Key West, kept on a card.

Where the photos are in Key West

1. The Southernmost Point buoy

   A large concrete buoy at South Street and Whitehead Street that marks the southernmost point of the contiguous United States, and a hugely popular photo stop. It is about a 20 minute walk from the port and 1.2 miles from Mallory Square.

2. Mallory Square

   Famous for its nightly Sunset Celebration, with performers, musicians, artists and food vendors as the sun goes down over the Gulf. It is within a short walk of the piers, though many ships leave before sunset, so check the time.

3. Duval Street

   The main street of Old Town, running from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic, with historic bars, art galleries, shops and cafes. The six blocks between Greene Street and Petronia Street are the classic stretch.

4. Hemingway's House and Museum

   Five blocks south of Mallory Square, a house museum of the famous writer, with the Key West Lighthouse and its keeper's quarters close by, a three minute walk away.

5. Old Town's conch houses

   Old Town is flat and compact, full of 19th century wooden conch houses with porches and hidden gardens, and it is made for walking.

How the light works

Old Town's colors are best in the low light of early morning, when the wooden houses are warm and the streets are empty, and the buoy is easiest to photograph before the line forms. Mallory Square at sunset is the classic light, with the sun going down over the Gulf, if your ship stays that late. At midday, the palms and porches give you shade for portraits.

Before you go ashore

Mallory Square, Duval Street and Hemingway's House are within a 5 to 15 minute walk of the cruise piers, and ships that dock at Pier B or Mallory Square are just one or two blocks from Duval Street. The buoy is about a 20 minute walk. Since Key West is small, watch the all-aboard time, and consider taking a taxi or a bike for the longer distances.

Details checked September 2026. Piers, fees and schedules change, so confirm with your ship's daily plan.

Questions people ask

How far is the Southernmost Point buoy from the cruise port?

About a 20 minute walk. It sits at South Street and Whitehead Street.

Can I walk from the cruise pier to Duval Street?

Yes. Ships docking at Pier B or Mallory Square are just one or two blocks from Duval Street, and Mallory Square, Duval Street and Hemingway's House are all within a 5 to 15 minute walk of the piers.

What is the Sunset Celebration?

A nightly gathering at Mallory Square with performers, musicians, artists and food vendors as the sun sets over the Gulf. Many cruise ships leave before it starts, so check your all-aboard time.