---
title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Miami, United States (2026 Guide), Wimup"
description: "The 10 best things to do in Miami, mapped and ranked. When to go, how many days you need, how to get around and what to book early."
url: https://wimup.com/city/miami
type: City guide
updated: 2026-10-07
publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com)
---

# Top 10 Things To Do in Miami

Miami, United States · North America · By Wimup Editorial, 15 min read

Miami is a Caribbean city that happens to sit in the United States: a Cuban capital in exile, the world's largest set of Art Deco hotels, a national park on its western edge and a coral reef on its eastern one. Below are the ten experiences worth your time, plus where to eat, drink and stay once you land.

## Quick answer

The best things to do in Miami are the Art Deco walking tour on Ocean Drive, the Wynwood Walls, Vizcaya on Biscayne Bay, Calle Ocho in Little Havana and a day out to the Everglades. Give the city 4 to 5 days, come between December and April, and hire a car: the neighbourhoods sprawl and the Metromover only covers downtown.

## Quick facts

- **Best months:** Dec–Apr
- **Ideal length:** 4–5 days
- **Budget per day:** $180–260
- **Language:** English, Spanish
- **Getting around:** Car hire & Metromover
- **Tourism board:** [Official site](https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## The 10 best things to do in Miami

### 1. Walk the Miami Beach Art Deco District

Architecture · Ocean Drive between 5th and 23rd Streets, Miami Beach

The largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world, roughly 800 of them, listed on the National Register in 1979. The Miami Design Preservation League runs a 90-minute guided tour from the Art Deco Welcome Center at 1001 Ocean Drive daily at 10:30. Self-guided audio tours are on sale at the same desk, and the Welcome Center is open 09:00 to 17:00 every day.

- **Time:** 2 hrs
- **Cost:** Guided tour ticket
- **Best at:** Morning
- **Tip:** Start at 1001 Ocean Drive

Links: [Website](https://mdpl.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 2. See the Wynwood Walls

Art · 2516 NW 2nd Avenue, Wynwood, Miami

An outdoor museum of large-scale murals that Tony Goldman started in 2009 and that turned Wynwood from a warehouse district into the city's arts quarter. The core courtyard holds work by around 100 international artists, refreshed each Art Basel week. Doors close 10 minutes before closing, and hours shift, so confirm on the day.

- **Time:** 1–2 hrs
- **Cost:** Ticketed entry
- **Best at:** Early morning
- **Tip:** Go before 11 to avoid the crowds

Links: [Website](https://thewynwoodwalls.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 3. Tour Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

History · 3251 South Miami Avenue, Coconut Grove, Miami

James Deering's 1916 Italian Renaissance villa on Biscayne Bay, 34 rooms of European antiques inside and 10 acres of formal gardens outside, with the carved Stone Barge sitting offshore. Open 9:30 to 16:30 and closed on Tuesdays, with ticketed evening events on occasional Fridays.

- **Time:** 2–3 hrs
- **Cost:** Adult ticket
- **Best at:** Late afternoon
- **Tip:** The gardens close after the house

Links: [Website](https://vizcaya.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 4. Walk Calle Ocho in Little Havana

Neighbourhood · SW 8th Street between SW 12th and 27th Avenues, Little Havana, Miami

The commercial spine of Miami's Cuban quarter, and the closest thing on the mainland to a working-class Havana street. Order a cortadito at Versailles, watch the dominos at Máximo Gómez Park and stop at Ball & Chain for a live set. First Fridays, called Viernes Culturales, keep the galleries open into the evening.

- **Time:** 3 hrs
- **Cost:** Free to walk
- **Best at:** Late afternoon
- **Tip:** First Friday of the month is the best

Links: [Website](https://viernesculturales.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 5. Take a day out to the Everglades

Nature · Shark Valley Visitor Center, 36000 SW 8th Street, Miami

An hour west of downtown along the Tamiami Trail, Shark Valley is the closest entrance to Miami and the only park section you can bicycle around. The gate opens at 08:30 and closes to vehicles at 18:00. Three park-authorized airboat operators sit along US 41 by the entrance; the rest launch outside the boundary.

