The Key West Lighthouse and an amazing sunset are experiences on many bucket lists! There is even a Sunset Celebration every evening at Mallory Square dedicated to the experience of watching the fiery ball of light slowly slip into the water leaving the giant sails of the schooners in a beautiful silouette. There are many great locations in the Florida Keys to watch the sunset, but how about something unique?
On our recent trip to Key West we found an even more amazing sunset experience (at the Lighthouse) that is a must-try!
I can confidently say, I am an “opacarophile“, or someone who loves sunsets. Although the word, opacarophile, is not found in regular dictionaries, it is derived from the Latin word for dusk and the Greek word for love (opacare or opascus and phile).
My fellow opacarophiles and others will love the sunset experience that is offered at the Key West Lighthouse!
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The Key West Lighthouse Sunset Experience Review:
From our first visit to the lighthouse we knew it was special! The views from the top are the best in Key West.
- Don’t forget to check out our Ultimate Florida Coastal Lighthouse Road Trip Guide too!
- The Key West Lighthouse Sunset Experience Review:
- Arrival at the Lighthouse Sunset Experience
- The Wine and Cheese Board at the Sunset Experience
- Touring the Lighthouse Grounds and Experiencing the Sunset
- Saying Goodbye to a Beautiful Sunset at the Key West Lighthouse
- How to Book Your Sunset Experience in Key West
- Essential Packing List Items for Your Key West Trip:
- More Key West Sunset and Travel Resources
- Our quick video of the sunset experience:
- More Great Travel Articles
🖼️ Love culture and history? The Key West Museum Culture Pass gives you access to four of the island’s top museums with just one ticket — perfect for curious travelers who want to explore beyond the beach. One stop includes the historic Key West Lighthouse Museum and Keeper’s Quarters!
🎟️ Book your Key West Culture Pass and visit 4 museums with one ticket
Arrival at the Lighthouse Sunset Experience
This amazing lighthouse was built in 1825 and watched over for more than 120 years by various keepers! It is maintained and run by the Key West Art and Historical Society (KWAHS).
We arrived approximately 45 minutes before sunset that evening and checked in with the friendly representative who took group photos for us and explained that we had the whole grounds, Keeper’s Quarters, and Historical Lighthouse to ourselves (group of 8) until approximately 30-45 minutes after sunset. He also gave us a card good for a discount in the cute gift shop that could be used the next day (or any day) during business hours. We booked the large group experience (5-8 people).
You can get there on foot, biking, driving (there is a small parking lot), on the Hop on Hop off Key West Trolley or on the Free Duvall Loop bus. We also have some must-see spots in our Key West one day-itinerary that are on both the bus and trolley loops.
The Wine and Cheese Board at the Sunset Experience
Our lighthouse representative (Chaze, I think) then guided us to the porch of the Keeper’s Quarters where a lovely table had been set up for our group and the wine and charcuterie board for our enjoyment. We absolutely loved this and finished it all! It also can be customized directly with the company (Uva Wine Shoppe) that caters the experience by calling them if you want something different or more of any item. They even have romantic wedding proposal packages that can be specialized.
Touring the Lighthouse Grounds and Experiencing the Sunset
After our group finished all of the rose’ prosecco (2 bottles) and most of the cheese board, we headed up the 88 steps to the top of the lighthouse tower to experience one of the most amazing sunsets that I have experienced in Key West. The weather was perfect (although hot) and our group was mesmerized watching until the sun had totally disappeared beyond the horizon.
Saying Goodbye to a Beautiful Sunset at the Key West Lighthouse
Once the sun had disappeared, yet before our experience was over, we headed down from the lighthouse tower to visit the Keeper’s Quarters and see the historical artifacts and nautical exhibits on display.
We then reluctantly finished our amazing experiece by checking out with the great representative and thanking (and tipping) him through the gift shop exit.
I have experienced the Key West sunset in the past at Mallory Square, Zachary Taylor State Park, Casa Marina, Hyatt Centric, and other amazing locations. However, the Key West Lighthouse sunset experience was by far the best way to experience the sunset! Everyone in our group agreed that this was the best thing we did all week in Key West. We now hope to make this a tradition for our group and will definitely experience this again on every trip!
We are also so thankful that this sunset experience is offered by the Key West Art and Historical Society and hope they continue to offer this on all of our trips!
How to Book Your Sunset Experience in Key West
The cost of booking the experience is $375.00 (for small group of 2-4), $475.00 (for large group of 5-8 This option is best because you have it to your group only or at least that was our experience) or even a proposal package that includes flowers, charcuterie, and prosecco for $650.00. Find out more here on how to book. These prices can vary with the season and being close to a special event like New Years week so check a few dates if you will be in Old Town for a few days. Each of the experiences can be customized as well!
Pro Tip: This books up extremely fast so check and book this well in advance of your trip! It is also better to book early in your trip in case of severe weather because they will let you reschedule it.
Have you experienced the sunset from the Key West Lighthouse? Let us know in the comments if you loved it or not.
*Don’t forget to check out why we think Key West is also a Beatuiful Winter Trip Destination
Essential Packing List Items for Your Key West Trip:
- Comfortable Walking Shoes – Key West walking can mean 8-10 miles a day Our faves are these comfortable Sketchers go-walk ones or our favorite Birkenstock Gizeh sandals from Amazon!
- Portable Phone Charger – Don’t let your phone die! Bring a portable phone fast charger (amazon has this great inexpensive one) to ensure you stay connected and don’t miss out on capturing amazing travel moments.
- Refillable Water Bottle – Staying hydrated is important. Pack a refillable water bottle that’s lightweight – check out this inexpensive collapsible water bottle 2 pack on Amazon!
- Travel-Sized Cooling Towel – Key West sun can be intense. A cooling towel can help keep you refreshed. We love this budget-friendly 4-pack travel cooling towel set on Amazon can be clipped onto a bag or belt loop!
- Lightweight Backpack – A comfortable, lightweight backpack is essential We love this budget-friendly packable lightweight backpack with pockets on Amazon!
- Travel Laundry sink wash kit – Soap Suds are TSA approved and will help you pack lighter because you can wash clothes as your trip progresses. (on Amazon)
🖼️ Find us on Pinterest too for more travel inspiration!
More Key West Sunset and Travel Resources
We have done several sunset cruises in Key West over the years and really enjoy the schooners or sailboat ones that include wine and sometimes appetizers. Booking one that only takes a small group is also more enjoyable for us because it is less crowded.
Of course, if you’ve read our 9 trip tips article you know how much we love food and cocktail tours! Going with small group on these tours is a great way to really experience places that you may not know about otherwise.
Our quick video of the sunset experience:
If you’d like to see what the view is like from the Lighthouse, check out our quick video of the experience:
Have you had any great sunset experiences in Key West? Let us know in the comments!
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If your travels bring you to Louisiana, check out our new article on the Best Haunted Places in New Orleans
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Also, if a trip to Seattle is on the horizon, we have a few ideas on the best things to do on a Seattle Trip or combine many places on our guide to 15 Epic Road Trips to do Across the U.S.