9 Best Things to Do Near the Quiet End of Duval Street in Key West (Walkable Old Town Itinerary)
- nancy9487
- 30 minutes ago
- 6 min read
As someone who spends my winters in Key West, I love to find the best walking routes to fully experience all this lively island has to offer! This Old Town Key West itinerary includes the best things to do near the quieter end of Duval Street — all within walking distance and perfect if you are visiting without a car.
Where is the "Quiet End" of Duval Street in Key West?
Don't let the title "quiet end" of Duval Street fool you; there's still lots and lots to do in this charming area of Old Town Key West. It's just a little more tame than the lower end of Duval, which features most of the bars and nightlife.
The southern section of Duval Street, known as the "quiet end," is situated on the Atlantic Ocean side and is home to the famous Southernmost Point Buoy. This area offers a more relaxed atmosphere, with art galleries, unique boutiques, and easy access to the beaches. It also includes some of my favorite high-end resorts, like The Southernmost Beach Resort and The Reach Key West.
A visit to the walkable and quiet-side of Duval should be on every visitor's itinerary!
Is This Part of Key West Walkable (Do You Need a Car?)
Key West is one of the most walkable vacation destinations, especially in the tourist area of Old Town. Once you're in the downtown area, almost anything you want to see and do is an easy walk away.
Both the quiet and rowdy ends of Duval are very pedestrian-friendly, and most people prefer to walk since parking is limited, and can be both expensive and hard to come by. If you're staying in Old Town at one of the many fantastic hotels or resorts, no car is needed!
Map of This Walkable Old Town Key West Itinerary
9 Best Things to Do Near the Quiet End of Duval Street:
Here's the perfect itinerary for enjoying a beautiful day on the quiet end of Duval Street. This walking tour includes two of my favorite restaurants, historical locations, and stunning tropical gardens & waterfront beach views. It's a great way to experience the many different areas and activities of Key West.
Moondog Cafe & Bakery
Located right next door to the Hemingway Home, Moondog Cafe is a great spot to grab a delicious breakfast before embarking on your fun-filled day in Key West. They are known for their in-house bakery serving up heavenly house-made pastries and desserts. Everything I've enjoyed at Moondog has been super fresh and tasty. You can check out their menu here!
Note: Since this is such a great restaurant, it can get quite busy. Make sure to build time into your schedule just in case there's a wait to be seated. Trust me, the wait will be worth it!
Hemingway Home & Museum
Let's face it, a trip to Key West would not be complete without visiting the famous Hemingway Home. Tickets are available for purchase at the entrance of the property. Each ticket includes a guided tour led by a seasoned guide who will provide details about Ernst Hemingway's life in Key West while showing you around the lovely house and grounds. Tours generally last 20 - 30 minutes. After the tour, you can spend additional time exploring the grounds at your leisure. Make sure you keep an eye out for the six-toed cats that roam the area!
Hours: Open 9am - 5pm everyday
Ticket costs:
General Adult Admission - $19
Child Admission (6-12 years old) $7
Children five and under are free
Website: Check out the Hemingway Home website for additional details on visiting the house and the history of the adorable six-toed cats.
Duval Street Pocket Park & Southernmost Point Buoy
Duval Street Pocket Park is located at the southern end of Duval Street. This inviting park features green space, a pier, and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. To the left of the park is South Beach, a public beach area that provides an excellent spot for swimming and sunbathing, with umbrella and chair rentals available. The Southernmost Beach Cafe is also here, offering an easy option for food and drinks for beachgoers.
Don't miss your opportunity to take your photo with the Southernmost Point Buoy! Temporarily housed at this charming park, you can join the line to take a pic at one of the most photographed spots in the US. The buoy is usually situated at the corner of South and Whitehead Streets, but during reconstruction of the seawall, this replica buoy fits the bill for your selfie.
