The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, in the building where Hemingway lived from 1931 to 1939, offers an intimate glimpse into the Nobel Prize winner’s life. Walk along the narrow pathway through the luscious gardens overflowing with tropical plants, or check out the round wooden desk where one of Key West’s most famous residents typed out some of his famous works on an old typewriter.
Key West’s hop-on hop-off trolley tours are a popular way to explore the island, and most stop at the Hemingway Home. To visit the museum on your own, simply purchase tickets at the front entrance (cash only); reservations are not required. If you’re not staying in the Keys, a number of full-day tours from Miami include stops at this location and other island highlights.
The Hemingway Home & Museum is a must for literary buffs visiting Key West.
The on-site bookstore sells all of Hemingway’s books, as well as other works related to Key West and the Florida Keys.
Check the museum’s website for the local cruise ship schedule, which could save you from waiting in line with the throngs of newly arrived passengers.
The museum’s gardens and lower level of the house are accessible to wheelchair users.
The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum is located on Whitehead Street, near the southernmost point of Key West, less than a 10-minute drive from the airport. It is right across the street from the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters Museum, another popular Key West attraction.
The Ernest Hemingway house is open from 9am to 5pm every day of the year, including holidays. The Florida Keys are a popular winter and spring destination due to pleasant temperatures; you’ll find the local attractions to be most crowded during this time. Summers can be sweltering and humid, and fall is hurricane season.
The Hemingway Home, famous for the horde of cats that roam the grounds (some are said to be descendants of Hemingway’s own six-toed cat), is not far from Key West’s other highlights, including the historic Old Town, bustling Duval Street, the Key West White House, and Mallory Square, a popular place to watch the sunset. Exploring Key West is very easy on foot, and most attractions are within easy walking distance of each other.