Take a day trip from Fort Lauderdale to Key West to enjoy a fun Caribbean atmosphere, street artists, outdoor cafés and more. Key West’s leafy and lively streets have plenty to offer, but if you’d like more activity, there are upgrades available! Get out on the water on a glass-bottom boat ride, snorkeling cruise or parasailing adventure, or see the attractions on dry land on the Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour or the Conch Train.
Your day trip to Key West begins as you depart Fort Lauderdale and take the scenic drive south through the tip of Florida. There will be a brief stop in Miami to pick up additional passengers. You'll cross 42 bridges, including the Florida Keys’ famous Seven Mile Bridge, whose film credits include True Lies, 2 Fast 2 Furious, License to Kill, CrissCross and Up Close & Personal.
During your visit, check out the Hemingway House and historic Mallory Square on the waterfront. Lunch is not included, but there are plenty of lively and laid-back restaurants lining Key West’s shady streets. Approximate free time in Key West is from 12pm to 6pm.
Upgrade and combine your Key West visit with a glass bottom boat ride, a hop-on hop-off tour, a Conch Train ride, a snorkeling cruise or parasailing to your Key West trip.
Glass-Bottom Boat: As you cruise through the clear turquoise water, gaze down through the boat’s glass bottom to discover part of the Florida Reef, the 3rd-largest coral barrier reef in the world. The reef is home to a variety of coral and tropical fish.
Conch Train: Perfect for first time visitors, the fully narrated Conch Train Tour of Key West is a fun way to explore and learn about the island. Climb aboard and see the sights as the quaint open-air train winds through Old Town Key West.
Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour: For an easy, pleasant way to get around town, add the fully narrated Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour to your day trip! The trolley makes stops at all of Key West’s must-see places. You can jump off wherever you want, visit the sights and re-board when you’re ready.
Snorkeling Cruise: Take a three-hour snorkeling cruise in a 65-foot (19 meters) catamaran to the coral reef off the coast of Key West. You’ll discover a whole new world of underwater plant and marine life. Because of the warm tropical water, you can snorkel this reef year-round. Snorkel gear and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) on the catamaran are included.
Parasailing: Float above the blue waters of Key West as you’re pulled behind a state-of-the-art parasailing boat. You’ll get bird’s-eye views of beautiful panoramic sights as you glide past the island. Minimum age is 6 years old.
What a fantastic way to see Key West in just one day without having to do the driving. My husband and I have been there many times but we decided to take our company down for a quick visit which was a great idea. We had plenty of time in Key West 6 hours on our own to do and see everything we could for a short trip plus the tour company offered tickets to several of the popular attractions at a reduced price. The one surprise we had was on the drive down the bus stopped in Key Largo for a rest stop at a local restaurant and also told us we could purchase breakfast either to go or eat there. The restaurant was prepared for us and whipped up the food quick with either eat in or eat out on the patio options, or pack to go. The only down side was we didn't know this stop was scheduled and we had eaten a few breakfast bars as soon as we were seated on the bus, around 6:30 a.m. so we weren't hungry for their breakfast that looked great. On our travels back to Ft. Lauderdale, we first had to drop off all the travelers who were earlier picked up in Miami which was another downer our morning travels from Ft. Lauderdale were a direct drive to Miami where we boarded a second bus which had already picked up about 25 people from the Miami hotels, so we were combined on one bus and off we headed to Key West. Now on our return trip, there was no second bus to meet the Ft. Lauderdale people for the return instead we drove around the downtown Miami area for over an hour dropping off all the travelers from that area. A real bummer from 10 p.m. til about 11:15 p.m. when we were all tired from a long day already and with each Miami stop, we all grew just more tiresome and irritable. So what was suppose to be a 16 hour trip from pickup to dropoff it turned out to be around 17.5 hours! I will say it was nice to see the downtown Miami area at night all lite up and alive with people at that hour but boy, we were all tired about 20 of us and more that ready to get back. Not a good way to take advantage of tired travelers.