- **Time:** Full day
- **Cost:** Park entry & tram
- **Best at:** Early morning
- **Tip:** Book the two-hour tram ahead

Links: [Website](https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/shark-valley-tamiami.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 6. See the collection at Pérez Art Museum Miami

Museum · 1103 Biscayne Boulevard, Downtown Miami

PAMM is a Herzog & de Meuron building on Biscayne Bay, hung with the city's own collection of modern and contemporary art from the Americas. Free general admission on the first Thursday evening of the month (16:00 to 21:00) and the second Saturday morning. The Frost Museum of Science sits next door.

- **Time:** 2 hrs
- **Cost:** Adult ticket
- **Best at:** Late afternoon
- **Tip:** First Thursdays run to 21:00 and are free

Links: [Website](https://www.pamm.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 7. Spend a morning on South Beach

Beach · Lummus Park, Ocean Drive from 5th to 14th Street, Miami Beach

The seven-mile beach south of 23rd Street, backed by Lummus Park's lawns, palms and lifeguard stands. All Florida beaches are legally public, and the sand at South Beach is free. Parking is not: use the Miami Beach city garages at 7th, 13th and 16th Streets rather than fighting for a meter.

- **Time:** 3 hrs
- **Cost:** Free · pay for parking
- **Best at:** Morning
- **Tip:** Park at 7th, 13th or 16th and Collins

Links: [Website](https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/parks/lummus-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 8. Take a boat across Biscayne Bay

Water · Miami Beach Marina, 300 Alton Road, Miami Beach

The city was built with its back to the bay and reads better from the water. Private charters run 90-minute skyline loops past Star Island and Millionaire's Row, and half-day trips that anchor at the Nixon Sandbar off Key Biscayne. Most charters are BYOB. Weekends draw a party crowd; go on a weekday for the calm.

- **Time:** 3–4 hrs
- **Cost:** Charter or shared tour
- **Best at:** Weekday morning
- **Tip:** Weekdays keep the sandbar quiet

Links: [Website](https://miamibeachmarina.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 9. Shop and eat in the Design District

Neighbourhood · NE 40th Street & NE 2nd Avenue, Miami Design District

A pedestrian quarter of luxury flagships, public art commissions and restaurants north of Wynwood. Buckminster Fuller's Fly's Eye Dome sits in Palm Court, the Institute of Contemporary Art is free and open Wednesday through Sunday, and Michael's Genuine anchors the food. Come in the evening, when the shops stay open late.

- **Time:** 3 hrs
- **Cost:** Free to walk
- **Best at:** Evening
- **Tip:** ICA Miami is free every day it opens

Links: [Website](https://www.miamidesigndistrict.net/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 10. Drive to Bill Baggs Cape Florida

Nature · 1200 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne

The southern tip of Key Biscayne, half an hour from downtown across the Rickenbacker Causeway, and one of the best beaches within the city limits. The 1825 lighthouse is the oldest standing structure in South Florida and can be climbed on the free ranger tours. Pair it with lunch at Boater's Grill on the lagoon.

- **Time:** Half day
- **Cost:** Park entry per car
- **Best at:** Weekday morning
- **Tip:** Ranger climbs the lighthouse twice a day

Links: [Website](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/bill-baggs-cape-florida-state-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best beaches in Miami (2026)

Warm Atlantic water, seven miles of city sand and quieter stretches within a short drive.

