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    Key West Aquarium

    3.6 (176 reviews)
    Closed • 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Dale S.

    The Key West Aquarium is probably one of the smallest aquariums I have ever been to, so if you're expecting something massive, where you can wander for half the day, adjust your expectations. That said, we had a really nice time here. It has a small intimate feel so you are close to the tanks and you can take your time. We came later in the day and we were able to catch the game fish and shark feeding. The tank itself was pretty dark and it was honestly hard to see much happening in the water, but the staff member giving the talk was engaging and informative. We learned a lot especially about mangroves and how important they are to the ecosystem. We also stayed for most of the touch tank tuck in tour which I found to be surprisingly sweet. They secure the animals before closing to ensure everyone is safe and protected while the staff is not on site. They also encourage audience participation and there was only one child there at the time I was present, but she really seemed to enjoy helping put the animals away. It was very cute and the staff was very kind to her and made sure she understood what was going on. All the staff were very knowledgeable and genuinely friendly and you could tell they care about what they do. I personally liked seeing the clownfish and learning about them, but my favorite was probably the queen triggerfish. She was beautiful and full of personality. There was also a large tortoise which my husband really enjoyed watching swim around the large tank. The aquarium is dog friendly and since we were traveling through the area we probably would not have come otherwise. I love dog friendly activities and I always give extra stars just for that. Our pup was safe and felt curious and it was enjoyable for her too. They also have a little kiosk where you can take a free digital souvenir photo so I snapped one of us with our dog. It's a small touch but all the patrons loved it. I did read a lot of reviews before coming that made it seem like the price of admission was not worth it because the aquarium is small. I live near the Monterey Bay aquarium and have visited it many times. It's one of the best aquariums in the world and you can spend hours inside, but it costs $65 per person. The key West aquarium cost us around $20 and I doubt many people spend more than an hour - 90 minutes here but I think if you put it into perspective the price is absolutely reasonable. There was a lot of empty space and spots under construction, which is understandable but makes more of an impact when the aquarium itself is so small. Overall, this is a quick educational, easy stop in Key West and we are definitely glad we visited.

    James F.

    Small, quaint, and a bit overpriced for what it is. Kids love the fish. Some staff was nice and some were not. Fish, rays, turtles, sharks, and a baby alligator. Probably won't be back but it was an experience.

    Linda S.

    This was probably our least favorite excursion we did in Key West. Maybe if we had kids this would have been more interesting for them, but for us it was just ok.

    What the turtles carry on their shell?
    Başak O.

    Actually it should be good for kids. For adults it's a bit disappointing... Very Small and the fish's and other bios not good variety. There is a rough ray, turtles, seahorses,... was nice. There is also little pool. Shark and a few more big fishes there.

    Jim N.

    A wonderful experience in Key West, especially for families with children. Learn so much about the sea life around Key West! Great exhibits, excellent staff that's very knowledgable about everything in the aquarium. Tours on the half hour, covering all the different exhibits in the aquarium. Learn about sea turtles, health and rescue. Watch the feeding of all the different fish and sharks! What a fun afternoon... bring the kiddos!

    Maddie R.

    Loved this aquarium for something fun to do. They are currently in the process of adding more so I can't wait to see what more they are adding. The AMAZING thing about this aquarium is that you are allowed to bring your dog as long as they are leashed and well behaved. My girl loved it and it was such a nice experience.

    Nancy C.

    We purchased a tour along with the a little White House. Glad we did. Bri g quarters though so you can feed the fish outside! There was an informational tour going on, but we chose to explore around by ourselves. The aquarium was cool. Not very large, but still interesting. We liked the outside area best. It was fun to throw fish food and warp thx the fish swarm to eat. We even had a bird watching but it didn't go after hr fish darn. Maybe next time!

    Manufacturing a coral reef with a restoration mobile
    Andrea H.