Review by: Mark E, February 2018
Overall, great trip to see southernmost tip of US. Bus ride for extended period OK just a little uncomfortable after hour ride. Wish there was a similar trip on a ship from FLL so you could get up and move around.
Review by: Randy H, February 2018
It was a long day. We were staying in Ft. Lauderdale and had to be transported to Miami. We took a taxicab to a designated hotel and a shuttle vehicle picked us up at 6:00 a.m. and drove us to Miami. We were the last ones on the bus and were not able to sit together for the drive to Key West. Wear comfortable shoes and take a camera. There are plenty of great places to eat/drink and many photo opportunities. We had 5 1/2 to 6 hours to explore Key West. All of the Miami day trippers were dropped off before we were. We arrived back to where we were staying at 11 p.m. Do not go on this tour if you are unable to put in a full day.
Review by: Heddy S, October 2017
Worst Viator tour ever! This tour company did not describe everything correctly. First, the real meeting point is from Miami, not Ft. Lauderdale, as they described. When the shuttle gets you to Miami, then you have to go pick up more people at other stops. We did not leave for Key West until 7:45! Once we finally arrived in Key West, the guide told us to return to the bus at 5:15 and that we were leaving at 5:30 sharp. At 5:45, I approached the guide and told her that we everyone on the bus have been waiting for over a half hour and it was time to go. She argued that there were two people that did not return. Well, as grown ups, it was their decision to miss the return time. We finally left, however, when we returned to Miami, we did not have a shuttle to take us back to Ft. Lauderdale. We had to stay on the bus, while they dropped off everyone else at their hotels, which amounted to another 1.5 hours before we got back to our hotel. I confronted the guide again and she said that she was just following what she was tole. It was the bus ride from hell! The guide was rude and uninformed. At the end of the tour, she told people that they could not leave out of the back of the bus, just so she could make sure she got her tip. However, when we reached our drop off spot, the rear doors were opened, so that she did not have to speak to us. Do not take this tour. Find another company or drive!
Review by: Rowena L, October 2017
We were picked up in Fort Lauderdale to join this day trip to Key West. We had to travel to a pickup hotel location. We were first to be picked up and driven 30-45 min to join the group in Miami and last to be dropped off!! The rest of the tourists were staying in Miami and were picked up from their hotels. The bus driver delivered us to Key West at the designated time and picked us up promptly. Because of the early morning start and late night return, I would not recommend doing this trip from Fort Lauderdale unless you are willing to sit in the bus for hours. Also, since we were dropped off at the same pickup location which is not our hotel, we ended up getting a taxi back to our hotel.,,hence, a very long day!!!
Review by: densonwhitehead, June 2017
I booked this tour, hoping that it wouldn't be a this sounds better than t actually was and I was truly relieved! The tour was through Greyline Tours in Miami and they had a pick-up leg in Ft. Lauderdale. I followed suggestions and called ahead to confirm my booking. The night before the trip, my pick-up driver called me to confirm the next morning, I got a little lost and called him to say I was late and he guided me to my location. He drove all of those who were atheist pick-up point to Miami to get on the actual tour bus. The tour guide on the tour bus I'm sorry that I can't remember his name was superb! He literally guided the entire trip in English and Spanish AND took care of our needs for additional tours on Key West. He stated expectations for the return VERY early and there should have been NO reason for anyone to be misled and everyone was back on the bus on time. He was patient, helpful, but also structured and time conscience. He took the stress off the travel for all us tourists. The bus driver was a great, very safe, smooth driver. They were a great team and made my day trip stress-free and enjoyable. I highly recommend doing this tour rather than trying to drive for a day.
Review by: Jane K, March 2017
Overall good Key West experience. Great not having to drive my own car. The 7.50 breakfast stop was a bit of a tourist trap--with only one ladies room for five busloads at one time. Hop on trollies could be scheduled more frequently. Having to wait a half hour per stop cut into sightseeing time. On the return trip having ten drop off points in Miami while Ft. Lauderdale customers had only one could have been condensed. And our bus breaking an axle at the last stop in Miami lengthened the Fr. Lauderdale trip by almost 2 hours.
