Your Guide to Key West Public Beaches

No visit to Key West is complete without spending time splashing and suntanning at our beautiful Key West public beaches! Stay with Rent Key West Vacations in our oceanfront condos and access our white sand beaches just steps from your rental property. Soak up the Florida sunshine as you swim, sunbathe, snorkel, and paddle at our fantastic beaches. From the tranquil shores of Smathers Beach to historic Higgs Beach, there is a beach for everyone in our tropical paradise!

Smathers Beach

Smathers Beach is the largest of the Key West public beaches, welcoming over 150,000 people annually! This beach is a half-mile long and is located on the south end of the island, offering access to several amenities such as:

Beach volleyball nets and volleyball courts
Restrooms
Shower Facilities
Access to tours and water activities with Sunset Watersports

Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach

Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach offers almost 17 acres of beachfront along the Atlantic Ocean. This beach is the best option for travelers who want easy access to a wealth of amenities and attractions. Higgs Beach offers direct access to the Key West Marine Park, one of the best snorkeling areas on the island! Make sure to take advantage of the beach amenities such as:

Children’s playgrounds
Picnic tables
Restroom facilities
Tennis and volleyball courts
Concession stands
Tiki huts
Wooden grandstand
Wooden pier

Simonton Street Beach

Simonton Street Beach is the perfect option if you are looking for a small beach on the Gulf side of the island! The only amenities on the beach are restrooms and a boat ramp for recreational boats. Make sure to bring beach gear with you!

Dog Beach

If you are traveling to Key West with your four-legged friends, we recommend visiting Dog Beach. Stay in our pet-friendly vacation rentals in Key West and access the only dog-friendly beach nearby!

South Beach

If you are staying on Duval Street, we recommend visiting South Beach, on the southern end of Duval Street. This small beach is an excellent place to watch the sunrise or sunset!

Bonus: Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Although not a public beach, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is considered one of the best Key West beaches! Find everything you need for a day at the beach with Chickee Hut Beach Rentals, offering umbrellas, lounge chairs, and snorkeling gear. Then, enjoy beach activities like swimming, snorkeling, fishing, paddling, scuba diving, and suntanning.

Book Key West Beachfront Vacation Rentals

Spend time in Florida’s southernmost city with Rent Key West Vacations, and spend your getaway exploring our beautiful Key West public beaches. Browse our collection of over 30 Key West vacation rentals near the beach and enjoy access to our beaches just steps from your rental home! Enhance your stay with our concierge services and let our team make your vacation even more enjoyable.

Book your Key West beach vacation today, and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions!

Key West Offers Treasure Trove of Original Art

Key West is known for its extremely vibrant arts scene. The island has been attracting artists inspired by its natural beauty, rich history, and diverse culture. Today there are dozens of Key West galleries and museums for visitors to discover, offering a vast variety of art mediums and styles from local and international artists. This week we are featuring a few of our very talented local friends! You can bring home an original piece of art or some unique hand-crafted gifts keeping a piece of paradise in your home, sharing Key West culture with others, and always keeping our unique island in your heart!

Sacred Space Key West

Barbara Sage & Lucy Hawk founded Sacred Space Gallery in August 2020. They needed an art studio and quickly realized there was room to feature artwork by others as well. They continue to seek out other local women who create unique artwork & gifts.

They proudly highlight 25 female artists and have four working studios. They offer a variety of art classes including painting, sculpting, and many unique Keys Coastal Classes; such as: ‘Broken But Beautiful” Seaglass Class. Participants create an original piece of seaglass art. Seaglass, pottery, shells, driftwood bits and all necessities are all provided along with detailed instruction. Everyone leaves with a one-of-a-kind framed piece.

Their carefully curated gallery offers a sense of wonder and whimsy and the magic can be found in the heart of Old Town Key West at 529 Southard Street, between Simonton & Duval Streets. They are also available by phone, 305 998-4801 and via their website.

Key West Pottery

Artists Kelly Lever and Adam Russell began their collaboration in 2009. They blend traditional production pottery (tableware and functional vessels) with their fine art pieces.

Since its inception, they have grown their company to include multiple artisans, creatives, students and collaborators. The talented group works together to produce a modern expression of coastal life while always being authentic and not relying on cliché.

Over the years they have developed a brand of tropical modernism that is unique and diverse so it can fit into any home or collection. In addition to commissioned, bespoke pieces, they carry everything from the island’s best coffee mugs to award winning totems. Their distinctive gallery with its well-rounded program is located on iconic Duval Street at number 1203. You can also reach them by phone, 305-900-8303, and online.

Key West Collective Art Gallery

This beautifully curated local art gallery is filled with a collective of talented artists inspired by Key West. Photographer and founder, Rachel E. Ligon, a native Kentuckian, has made Key West her home for more than 20 years.