    It's really small compared to aquariums I have visited in Seattle, WA; Monterey, CA; and Vancouver, Canada, but Key West, FL is a very small town with limited and pricey real estate, so it is understandable that it is so small. Despite the size, there are several things they do really well. There is a schedule of events at the entrance that indicates free educational tours and animal feedings by staff. These events happen frequently so you are bound to see one during your short visit. There were at least two that happened while we were there. One was listed as feeding the sharks. We were easily able to get a spot along the rail that overlooked the shark pool. The docent used a wireless microphone so her hands were free to throw fish and crustaceans into the pool while simultaneously pointing out the various fish, their features, and interesting characteristics. Employees not doing a tour were readily available and eager to engage with visitors and share their knowledge about the fish and reptiles in the tanks, pools, and aquariums. I was very interested in the three turtles in the three pools in the center of the facility. Hector is older and slow to move. He is fond of shrimp which contributes to his high cholesterol for which he takes prescription medicine. He spends the majority of his time sleeping while wedging his flipper in the PVC fence between him and his nemesis Rocky, a younger more disagreeable turtle who tried to bite Hector's flipper when it stuck through his neighbor's fence. Lola was the unique turtle with a damaged flipper that had been fitted with a 3D flipper prosthetic. She had been in and out of care in Texas where she was originally found as a baby. Her release didn't last long because she got tangled in fishing wire and after her flipper was partially amputated due to damage, she was officially welcomed into the permanent care in Key West Aquarium. Lola's full story is on the walls of the outside water pen. This pen has a boardwalk that allows you to walk and peer into the water. There are two gumball machines that have been filled to dispense small pellets of fish food. For a quarter, you can get a small handful that lets you feed the fish. There are several parrotfish and trumpet fish that can easily be seen. TV monitors flash educational slides above the aquariums with info on the fish and corals. They also talk about their restoration techniques being used to grow and restore coral reefs and what we can do to help. The aquariums allowed us to buy a discounted ticket that provided entry into the aquarium, the Shipwreck Museum with the 360 lookout tower, and the Rails to Sails Museum. We bought it, but only made it to two of the three because we ran out of energy. We could have returned the next day, but we departed from Key West. If you are in the area for an extended time, or have kids, this is a nice, small aquarium with good live presentations and intriguing educational content displayed. There is also a shallow touch pool that allows you to put two fingers in the pool to "touch" (not pick up) the sea urchins, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, and other creatures safe to touch. It's fun! I'm glad I went, but we were here for 11 days, so we had plenty of time to visit. If you have a shorter stay, it might not be in your top attraction list.

    Outside by the shark tank
    Dave O.

    This is a very small aquarium that shows the fish that are very common around Key West. Entrance to the Aquarium was part of a tour package that also included a Conch Tour (great tour which is very informative packed into an hour long ride around Key West) and the Ship Wreck Museum (all stairs to climb & not at all handicap accessible) purchased and aboard the Norwegian Pearl. I would recommend going to the Key West Aquarium as part of a combination package or going to the Conch tour as a solo visit. As you walk in one will see rows to your left and right and large open tanks in the middle containing rescued turtles. The enclosed tanks to the left and right are very clean and clear tanks containing the sea life of Key West. I was able to see the largest Moray Eel I've ever seen and a Jellyfish that sends its entire life swimming what looks like upside down. The staff is very friendly and eager to answer any questions you may have about the exhibits. They also have informative presentations about sea turtles and sharks. The Key West Aquarium is a great place to spend an hour or so seeing the fish, sharks and turtles of Key West with a staff eager to answer any question you have about the water around Key West.

    Sea Turtle

    The Aquarium is pretty small, but still a really good place to go if you're looking for something to do. There are lots of tours that give plenty of information.

    Karen B.

    Such a fun place to go. There's quite a few tanks with various fish from rays to sharks and seahorses, but my favorites were the middle areas housing the sea turtles. There are 4 endangered turtles (Rocky, Lola, Spike, and Hector) that have been rescued. Lola has a prosthetic forearm flipper that's put on daily. It's made to fit only her. She had a net wrapped around her fore flipper when she was itty bitty and it had to be amputated. The others have missing flippers and other issues. It's wonderful what the aquarium is doing for them and others. If you're in Key West, it's a must see!

    octopus
    Katie S.

    Had such an incredible time at the aquarium! Got to meet all my favorite animals, Lola is the cutest sea turtle ever. The presentations were very informative and Mike did an awesome job teaching us all about sea turtles and you can tell all the staff truly love the animals! Overall an excellent experience :)

    Hali E.

