Sunset at Mallory Square, Key West

October 30, 2026 · 4 min read

Key West is the southernmost city in the continental United States, at the end of the chain of islands that trails southwest from Florida. Its western shore faces open water, and the town has turned watching the sun go down into a daily event. At Mallory Square, on the old harbour waterfront, a sunset celebration with street performers, musicians and food stalls has run nightly for decades.

Sunset times

Calculated with the standard rule, on 30 October 2026 the sun sets over Mallory Square at about 18:48 Eastern Daylight Time. Two days later, on 1 November, the United States returns to standard time and sunset jumps an hour earlier on the clock, to around 17:45. Through the winter it stays near 17:45 to 18:15; in June it falls after 20:20.

Because Key West is at about 24.6° north, close to the tropics, the sun sets steeply. Twilight is short, about 25 minutes of civil twilight, so the colours come and go faster than at higher latitudes.

The celebration

The square fills during the hour before sunset. Performers set up along the waterfront, there is usually live music, and when the sun touches the horizon the crowd tends to applaud. It is lively rather than quiet. For a calmer view, many people come early, watch, and leave before the crowd breaks up.

Alternatives

• Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, at the western end of the island, has a beach facing the sunset and a more relaxed atmosphere. There is an entry fee.
• A sunset sail. Schooners and catamarans leave the harbour before sunset and watch from the water.
• Rooftop bars along Duval Street and near the harbour.

The green flash

Key West is one of the places in the US where people regularly report seeing the green flash, the brief green sliver at the top of the sun at the last moment. A clear western sea horizon and warm, stable air are exactly what it needs. Watch the final seconds without staring at the bright sun beforehand.

Through the year at Mallory Square

Calculated for the square, the sunset moves along the horizon as much as it moves on the clock:

The earliest sunset of the season comes around 28 November, at about 17:37, a few weeks before the winter solstice. The latest comes around 1 July, at about 20:20, a week or so after the summer solstice. The same offset from the solstices happens everywhere and is explained by the shape of the Earth’s orbit and the tilt of its axis; at Key West, close to the tropics, the effect is relatively large compared with the small seasonal change in day length.

The direction matters for the view. In winter the sun sets toward the southwest, over the water and the small islands off the harbour; in summer it goes down well to the northwest, over the Gulf. Over the year the setting point swings through about 50 degrees, so a favourite spot on the waterfront may frame the sun in one season and not in another.

Weather and seasons

Key West has a tropical climate with two main seasons. From December to April the air is drier and the skies are clearer, which is also the busiest tourist season and the best time for clean sea horizons. From June to October the air is hot and humid, with frequent afternoon showers that often clear by evening and leave dramatic clouds at sunset. The Atlantic hurricane season runs officially from 1 June to 30 November, with the highest risk from August to October; storms are not frequent at any single place, but they are worth keeping in mind for travel plans.

Getting there in time

Mallory Square is at the northwestern end of Duval Street, a short walk from the old town. On busy evenings, parking near the harbour fills up early, and many visitors walk or cycle. Arriving forty-five minutes before sunset gives time to find a place at the water’s edge and see the performers before the crowd thickens. The civil twilight after sunset lasts only about 25 minutes here, so the colour in the sky fades quickly once the sun is gone.

The other end of the day

Key West’s mornings are a quieter affair. Smathers Beach and Higgs Beach on the south shore look out over the Atlantic toward the southeast, where the winter sun rises out of the sea; in midsummer it comes up further to the northeast, over the neighbouring keys. There are no performers and few people, only joggers, pelicans and the first ferries. For a couple who knew the town at both ends of the day, a sunrise there can be as fitting as the famous sunset.

A sunset as a gift

For couples who married in the Keys, or anyone who has stood in the crowd at Mallory Square, a sunset there is a familiar, cheerful thing to dedicate. You can pin the square or the fort beach and see the exact time of The Sunset before you pay.