Miami
Miami is tropical America with a Latin pulse — pastel Art Deco along Ocean Drive, Wynwood's street-art galleries, Little Havana's dominoes and cafecito, and some of the country's best clubbing. The Everglades and Florida Keys are day-trip distance, and Miami Beach's Atlantic sand is steps from downtown.
Tours & Experiences
Browse bookable tours, activities, and day trips in Miami
📍 Points of Interest
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📋The Rundown
Miami has the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world, with over 800 preserved buildings in the Miami Beach Architectural District
More than 70% of residents in Miami-Dade speak Spanish at home — Miami is often called the "capital of Latin America"
Miami is the only major US city founded by a woman — Julia Tuttle convinced Henry Flagler to extend his railroad south in 1896
The city sits at sea level and is one of the world's most vulnerable to sea-level rise — "sunny day flooding" is now routine at king tides
The Wynwood Walls transformed an abandoned warehouse district into one of the world's largest open-air street art collections, starting in 2009
Miami is a gateway to the Everglades and the Florida Keys, with both national park systems within easy day-trip range
🌴Must-See Spots
South Beach
🏘️The iconic stretch of white-sand beach, turquoise water, and pastel Art Deco hotels running from 5th to 23rd Street. Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road, and Collins Avenue form its spine.
Art Deco Historic District
🏘️Over 800 preserved buildings from the 1920s-40s, painted in sherbet pastels with neon signs and geometric flourishes. Take a guided tour with the Miami Design Preservation League.
Wynwood Walls
📌An outdoor gallery of large-scale street art in a once-industrial neighborhood, now packed with galleries, craft breweries, and restaurants. The surrounding streets are covered in murals too.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
🏛️A breathtaking 1916 Italian Renaissance-style villa on Biscayne Bay with 10 acres of formal gardens, grottos, and a stone barge protecting a private harbor.
Little Havana & Calle Ocho
🏘️The heart of Miami's Cuban community along SW 8th Street, with cigar rollers, domino parks, fruit stands, and legendary Cuban restaurants. A required stop for Miami visitors.
Bayside Marketplace & Bayfront Park
🗼A waterfront open-air market in downtown Miami with shops, restaurants, and boat tours departing for Biscayne Bay, the Venetian Islands, and celebrity home tours.
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
🏛️A striking contemporary art museum designed by Herzog & de Meuron on Biscayne Bay, specializing in 20th- and 21st-century art from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa.
Frost Museum of Science
🏛️A modern science museum next to PAMM with a planetarium, aquarium, and immersive exhibits. The 500,000-gallon aquarium tank can be viewed from above and below.
🗺️Where to Next
📍Hidden Gems
Cafecito at Versailles
The self-proclaimed "world's most famous Cuban restaurant" on Calle Ocho. Skip the dining room and order a colada at the ventanita (walk-up window), where locals discuss politics and hand-roll cigars next door.
A true Miami ritual — you'll see everyone from abuelas to politicians sharing tiny plastic cups of intensely sweet Cuban espresso at the window.
Little Haiti
An under-visited neighborhood just north of the Design District with Haitian bakeries, botanicas (religious shops), the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, and the mural-covered Caribbean Marketplace.
While tourists pack Little Havana, Little Haiti offers an equally vibrant Caribbean cultural experience with fewer crowds — and the best griot (fried pork) in Miami.
Coral Gables Biltmore & Venetian Pool
A historic planned community with Mediterranean-revival architecture, tree-lined Miracle Mile, the 1926 Biltmore Hotel (haunted, some say), and the Venetian Pool — a gorgeous lagoon pool fed by an artesian spring, carved from a coral rock quarry.
A completely different side of Miami — elegant, leafy, historic. The Venetian Pool is one of the most unusual public swimming pools in America.
Wynwood Beyond the Walls
The ticketed Wynwood Walls complex is famous, but the surrounding 12+ blocks of free street art — on warehouses, alleys, garage doors — are arguably just as impressive. Wander NW 2nd Avenue and the side streets.
Most visitors pay to enter the walled compound and miss the real neighborhood. The free outdoor gallery extends for blocks and changes constantly.
🌡️Weather
Miami has a tropical monsoon climate — warm to hot year-round, with a distinct wet season (May-October) and dry season (November-April). Ocean breezes moderate coastal temperatures. The "dry season" is the peak tourist season with near-perfect weather, while summer brings heat, humidity, and thunderstorms.
Dry Season (Winter-Spring)
November - April64-81°F
18-27°C
Miami's golden season — warm sunny days, cool pleasant evenings, low humidity, and very little rain. This is why snowbirds flock to South Florida.
Wet Season (Late Spring - Summer)
May - August75-91°F
24-33°C
Hot, humid, and wet, with near-daily afternoon thunderstorms that pass quickly. Ocean water hits bathtub temperatures. Best to plan beach mornings and indoor afternoons.
Hurricane Season Peak
August - October73-90°F
23-32°C
Still hot and wet, but this is the peak of Atlantic hurricane season. Most days are fine, but storms can disrupt travel. Always buy travel insurance during this window.
Shoulder (Late Fall)
October - November72-84°F
22-29°C
The transition from wet to dry season. Rain and hurricane risk taper off; humidity drops; crowds are lower before the winter rush. An underrated time to visit.
🛡️Safety
Moderate
out of 100
Most tourist areas of Miami — South Beach, Wynwood, the Design District, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Key Biscayne — are safe for visitors. Petty theft, car break-ins, and pickpocketing are the main concerns. Some neighborhoods north and west of downtown have higher crime and tourists have no reason to go there. Spring break season (March) and major events bring rowdy crowds to South Beach.