Ligon has traveled the world capturing diverse environments and the faces living there. Ligon’s passion recently led to her opening the Key West Collective Art Gallery on Caroline Street.

In addition to her photography, the critically curated collective features the work of some of the island’s best artists, artisans and authors. The Collective also offers regularly scheduled classes where people can gather techniques from the featured artists. The Gallery at 720 Caroline Street is open daily 10am to 5pm and can be reached by calling 305-395-1161. The artists and their works can also be seen on the Collective’s internet site.

Key West Art Center

In the mid-1930s the Great Depression had devastated the nation including the Florida Keys. The federal Works Progress Administration brought artists and writers to Key West to help revitalize the economy. Many art classes were taught at the Key West Community Art Center, believed to be the WPA’s first public art project, which eventually became the Key West Art Center.

The Center’s HQ since 1960 is pictured above and the organization is the steward of their home in this historic wooden building dating back to the 1890s. The Art Center is the oldest artists’ nonprofit membership organization in the Keys and features the work of more than 50 Keys artists.

Paintings in many mediums, ceramics, sculptures, prints, and even handcrafted jewelry are on display to draw guests’ attention. Artist members offer classes to share insights into various art disciplines. In addition, the center is renowned for presenting the annual open-air Key West Craft Show and Old Island Days Art Festival. Visit them at 301 Front Street. Call them: 305-294-1241 or check them out on the Web.

Stay in Our Key West Vacation Rentals

Find the perfect piece of art to take home with you at one of our inspiring Key West art galleries. After discovering our dynamic arts scene, return to your vacation rental with Rent Key West Vacations. Stay in one of our rentals in the historic district, and you will be within walking distance of the Old Town galleries. Plan your Key West getaway today!

Key West Honeymoon Activities and Accommodations

Are you looking for a tropical destination for your honeymoon without traveling abroad? Then look no further than Key West, the southernmost city in the continental United States! Known for our picturesque beaches, consistently warm weather, captivating sunsets, rich history, and diverse cuisine, there is something for every couple in our slice of paradise. Elevate your Key West honeymoon with Rent Key West Vacations, and tailor your romantic getaway to be as adventurous or relaxing as your heart desires!

7 Key West Honeymoon Activities

Key West offers attractions for every type of traveler, whether you are a beach bum or a history buff! Get around town with Old Town Trolley Tours and explore the area’s top attractions with a local guide. Here are a few of our favorite activities to put on your Key West honeymoon itinerary:

Explore Duval Street hand in hand and stroll past colorful shops, art galleries, and famous restaurants. Stick around for the famous Key West Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square and end the night with fantastic live entertainment!
Nothing says romance like spending time together on our picturesque beaches. Visit Smathers Beach or Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach, where you can enjoy suntanning, snorkeling, and swimming. If you want some added romance, we recommend reserving an oceanfront picnic with Lovely Luxury Picnics!
Sign up for a romantic champagne sunset cruise with Catamaran Echo. Sail into the sunset together while sipping champagne with a delicious charcuterie board. They also offer private charters and eco tours where you can witness wild dolphins!
Learn about local history and famous residents together at our Key West museums like the Ernest Hemingway Museum, Truman Little White House, Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, and Fort East Martello Museum.
Treat yourself to a couples massage at Prana Spa in their intimate and private couples’ rooms. This is the perfect setting for healing your mind, body, and soul together!
If you are looking for ways to get on the water rather than it, we have a wealth of watersports waiting for you! Explore our waterways with guided trips with Fury Cat, including snorkeling, sunset cruises, eco-tours, parasailing, and jet skiing.
End the day with a romantic dinner and indulge in fine dining at Latitude’s, a beautiful beachfront restaurant serving fresh seafood. Then head to the Better than Sex Dessert Restaurant and share mouthwatering desserts in an intimate speakeasy setting!

Plan Your Key West Honeymoon with Rent Key West

Plan the perfect Key West honeymoon with Rent Key West Vacations, one of the longest-standing vacation rental companies on the island. Enhance your stay with our concierge services like gourmet gift baskets, in-home chef services, and floral arrangements.

We offer the perfect romantic one-bedroom vacation rentals, ideal for couples honeymooning on the island. Stay in affordable properties like the one-bedroom Portside Suite, just steps away from Duval Street. Or experience luxury at our Casa Atlantica rental on beautiful Higgs Beach, with elevated amenities like a tiki hut on the water. With Rent Key West Vacations, couples can relax, unwind, and create lifelong memories in this enchanting tropical paradise!

When is the Best Time to Visit Key West?

