West Martello Tower
West Martello Tower
4.5
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
West Martello Tower is a tropical garden paradise by the sea on the site of the remains of a civil war fort. Maintained by Key West Garden Club, it has garden rooms to delight you, the beach and sea to inspire you and history to intrigue you. This oceanside garden has free admission, free parking and is open to the public. West Martello Tower that houses the gardens has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. The garden is maintained by many dedicated volunteers.
Duration: < 1 hour
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience West Martello Tower and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
407 within 3 miles
Attractions
175 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
630 reviews
Excellent
405
Very good
181
Average
38
Poor
4
Terrible
2
William L
Fort Smith, AR111 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
Despite having travelled to Key West several times, this was our first trip to West Martello Towers. I'm not sure what we had been waiting for! The self-guided tour of the gardens is a fabulous way to spend a beautiful morning in Key West. We enjoyed learning about the history of the site, but nothing could have prepared us for the many beautiful plants and animals we saw inside the confines. As an added bonus, there are some spectacular ocean views through the wrought iron fence.
Written November 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelingpenguin12
Lexington, SC248 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
A beautiful garden off the beaten path. No admission charge but they request donations for the garden club to keep up its beauty. I’m not huge into plants but it is quiet and relaxing full of flowers and trees.
Written December 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carla Q
Warsaw, IN1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Family
I can't express how beautiful this Garden Club is. WMT is a piece of history recreated into a masterpiece of beautifully landscaped nature at its best. We visited on a Monday while the volunteers were cleaning and nurturing the plants. The volunteers were incredibly nice, helpful, and knowledgeable. Thank you for keeping this work of art alive and thriving.
Written September 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
walker roamer
new orleans204 contributions
Apr 2022
Right next to Salute's Restaurant and Higgs Beach. The garden is quite large, shaded with a wonderful view of the ocean in one part. Filled with different species of palms, cacti, trees and bushes with nice paths that wander around them. The first area you come to is an impressive display of orchids. If you have any interest in botanical gardens this place is not to be missed. It opens at 9:30 am and is free, although a small donation for the Key West Flower Club is appreciated.
Written April 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff J
Key West, FL9 contributions
Jun 2021
Fantastic place... If you're a gardener, or lover of historical forts or just looking for a calm, beautiful and serene place to spend an hour. Free entry, but drop a few in the donations bucket. They work hard. GO!!!
I've been 3 times now.
I've been 3 times now.
Written August 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beth J
4 contributions
Nov 2021
If you like flower gardens, don't miss this small gem by the sea. You can feel the historic nature of the site as you walk among all the tropical plants. My favorite spot was the butterfly garden, watching monarchs on the milkweed. BTW, it's FREE parking and entry. We stopped here on our way out of Key West and spent just 20 minutes walking around this lovely garden.
Written November 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KakiBW
Ellicott City, MD538 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
We were walking along the beach path when we stumbled across this lovely garden. We have been coming to Key West for years and never knew this was here. The gardens are beautiful, and there are plenty of spots to sit and enjoy them. There are also great spots to ocean gaze.
Written March 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia20,004 contributions
Jan 2020
The West Martello tower is set on the southern part of KW, belonging to terrific botanical gardens inside the Gardens club (see that review) which is free to enter.
It's a nice place to visit if you're in the area. The gardens and the tower are only a short walk from the southernmost marker and right by the Higgs beach.
It's a nice place to visit if you're in the area. The gardens and the tower are only a short walk from the southernmost marker and right by the Higgs beach.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carrie H
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States161 contributions
Mar 2023
Friends recommended this lovely spot that's free. Go for the gardens with lovely planting and lots of seating to enjoy the air and the view. Mondays it is full of volunteers, but still easy to walk around and stay seated. I'd have loved a bit more history of the place, but you'll have to look that up online.
Written March 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LouAnn S
4 contributions
Feb 2023 • Friends
This is truly a hidden gem here in Key West, and one of my favorite places to go. The gardens are well tended, the fort makes an interesting backdrop, and there are amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of only a few places in Key West that are free! Take your lunch and a book, and go hide away for awhile!
Written September 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This shows that it is basically aligned with Higgs Dog Beach. Are dogs allowed at West Martello Tower?
Written June 2, 2017
Yes, on a leash of course. I love it there.
Written June 3, 2017
How far is it from the cruise port ??
Written July 23, 2016
It is a 5 minute drive from the cruise port to Key West Garden Club which is located in the West Martello Tower.
Written July 23, 2016
Showing results 1-6 of 6
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing