Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour
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Is Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour worth booking?
Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour is a 1.1-hour experience in Key West, United States, from $15 per person. It scores 56 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 56 / 100
- Rating
- Not yet rated
- Duration
- 1.1 hours
- From
- $15 per person
This self-guided audio walk follows Ernest Hemingway's years in Key West, 1928 to 1939, at seven stops. Every stop comes with two to four links to its sources, among them clippings from the Key West Citizen of his years and his own letters. He landed in April 1928 and sailed for Havana on December 24, 1939. The walk opens in your phone's web browser, with no app to install, and each stop is told from the public sidewalk or a public park. At each stop you get a short narration to hear, the same words to read, and two to four links to its sources. The sources include the Key West paper of the day, a letter of his from April 1928 and a federal survey of the house. Where a story comes from a later teller and not from a record of the time, the narration names the teller. The route is about 2.1 miles (3.4 km) on foot. Walking takes about 45 minutes and the narration about 16 minutes. With time at each stop, allow up to 2 hours. It starts at Simonton and Caroline Streets.
What you get
About this experience
This self-guided audio walk follows Ernest Hemingway's years in Key West, 1928 to 1939, at seven stops. Every stop comes with two to four links to its sources, among them clippings from the Key West Citizen of his years and his own letters. He landed in April 1928 and sailed for Havana on December 24, 1939. The walk opens in your phone's web browser, with no app to install, and each stop is told from the public sidewalk or a public park. At each stop you get a short narration to hear, the same words to read, and two to four links to its sources. The sources include the Key West paper of the day, a letter of his from April 1928 and a federal survey of the house. Where a story comes from a later teller and not from a record of the time, the narration names the teller. The route is about 2.1 miles (3.4 km) on foot. Walking takes about 45 minutes and the narration about 16 minutes. With time at each stop, allow up to 2 hours. It starts at Simonton and Caroline Streets.
What's included
Included
- Self-guided audio walk on your phone (seven stops)
- On-screen route between stops, using your phone's location
- Two to four source links at every stop (30 in all)
- Opens in your phone's web browser: no app
- English narration at every stop, with a displayed transcript
Not included
- Admission fees
What you'll see and do
On the sidewalk at Simonton and Caroline Streets you hear who Ernest Hemingway was when he landed in Key West in April 1928. The census counted 18,749 people in Key West in 1920 and 12,831 in 1930.
5 minutes here
From the sidewalk you look at number 314, where he and his wife Pauline lodged over a Ford dealership in the spring of 1928. A letter he wrote that April says he was working well and wanted to stay until the novel that became A Farewell to Arms was done.
5 minutes here
The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
From the sidewalk outside the main gate you hear how the house became his: the deed is dated April 29, 1931, and the family moved in that December. Entry is not included, and the museum sells its own tickets at this gate.
5 minutes here · Admission not included
At Thomas and Petronia Streets, the corner of the Blue Heaven restaurant, you hear about the boxing arena the town paper placed on this corner in 1938. A Key West fighter won here that June 17, and the next day's paper said Ernest Hemingway was the third man in the ring.
5 minutes here
Truman Waterfront Park
On the quay of Truman Waterfront Park you stand at the old Navy Yard basin, where he kept his boat, the Pilar. You hear his own account, printed that month, of going down to her at midnight on the night of the hurricane of September 2, 1935.
10 minutes here
Capt. Tony's Saloon
From the sidewalk at 428 Greene Street you look at Captain Tony's Saloon, whose signs date its years as Sloppy Joe's from 1933 to 1937. You hear about Joe Russell, Hemingway's boat captain, who opened a bar on Greene Street when Prohibition ended, and about the raid of January 7, 1937.
5 minutes here
The walk ends on the sidewalk at Duval and Greene Streets, across the crossing from Sloppy Joe's Bar. You hear how the town paper announced the bar's grand opening here for Saturday, May 29, 1937, and how Hemingway sailed for Havana on December 24, 1939.
5 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Key West
There's no guide to meet. The walk starts on the public sidewalk at the corner of Simonton Street and Caroline Street in Old Town Key West. To begin, open the link printed on your Viator ticket on your phone and follow its steps.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The walk ends on the public sidewalk at the crossing of Duval Street and Greene Street, diagonally across from Sloppy Joe's Bar at 201 Duval Street. It is about 350 yards (320 meters) from the start.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- VeryThere Audio Tours
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Photos
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.1 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 56
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Key West.
How much does Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour cost?
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Prices start at $15 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Key West usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour take?
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Plan for about 1.1 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Key West is not rushed.
Is Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 56 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (0/5 across 0 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Key West, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.1-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour?
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Around 0 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Key West can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Key West and add a light layer if any part of the 1.1-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Key West within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Key West?
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Key West is a boat town. The only living coral barrier reef in the continental US sits seven miles offshore, and reef trips, sunset catamarans and backcountry kayak runs are the core bookings, alongside Hemingway house and Duval history walks. Our ranking weighs boat capacity and reef site rotation, which separates the good operators from the party cruises. On Outty we rank every Key West experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Guided Bike Tour of Old Town Key West, Half-Day Trip from Key West with Kayaking, Snorkeling & Sunset, Shark and Wildlife Viewing Adventure in Key West. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Key West?
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December to April, dry season and calm reef water. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Key West?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour?
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Included: Self-guided audio walk on your phone (seven stops); On-screen route between stops, using your phone's location; Two to four source links at every stop (30 in all); Opens in your phone's web browser: no app; and English narration at every stop, with a displayed transcript. Not included: Admission fees. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour?
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There's no guide to meet. The walk starts on the public sidewalk at the corner of Simonton Street and Caroline Street in Old Town Key West. To begin. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Ernest Hemingway's Key West Years: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Key West. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
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