Old Town is the western end of the island, where Key West's historic character is concentrated. The streets are laid out in a grid of wooden houses — many in the distinctive Key West vernacular style, with wide porches, louvred shutters, and tin roofs — shaded by banyan trees and overgrown with bougainvillea. It is compact and walkable, with most of the island's museums, restaurants, and bars within a five-minute walk of each other.
Duval Street runs through the middle, connecting the Gulf to the Atlantic, and carries most of the tourist action. The residential streets to either side are quieter and have more character — Whitehead, Fleming, William, Elizabeth, and the lanes off them are worth exploring on foot or by bicycle. The architecture varies from grand Victorian mansions to tiny shotgun cottages; many have been converted to guesthouses and vacation rentals.