Top places to visit in Miami

• Ocean Drive Art Deco District

  historic-district · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Famous beachfront strip of pastel 1930s Art Deco hotels, neon signs and sidewalk cafes in South Beach.

• South Beach

  city-beach · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Wide white-sand beach with turquoise water, lifeguard towers and the famous Art Deco backdrop.

• Lincoln Road Mall

  shopping-promenade · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Pedestrian outdoor shopping and dining promenade in South Beach with shops, restaurants and street performers.

• Espanola Way

  historic-street · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Charming Mediterranean-style pedestrian lane in South Beach with cafes, tapas bars and pastel facades.

• Wynwood Walls

  street-art · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Outdoor museum of large-scale street-art murals by renowned graffiti artists in the Wynwood arts district.

• Calle Ocho

  cultural-district · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Heart of Little Havana along SW 8th St with Cuban cafes, cigar shops, Domino Park and live Latin music.

• Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

  historic-estate · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Early-1900s Italian Renaissance-style villa and formal gardens on Biscayne Bay, a National Historic Landmark.

• Bayside Marketplace

  waterfront-mall · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Waterfront open-air shopping and dining complex on Biscayne Bay, departure point for bay cruises.

• Perez Art Museum Miami

  art-museum · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Waterfront contemporary art museum (PAMM) with hanging gardens and Biscayne Bay views in Museum Park.

• Frost Science Museum

  science-museum · 4.5 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Frost Museum of Science with a planetarium, three-level aquarium and hands-on exhibits.

• Venetian Pool

  historic-pool · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Historic 1924 spring-fed public pool carved from coral rock with caves and waterfalls in Coral Gables.

• Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

  botanic-garden · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Tropical botanic garden with rainforest, palms, butterflies and a plant conservatory.

Things to do

• Art Deco Walking Tour Walking Tour · 1.5 h · from USD 35 per person
• Everglades Airboat Tour Outdoor Adventure · 4 h · from USD 55 per person
• Biscayne Bay Sightseeing Cruise Boat · 1.5 h · from USD 35 per person
• Jet Ski Rental Tour Water Sports · 1 h · from USD 135 per person
• Wynwood Art & Mural Walking Tour Walking Tour · 2 h · from USD 49 per person
• Little Havana Food & Culture Tour Food Tour · 2.5 h · from USD 69 per person
• Key Biscayne Snorkeling Trip Water Sports · 3 h · from USD 89 per person
• South Beach Sunset Sail Boat · 2 h · from USD 75 per person

Day trips and tours

• Everglades National Park Day Tour 8 h · from USD 129
• Key West Day Trip 14 h · from USD 99
• Fort Lauderdale & Las Olas Day Trip 7 h · from USD 79
• Bimini Bahamas Day Cruise 12 h · from USD 150

Where to stay in Miami

• South Beach about USD 300 per night

  Iconic beachfront neighborhood with Art Deco hotels, Ocean Drive nightlife and walkable beach access. Best for first-timers, though pricey and noisy.

• Brickell about USD 260 per night

  Sleek downtown financial district with high-rise hotels, rooftop bars and Brickell City Centre. Walkable, modern, Metromover-connected.

• Mid-Beach about USD 280 per night

  Quieter Miami Beach north of South Beach with resort hotels (Fontainebleau, Faena). Calmer beaches, short drive to South Beach.

• Coconut Grove about USD 230 per night

  Leafy bayside village with boutique hotels, marinas and a relaxed cafe scene. Family-friendly, near Vizcaya.

Hotels

• The Setai, Miami Beach 5-star · USD 800 to USD 2,000 per night
• Mandarin Oriental, Miami 5-star · USD 500 to USD 1,200 per night
• Loews Miami Beach Hotel 4-star · USD 300 to USD 650 per night
• Kimpton EPIC Hotel 4-star · USD 250 to USD 500 per night
• Fontainebleau Miami Beach 4.5-star · USD 400 to USD 900 per night
• Hyatt Centric Brickell 4-star · USD 200 to USD 400 per night

Where to eat

• Versailles Restaurant Cuban, Latin · about USD 25 per person
• El Exquisito Cuban · about USD 15 per person
• Joe's Stone Crab Seafood, American · about USD 90 per person
• Garcia's Seafood Grille Seafood, Cuban · about USD 30 per person
• Coyo Taco Mexican, Latin · about USD 18 per person
• Zak the Baker Bakery, Cafe · about USD 20 per person
• Yardbird Table & Bar Southern, American · about USD 45 per person
• KYU Asian, Barbecue · about USD 75 per person

