Key West, Florida
The southernmost point in the continental United States — and one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly destinations on earth. Key West has been a queer sanctuary for over a century, attracting artists, writers, and free spirits to its sun-soaked streets. Duval Street's legendary strip of gay bars, drag shows, and warm Caribbean energy make Key West an unmissable destination for LGBTQ+ travelers to South Florida.
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Duval Street 🌞
Duval Street runs the full length of Key West from the Atlantic to the Gulf — "From sea to shining sea," locals joke. The southern half is the island's legendary gay strip: a mile of bars, clubs, drag shows, resorts, and restaurants that have made Key West one of the most important LGBTQ+ destinations in the world. Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, and countless other queer writers and artists chose Key West as their sanctuary. Today the island carries that legacy: radically welcoming, gloriously free, and utterly unlike anywhere else in America.
Why Key West is Special
- 🌞 Year-round warmth — 80°F average, the southernmost point in the continental US
- 🏝 Clothing-optional culture — pool bars, beaches, and resorts that celebrate body freedom
- World-class drag — multiple shows nightly at 801 Bourbon and Aqua; the island's biggest stars
- 🏃 Fantasy Fest — October's adult celebration draws 75,000+ to the island
- 📷 Literary legacy — Hemingway, Williams, Capote all called Key West home
Neighborhoods to Know
- 🏭 Old Town — the historic heart: Duval St, Fleming St, gay bars, resorts, and guesthouses
- 🌞 Mallory Square — nightly sunset celebration; street performers, the whole island gathers
- 🌄 Bahama Village — historic African-American neighborhood; local character, Caribbean food
- 🏄 New Town — strip malls and chain hotels; less character but more parking
- ⛴️ Dry Tortugas — ferry or seaplane to a remote national park 70 miles west; unmissable day trip
Entertainment & Events
801 Bourbon Bar
Perched above Bourbon St Pub at the corner of Duval and Petronia, 801 Bourbon Bar is Key West's premier drag show venue....
Aqua Nightclub
Key West's most popular gay nightclub, Aqua delivers drag shows, DJs, dance floors, and a signature outdoor patio on Duv...
Bourbon St Pub
A legendary Key West institution and anchor of the Duval Street gay strip, Bourbon St Pub has been the heart of Key West...
La Te Da
A Key West landmark since 1974, La Te Da (short for La Terraza de Martí) is part boutique hotel, part restaurant, and ho...
Bobby's Monkey Bar
The beloved neighborhood gay dive bar of Key West — unpretentious, cheap, and full of regulars who know every face in th...
Rumors Bar
A friendly neighborhood gay bar right on Duval Street with a welcoming crowd, strong drinks, and the laidback Key West e...
Virgilio's
A sophisticated gay-friendly cocktail lounge in the heart of Duval Street, known for exceptional craft cocktails, a refi...
Travel & Accommodations
Alexander's Guesthouse
A beloved gay guesthouse in Old Town Key West with lush tropical gardens, a clothing-optional pool, and the intimate cha...
Island House
Key West's premier gay men's resort — a lush, clothing-optional compound with a heated pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and tropica...
Coconut Grove Guesthouse
A charming gay-owned guesthouse in Old Town Key West, nestled in a tropical garden setting with a clothing-optional pool...
Equator Resort
An adults-only gay resort in Old Town Key West offering clothing-optional sunning, a heated pool, and tastefully appoint...
Adult & Pay Venues
Things to Do
Curated attractions and experiences for your trip to Key West — from iconic landmarks to hidden gems.
🛶 Tours & Cruises
🏭 Landmarks & Culture
Duval Street
The legendary 1.25-mile bar- and gallery-lined main drag — from the Gulf to the Atlantic, Duval Street is the heartbeat of Key West.
Southernmost Point Marker
A colorful concrete buoy marking the southernmost point in the continental US — 90 miles to Cuba and 18 inches of paint at a time.
Key West Pride — June 4–8, 2026
Key West is one of eight cities featured on our Pride Month 2026 guide — with dates, hotels, and cruise options for every celebration.
Key West Pride Calendar
Key West celebrates year-round. Fantasy Fest in October is the island's legendary adult festival — but Pride Week, WomenFest, and Bear Weekend make every month worth considering.
Key West Pride Week
Key West Pride Week fills Duval Street with parades, pool parties, drag shows, and community events celebrating LGBTQ+ life on the island. The parade along Duval Street is a colorful, joyful procession through the heart of the gay district — capped by a massive outdoor street party. For an LGBTQ+ traveler, Pride Week is the definitive Key West experience.
Fantasy Fest
The island's most famous event — a 10-day adults-only costume festival that transforms Key West each October. Fantasy Fest draws 75,000+ visitors for body painting, parades, masquerade balls, and an anything-goes celebration that has made the festival legendarily inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community since 1979. The Parade on the final Saturday is one of the great spectacles of Florida.
WomenFest Key West
One of the largest lesbian and queer women's festivals in the US, WomenFest draws thousands of women to Key West each September for pool parties, concerts, comedy, and community. Pearl's Patio, Bourbon St Pub, and venues across the island host dedicated programming — a celebration of queer women's community in one of Florida's most welcoming destinations.
Bear Weekend Key West
Key West Bear Weekend is one of Florida's most popular gatherings for the bear, cub, and chub community — a long weekend of pool parties, bar crawls, and community events at Island House, Bourbon St Pub, and venues across the island. Friendly, body-positive, and genuinely fun — a perfect November escape when the weather is ideal and the island is at its most laid-back.
Nightly Drag & Sunset Shows
Key West has nightly drag shows 365 days a year — at 801 Bourbon Bar, Aqua Nightclub, and La Te Da. Combined with the nightly Mallory Square sunset celebration (one of Florida's great traditions), Key West delivers live entertainment every single night. There is no off-season on the island, and there is never a dull evening on Duval Street.
Key West Literary Seminar
Each January, Key West hosts one of America's premier literary events — drawing authors, readers, and writers who follow in the tradition of the island's legendary literary residents: Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Ernest Hemingway, and Elizabeth Bishop. The LGBTQ+ connection runs deep: Williams and Capote made Key West their sanctuary, and the seminar regularly features queer voices and themes.
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Book Flights
Find the best fares to Key West — fly into Key West International Airport EYW
✈️ No direct flight? Fly into Miami (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and drive the scenic Overseas Highway — Key West is ~3.5 hours from Miami, one of the most beautiful drives in America.
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🛌 Where to Stay
🎲 Things to Do
Popular in Key West:
- Hemingway House Tour
- Duval Street Bar Crawl
- Dry Tortugas Day Trip
- Snorkel & Sail Excursion
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Travel Gear
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Getting Around Key West
Key West is a small island — most of Old Town is walkable or bikeable. The historic district is 2 miles end to end. Bikes and scooters are the preferred local transport, and the Duval Street corridor is best explored on foot.
Trip Insurance
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