Key West's landmarks trace its odd history as a wrecking port, cigar town, and literary hideaway, all wrapped up in candy-colored Conch architecture.
The single most photographed object in Key West — a concrete buoy marking the southernmost point in the continental United States, just 90 miles from Cuba. Expect a line for photos any time after 9am.
The Spanish Colonial house where Hemingway wrote A Farewell to Arms and To Have and Have Not, now home to dozens of polydactyl six-toed cats descended from his original pet, Snow White.
A Civil War-era fort turned state park with the best beach in Key West at its doorstep. Snorkel the rocky shoreline, then tour original cannon batteries under moss-draped trees.
Built in 1848 and still standing 88 feet tall across the street from the Hemingway House. Climb the 88 steps for a 360-degree view over Old Town's tin roofs and the surrounding sea.
A massive 19th-century brick fortress rising from a remote island 70 miles west of Key West, reachable only by ferry or seaplane. Surrounded by some of the clearest snorkeling water in Florida.
Tips for Landmarks & Monuments
- Visit the Southernmost Point buoy early morning or after sunset to skip the crowds.
- Buy Dry Tortugas ferry tickets weeks in advance — it sells out in high season.
- Fort Zachary Taylor charges a small vehicle/pedestrian entry fee, cash or card.