Getting to Miami

Airport: Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL)

How visitors arrive in Miami

• Fly into Miami International (MIA) By air from Miami International · common

  Main gateway, a hub for North America, the Caribbean and Latin America. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Drive via I-95 or the Turnpike By road from Florida mainland · common

  I-95 runs up the Atlantic coast and the Turnpike serves drivers from Orlando. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Fly into Fort Lauderdale (FLL) By air from Fort Lauderdale · possible

  Alternative airport to the north, often used by low-cost carriers. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Brightline and Tri-Rail trains By train from Orlando / West Palm Beach · possible

  Brightline arrives at MiamiCentral downtown; Tri-Rail links the airport with Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Cruise to PortMiami By ferry from Cruise lines · possible

  PortMiami is described as the world's busiest cruise port. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Metrorail from MIA

  From the terminals take the MIAmover to the Miami Intermodal Center, then Metrorail to Government Center and Metromover for downtown hotels. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Tri-Rail via Fort Lauderdale airport

  At FLL, take the Tri-Rail shuttle bus to the Fort Lauderdale Airport station. Tri-Rail trains now run to MiamiCentral downtown, with Metromover, Metrorail and Brightline connections there. Source: tri-rail.com

From the railway station to the centre

• Brightline to MiamiCentral

  Brightline runs from Orlando via West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale to MiamiCentral, which connects to Tri-Rail and Metromover. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Car Rental Self main way to get around

  The Miami area is highly car-dependent, and a rental car is convenient unless you are staying downtown.

• Metro

  Metrorail is an elevated rail system serving downtown and, on its Orange Line, the airport, while the Metromover is a downtown people mover that connects to it.

• Ride Hail

  Uber and Lyft operate in Miami, alongside taxis, which can be flagged from the street in South Beach.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Ocean Drive bill & gratuity surprise

  Ocean Drive, South Beach

  Some Ocean Drive restaurants add an automatic 18-20% gratuity plus a separate service charge, and menus may omit prices or push pricey "specials," inflating the final bill.

  How to avoid it: Read the full menu and ask prices upfront. Check the bill line-by-line for auto-gratuity before adding a tip or paying.

• Jet ski / watersport hidden fees

  South Beach & marinas

  Advertised low jet-ski rates balloon with mandatory "fuel," insurance, deposit and per-minute overage charges, and damage disputes on return.

  How to avoid it: Get the full price in writing, photograph the craft before riding, and use established operators with clear deposit terms.

• Fake club promoters & cover charges

  South Beach nightlife strip

  Street "promoters" promise free entry or VIP tables, then steer you to clubs with steep cover charges, drink minimums and padded tabs.

  How to avoid it: Ignore street promoters; check the venue and prices directly. Confirm any table/bottle minimum in writing before sitting.

• Rigged ATM & card skimming

  Tourist areas, gas stations

  Skimming devices on standalone ATMs and gas pumps capture card data, leading to fraudulent charges.

  How to avoid it: Use bank ATMs indoors, cover the keypad, and check for loose card readers. Prefer tap-to-pay.

• Overpriced beach chair/umbrella vendors

  South Beach sand

  Unofficial vendors rent chairs/umbrellas at inflated rates or claim a "public" beach requires payment.

  How to avoid it: The public beach is free; rent only from clearly licensed hotel/concession stands and confirm the hourly rate first.

Best time to visit Miami

• Jan 23°C
• Feb 23°C
• Mar 24°C
• Apr 26°C
• May 27°C
• Jun 29°C
• Jul 30°C
• Aug 30°C
• Sep 29°C
• Oct 28°C
• Nov 26°C
• Dec 24°C

More in United States

• New York City
• Los Angeles
• Las Vegas
• San Francisco
• Orlando
• Chicago

Frequently asked questions about Miami

What are the top-rated places to visit in Miami?

The highest-rated places in our Miami guide are Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, South Beach, Wynwood Walls, Ocean Drive Art Deco District.

Where should I stay in Miami?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Miami: South Beach, Brickell, Mid-Beach, Coconut Grove.

How do I get around Miami?

Ways to get around Miami covered in our guide: Self-drive car, Metro, Ride-hailing app, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Miami?

Scams reported to us for Miami include Ocean Drive bill & gratuity surprise; Jet ski / watersport hidden fees; Fake club promoters & cover charges. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Miami?

Average daytime highs in Miami run from 23°C in Jan to 30°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Miami?

The nearest airport to Miami has the code MIA.