Prices & schedules checked October 18, 2026
Key West is small, but its big experiences sell out: the one ferry to the Dry Tortugas, sunset sails, reef snorkel trips, and the two famous house museums. Winter is also when the island fills up, with a lighted boat parade in December and two New Year’s Eve “drops” on Duval Street. We compare the options using the operators’ and organizers’ own pages and say plainly which one fits which kind of trip.
Top picks at a glance
| If you want… | Our pick | Key fact (official source) |
|---|---|---|
| The big day trip | Yankee Freedom ferry to Dry Tortugas | Departs 8 a.m., back 5:30 p.m.; park entrance fee included |
| The literary landmark | Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum | Open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; adults $19 |
| Presidential & military history | Harry S. Truman Little White House | Tours daily 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; from $24 |
| A first look around | Conch Tour Train or Old Town Trolley | Train: 60-minute Old Town loop; trolley: 13 hop-on stops |
| A ghost tour | Ghosts & Gravestones trolley | 60-minute nighttime tour |
| The sunset | Mallory Square or a sunset sail | Sunset Celebration is a nightly arts festival |
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Start here
Holidays & New Year’s Eve
The lighted boat parade (Dec 12), holiday lights tour, the conch shell and red shoe drops.
Dry Tortugas day trip
How the ferry day works, the seaplane alternative, fees and what to bring.
Sunset sails & reef snorkeling
Mallory Square for free, or a sail; plus the reef snorkel catamarans.
Hemingway, Truman & the forts
Hours and prices for the house museums, the lighthouse and two Civil War–era forts.
Key West ghost tours
The ghost trolley, and Robert the Doll at Fort East Martello.
One day in Key West
Museum morning, trolley loop, sunset and a ghost tour.
Old Town or further out?
What each area suits, with hotel and rental searches.
Getting there & getting around
Nearest airports, whether you need a car, and transfers.
How we pick
- Facts from the source. Prices, hours, dates and departure points come from the operators’, museums’ and parks’ official pages. Each guide lists its sources and the date we checked.
- No fake reviews. We don’t invent first-person stories or star ratings.
- Book direct when it’s better. The Dry Tortugas ferry, for example, is sold by the park’s concessioner; we link it directly.