Southernmost House
Just steps away from the pocket park, come see the Southernmost House, a gorgeous Victorian manor. Built in 1897, this impressive mansion has lived many lives, including a speakeasy in the early 1900s, a nightclub, and a house that hosted five U.S. presidents (Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon and Carter). Today, the Southernmost House is a full-service boutique hotel. For a full history on this remarkable residence and information on staying here, visit their website: The Southernmost House
Seaside Cafe at the Mansion
One of my absolute favorite places to eat lunch is Seaside Cafe! This unbeatable oceanfront restaurant is located on the grounds of Southernmost House. You are so close to the ocean you might even get splashed — its a one-of-a-kind spot. The menu is limited, but what they've got is always delicious! My favorite is the caprese sandwich with the garden salad. They are also known for their biscuits and wood-fired pizzas. Take a look at their menu here.
Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory
The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory is a must-see destination! I recommend it to anyone that visits, as it's a great attraction for all ages. They've packed a large vaiety of amazing sights in one compact space. You'll see hundreds of beautiful butterflies, and most likely some will land on you. Also, there's colorful birds of all sizes, including two very vocal and animated pink flamingos. You'll enjoy all of this fluttering wildlife in a lush tropical setting.
Tickets are very reasonably priced and well worth it! I would allot 30 minutes to an hour to thoroughly enjoy this attraction. You can walk through the exhibit as many times as you like. Make sure to build in some time to explore the gift shop — it's one of the best on the island.
Hours: Open 9am - 5pm everyday
Ticket Costs:
General Adult Admission - $17.50
Child Admission (4-12 years old) $12.50
Children three and under are free
Website: Check out the Key West Butterfly website for additional details.
Higgs Beach
Surprisingly, Key West doesn't have an abundance of beaches for sunbathing and swimming on the island. If you're craving some beach time, be sure to check out Higgs Beach. It's got beautiful white sand for lounging, a fantastic swimming area, and offers paddle boards and kayaks for rent. Additionally, there's volleyball courts on the beach, and pickleball & tennis courts just across the street, all open to the public. If you get hungry, Salute, another one of my favorite lunch spots, is just steps away.
Key West Gardens at Fort West Martello
I'm someone who loves strolling through lush gardens wherever I'm traveling. So most of my itineraries will include green space whenever possible. The Key West Gardens at Fort West Martello is a great place to enjoy nature and recharge duriing your busy day. Situated in a former Civil War fort, these well-tended gardens offer enchanting pathways to quiet sitting areas, a peace garden & labyrinth for meditation and reflection, and stunning ocean views. This site is so beautiful, it's also used as a wedding venue.
Hours: Open 9:30am - 5pm everyday
Admission:
Admission is free - donations are greatly appreciated
Website: Check out the Key West Garden Club website for additional details.
White Street Pier
White Street Pier is a fantastic way to end your day after exploring the quieter side of Duval Street. This vast 1,000-foot concrete pier, commonly known as the "unfinished road to Cuba," provides incredible panoramic views of the ocean. It's an ideal location to watch both sunrise and sunset and a great spot to throw a fishing line in. Many visitors enjoy the pier by walking, biking, or bringing their pets along.
Suggested Walking Route for This Duval Street Itinerary
You can tailor this self-guided walking tour to meet your interests and schedule. If you have most of the day free, I suggest using the gps map above (1.8 miles one-way). This Key West walking route begins with breakfast at Moondog Cafe and ends at White Street Pier in the afternoon. Timing of the tour depends on how long you choose to spend at each stop.
If you're short on time and prefer not to walk a long distance, I recommend visiting the first six stops, from Moondog Cafe to the Butterfly & Nature Conservatory stop (a half-mile one-way ). You can save the walk to Higgs Beach, Key West Gardens and White Street Pier for another day.
Additional Key West Attractions & Scenic Walks
After exploring the sites on the quieter end of Duval Street, consider these additional Key West walking tours to discover more things to do on the island:
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