With constant sunshine, warm weather, and turquoise waters, Key West offers an incredible year-round vacation destination. Deciding the best time to visit Key West depends on your personal preferences and what you want to do during your visit. Whether you are looking to escape the cold or want to enjoy fewer crowds during the slower seasons, Rent Key West Vacations has the perfect property waiting for you!

Winter (December-March)

Month High / Low (°F)

December 77° / 70°

January 75° / 67°

February 76° / 68

Photo: The Florida Keys & Key West

Winter is the most popular time to visit Key West, attracting snowbirds from around the world looking to escape the cold. The average winter high is a beautiful 75 degrees and the low temperatures usually only fluctuate down 10 degrees, and winter offers minimal rainfall. Celebrate the holidays in Key West with annual events like the Key West Holiday Parade, Lighted Boat Parade, and New Year’s Eve at various countdowns and celebrations around the island. Discover more information about Events Welcoming the New Year with Rent Key West Vacations!

Keep in mind that the influx of tourists also makes this the most expensive season to plan your visit. Accommodations, tours, and experiences fill up fast in the peak season. Advanced reservations are highly recommended during our winter season of perpetual summer.

People from around the globe descend upon the island in January for delicious delectables during the internationally acclaimed Key West Food and Wine Festival. January also gathers a multitude of readers and writers for the Key West Literary Seminar which always garners the highest reviews! In addition to tepid temperatures, February offers the longstanding Old Island Days Arts Festival featuring fine arts and crafts at events, galleries and openair street markets.

Spring (March-June)

Month High / Low (°F)

March 78° / 70°

April 82 ° / 74°

May 85° / 77°

Spring is a beautiful season to visit Key West, with warmer weather, and fewer crowds than the winter. The exception to this is spring break, usually around March, when many families, young professionals and some college students plan their visits. Spring is a popular time for swimming, fishing, snorkeling, visiting gardens, and wildlife watching. St. Patrick’s Day in Key West offers a myriad of activities from bar strolls, 5 & 10K walk/runs, to themed boat excursions and more.

A visit during April or May enables you to enjoy all your favorite activities without the spring break crowds! The annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration at the end of April offers a fun glimpse into how “Key West Seceded Where Others Have Failed”. Learn more about planning your Spring Getaway in Key West.

Summer (June-September)

Month High / Low (°F)

June 88° / 80°7 days

July 90° / 81°8 days

August 91° / 81°10 days

Key West summer is the hottest time of the year and the start of hurricane season, so be prepared for the possibility of some passing rain showers. Summer is the second most popular time to visit Key West, welcoming an influx of families enjoying school breaks. Water is at its clearest and warmest in the summer, ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and diving.

Summer is the best time to visit Key West for travelers who want to join us for festivals! Key West Pride and MangoFest both occur in June. July 4th includes the traditional fireworks, festivities and The Mermaid and Key Lime Festivals; and Hemingway Days later in the month. Also, the very popular Lobsterfest is held in August.

Fall (September-November)

Month High / Low (°F)

September 89° / 80°

October 85° / 78°

November 79° / 72°

Photo: Tripadvisor

Fall is the low season in Key West and the best time to visit for travelers looking for fewer crowds, lower priced accommodations, and travel incentive flight pricing. The beginning of September offers the annual Key West BrewFest with tastings and pairings on the beach and at venues around the island. The island also welcomes thousands of women for the event-packed annual WomenFest! Fantasy Fest is at the end of October and is the most popular fall event, welcoming up to 75,000 travelers each year! Join us for ten days of costumes, parades, libations, and excitement this October!

November kicks off with the Race World Offshore Key West Championships featuring the world’s top power boat racers vying for the prestigious title, prizes and more. Each November, also attracts film aficionados to the island for the highly praised Key West Film Festival. It always receives two thumbs up!

We all have a lot to be thankful for on this island of Key West, especially all of us who are fortunate enough to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving here in paradise. Plan a Thanksgiving getaway with Rent Key West Vacations and celebrate the holiday island style!

Visit Key West

Year-Round with

Rent Key West Vacations

So, when is the best time to visit Key West? Anytime! Rent Key West Vacations offers excellent rental properties to host your getaway year-round. Browse over 60 Key West vacation rentals and let our knowledgeable staff help you customize your vacation. Please call our reservation specialists at 1-800-833-7368 for more information!

Shop Local: Key West Farmers Market Guide

During your next Key West getaway, we encourage you to support our local community by shopping locally! Find a fantastic selection of locally grown produce and handcrafted goods at the farmers markets of Key West & The Florida Keys. Whether you are looking for fresh ingredients to prepare meals in your vacation home or want to find the perfect souvenir, you can find it all at our local, open-air markets. Choose Rent Key West Vacations to host your getaway and stay close to everything our slice of paradise has to offer!