Review by: Normand B, December 2016
Provider did not pick us up at the pick up piont
Review by: Glenna M, November 2016
The trip to Key West itself was great, but some of the logistics were wanting. We started off in Fort Lauderdale, took a van to a hotel in Miami, and then waited for 50 minutes for the bus to Key West. I had a hard time getting a human being at Gray Line Miami, and when I did, I didn't get any good answers. It wouldn't have been quite so unpleasant had there been seating in front of the hotel, but alas, no.
Review by: Caroline E, September 2016
No hotel pick up and drop off a down point, dropped off at end of long day in Miami without proper instructions of where to meet van. Originally went to meeting point in morning to be picked up by driver who spoke little English and didn't tell us he was taking us to Miami to meet main bus
Review by: Julie H, August 2016
Really good day out - quite a long day spent travelling but worth it. Did the trolley bus when got there so could see the island and where we wanted to see again. Had lunch, walked round some shops and went to beach. Water lovely and clear, lots to see and very clean.
Review by: Sandra V, July 2016
Booked this trip through Viator. Thought they were going to put my me and my husband on Miami Gray Lines but instead was put on Cubanacana. We first met the shuttle bus in Fort Lauderdale which they were prompt and dropped us off in Miami to catch the Charter Bus. Cubanacana's original bus broke down so the replacement bus arrived 45 minutes later which I understood but not sure if they put us on a back up bus. We had a pretty good rain storm in Miami so the bus roof leaked towards the back of the bus. Luckily it wasn't a full bus so we could move to another seat. Restroom was provided. We could only use 1 and not 2. I didn't have to use the restroom but my husband did. He said that the floor was sinking in. Kind of leary that he might fall through the floor. No toilet paper was provided and no light in the restroom. At night he had to rely on passing street lights to provide lights. I'm not sure if the bus was having A/C issues because it was on intermittently. There were times where it was unbearably hot and felt a little bad for the toddler behind us who was sleeping and I'm assuming was restless because it was so hot on the bus. I think next time I'm better off saving 200 and driving my rental to the Keys and spend the night and spend more than 6 hours at the Keys.
Review by: Florida Resident, July 2016
Used the tour for transportation as did not feel like driving 5 hours there and back. Was worth it. Smooth interesting bus ride, with great views on either side. Comforable and informative._br/_ Had a full 6 hours from around 11 30 to 5 30 ish to do it all. Mostly, walked around the pier, Southern most point, had lunch, and walked Duval street. Drive home was pleasant, fell asleep after sunset.
Review by: VANESSA L, July 2016
No chargering ports on bus, tour guide was forceful in what she was selling regardless of the fact we already bought a tour before hand. Seats were rough for such a long ride. Snorkeling was great.Tour guide did not give us appropriate directions of where to find fury check in.Serveral of usgot lost
Review by: Brian K, April 2016
Our tour was very satisfying, first time to Key West Tour bus seats uncomfortable, for 3 hour ride tour guide was very gracious considerate and accommodating wonderful smile amazing fluent in languages overall a good time and didn't worry about driving..
Review by: Lorraine W L, April 2016
It was everything we wanted and more. The day was perfect.
Review by: 6, March 2016
Not a tour, just transport would not recommend disappointed! Save your money and plan elsewhere
Review by: John D, March 2016
The trip met all expectations. The couple that took us from the Sheraton to downtown Miami were exceptional.
Review by: Vee, March 2016
Great. Long day but well worth it. The driver was skilled, informative of the history and calling out attention to details as we passed them. Answered questions. The hop on hop off trolley was great. It gave us the chance to pick what was of interest to us along with the narration of Key West. Restaurants were reasonable.