1. **South Beach** (City beach · South Beach): The seven-mile city beach behind Ocean Drive, backed by Lummus Park's lawns, volleyball nets and lifeguard stands.
2. **Crandon Park Beach** (Family · Key Biscayne · Key Biscayne): Two miles of shallow water on the north end of Key Biscayne, backed by a coconut grove and a nature centre. [Website](https://www.miamidade.gov/parks/crandon.asp?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Bill Baggs Cape Florida** (State park · Key Biscayne · Key Biscayne): The state park at the southern tip of Key Biscayne, with an 1825 lighthouse and a broad shell-strewn beach. [Website](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/bill-baggs-cape-florida-state-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Haulover Beach** (Surf · Miami-Dade · Sunny Isles): The only surfable break in Miami-Dade, and the only officially clothing-optional stretch north of Bal Harbour. [Website](https://www.miamidade.gov/parks/haulover.asp?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Bal Harbour Beach** (Upscale · Miami Beach · Bal Harbour): A quieter, upscale stretch on the north end of Miami Beach, connected to Surfside by a shaded oceanfront path.
6. **North Beach** (Local · Miami Beach · North Beach): The residential stretch from 63rd to 87th Streets, with the MiMo architecture the district takes its name from and a boardwalk that doubles as a bike route.
7. **Virginia Key Beach Park** (Historic · Virginia Key · Virginia Key): Historic Black community beach on the causeway to Key Biscayne, with picnic pavilions, a small carousel and the calmest water of the barrier islands. [Website](https://virginiakeybeachpark.net/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best restaurants in Miami (2026)

Michelin-starred rooms, the Cuban classics that anchor the city and the tables locals book weeks out.

1. **Joe's Stone Crab** (Seafood · $$$$ · South Beach): The 1913 seafood room at South Pointe. Stone-crab season runs 15 October to 15 May, cracker in hand. No reservations for the main dining room. [Website](https://www.joesstonecrab.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Versailles** (Cuban · $ · Little Havana): The Cuban political and social HQ of Miami since 1971. Colada, croqueta, media noche, and a walk-up window for the cortadito. [Website](https://versaillesrestaurant.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **COTE Miami** (Korean steakhouse · $$$$ · Design District): Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse in the Design District, with the Butcher's Feast tasting the sensible order. [Website](https://cotemiami.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Boia De** (Italian · $$$ · Buena Vista): Michelin-starred Italian counter room in Buena Vista, run by chefs Luci Giangrandi and Alex Meyer. Book two weeks ahead. [Website](https://www.boiaderestaurant.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Mandolin Aegean Bistro** (Aegean · $$$ · Buena Vista): A Greek and Turkish garden restaurant behind a bougainvillea wall in Buena Vista. Mezze, feta pies and lamb from the coals. [Website](https://www.mandolinmiami.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **Stubborn Seed** (Contemporary · $$$$ · South of Fifth): Jeremy Ford's Michelin-starred South Beach room. The chef's tasting is where the kitchen shows its hand. [Website](https://www.stubbornseed.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
7. **KYU** (Asian · $$$ · Wynwood): Wood-fired Asian sharing plates in a converted Wynwood warehouse. The half chicken and the coal-roasted cauliflower travel across the table. [Website](https://www.kyumiami.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
8. **Michael's Genuine Food & Drink** (American · $$$ · Design District): Michael Schwartz's Design District canteen, open since 2007. American cooking with a bar you can eat at and a courtyard for the shoulder seasons. [Website](https://www.michaelsgenuine.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
9. **Zuma** (Japanese · $$$$ · Downtown): The Miami outpost of the London original: contemporary Japanese and a Biscayne Bay terrace on the ground floor of the Epic Hotel. [Website](https://zumarestaurant.com/locations/miami?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
10. **Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann** (Argentine · $$$$ · Mid-Beach): Argentine open-fire cooking in the Faena Hotel courtyard. Whole cuts from the parrilla, seven-hour lamb and the burnt vegetables that made Mallmann's name. [Website](https://www.faena.com/miami-beach/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best bars & nightlife in Miami

Craft cocktail rooms, live Cuban music and a 24-hour club that never fully switches off.

