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Are you headed to the sunshine state, but want to know the pros and cons of visiting Key West vs Miami Beach? While both of these sunbelt cities are known to show people a good time, you may only have enough vacation time to see one. This can make things tricky, as both have draws such as beaches, shopping, and nightlife.
That being said, these cities could not be any different from each other. I was fortunate enough to see both of them with my husband over a week one year. We flew into Miami for a few days, then took a little road trip down to Key West. We learned pretty quickly which place was our favorite (discussed below), but it could be totally different for you!
Your choice will depend on your interests, tastes, and unique needs for your time and money. Today, we are going to break down the key differences between Key West vs Miami Beach to help you make your decision. Either way you’ll end up somewhere awesome!
Key West vs Miami Beach: Which Should You Visit?
Similarities Between Key West & Miami Beach
Let’s get the similarities between Key West and Miami Beach out of the way before we dive into their many differences:
- Both places are located in the state of Florida
- Both Key West and Miami Beach have a sunny, tropical climate year round
- Both places have beaches
- Both places have a popular nightlife scene
- Visitors flock to both Key West and Miami Beach to have a good time in a beautiful setting
That’s about where the similarities end. Now let’s get into the real differences between Key West vs Miami Beach.
Nightlife
When comparing Key West vs Miami Beach for nightlife, it’ll be a tough choice. This is a strength area for both destinations, so your best pick will be based on the vibe you seek.
Miami Beach:
In South Beach, think high energy, glitz and glamour. Miami’s nightlife revolves around its club scene along Ocean Drive. The partying happens every day of the week, and the clubs don’t close until five in the morning. There is always something big going down, be it famous D.J’s and artists performing, or the who’s who chilling in the V.I.P. section.
All you need to do is stroll down this waterfront road in the evening to see it come to life. You’ll see lots of designer threads, cars with flashy rims, and lots of people out and about looking for a good time. Much of the Miami nightlife is driven by the desire to “see and be seen”.
Key West:
Compared to Miami Beach, Key West is much more laid back. The focus is less on looks, and much more on letting loose and enjoying life. In Key West, the evening’s festivities begin nightly at sunset, when people gather in Mallory Square for the nightly sunset celebration.
From there, all you need to do is begin your stroll down Duval Street, which is the main drag for Key West’s popular bar scene. This is where famous haunts like Sloppy Joe’s, where Ernest Hemingway once hung out, can be found. Many of these places are loud and crowded, but still pretty divy compared to the bars of Miami Beach.
Winner: It’s a tie!
Attractions
The attractions offered by Key West vs Miami Beach vary greatly. This category alone could narrow down your choice.
Miami Beach:
While both cities are developed, Miami Beach is in a much more urban setting than Key West. The main tourist stretch, Ocean Drive, is lined with high rises and resorts. Those who appreciate architecture will love seeing the Art Deco style buildings lining the street. However, other than the Art Deco buildings, there is little more charm.
Here are some of Miami Beach’s most famous attractions:
- Beautiful beaches
- Awesome hotel pools
- Shopping (boutiques, Lincoln Road Mall, Fontainebleau Shops)
- Sightseeing on Ocean Drive
- Eating Cuban food in the Little Havana neighborhood
- As mentioned above, the club scene at night
Key West:
Despite also being huge with tourists, Key West has managed to retain a lot of historical charm. The are beautiful old houses painted in pastels, chickens clucking about, and many tourist sights to check out. Here are the big ones:
- Ernest Hemingway House
- Harry S. Truman Little White House
- Key West Lighthouse
- Southernmost Point
- Mallory Square Sunset Celebration
- Duval Street for shops and nightlife
- Various beaches
- Do a sunset sail
Winner: Key West
Beaches
Both Key West and Miami Beach are hot and sunny year round, which makes for many perfect beach days. However, they vary greatly in what they have to offer.
Miami Beach:
Miami Beach is a barrier island off mainland Florida that is lined with beautiful white sand beaches. The beaches are wide and fluffy with beautiful clear turquoise waters. They do tend to be lined with resorts, and various other commercial shops and restaurants. However, there’s no denying that these beaches are the perfect place to relax for the day and spend some time by the water. There is plenty of room to spread out!
Top Beaches in Miami Beach:
- South Pointe Park and Beach
- South Beach
- Mid-Beach
- North Beach
- North Shore Oceanside Park
Key West:
Key West is a bit less of an ideal beach destination than Miami Beach. Their beaches tend to be small, rocky, and largely man-made. Unfortunately, the surrounding coral reef keeps the sand from washing ashore, which is necessary for forming the natural white sand beaches you dream of.
Key West beaches are not always in the most serene surroundings and may lack shade, so bring an umbrella. Also, beware of seaweed washing ashore.
Top Beaches in Key West:
- Higgs Beach
- Smathers Beach
- Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
Winner: Miami Beach
Food
Good food can be found in both Key West and Miami, however the styles and atmosphere will differ.
