parking is available at Higgs Beach. Some hotels also offer free shuttles to Old Town.
In addition to these Free Things To Do, there is so much more to do in Key West. Our full Key West Travel Guide has more details.
Explore All of Our Florida Keys Guides
Discover our complete series of detailed Florida Keys guides to help you plan your perfect road trip down the scenic Overseas Highway.
Main Article: Florida Keys Road Trip
Part 1: Key Largo – Snorkeling, diving, and laid-back island adventures
Part 2: Islamorada – Tarpon Feeding and Sport Fishing Capital
Part 3: Marathon – Turtle Hospital and Pigeon Key History
Part 4: Big Pine Key – Kayaking and Pristine Beaches
Part 5: Key West – Hemingway, Sunsets and Duval Street Nightlife