1. **Broken Shaker** (Cocktails · Mid-Beach): The Freehand's garden bar, a fixture of the World's 50 Best list and the room that put Miami cocktails back on the map. [Website](https://www.freehandhotels.com/miami/broken-shaker/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply** (Cocktails · Happy hour · South Beach): John Lermayer's South Beach bar, still the daiquiri benchmark. Happy hour 16:00 to 19:00 daily brings back the 75 cent oysters. [Website](https://www.mysweetliberty.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Ball & Chain** (Live music · Little Havana): The 1935 Calle Ocho jazz room, restored in 2014 and now the live Cuban music standard of Little Havana. Mojitos and a back garden. [Website](https://ballandchainmiami.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Mac's Club Deuce** (Dive · Late night · South Beach): The 1926 South Beach dive with a horseshoe bar, cheap pours and a jukebox that has never learned a new song. Open until 05:00. [Website](https://macsclubdeuce.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **LIV at Fontainebleau** (Club · Mid-Beach): The Fontainebleau's mega-club, the room that keeps landing on the top of world nightlife lists. Guest-list residencies and a dress code. [Website](https://livnightclub.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **E11EVEN Miami** (Club · 24 hrs · Downtown): Downtown's 24-hour ultra-club. Circus performers, a rotating booth of headline DJs and a room that never fully closes. [Website](https://11miami.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
7. **Gramps** (Bar · Garden · Wynwood): The Wynwood back-lawn bar with a taco window, cheap draft and DJ nights that spill outside. [Website](https://www.gramps.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
8. **Lagniappe** (Wine · Live jazz · Buena Vista): A ramshackle wine bar with a garden strung with fairy lights and live jazz nightly. Order the cheese board. [Website](https://lagniappehouse.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best art deco & galleries in Miami

The world's largest run of tropical Art Deco, and the private collections built on top of it.

1. **Art Deco Welcome Center & Museum** (Museum · Tour · South Beach): The Miami Design Preservation League's welcome centre at 1001 Ocean Drive. Guided walking tours run daily at 10:30; the museum and gift shop are open 09:00 to 17:00. [Website](https://mdpl.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Pérez Art Museum Miami** (Museum · Free Thu · Downtown): Herzog & de Meuron's canopy over Biscayne Bay, holding contemporary art of the Americas. Free the first Thursday evening of the month. [Website](https://www.pamm.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Rubell Museum** (Private collection · Allapattah): Don and Mera Rubell's private collection, moved to a repurposed DEA warehouse in Allapattah in 2019. The best view of four decades of American art. [Website](https://rubellmuseum.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **ICA Miami** (Free · Design District · Design District): The Institute of Contemporary Art's Aranguren-and-Gallegos building in the Design District, with a bougainvillea sculpture garden. Admission is free. [Website](https://icamiami.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **The Bass** (Museum · Miami Beach · Mid-Beach): Miami Beach's contemporary art museum, in the 1930 Russell Pancoast library building on Collins Park. Sunday afternoons are the quietest slot. [Website](https://thebass.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **Wynwood Walls** (Street art · Wynwood): The outdoor mural yard that Tony Goldman opened in 2009 and that turned Wynwood into an arts district. Doors close 10 minutes before the posted time. [Website](https://thewynwoodwalls.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best neighborhoods in Miami

Cuban Little Havana, industrial Wynwood, waterfront Coconut Grove and the pedestrian Design District.

1. **South Beach** (Miami Beach · South Beach): The Art Deco strip between 5th and 23rd, Ocean Drive on the sand side and Lincoln Road one block back. Loud, walkable, entirely itself.
2. **Wynwood** (Mainland · Wynwood): Warehouses turned into murals, breweries and small galleries. The Wynwood Walls anchor the block, and Wynwood Yard runs late.
3. **Little Havana** (Mainland · Little Havana): SW 8th Street west of downtown. Cortadito windows, Máximo Gómez Park dominoes, Ball & Chain live music and a Cuban Memorial Park.
4. **Design District** (Mainland · Design District): A car-free grid of luxury flagships, public art commissions and restaurants around NE 40th and 2nd. ICA Miami is free and open Wednesday to Sunday.
5. **Coconut Grove** (Mainland · Coconut Grove): Miami's oldest neighbourhood, on Biscayne Bay south of downtown. Waterside restaurants, sailing marina, CocoWalk and the walk up to Vizcaya.
6. **Coral Gables** (Mainland · Coral Gables): George Merrick's 1920s planned city, Mediterranean revival stucco under a canopy of banyans. Miracle Mile, the Venetian Pool and the Biltmore Hotel.
7. **Brickell** (Downtown · Brickell): Downtown's high-rise financial quarter, with Brickell City Centre for lunch and hotel rooftops for sundowners. The free Metromover Brickell Loop links it all.
8. **Little Haiti** (Mainland · Little Haiti): North of the Design District: botanicas, kompa on the radio, the Caribbean Marketplace and a growing gallery scene along NE 2nd Avenue.

