Old Town Key West Literary Walking Tour
4.9
87 Ratings
Key West

Discover Key West’s literary history on a guided walking tour. Visit famous writers’ homes and haunts. Uncover hidden stories and local talent.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Monroe County Public Library Key West Branch - Tour begins at the Key West Public Library
What's Included
  • Local guide
  • Tour escort/host
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Join us every weekend for the Old Town Literary Walking Tour, a stroll through downtown Key West, illuminating stories of writers that have called our island home. Inspired by David A. Kaufelt’s original literary walking tour, our new tour features the former homes and favorite haunts of writers, including Tennessee Williams, Shel Silverstein, Elizabeth…

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Location
700 Fleming St
Fleming Street
Meet on the steps of the Key West Public Library
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(87 Ratings)
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Vacation562138
Apr 24, 2024
Excellent tour of Key West highlighting history and authors of the area - My daughter and I attended this tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a great deal about the authors and writers who lived in and worked in Key West. We are both history and literature enthusiasts and this was one of the highlights of our first visit to Key West!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Butler2023
Jan 16, 2024
Educational and a Nice Stroll - The Key West Literary Seminar Literary Walking Tour was a lovely and enjoyable experience. Our guide was Scott who was not only informative but always made sure to ask if we had any questions along the way. Our group was small which made it easy to hear what was being said and I believe made it possible to get more out of the tour than if we had been a large group. I highly recommend this tour to anyone with an interest in the literary history of Key West and I would take the tour again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Seachele85
Jan 15, 2024
Be in the know! - I enjoyed learning loads of literary history and drama, anchored in sights around town. The guide maneuvered the challenges of narrating tales in a loud, lively city quite well, and, after the tour, we were able to point to familiar buildings and be like, “That’s where Hemingway started A Farewell to Arms!” It adds a wonderful layer of significance into a beautiful city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anno1396
Jan 12, 2024
Must-Do for Readers and Writers! - This tour is a must-do for all writers and readers. I've lived here part-time for ten years, and still learned so much new-to-me literary history. We all know Hemingway lived and worked here, but our fabulous tour guide, Scott, told great stories of a host of other brilliant writers who (call)ed Key West home: Tom McGuane, Wallace Stevens, Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, Ralph Ellison, Judy Blume, Tennessee Williams, Shel Silverstein and more. The walk is fairly easy-- all flat-- and Scott helps you avoid the many tree roots that share our sidewalks. After the tour, Scott sent us all an email with links to more info on what we talked about and saw. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Auntiemk
Jan 10, 2024
Scott must be the best literary tour guide in Key West! - KWLS Literary Walking Tour company knows all the literary history of Key West. I especially appreciated receiving literary information via e-mail after the in-person tour. Thank you, Scott, and everyone for all your hard work.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carolv545
Dec 31, 2023
Interesting and informative. - Scott a great and knowledgeable guide. Interesting facts of famous inhabitants and visitors to Key West.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fosterm2021
May 9, 2023
Local knowledge and flair! - This tour was the highlight of my Key West weekend! There are plenty of touristy things to do in Key West to keep one occupied, but this special tour was a glimpse into the area's literary past, present and future. I was thrilled with our tour guide Scott's breadth of knowledge, charming demeanor, and kind follow up to our tour providing me links to info I can't wait to dive deeper into. This tour and guide really made our weekend! I highly recommend for travelers who'd like a bespoke view into the Key West literary scene, with bonus local insider knowledge.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eelin_r
Mar 27, 2023
Key West’s Other ‘Get Lit’ - Fantastic, personable tour guide balanced thorough meander of homes of past/current writers (while respecting their privacy) and reciting snippets of their work. 10/10, no notes as they say
Review provided by Viator
Perrybob
Feb 28, 2023
Another, better side of Key West - Scott was a fun and well informed guide, bursting with fascinating details about the island’s literary life, proving Key West is much more than its tawdry side. What a rich and diverse group of authors have been drawn to its history, cultural diversity, climate, and lifestyle. Thanks for a wonderful walk in beauty, accompanied by inspiring stories and quotes. We didn’t mind that it ran long—in fact we hated it to end.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marsha
Feb 21, 2023
Great Walking Tour of Old Town Key West - This is a wonderful walking tour and a great way to learn about the past and present authors who spent time in Key West. Scott is a terrific tour guide. He knows so much, both about the authors and about Key West in general. I highly recommend this tour to learn more about Key West history.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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