Review by: rams, February 2016
It was long and tedious. The driver picked us up at 6:15AM or so and drove to Miami where we waited on bigger bus and many other people we picked up at their hotels. We had to wait on several. Then we finally got on the road to Key West with one stop on the way and made it to the city of Key West at around 11. There were also thousands of tourists already there from 2 cruise ships so the line to get the bus hop on, hop off was endless. We stood in line for an hour, before our guide finally got us on another tour of the city. We left after walking around and having lunch which also took forever: service was awful at 5:15. Then the drive back and dropping off everyone took a very long time. We didn't get back to our hotel until 10:00 PM. _br/_ I would never recommend this trip to anyone!!!
Review by: Stanley G, February 2016
We had a great tour guide. Saw fabulous scenery!
Review by: Ronald D, February 2016
Bus to slow return trip 4 hours no stop, hungry and angry when we got back_br/_ Ron
Review by: Francis A, December 2015
Long but very enjoyable.
Review by: Haidy B, November 2015
It was perfect from beginning to end.The driver was excellent.Bus very comfy.We even had a guide to all places of interest from the time we left Miami.I would use this company any time.
Review by: Lynette P, November 2015
this was a wonderful trip. It would be helpful if the tour included pick up from hotels in Fort Lauderdale but as it is a early start. this may not be feasible. We like to take pictures and found the bus windows dirty. Our guide was very informative and all in all it was a very long but great day.
Review by: oscar B, November 2015
Very nice tour.Highly recommended.
Review by: chitamunoz5, October 2015
The trip was supposed to be a bus ride to and from Key West with a pick up at the Sheraton in Ft Lauderdale. I did not appreciate being pick up at the Sheraton in a very small compact car and driving all over Miami chasing the bus that was supposed to pick us up first at the Sheraton. That was a very long uncomfortable hour!
Review by: Anna M, March 2015
Although it was a long day, it was nice to have the help of Lily to help plan our day! Worth leaving it to the professionals and not try to drive there ourselves
Review by: Gail B, March 2015
No stops on the way back. One would of been appreciated. No toilet paper on bus bathroom. Guide was nice but told us how much we should tip him. I didn't feel that was appropriate. Otherwise it was nice and would recommend Viator.
Review by: Don S, February 2015
The tour director was fantastic. There was however, WAY TO MUCH confusion with the transportation. I did not plan to ride around all nite in Miami dropping off individual riders for over an hour!!! That was insane, to put it mildly. The people from Fort Lauderdale should have been returned to The hotel separately from those in Miami. I was VERY DISAPPOINTED!
Review by: Jill R, February 2015
I would not recommend this trip because of the bus ride. We rode on the bus for 3.5 continuous hours to Key West. The bus driver said that there were facilities in the bus but when I checked there was no toilet paper for the women. When I reported this to the tour guide he said that was on purpose because the toilet kept getting clogged, so you really couldn't go to the bathroom. On the return trip the bus ride was 5 hours, again with no stops. I would recommend that the bus driver be told that he must stop every 2 hours.
Review by: poo.sesha, January 2015
Bus quality was good, driver and guide were good. On the way to keywest they picked up from Sheraton hotel(Ft.Lauderdale) by a separate bus and moved us to a different bus in miami. This was quick and we had a good ride. On the way back though we reached miami by 8pm, they had to drop passengers in different stops in miami and by the time we got dropped it was 12:30 midnight. It was no fun ride to go around city just to get dropped 4hrs later. If possible give us separate ride back to Ft.Lauderdale even in evening as you did in morning(which hardly takes 30min from miami to ft.lauderdale). I am ok to pay few more dollars but not cool sitting in bus for 4 hrs within city.
Review by: caroline k, October 2014
a long day but worth it. glass bottom boat was well worth the money.
Review by: Phyllis P, July 2014
The tour guides were knowledgable. It was very confusing when you first got to Stop 1. Why you were standing there in sweltering heat and 4 unmanned trolleys were waiting there? Didn't seem like any of the trolley organizers cared if you had a good time. The drivers definitely cared.
Review by: ester s, June 2014
Maybe an over night tour in key west would be great. I know I would and im sure you would have more people. Otherwise the tour was excellent.