## Best day trips from Miami

Two national parks, a barrier-reef state park and the horse country of Palm Beach, all within two hours.

1. **Everglades National Park** (1 hr · National park · West): Sawgrass, alligators and the Shark Valley tram. About an hour west on the Tamiami Trail. Airboat operators sit along US 41 outside the park. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Biscayne National Park** (1 hr · Marine park · Homestead): 95 percent water, and the country's largest marine park. Glass-bottom boats leave from Convoy Point in Homestead, an hour south of downtown. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/bisc/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park** (1.5 hrs · Snorkel · Key Largo): The first undersea park in the United States, off Key Largo. Snorkel or scuba the reef, or take the glass-bottom boat if you would rather stay dry. [Website](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/john-pennekamp-coral-reef-state-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Fort Lauderdale** (45 mins · Coast · North): Half an hour up the coast, or 45 minutes on the Brightline. The New River water-taxi loop is the best way to see the city. [Website](https://www.visitlauderdale.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden** (30 mins · Garden · Coral Gables): 83 acres of palms, cycads and rainforest at the edge of Coral Gables. Half an hour from downtown by car and one of the best subtropical collections in the world. [Website](https://www.fairchildgarden.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **Palm Beach** (1.5 hrs · Coast · Palm Beach): Worth Avenue's palazzos, the Flagler Museum and a stretch of A1A north of the inlet. About 90 minutes by Brightline from MiamiCentral. [Website](https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best boating in Miami

Sandbars, celebrity-home cruises and a marine park you can only see from a boat.

1. **Nixon Sandbar** (Charter · Biscayne Bay · Key Biscayne): The party sandbar west of Key Biscayne, in shin-deep water south of Nixon's Cove. Accessible by private boat only; charters leave from Miami Beach Marina.
2. **Star Island skyline cruise** (90 mins · Sightseeing · Downtown): The 90-minute Biscayne Bay loop past Star Island, Fisher Island and Millionaire's Row. Every operator on the strip runs some version.
3. **Miami Beach Marina** (Marina · South Beach · South Beach): The main charter and rental base on the bay side of South Beach, at 300 Alton Road. Half-day rentals, private captains and fishing charters. [Website](https://miamibeachmarina.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Haulover Sandbar** (Sandbar · Intracoastal · Bal Harbour): A calmer sandbar than Nixon on the Intracoastal side of Bal Harbour, favoured by families and paddleboarders.
5. **Biscayne National Park glass-bottom boat** (3 hrs · National park · Homestead): The three-hour glass-bottom trip out of Convoy Point in Homestead, over the northern reefs of the marine park. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Festivals & annual events in Miami (2026)

- **Art Deco Weekend** (Jan): Ocean Drive closes to cars for three days of talks, tours, films and vintage cars, run by the Miami Design Preservation League.
- **South Beach Wine & Food Festival** (Feb): Five days of tastings, dinners and Grand Tastings along the sand, benefiting FIU's hospitality school since 2002.
- **Calle Ocho Music Festival** (15 Mar): Fifteen blocks of SW 8th Street close for the largest Latin street festival in the United States, roughly a million people.
- **Miami Open** (Mid Mar): Two-week ATP and WTA hard-court tournament at Hard Rock Stadium, the traditional US spring warm-up.
- **Ultra Music Festival** (27–29 Mar): Three days of electronic music at Bayfront Park, capacity around 55,000 a day. The centrepiece of Miami Music Week.
- **F1 Miami Grand Prix** (1–3 May): Formula 1 weekend on the temporary Miami International Autodrome around Hard Rock Stadium.
- **Miami Swim Week** (Late May): The city's swimwear trade shows and runway shows take over hotels and pool decks across Miami Beach.
- **Art Basel Miami Beach** (4–6 Dec): The winter edition of Art Basel at the Convention Center. Design Miami, the satellite fairs and every gallery party run alongside.

