Port of Key West cruise port guide

Port of Key West — Key West, United States.

Key West is a subtropical island at the end of the Florida Keys chain — 90 miles from Cuba, with a permanently festive atmosphere, a strong literary and artistic history (Hemingway, Tennessee Williams) and some of the most accessible snorkelling in Florida. The entire Old Town is a walkable, open-air festival with 250-odd bars and restaurants, a nightly sunset ritual at Mallory Square, and an anything-goes attitude that's genuinely distinctive.

Getting ashore

Where do cruise ships dock in Key West?

Ships dock at Mallory Square or Pier B, both a short walk from Duval Street. The Navy's Outer Mole pier has also been used, with a shuttle into town, but its future cruise use is uncertain since the city's lease ended in August 2026. When anchored, ships tender to the Old Town harbour.

How do I get from the cruise port to town?

Either way, once you're in Old Town the entire town is walkable — the island is small and the main attractions cluster around Duval Street and the historic area.

Getting around

Key West Old Town is completely walkable — a 20-minute walk from one end to the other. Motor scooters and golf carts are popular for exploring beyond the immediate tourist area and give the day a more authentic feel than staying on foot. Taxis and the Key West Rides app are available. Parking is expensive and traffic is slow — don't rent a car.

Don't miss

• Hemingway Home & Museum (1 hr) — The Spanish Colonial house where Hemingway lived from 1931–1939 and wrote To Have and Have Not. Famous six-toed cats still roam the property. Guided tours start every 15 minutes, 9am–5pm daily.
• Mallory Square sunset celebration (1.5 hrs) — Key West's daily sunset ritual — jugglers, magicians, musicians and food vendors at the waterfront. Gets crowded but genuinely festive. Best if you're sailing at dusk.
• Duval Street & Old Town walk (2 hrs) — The main drag connecting the Gulf to the Atlantic — bars, galleries, ice cream shops and architecture ranging from the 1800s to the 1960s. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville is here (touristy), as are several genuinely great local bars.
• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (3–4 hrs) — More than two hours' drive north in Key Largo — but Key West itself has good reef snorkelling trips departing from the docks. The coral is accessible and the water is clear.
• Fort Zachary Taylor & beach (2–3 hrs) — A Civil War-era fort (state park, small entry fee) with fort tours and the best swimming beach in Key West — protected and clean, a short walk from downtown.

Planning your day

Key West's compact Old Town makes it one of the easiest ports for a rewarding walk-around day — no transport needed for most of the highlights. The Hemingway House, a walk down Duval, a Key lime pie stop and a cold conch fritter fills a morning. Fort Taylor beach adds a swim in the afternoon. If you're sailing at dusk, Mallory Square is worth timing your return around. Key West is one of the few Caribbean stops where staying close to the ship is genuinely the right choice.

Food & drink

Key West food is defined by two things: fresh Gulf seafood (stone crab claws, yellowtail snapper, shrimp, lobster) and Key lime pie — a custard tart made with small, intensely flavoured Key limes grown in the islands. The 250-restaurant count means you're never far from something good.

Where to eat

• Garbo's Grill — Key West's most celebrated street food — an Airstream trailer behind Hank's Saloon on Caroline Street serving Korean BBQ tacos, burritos and burgers, daily 11am–midnight. A short walk from Duval and worth every step.
• Pepe's Café — The oldest restaurant in the Keys (since 1909) — open daily from 7:30am for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the genuine article in terms of old Keys atmosphere.
• Kermit's Key West — The definitive address for Key lime pie — traditional, frozen-on-a-stick, pie by the slice, and a full range of Key lime products. On Elizabeth Street near Duval.
• Half Shell Raw Bar — Fresh stone crab claws, oysters and local fish at the Historic Seaport docks. Outdoor, casual and right on the water. A good spot for stone crab in season.

Must try

• Key lime pie — The original — tart custard made with Key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks in a graham cracker crust. Key West claims the invention and takes it seriously. Look for pale yellow, not artificially green. Kermit's Key West is one of the most acclaimed.
• Conch fritters & conch chowder — Conch (pronounced 'konk') has been central to Key West cooking since the 1800s — the people of Key West are called Conchs. The fritters and the creamy chowder are the two canonical preparations.
• Stone crab claws — In season October–May — sweet, dense crab meat served cold with mustard sauce. Stone crabs are caught sustainably (claws only; the crabs are returned). One of Florida's great seafood traditions.
• Cuban sandwich & café Cubano — Key West's Cuban-American heritage runs deep. A proper pressed Cuban sandwich (roast pork, ham, Swiss, pickle, mustard on Cuban bread) and a thimble of strong sweet café cubano are the breakfast combination of the island.

Know before you go

• 🗣️ Language — English. Spanish is widely understood (large Cuban-American community).
• 📋 Documents — US territory — ship card and photo ID. No customs requirements.
• 🛍️ Shopping & hours — Duval Street shops open from around 10am, bars and restaurants from early afternoon. Most close by 10pm–midnight. Best buys: Key lime products (pie, candy, jam), original local art from the galleries off Duval, and Cuban-American cigars.
• 🌤️ Weather — Subtropical year-round — 75–90°F. Summer brings afternoon thunderstorms. The island is exposed; bring sunscreen and a hat. Hurricane season is June–November; check forecasts during this period.
• 📶 Connectivity — Excellent mobile coverage and widespread Wi-Fi throughout the island. US domestic rates apply.
• ♿ Accessibility — Key West Old Town is mostly flat and walkable. Golf carts are a good accessibility option for covering the island. Fort Taylor and the beach are accessible.
• ⏱️ Getting back — Old Town is minutes from any dock. The tenders run on a schedule — note the last tender time and give yourself a 20-minute buffer, particularly during the busy sunset period when crowds increase.

Sources: whatsinport.com; fla-keys.com (official Florida Keys tourism); thepointsguy.com