Review by: marcia s, April 2014
The bus did not stop on the return trip making people have to use the on bus toilet. This created a nasty smell in the back half of the bus, smelled like ammonia. If they don't want the toilet used, they need to stop before the end of four hours! I would not use this service unless I saw an itinerary that included stops.
Review by: , March 2014
On time, helpful and informative. Comfortable bus
Review by: Annette G, February 2014
The tour guide in Key West was excellent. Also had good experience with the transfers to and from Ft. Lauderdale. The bus tour guide should correct her information on the capital of Florida
Review by: lgrunes, July 2013
Went on a bus that specializes in Key West. It was raining when the bus arrived at Key West. There was 6 hours for the activities. There are many activities. We had lunch at a seafood restaurant at a marina, then went on the conch train, then wen to the Truman vacation home. There went the 6 hours. There were other activities offered. No time to go on the other activities
Review by: Larissa R, June 2013
The Day Trip we started at the Ft.Lauderdale Hilton which they told us not too many people are picked up the 3 of us were the only passengers in the van to Miami. It was a rainy morning and alot of traffic. We boarded a bus in Miami picking up passengers. Travelling to Key West it was the driver who spoke no english he did not help us onto the bus or off, other trips we have had the drivers stand outside the bus door but ours seem to run off. The assistant and trip adivisor on the bus her English was very poor the whole trip we did not understand her and other passengers commented. For instance ISLAND was pronounced ICELAND i thought she was talking about passengers from Iceland. Overall this was the main concern that there was no conversation between trip guide and passenger, also asking for a tip at the end of the trip which most people travelling observe this on their own. Thankyou please have this reviewed its important.
Review by: Freya, April 2013
A long day, but a very comfortable coach, and the driver and guide were very helpful.
Review by: Stephen K, January 2013
The bus was late picking us up at the 1st stop in Ft. Lauderdale. The hotel front desk people told us the bus had never been on time since they had worked there. We knew there were going to be a stop in Miami to get additional passengers. Turned out there were 8 stops with an extended wait at a shopping mall. We ended up arriving in Key West at 12:05 instead of the 10:30 to 11:00 adverstised. The people who had booked excursion were now late and the locals were not happy. It was very rushed. In addition. the aggressive/reckless nature of the bus driver was stressfull. I really couldn't believe he didn't hit any cars or pedestrians.
Review by: STEPHEN S, October 2012
It is a long day if you leave from Fort Lauderdale as there are pick ups from many Miami hotels and drop off's especially on the way back...._br/_
But if you do not want to drive down there or cannot drive then the whole trip is good value for money and a great day out!
Review by: Takahisa O, September 2012
Keywest was nice._br/_
My regret was that we wanted to sit at the front part of the bus, so that we thought we could have the better view. We went the Hilton Hotel Fort lauderdake at 5 am in the morning and waited for the bus. The bus arrived and we could have the very front seat of the bus. We were so happy but when the bus arrived at Miami. The driver told us to change the to the other bus. So, we had to move to the other bus which was almost full and we had to sit separately at the end of the bus. (Our group was 4. ). _br/_
Takahisa Oguri, lead traveler_br/_
Itinerary reference No. 23120569
Review by: Dulcie P, August 2012
Info didn't say anything about spending 5 hours to key west by bus, nearly lost a whole day...
Review by: Regina P, August 2012
Tour was very organized and the driver was very nice and he had a lot of knowledge about the Keys. I definitely recommend the tour. _br/_
I especially recommend the upgrade to the snorkeling cruise trip because it was just amazing and worth every penny! The water was super clear and the fish and corals were beautiful.
Review by: Regina P, July 2012
Tour was very organized and the driver was very nice and he had a lot of knowledge about the Keys. I definitely recommend the tour. _br/_
I especially recommend the upgrade to the snorkeling cruise trip because it was just amazing and worth every penny! The water was super clear and the fish and corals were beautiful.