## Must-try dishes in Miami, United States

- **Cuban sandwich**: Roast pork, ham, Swiss, pickle and mustard on pressed Cuban bread. The unofficial sandwich of South Florida.
- **Croquetas**: Ham or chicken fritters bound in a béchamel roux and fried until crisp. Two per person, and a cortadito.
- **Ropa vieja**: Slow-braised flank steak in a sofrito of pepper, onion and tomato, over yellow rice with black beans.
- **Stone crab claws**: The Florida stone crab is caught between 15 October and 1 May. The claw is served chilled with mustard sauce.
- **Ceviche**: Peruvian-leaning ceviches with leche de tigre, sweet potato and choclo. La Mar and Amara run the benchmarks.
- **Cortadito**: A shot of espresso cut with scalded, sweetened milk. The Cuban morning drink, and why walk-up windows exist.
- **Pastelitos**: Cuban puff-pastry pockets, usually guava, guava-and-cheese or spiced beef. The bakery breakfast here.
- **Frita cubana**: Cuban chorizo-and-beef burger topped with shoestring potatoes on a griddled bun.

## Miami transport & airports

- **Miami International (MIA)** (MIA): About 13 km west of downtown. The free MIA Mover connects the terminal to the Miami Intermodal Center, where the Metrorail Orange Line runs to downtown every 15 minutes for $2.25. [Website](https://www.miami-airport.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Brightline** (Rail): Higher-speed intercity rail from MiamiCentral downtown to Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando. The Miami Beach Airport Express bus links MIA to South Beach for $2.25. [Website](https://www.gobrightline.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Metromover & Metrorail** (Metro): The Metromover is a free automated loop through downtown and Brickell, running 05:00 to midnight every day. Metrorail and Metrobus fares are $2.25 and cap at $5.65 a day with an EASY Card. [Website](https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/home.page?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Car hire & e-hailing** (Road): A car is the sensible way to reach the Everglades, the Keys and the mainland neighbourhoods; Uber and Lyft cover the city and are the standard way home from South Beach at night.

## Miami at a glance

- **Country:** United States
- **Region:** Southeast Florida
- **Population:** 460K city · 6.1M metro
- **Founded:** 28 Jul 1896
- **Nickname:** The Magic City
- **Language:** English, Spanish
- **Currency:** US Dollar ($)
- **Time zone:** EST · UTC-5
- **Calling code:** +1 305 / 786
- **Airports:** MIA · FLL
- **Power:** 120V · Type A/B
- **Emergency:** 911

## Interesting facts

- Miami is the only major US city founded by a woman. Julia Tuttle mailed Henry Flagler an orange blossom in 1895, and the railway came.
- Miami Beach's Art Deco Historic District has roughly 800 protected buildings and has been on the National Register since 14 May 1979.
- Everglades National Park is one of only three places on Earth carrying all three protections: World Heritage, Biosphere and Ramsar.
- The Metromover has been fare-free since 2002 and runs 05:00 to midnight every day of the year across three downtown loops.
- The Calle Ocho Music Festival draws around a million people to SW 8th Street each March, the largest Hispanic street festival in the US.

## Watch

[Miami on Foot](https://wimup.com/watch/miami.md), 2:36:43

## Miami travel FAQ

### How many days do you need in Miami?

Four to five. One for South Beach and the Art Deco walk, one for Wynwood and the Design District, one for Little Havana and Vizcaya, and one for the Everglades or the Keys. Add a day for the boat if you want the sandbar.

### When is the best time to visit Miami?

December through April. It is the dry, cooler season, and the calendar is at its densest: Art Basel in December, Art Deco Weekend in January, the wine festival in February and Calle Ocho, the Miami Open and Ultra in March. June to October is hurricane season, warmer and cheaper.

