We all hope for perfect weather on our vacation. And typically, the Sunshine State lives up to its name. Key West has On average, 260 sunny days per year!
It is worth noting that even when your weather app tells you that it is going to rain in Key West, it’s probably not going to be an all-day event. What typically happens is that it will rain hard for a very brief period of time and then the sun will come out like it never happened. So if your weather app tells you it’s going to rain, try not to worry too much.
But if you’re here searching for things to do in Key West on a rainy day, then it’s possible you happened to visit on a day that didn’t exactly have the best weather. Luckily, there are still fun things to do indoors. This article includes some of the best things you can do if you find yourself in Key West on a rainy day.
See a Movie at Tropic Cinema
You can’t miss the Tropic Cinema with its bright retro design; the inside is unique, too, with an old-fashioned theater feel. It is actually a nonprofit run by volunteers. It opened as a way to serve Key West more than current Hollywood movies.
The four theaters inside play play independent films, foreign films, indie films, classics, as well as some current films.
If you want a more traditional/modern theatre, you could also check out Regal Key West.
Location: 416 Eaton St.
Buy a New Book
Did you know that Judy Blume owns a bookstore in Key West? It’s called Books & Books and it’s located conveniently right off of Duval on Eaton Street. When she’s in town, she often pops in there too!
On a rainy day, I love to read and some of my favorite memories of Key West are actually curling up with a new book listening to the rain. This is especially fun if you happen to be staying somewhere with a patio you can enjoy while it rains.
Location: 533 Eaton St.
Visit the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is one of my favorite things to do in Key West. The first time I went, I actually wasn’t expecting much and only went because everyone I was with wanted to go. I had no idea what a magical experience it would be.
There are hundreds of butterflies flying around and if you’re lucky, one will even land on you. It’s hard to explain just how magical it is to walk amongst so many butterflies. There are also tropical gardens, local flowers and plants, flamingoes, gorgeous tropical birds, turtles, and more.
One thing to know before you go is that it is 80 degrees with 80% humidity so even though it’s a great rainy day activity, you won’t be escaping the heat.
Location: 1316 Duval St
Take a Tour of Key West
Both the Conch Tour Train and the Old Town Trolley are open air but covered. I suppose if the weather was really bad with high winds blowing the rain sideways, it might not be the best option but for the most part, you’ll stay pretty dry on these options.
Both options have a hop-on, hop-off approach, so you can get off any of their stops if you want to. Conch Tour Train has been around since the 50s. It is such a quintessential Key West activity and I love seeing the trains around town. I also love how the conductor explains Key West’s history on this tour. The bus of the Old Town Trolley isn’t nostalgic, but it offers some stops that are further away from Duval Street that the Conch Train doesn’t offer.
Visit a Museum
Key West has so many options for museums and most of them are inside, making them a great place to spend a rainy day (especially for history buffs). For such a small island, there really is a lot of history to take in. For me, this is what adds to Key West’s charm.
Custom House Museum
The building was once a civic building originating in 1891. It has been restored and is now an art and historical museum.
Location: 281 Front Street
Ernest Hemingway Home
One of the most popular museums in Key West is the Hemingway House. The house itself is stunning. You can take a tour where you learn more about Hemingway. I visited the Hemingway House 3 times before I took the tour and I highly recommend it, his life was very interesting.
There are also descendants of his six-toed cats, so most of the cats on property have at least one paw with 6 toes. This is probably what draws most people to the house.
Location: 907 Whitehead St.
Mel Fisher Museum
I believe this is the most underrated museum in Key West and it’s probably my favorite. Mel Fisher was a wrecker. Basically this meant that he would look for any “treasures” remaining from shipwrecks. Shipwrecks were very common due to the shallow waters surrounding Key West.
He discovered several wrecks but is most known for his discovery of the 1622 wreck of the Nuestra Señora de Atocha. The museum teaches you about Mel and his discoveries. But there is also a lot of history there including how slaves were brought to Key West and the United State’s history with Cuba.
Location: 200 Green Street
Truman Little White House
The Truman Little White House was Harry Truman’s winter home. He spent so much time there that it was dubbed the Little White House.
Location: 111 Front St.