Review by: Jose M, July 2012
We had to be at the Hilton Hotel in Lauderdale 10 minutes till six. From there we drove by bus to Miama where the bus picked up other people from their hotels which took us at least two hour. Many people were late and we waited sometimes for 10 minutes for them! At 8 clock we finally took off to Key West. We took one break at McDonalds. We got to Key West at 12. Driver told us to mention his name when we purchase our tickets for the Glass bottom boat trip and we would get a discount. The ticket person said he doesnt know what we talk about, everybody pays the same. Key West was nice! We left at 6 clock. It seemed like the busdriver was in hurry to get us back, didn't talk or didn't make any stops for bathroom breaks. He did mention that we were only allowed to pee in the bathroom in the bus(nobody wanted to use it) . In Miami the people got dropped off again at their hotels which took over an hour. We finally arrived at 10:30pm in Fort Lauderdale at the Hilton Hotel after 4 1/2 hour in the bus and than we had to drive with our car home to our hotel. We didn't think the busdriver did deserve a tip. When we told him "good night" he said "s***" Also, we couldn't take pictures in bus, glass was fogged up inside, bus driver also spoke broken english, hard to understand._br/_
The trip might be okay when you leave from Miami but from Fort Lauderdale the drive was terrible long, especially without a busroom break. The Miami traveler paid also 20 dollar less! We never again are using Viator!
Review by: Jose M, June 2012
We had to be at the Hilton Hotel in Lauderdale 10 minutes till six. From there we drove by bus to Miama where the bus picked up other people from their hotels which took us at least two hour. Many people were late and we waited sometimes for 10 minutes for them! At 8 clock we finally took off to Key West. We took one break at McDonalds. We got to Key West at 12. Driver told us to mention his name when we purchase our tickets for the Glass bottom boat trip and we would get a discount. The ticket person said he doesnt know what we talk about, everybody pays the same. Key West was nice! We left at 6 clock. It seemed like the busdriver was in hurry to get us back, didn't talk or didn't make any stops for bathroom breaks. He did mention that we were only allowed to pee in the bathroom in the bus(nobody wanted to use it) . In Miami the people got dropped off again at their hotels which took over an hour. We finally arrived at 10:30pm in Fort Lauderdale at the Hilton Hotel after 4 1/2 hour in the bus and than we had to drive with our car home to our hotel. We didn't think the busdriver did deserve a tip. When we told him "good night" he said "s***" Also, we couldn't take pictures in bus, glass was fogged up inside, bus driver also spoke broken english, hard to understand._br/_
The trip might be okay when you leave from Miami but from Fort Lauderdale the drive was terrible long, especially without a busroom break. The Miami traveler paid also 20 dollar less! We never again are using Viator!
Review by: Eileen H, May 2012
From the beginning we were picked up by a mini bus in Fort Lauderdale 25 mins late. When we arrive in Miami we were taken around several locations to 'pick' up other clients only to find they had 'changed to a different day. We pick up 1 couple then taken to a differnet hotel to wait for the coach which proceeded to collect other clients from a further hotel. Then finally we were on our way to Key West. When we arrived at Key West we were then subjected to going round in circles before being allowed off the bus as the tour guide decided to take 4 clients who had change their mind re a trip to collect their tickets which obviously cut into our time spent in Key West. Why they were not advised to collect their tickets themselves goodness only knows as we had to go and get our tour tickets ourselves._br/_
On the return journey when we arrived back into Miami we again proceeded to drop clients off at their hotels. I spoke with the tour guide who then advised me the mini bus would collect us at the next stop. We waited for approx 40 mins for the mini bus to take us back to Forth Lauderdale._br/_
In our opinion if it had been already arranged the mini bus would have been at the stop to pick us up. We believe it was only after I spoke with the tour guide she then telephoned for the bus to collect us._br/_
We have been on many tours within the USA and quite frankly this was the most disorganised._br/_
Perhaps the people running the tour should plan better as this would put people off booking again with Viator.
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