    The experience was great, we went to go see the fish for our son who is 1.5 and just learned the word "fish" so he was very excited. We were just in time for the shark feeding in the next room by an amazing employee who was very knowledgeable! She was great and got the nurse sharks to come right up and take the fish for us to see and ask questions. There was a small photo opportunity at the other end of the aquarium and a touch tank in the beginning. Sea turtles, seahorses, rays and more. Giving 4 stars because it was way smaller than we expected.

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    2 years ago

    Very small. Not as good as other major aquariums around the country. Too expensive for the limited viewing.

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    Meh, more like a $5 would be a good price to get in aquarium. Not much to see, gets you out of sun for a 1/2 hour though i suppose.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Key West Aquarium

    Review Highlights - Key West Aquarium

    “Small aquarium but makes up for with live interaction with many of the sea creatures.”

    Mentioned in 21 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Ernest Hemingway Home  - His writing room

    Ernest Hemingway Home

    4.3(987 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    **if you have a cat allergies SKIP THIS you will be miserable. All other people this is one of the…read morebest experiences on key west. Full stop When visiting Key West this is a MUST DO. The staff are all so friendly. they keep it infomral so it's not stuffly or rehersed. In our tour group there about 15 people. 4 of whuch were kids and our guide tailored it to them which both sweet and adorable. He also mentioned multiple times that if we wnated a different experance to stick aorund for the next tour. So from tour to tour you'll get a completely different experiace and infomation which is not typical and definatly a more interesting experiance (I do a lot of antique and historically signifaicnt home tours lol) The cats are amazon. Most are very used to people and are happy for some gental and respictful attention. Please if you are visiting, be respectful of the rules and don't pick htem up. If one jumps in your laslp thats fine but don't pick them up on your own. Pets and belly rubs and photos and ear scratches al welcome. We saw margarita glasses being used a water bowls an have implented this at our house now. I could have spent all day here and if we ever return to Key West we'll be back as I;m sure the experience will be different.

    When we planned to come to Key West, this was the first item on my bucket list. And it did not…read moredisappoint. After paying to get in, we did a little tour on our own. Mostly my wife looking at the cats and trying to get their attention. We had a cat, they do whatever they want when they want to. At a given time, we came back to the front for the house and garden tour. It was very informative and it lasted about 30 minutes. It does include some very steep stair climbing but well worth the visit. I was not aware of the whole cat thing but it was an interesting story on why and how they got there. But to see where Hemingway, certainly one of America's best writers, lived was a very cool thing to do.... in this heat and humidity :)

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    Ernest Hemingway Home  - Kinda of hard to tell from this pic, but the planter in the middle of the walkway is shaped like a boat.

    Kinda of hard to tell from this pic, but the planter in the middle of the walkway is shaped like a boat.

    Ernest Hemingway Home  - Hemingway Cat

    Hemingway Cat

    Ernest Hemingway Home  - Cat Cemetery

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    Cat Cemetery

    Key West Extreme Adventures - Snack time!

    Key West Extreme Adventures

    4.9(69 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Captain Matt and Tanner were great. Super informative about the wildlife, environment and kept the…read moremood light with jokes. Kids on board were able to feed a shark if they wanted to. They got us back to shore before heavy rains started. Would highly recommend!

    As a filmmaker and photographer, I've documented a lot of different environments, but my experience…read morewith Key West Extreme Adventures was something special. This is a family-run business and you can feel that local, small-town pride from the moment you step on the boat. What impressed me most wasn't just the wildlife--though seeing bottle-nosed dolphins and sharks in their natural habitat was incredible--it was the professional camaraderie. Even though there are other tour companies out there, the captains are in constant communication, sharing sightings and even helping each other out with gear or debris in the water. It's rare to see that kind of collective stewardship in a competitive industry. The tour is also deeply educational. The guide did a fantastic job dispelling myths about sharks and explaining the biology of the animals (like the dermal denticles on their skin) with a level of respect that shows they aren't just using nature for a paycheck--they are actively protecting it. If you want an authentic, respectful, and insightful look at the Florida Keys' ecosystem, this tour is a must. I captured a large portion of our tour--including the sharks and dolphins--starting at the 2:26 mark in my vlog here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og6BrVsB2QM