Miami Beach:
Miami Beach has a very trendy food scene with a heavy Latin American influence. With so many wealthy visitors and residents, many Miami Beach restaurants also tend to be high end. However, you can still find charm and culture, especially when visiting the Little Havana neighborhood for a Cuban sandwich.
Being right on the water, Miami also has a great seafood scene. This includes anything from awesome sushi restaurants to stone crabs, which are caught locally in the Atlantic Ocean.
Try these Miami Beach restaurants:
- Joe’s Stone Crab
- Under the Mango Tree (great acai bowls)
- Doraku (sushi)
Key West:
Key West is known as The Conch Republic, so it follows that conch and other seafood dishes are huge there. You will see conch variations, such as conch fritters or conch salad, on almost all menus. Of course, Key Lime Pie may be even more famous, and every restaurant seems to have a version.
Like many other things, the food scene of Key West is much more laid back than Miami Beach. You are more likely to find small, beachy joints here than the luxury of South Beach. However, there is still plenty of ambiance and deliciousness to be found.
Try these Key West restaurants:
- Latitudes on Sunset Key
- Better Than Sex
- Blue Heaven
Winner: It’s a tie!
Convenience
When you’re short on time, the logistics of getting into and around a city matter a lot. Both Miami Beach and Key West are pretty easy to get around, but Miami Beach is generally easier to reach.
Miami Beach:
Miami is very easy to reach, and for the most part, easy to get around. Visitors to Miami will fly into Miami International Airport. It will then be just a short drive to your hotel, as Miami Beach is only twenty minutes away.
Once you are in Miami Beach, most things are easily walkable. Anything further than walking distance can conveniently be reached with Uber or Lyft. However, beware of how congested Ocean Drive gets, as this can really slow you down. Sometimes, you may still be better off walking.
Key West:
Key West does have an airport, but you generally will need to go through Miami or somewhere else to reach it. Also, flights to Key West tend to be pricey.
A less convenient, although popular and scenic, way to reach Key West is by flying into Miami and then driving. This epic drive takes you down through the Florida Keys, over the various bridges connecting them. There are amazing tropical views of the Atlantic, and also some fun eateries along the way.
Once in Key West, getting around is very easy. Most people rent bikes or scooters to get around this small island. With the scarcity of parking, renting a car is inconvenient and completely unnecessary.
If you drive from Miami, rest assured that once you find a parking spot, you will not need to move your car for the duration of your stay. Ride sharing is available here as well.
Winner: Miami Beach
Infrastructure
Other factors that may weigh into your choice include logistical items like internet access and health care availability. While both Key West and Miami Beach are developed with a thriving tourism industry, bigger cities tend to have the advantage here:
Miami Beach:
- Public Transportation: Metrobus is the main public transportation option for Miami Beach. For $2.25, route 150, or the Miami Beach Airport Express, leaves every 30 minutes from the airport to Miami Beach. Route 120 is a popular circular route in Miami Beach that goes to major stops all around the area.
- High Speed Internet: Great connectivity with generally fast download speeds. Miami Beach even provides free public WiFi to everyone currently in the city.
- Health Care: For basic care, there are several urgent cares available in Miami Beach. There are also several hospitals in the Greater Miami area, with Mount Sinai Medical Center being located right in Miami Beach.
- Supermarket/Pharmacy Availability: Publix is the main supermarket chain in Florida, and there are three in Miami Beach. There is also a Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. For pharmacies, there are plenty of big chains like CVS and Walgreens in walking distance of the big hotels.
Key West:
- Public Transportation: Key West has a bus system consisting of four routes. Here is an awesome interactive map that will quickly show you where they all go. However, if you aren’t leaving Key West, you probably only need a bike or scooter.
- High Speed Internet: Key West generally has very good internet access, although download speeds might not be quite as fast as Miami Beach. They also don’t have the free citywide WiFi that Miami Beach does. However, most lodging comes with WiFi, and you can find free WiFi at various public locations in Key West.
- Health Care: For basic care, there are a few urgent cares available in Key West. There is also one hospital: Lower Keys Medical Center. However, it does not come highly reviewed, and most people travel to Miami for surgeries and sophisticated treatments.
- Supermarket/Pharmacy Availability: Publix and many other small specialty markets are available for groceries. For pharmacies, there are typical chains like CVS and Walgreens, among other local options.
Winner: Miami Beach
Key West vs Miami Beach: Who’s the Overall Winner?
After tallying it up, Miami Beach is the all around winner. You’ll love Miami Beach if you crave a quick, chic escape for warm weather and fun. With all the necessary modern conveniences right at your disposal, planning this trip would be relatively stress-free.
However, that does not mean it’s the best place for you, or that Key West is not worth your time. Some people crave more simplicity and a laid back atmosphere, and are willing to sacrifice Miami Beach’s conveniences for Key West. My husband and I are definitely the latter.
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To be honest, both of these cities are great to experience at least once in your lifetime, and are each worth a dedicated visit. If you can combine them into one big trip (preferably by driving the Overseas Highway), even better!