### Do you need a car in Miami?

For South Beach, downtown and Brickell, no: the Airport Express bus, Metrorail and free Metromover cover them, with Uber for the last mile. For the Everglades, the Keys, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, yes. Hire one for the days you leave the beach rather than the whole trip.

### Is Miami safe for travellers?

Treat it as any large US city: keep valuables out of sight in rental cars, use e-hailing at night rather than walking between neighbourhoods, and check hurricane advisories in September and October. The tourist areas (South Beach, Brickell, Wynwood) are well policed.

### Where do you see the Art Deco buildings in Miami?

The Art Deco Historic District on Miami Beach, between 5th and 23rd Streets along Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue. Start at the Art Deco Welcome Center at 1001 Ocean Drive, at 10th Street, and take the Miami Design Preservation League's 10:30 walking tour.

## Nearby guides

- [Havana](https://wimup.com/city/havana.md): Cuba · 10 picks
- [Santiago de Cuba](https://wimup.com/city/santiago-de-cuba.md): Cuba · 10 picks
- [Montego Bay](https://wimup.com/city/montego-bay.md): Jamaica · 10 picks
- [All of North America →](https://wimup.com/north-america): 35 cities

Part of the [United States guide](https://wimup.com/country/united-states.md) · [North America](https://wimup.com/north-america.md)

## Sources

- [Miami tourism board](https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Walk the Miami Beach Art Deco District (official site)](https://mdpl.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [See the Wynwood Walls (official site)](https://thewynwoodwalls.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Tour Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (official site)](https://vizcaya.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Walk Calle Ocho in Little Havana (official site)](https://viernesculturales.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Take a day out to the Everglades (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/shark-valley-tamiami.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [See the collection at Pérez Art Museum Miami (official site)](https://www.pamm.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Spend a morning on South Beach (official site)](https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/parks/lummus-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Take a boat across Biscayne Bay (official site)](https://miamibeachmarina.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Shop and eat in the Design District (official site)](https://www.miamidesigndistrict.net/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Drive to Bill Baggs Cape Florida (official site)](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/bill-baggs-cape-florida-state-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Crandon Park Beach (official site)](https://www.miamidade.gov/parks/crandon.asp?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Haulover Beach (official site)](https://www.miamidade.gov/parks/haulover.asp?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Virginia Key Beach Park (official site)](https://virginiakeybeachpark.net/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Joe's Stone Crab (official site)](https://www.joesstonecrab.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Versailles (official site)](https://versaillesrestaurant.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [COTE Miami (official site)](https://cotemiami.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Boia De (official site)](https://www.boiaderestaurant.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Mandolin Aegean Bistro (official site)](https://www.mandolinmiami.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Stubborn Seed (official site)](https://www.stubbornseed.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [KYU (official site)](https://www.kyumiami.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Michael's Genuine Food & Drink (official site)](https://www.michaelsgenuine.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Zuma (official site)](https://zumarestaurant.com/locations/miami?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann (official site)](https://www.faena.com/miami-beach/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Broken Shaker (official site)](https://www.freehandhotels.com/miami/broken-shaker/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply (official site)](https://www.mysweetliberty.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Ball & Chain (official site)](https://ballandchainmiami.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Mac's Club Deuce (official site)](https://macsclubdeuce.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [LIV at Fontainebleau (official site)](https://livnightclub.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [E11EVEN Miami (official site)](https://11miami.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Gramps (official site)](https://www.gramps.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Lagniappe (official site)](https://lagniappehouse.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Rubell Museum (official site)](https://rubellmuseum.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [ICA Miami (official site)](https://icamiami.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [The Bass (official site)](https://thebass.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Everglades National Park (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Biscayne National Park (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/bisc/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (official site)](https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/john-pennekamp-coral-reef-state-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Fort Lauderdale (official site)](https://www.visitlauderdale.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (official site)](https://www.fairchildgarden.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Palm Beach (official site)](https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Biscayne National Park glass-bottom boat (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Miami International (MIA) (official site)](https://www.miami-airport.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Brightline (official site)](https://www.gobrightline.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Metromover & Metrorail (official site)](https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/home.page?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.