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    Key West Extreme Adventures
    Key West Extreme Adventures
    Key West Extreme Adventures

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    Yankee Freedom Dry Tortugas Ferry

    Yankee Freedom Dry Tortugas Ferry

    4.4(443 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    Takes reservations
    Private events

    We recently took the Yankee Freedom Ferry to Dry Tortugas (8/3/26) and I absolutely loved this…read moreexperience, will 100% be coming back! My sister is on a mission to visit all of the U.S. National Parks, so Dry Tortugas was originally more of a bucket-list stop for her than for me. I honestly didn't expect to love it nearly as much as I did, but it ended up being one of my favorite parts of our trip. By the time we left, I was already thinking about coming back to camp and spend even more time snorkeling! The Yankee Freedom crew made the entire day incredibly easy and enjoyable. From the beginning, they went into so much detail about what to expect. I really appreciated how organized everything was, especially since it's basically an entire day excursion. Breakfast was available on the way out, lunch was provided shortly after we arrived, and snorkeling equipment was included. The bar opening on the ride back to Key West was also a fun way to end the day! After checking out the fort, we had time to explore and snorkel, which was easily one of my favorite parts of the day. The water and scenery were absolutely beautiful. What really stood out to me, though, was the crew. Everyone was so friendly, attentive, and genuinely fun to talk to, especially Matt. We appreciated his recommendations for bars to check out on Duval Street. We actually went to some of the places he recommended later, and they completely lived up to the hype, I had such a great time! He also saved my feet when I apparently decided shoes were optional on a scorching hot wooden dock and started splashing water on my feet for me . It was such a small gesture, but it really summed up how attentive and personable the crew was. I also really appreciated our tour guide, Ali, for answering all my questions. She was so sweet! Thom kept us entertained at the bar on the way home while making my first Rum Runner. Everyone brought something different to the experience, and those little interactions with the crew are honestly a big part of why the day was so memorable. It made the experience feel much more personal than I expected from such a busy excursion. My only "complaint" is that I wish I could have stayed longer! I felt like I could have spent hours more snorkeling and exploring. I went into this trip because visiting the national parks is something my sister loves, and somehow I left already planning my own return trip. Next time, I'd love to camp overnight so I can really take my time exploring and get even more snorkeling in. Between Dry Tortugas itself and the Yankee Freedom crew, this was easily one of the highlights of our Key West trip. If you're debating whether it's worth dedicating an entire day to it, do it. I can't wait to come back!

    My daughter and I took this trip on 07.16.26. First visit to Key West…read more Check in was super smooth. Hollywood relayed the directions and expectations very clearly. The boat ride both ways were amazing! Crew was great. Hollywood, again, was great with directions for the ride. Hours for things were clearly posted. The Fort was great! I have seen other forts before, but this one was different. We signed up for the 20 minute talk once we were in the fort along with the 1 hour walk tour. Both were very insightful. We didn't make it very far in the fort on the tour, but Hollywood did a great job with the highlights. Great that breakfast & lunch were provided. Snorkeling gear was provided for everyone. We did not use, but many people enjoyed using it. They really did have enough for whoever wanted them. We did get burnt riding outside and being at the fort. I can't stress enough to apply sunscreen way more often than we did! My only negatives are these. The new Park Ranger came to listen to the 20 minute talk because, and she said this...' you know more than I do'. But this wasn't for the boat. The other was when we were in Dr Mudd's area. I know he was stressing to us how great the weather was (cooler than normal) and that we shouldn't be acting so hot. It felt almost like he broke from the script to scold us. I know he was trying to relate the conditions from back when the fort was in use vs us being there. I thought someone did something wrong and he needed to talk to us about it. I know some people were acting super hot. I know is a silly rant, but I don't like getting lumped in to something when I feel like we're in trouble. Anyway...highly recommend!

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    Yankee Freedom Dry Tortugas Ferry
    Yankee Freedom Dry Tortugas Ferry
    Yankee Freedom Dry Tortugas Ferry

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    Key West Aquarium - aquariums - Updated September 2026

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