Key West is one of the most photogenic places in the United States! Don’t let a photo of a slice of Key Lime Pie on your plate be the most exciting thing you post on social media during your vacation. Whether you want to take the perfect family photo or you dabble in landscape photography, dreamy Key West photo ops are everywhere.
Don’t miss your chance to take the perfect picture of your postcard-worthy Key West vacation! Just use this list of the best Key West photo spots to plot your way around paradise with your camera ready.
1) The Glowing Mangroves Of Key West
One of the best Key West photo spots is a place you can’t get to on your own. For a one-of-a-kind experience in the moonlight, book a night kayaking excursion. At Night Kayak Key West, we bring you to Instagram spots on the water in glass-bottom, LED-lit kayaks. Glide along beneath the stars while tropical fish and nocturnal marine creatures busily swim all around you during this unforgettable experience. Our popular excursions include:
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Night Kayak Guided Tour – Hop in a single or double glass-bottom kayak to glide along through narrow mangrove tunnels that lead to calm waters with our experienced, helpful local guides. Our guides will take you to hidden, tucked-away spots to see places few tourists ever get to see and snap epic photos.
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Key West Sandbar Trip – In addition to being the premier provider of guided night kayaking in Key West, we also offer excursions to local Key West sandbars. If you prefer daytime photography, spend the morning or afternoon with friends or family zipping through the mangrove trails of Mud Keys and relaxing in clear, ankle-deep waters at the Jewish Basin sandbars and Snipe Point.
Since 2012, Night Kayak Key West has proudly offered unforgettable tours to Instagrammable places most people can only dream about seeing. Capture those magical moments as you glide through the glowing mangroves or relax on crystal-clear sandbars—these are the kind of memories and photos you’ll want to share with everyone!
Get your camera or phone ready and join us for an unforgettable kayaking or sandbar adventure today!
2) The Key West Lighthouse
The Key West Lighthouse was completed in 1825 to safely guide merchant and military ships approaching the reef-heavy shores of paradise. While the iconic landmark has been decommissioned, it’s still every bit as thrilling to see in person today.
Photos from the ground level are majestic and charming. Photos from the top of the 65-foot tower and observation area are iconic! Simply make the 88-step climb to enjoy 360-degree views of the island and surrounding waters.
Good To Know: If you’re planning to get a photo during “golden hour” just before sunset during the winter, you’ll need to pay for entry before the lighthouse closes at 5 p.m. The last admission is actually at 4:30 p.m.
3) The “Greetings From Key West” Mural in Bahama Village
Considered one of the most Instagrammable places in Key West, the famed Key West mural is located right in the historic heart of the island at 284 Margaret Street. This Key West mural was actually painted on the side of the Cuban Coffee Queen in Bahama Village.
Yes, that means you can combine one of the best photo spots in Key West with the best cafecito (Cuban espresso) you’ll ever taste in your life!
Fun Fact: While this mural full of bright colors is now an enduring symbol of Key West that feels like it’s been around for decades and decades, it was painted by artist Letty Nowak in 2009.
4) The Southernmost Point Buoy
The Southernmost Point Buoy is an anchored concrete buoy marking the southernmost point in the continental United States. Ever since it was erected by city officials at the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street in 1983, it has been one of the most popular spots to pose for photos in Key West.
A photo at the Southernmost Point Buoy is an absolute must for any visitor! If you haven’t snapped this iconic shot, can you really say you’ve been to Key West? It’s the perfect way to show your friends back home just how far you’ve traveled and capture a truly unforgettable memory.
Pro Tip: Make your photo-worthy moment at the Southernmost Point Buoy last a little longer by walking a few steps to the nearby Southernmost Beach Cafe that invites you to dine and drink while glancing out at a beach and shoreline located just 90 miles from Cuba!
5) Iconic Highway Landmarks Throughout the Keys
If you’re planning to drive on the iconic stretch of U.S. Highway 1 that connects the Florida Keys, prepare to stop for some amazing landmarks and views along the way. The portion of Highway 1 that runs through the Keys is known as the Overseas Highway.
Here are some top spots for photo opportunities along the route:
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Mile Marker 0 Sign – Found at the beginning of Fleming Street and Whitehead Street, the Mile Marker Zero Sign is the official beginning of Highway 1.
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Seven Mile Bridge – Connecting Knight’s Key in the Middle Keys to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys, the bridge is unique because it combines a modern, state-of-the-art vehicular bridge and pedestrian/bike path with a vintage bridge that was once part of the Henry Flagler Overseas Railroad.
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John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park – Located off Mile Marker 102.5 just north of Key Largo, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park encompasses 70 square natural miles of Atlantic waters. A dream for divers, the park features reefs, mangrove swamps, and tropical hammocks.