Key West Shipwreck Museum
One con of visiting this museum on a rainy day is that they do have a lookout tower 65 feet high. This obviously comes with some absolutely stunning views of Key West, including the incredible blue waters. This is one of my favorite parts of the museum so if you plan to visit the museum rain or shine, you might want to hold off until its sunny. But either way, the inside is still worth a visit.
Location: 1 Whitehead St.
Audubon House
The Audubon House was built in the 1850s for James Audubon, though he never got to live there. The house has been restored and there are a lot of artifacts from that time. There is also a gorgeous garden. The historic house is so grand, I absolutely love picturing what it would have been like to live there.
Location: 205 Whitehead St.
Drink
There is so much more to Key West than drinking but Key West is known as a party island and there is no shortage of places to drink in Key West.
If you enjoy drinking, you could go on a bar crawl. If you don’t, you could still find some live music to enjoy while enjoying a beverage of your choice or an appetizer. Here are some of my favorite places to grab a drink in Key West:
- Rick’s
- Green Parrot
- Smokin Tuna
- Captain Tony’s
- Willie T’s
- Hog’s Breath
- Sloppy Joe’s (ok, this one actually isn’t my favorite but it’s everyone else’s favorite. It’s also pretty iconic, so I’ll include it)
And this is just a start. There are so many places, you really couldn’t get to every single bar in Key West in one trip. I highly recommend wandering to whichever place you feel called to and just let the day unfold from there. Those are the best days!
Key West Aquarium
Key West has an aquarium right next to Mallory Square. It’s a small, laid back aquarium that has been around since 1935. They have a touch tank and you can see fish, sharks, turtles, and more. Make sure you see the shark feedings!
Location: 1 Whitehead St.
Go to the Spa
Having a spa day is a great way to relax regardless of the weather. There are plenty of spa options in Key West:
- SpaTerre at the Ocean Key Resort
- Spa Al Mare at Casa Marina Key West
- Ocean Wellness Spa and Salon
- Hyatt Centric Key West Resort and Spa
- The Pier House Resort
- Tranquility Spa
- The Spa at Sunset Key
Go to a Drag Queen Show
Going to a drag show is a must in Key West. They are so much fun with high energy performances, good music, and lots of laughs. Aqua Nightclub and 801 Bourbon both have nightly drag queen shows. The later shows get more raunchy as the night goes on.
Aqua Nightclub Location: 711 Duval St
801 Bourbon Location: 801 Duval St
Shopping in Key West
A rainy day can be a perfect excuse to go shopping (if you needed an excuse). You could meander in and out of the shops along Duval Street but you will get wet in between the shops.
The Shops at Mallory Square are all indoors. There are boutiques, art galleries, and an arcade.
The Shops at Mallory Square Location: 291 Front Street
Distillery Tour
Check out Key West First Legal Rum Distillery or Papa’s Pilar Rum for a guided tour of their distilleries. The Key West First Legal Rum Distillery tours are free and you can even bring your dog. Papa’s Pilar Rum has cocktail classes if you’re looking for a little something extra.
Papa’s Pilar Rum Location: 201 Simonton St.
Key West First Legal Rum Distillery Location: 105 Simonton St
Some Notes About Key West Weather
Hurricane season is from mid-June through the end of November but tends to be most active between mid-August through early October.
Each year, forecasters can predict how active a hurricane season will be. But an active season doesn’t mean Key West will be directly affected just like a “slower” season doesn’t mean Key West is safe. There is no way of knowing if or when Key West will be affected by a hurricane or tropical storm until it’s closer.
Whether or not you should visit during hurricane season depends on your comfort level. Personally, I don’t let what might happen with weather impact my vacation plans but I do make sure I have travel insurance or refundable plans.
Rain season in Key West (and the Florida Keys) is June to October, so similar to hurricane season. During Key West’s rainy season, you’re obviously going to see more rain but like I mentioned earlier, it’s more than likely going to be brief downpours.
And on the bright side, summer months in Key West are hot. Like, really hot. So the rain can be a nice way to get a break in the cool air.
No matter what, Key West is still a beautiful, wonderful island paradise. Rain or shine, there is still fun to be had. You are going to love Key West regardless of the weather.
