Sightseeing and Tours

Sightseeing and Tours are the best way to find out about Key West and its rich it’s history and charm. Without a doubt the best way to experience it first hand is to venture out and explore the Island a little bit. There are many sightseeing tours around town that are entertaining and informative, from walking and biking tours to water and airplane tours, it’s a great way to see some of the architecture, museums, attractions and wonderful history of Key West.

Tour of Key West on the Conch Tour Train

Whether or not you’ve been to Key West, one of the first things you should plan to do when you arrive in town is to hop on this happy little train and take a tour of this wonderfully historic Island. It’s the perfect way to get a feel for its rich history before you go anywhere else in town. It just makes the whole experience in Key West that much more meaningful.The fast-paced tour lasts around 90 minutes and covers over 100 factual points of interest and is fully narrated in English by one of many very knowledgeable “engineers” who will inform,entertain you, and take you back in time covering nearly 500 years of the Island’s history from the day “Henry Flagler’s” railroad first rolled into Key West back on January 22^nd1912 up until the present time. The tour makes three 10 minute rest stops along the way so if you want to get off and explore on your own, you can catch the next train, which usually come along about every 30 minutes or so.

The second stop is at historic “Flagler Station”, Located at 901 Caroline St. There you’ll be able to disembark to enjoy a tour of the “Flagler Station Over-sea Railway Historeum ”(www.flaglerstation.net) (305-295-3562) where you can take a trip through time learning about how Henry Flagler dared to build a railroad 130 miles out to sea from New York to Key West. With your train ticket, you’ll get free admission to the museum.

Tickets for the tour cost around 30 dollars for adults and it’s free for children under the age of 12. You can get discounted tickets if you purchase them online. Military and seniors travel for a few dollars cheaper. The tour begins from the Front St. Depot, one block south of Duval St, which is typically the best place to board, and ends near the Shipwreck Museum just behind Mallory Square. Tickets can be purchased there or at the Station Depot, at the corners of Front and Duval streets, Truval Village at the corners of Truman and Duval streets, or at Flagler Station located at 901 Caroline St. You may also purchase tickets online or by calling 1-888-788-0162.

The Conch Tour train operates 7 days a week from 9am till 4:30pm and if you decide to get off and catch a later train, you must complete your travel on that particular day. The Conch Tour Train has quite a bit of history attached to it and I would consider it a must do while you’re in town.

Historic Key West Walking Tour

When you find yourself in Key West one of the first things you should do is get to know the history of the Island a little bit. One of the best ways to do it is to head down to the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum behind Mallory Square at 1 Whitehead St and sign up for the Walking Tour. It’s a really fun, entertaining and informative narrated tour chronicling everything from Key West’s Shipwrecking business and architecture, to famous people who have lived here, the “Sponging” industry and the US Navy’s influence dating back to the 1820’s.

The tours run 7 days a week from 9:30am till 4pm (May thru Oct.) and 10:am till 2 and 4 pm (Nov. thru April) Adults tickets cost around 16 dollars with children 4-12 around 8 dollars.Call ahead for schedules 305-292-8990. The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours and covers about 1 1/4 miles. Make sure to wear some comfortable walking shoes. make It is highly recommended to call ahead to make a reservation.

The Original Ghost Tours of Key West