Key West Farmers Market

When: Every Thursday, 2 pm – 7 pm

Where: Truman Waterfront

The Key West Farmers Market offers something for everyone! Shop for fresh produce grown in Homestead, gorgeous orchids & native plants, artisan selection of meats and cheeses, pickles, honey, nuts & dried fruits, natural soaps and so much more. You’ll find Key West crafts, gifts and the perfect souvenir to take home. While browsing, fuel up with something from one of the food trucks with varying weekly options, like fresh seafood, Mediterranean, Indian, smoothies, and freshly brewed coffees and teas. There is ample parking, bike racks or take the FREE Duval Loop which conveniently stops close to the market. The entire park, market area, restrooms and parking lots are wheelchair accessible.

What else is there to do at the Truman Waterfront Park?

The USCG Ingham is a self-guided maritime museum open Tuesday – Saturday 10 am to 4 pm. $10 adults/$5 kids/$5 active military.

Truman Waterfront park features a splash park, playground and lots of grass to spread out a picnic. Restrooms & shower rinse stations are available.

The Quay faces the Gulf and often cruise ships and Navy cutters on duty will be docked nearby. There’s plenty of park benches to enjoy the view (but little shade, umbrella recommended),

Fort Zachary Taylor Beach & State Park is a National Historic Landmark on 54 acres and houses a civil war fortress and the best beach on Key West. Entrance fees start at $2.50 and up.

Florida Keys Eco Discovery Center is a kid-friendly & adult interesting educational exhibit open Tuesday – Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm. Admission is FREE.

Key West Artisan Market

When: Select Sundays, November-April, 10 am – 2 pm

Where: Key West Wildlife Center parking lot across from White Street Pier & Higgs Beach

The Key West Artisan Market, celebrating its 10th season, is a unique open air bazaar filled with artists, authors, chef-made cuisine, craftspeople, performers and fresh produce representing diversity, creativity, ingenuity and locally made products. Participants must live and also create/curate in the Keys in order to qualify for booth space.

Local artisans include culinary, textile, jewelry, wood, art & crafts, curiosities, fresh produce and lots of great, fresh food. Each week is a different theme focused on island living and local charities. Guests are encouraged to go green and ride bikes. There is limited free parking and marked handicapped spots at the park. Please BYOB (bring your own bags). Find your beach reading material at the Local Authors Nook and enjoy live entertainment at the weekly variety show.

What else is there to do at Higgs Beach?

Higgs Beach offers a Civil War Era Fort, Fort West Martello home of the Key West Garden Club that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a beachside café, the African Refugee Memorial and burial site, and an AIDS memorial. Activities available include swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, beach volleyball, tennis, pickleball, and a children’s playground.

Higgs Beach Park also hosts the only shore-accessible underwater marine park in the United States and is the end of the Florida Overseas Heritage Trail, one of only 31 nationally designated All American Highways in the United States.

A beach concessionaire offers beach items for rent including chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, and paddleboards, among others. The Key West Garden Club offers free self-guided tours at Fort West Martello and its nearly two acres of beautiful gardens. The park also hosts a large dog park with separate runs for small and large dogs.

Florida Keys Farmers Market

When: Every Sunday, Year Round, Rain or Shine, 10 am – 3 pm – 305-432-6900

Where: Islamorada Gardens Plaza parking lot, 81001 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036

Local, Fresh, Organic & Sustainable Shopping just under a two hour drive from Key West. Walk through an outdoor oasis featuring colorful artwork and murals by Miami artist DaveL @davel_art on Instagram. Each week features a rotating line up of vendors passionate about their craft. Find Artisan cheeses, select meats, fresh and local seafood, delicious baked goods, farmstand fresh juices, natural and organic produce, local art, orchids and so much more!

Bahia Honda State Park is on the drive and one of the most popular state parks in the Florida Keys. This is where you will find another icon of the Florida Keys, the Old Bahia Honda railway bridge. You can see the old bridge if you continue your drive without stopping at Bahia Honda State Park. But if you do stop at Bahia Honda State Park, you can get a classic view of the old bridge. Bahia Honda State Park also has picnic tables so it can provide the perfect stop for a picnic with views! There are snorkel gear and kayak rentals at Bahia Honda State Park as well.

You will also drive across the iconic Seven Mile Bridge! There are parking areas on either side of the bridge for amazing views and photo opportunities.

Enjoy the Amenities at Our Key West Vacation Rentals

Shop local at our Key West farmers markets during your Florida Keys getaway and keep money within our communities! Discover Rent Key West Vacations collection of vacation rentals complete with fully equipped kitchens, linens, and laundry facilities. Many of our properties also come with private pools, hot tubs, and tennis courts. If you need help customizing your Key West vacation, please get in touch with us at 1-800-833-7368.