Fun Fact: While U.S. Highway 1 connects mainland Florida to the Florida Keys, it’s reach is actually much wider! Known locally as the Overseas Highway, 2,370-mile Highway 1 actually passes through many major East Coast cities stretching from Maine to Key West!
6) Breathtaking Beaches And Natural Areas
Leave it to Mother Nature to provide some of the best Instagram spots around Key West. Here’s a list of photo spots where you can snap glowing sand, swaying palm trees, and stunning turquoise water:
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Dry Tortugas National Park – If you’re willing to travel a bit to put some amazing pictures on your Instagram feed, Dry Tortugas National Park is worth the extra effort. Nestled 70 miles off Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, Dry Tortugas National Park is made up of seven islands and several protected coral reefs teeming with marine life. Get your camera ready for incredible nature photos here! Loggerhead, green, and hawksbill turtles are often seen on the surface of the water or along the shore in Dry Tortugas.
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Fort Zachary Taylor Beach – The beach inside Fort Zachary Taylor State Park is considered the best Key West beach by many travelers. Show up at golden hour to snap a photo of the sun going down where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Gulf of Mexico.
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Smathers Beach – As Key West’s largest public beach, Smathers Beach is one of the best Instagram spots on the island for “slice of life” photos. Pose for relaxing photos in the white sand surrounded by palm trees.
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Higgs Beach – Gorgeous Higgs Beach offers 16.5 acres of public oceanfront vista to enjoy! Find your way to the 400-foot Reynolds Street Pier to snap some amazing photos of the horizon.
Good To Know: Public beaches in Key West are generally open from sunrise to sunset for swimming. However, access to beaches and surrounding photo spots is generally open until 11 p.m.
7) The Mallory Square Nightly Sunset Celebration
The famous and iconic Mallory Square sunset celebration takes place each evening at sunset in Key West. Street performers, vendors, and attendees generally start to show up an hour before sunset to begin the festivities. Mallory Square is one of the best photo spots to capture the fun, celestial vibe of Key West.
Don’t miss out on this iconic Key West experience—just like the Southernmost Point Buoy, the Sunset Celebration is an absolute must-visit! If you haven’t snapped a photo here to share with your friends back home, have you really been to Key West? It’s the perfect way to capture the vibrant spirit and magical sunsets that make this island so unforgettable.
Fun Fact: While the current nightly sunset celebration has been celebrated unceasingly since the 1960s, Mallory Square has been a beloved spot for sunsets for far longer. Mark Twain came to Mallory Square for a sunset celebration in the 1800s. During the period when he lived in Key West, author Tennessee Williams was also a regular attendee.
8) Duval Street
With its fun, tropical restaurants and bars, Duval street is both the main nightlife hub of Key West and one of the best photo spots if you want lively, colorful shots. Duval is full of Instagram spots like Sloppy Joe’s Bar, Tiki House, Flying Monkeys, Willie T’s, and The Rum Bar. Other landmarks to photograph around Duval include the facades of Tropic Cinema, Ocean Key Resort, and the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory.
Duval Street is a fun and colorful place for photographers. You can find bright buildings, busy cafes, and street performers all around. It’s a great spot to take pictures of people having fun or to capture the unique look of Key West. If you want lively and interesting photos, Duval Street is a must-visit place.
Pro Tip: The neon-pink sign of Tropic Cinema is perfect if you’re looking for Key West photo spots that pop at night!
9) The Key West Shipwreck Museum
While divers who come to Key West to document the incredible shipwrecks submerged in the depths that surround the island need to use high-tech equipment to take photos and video footage, you can take a shortcut to great wreck photos by simply touring the Key West Shipwreck Museum.
This fun, interactive, and educational museum brings you back in time to 1856 Key West to experience what is known as the “era of the wreckers.” During a tour, you’ll learn about the island’s fascinating nautical heritage and encounter many wonderful photo spots.
The museum contains authentic artifacts recovered from the 1985 rediscovery of the wrecked Isaac Allerton ship that was wrecked in the reef during a hurricane in 1856. This Caribbean cargo ship sat undiscovered 15 miles off Key West’s coast for 130 years!
Don’t Skip: During your visit to the museum, don’t skip the chance to climb the 65-foot lookout tower that offers sweeping views of the shore that demonstrate just how large and pervasive the reefs that made the island a hot spot for wrecks really are!
Let Us Take You To The Best Photo Spots In Key West
Night Kayak Key West brings you to photo spots around the island others can only dream about! Our moonlit glass-bottom kayak tours offer the magical experience of watching tropical marine creatures come to life past the mangrove trails.
Rest assured that our experienced, knowledgeable guides will make this a satisfying experience that you never forget! Ready for an unforgettable adventure? Grab your camera and book your magical night kayaking tour with Night Kayak Key West today—let’s make memories (and photos!) that will last a lifetime!