Things to Know
- •Never leave valuables visible in a rental car — smash-and-grabs at beach parking lots and trailheads are common
- •Watch for pickpockets and phone snatching along Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road, and on busy nightlife streets
- •Be cautious of overpriced restaurants on Ocean Drive — scammy bills with hidden fees are a known problem
- •Spring break on South Beach can turn chaotic — consider other neighborhoods in March
- •Use rideshare, not walking, to move around at night outside South Beach and the tourist core
- •If swimming, respect lifeguard flags — the Atlantic has rip currents, and man-of-war can drift into beaches
Natural Hazards
Emergency Numbers
Emergency (Police/Fire/Ambulance)
911
Non-Emergency Police
305-476-5423
Poison Control
1-800-222-1222
Jackson Memorial Hospital
305-585-1111
🚇Transit & Transport
Miami is a sprawling, car-centric city. Public transit exists but is limited compared to New York or Chicago — the Metrorail runs a single main corridor, the Metromover is a free downtown people-mover, and buses fill gaps. Rideshare is extremely popular, and many visitors rent cars to reach the Everglades, the Keys, or Fort Lauderdale.
Metrorail
$2.25 per ride (EASY Card)An elevated rapid-transit line connecting the airport, downtown, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and Dadeland. Two lines share much of the track. It does not reach Miami Beach.
Best for: Airport to downtown/Brickell, day trips to Coral Gables or Coconut Grove
Metromover (free)
FreeA free elevated people-mover circling downtown and Brickell with 21 stations. Runs every 90 seconds to 3 minutes. Connects Bayside, PAMM, the Brickell City Centre, and Metrorail.
Best for: Moving around downtown, connecting downtown to Brickell, skipping downtown traffic
Metrobus
$2.25 per rideA citywide bus network that fills the many gaps left by Metrorail. Routes serve Miami Beach (across the MacArthur Causeway) and most neighborhoods, though traffic can make trips slow.
Best for: Getting to Miami Beach, short trips where the Metrorail doesn't reach
Uber / Lyft
$8-30 for most trips in-city; $18-35 airport to South BeachBy far the most popular way for visitors to get around Miami, especially to and from South Beach. Surge pricing during events, weekends, and late nights can be steep.
Best for: Getting to Miami Beach, late-night trips, groups, airport transfers
Car Rental
$45-90/day plus insuranceMany visitors rent a car for day trips to the Everglades, Keys, or Fort Lauderdale. Downtown parking is expensive and South Beach parking is a headache — a car is often more useful outside the tourist core than in it.
Best for: Day trips to the Everglades, Keys, and Fort Lauderdale; exploring less-touristed neighborhoods
🚶 Walkability
South Beach is very walkable — tight grid, flat, with Lincoln Road pedestrianized and Ocean Drive full of life. Wynwood, the Design District, and Coconut Grove are also walkable neighborhood-scale. Between neighborhoods, however, distances are long and rideshare is usually necessary. Avoid walking across causeways.
✈️Getting In & Out
✈️ Airports
Miami International Airport(MIA)
13 km northwest of downtownMetrorail Orange Line from MIA Station to downtown ($2.25, 15 min, transfer via MIA Mover). Uber/Lyft $18-35 to South Beach. Taxis to South Beach at a flat-rate of about $35.
✈️ Search flights to MIAFort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport(FLL)
45 km northBrightline high-speed rail from nearby station (free shuttle from FLL) to Downtown Miami ($15-30, ~30 min). Uber/Lyft $45-75. Often cheaper fares than MIA, especially on Spirit and Southwest.
✈️ Search flights to FLL🚆 Rail Stations
MiamiCentral (Brightline)
DowntownDowntown Miami's Brightline station with modern high-speed trains to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando. Faster and more comfortable than driving I-95. Amtrak long-distance routes depart from the separate Miami station.
🚌 Bus Terminals
Miami Intermodal Center (MIA)
Greyhound, FlixBus, and RedCoach serve Miami, with most long-distance buses departing from the Intermodal Center near the airport. Routes to Orlando (4-5h, $25-60), Tampa (5-6h, $30-70), Jacksonville (7h, $40-80).
🛍️Shopping
Miami's shopping runs from open-air luxury at the Design District and Bal Harbour Shops to pedestrian-friendly Lincoln Road, outlet-scale deals at Dolphin Mall, and vintage and indie finds in Wynwood. Florida sales tax is 7% in Miami-Dade County.
Miami Design District
luxury & designA walkable open-air district with flagships from Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Dior, Cartier, and cutting-edge design showrooms. Also home to the ICA Miami and major public art installations.
Known for: Designer fashion, jewelry, contemporary furniture, public art
Lincoln Road (South Beach)
pedestrian mallAn eight-block pedestrianized shopping street in South Beach with national retailers, restaurants, and sidewalk cafes. Great for people-watching between beach sessions.
Known for: Mainstream fashion, sidewalk dining, Sunday farmers market, Art Deco setting
Wynwood
independent & vintageThe arts district is also home to independent boutiques, vintage clothing stores, craft breweries, and artist studios. NW 2nd Avenue is the main strip.
Known for: Vintage fashion, local designers, art prints, streetwear, craft beer
Bal Harbour Shops
luxuryAn ultra-luxury open-air mall just north of Miami Beach with tropical landscaping and the likes of Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Balenciaga, and Tom Ford.
Known for: High-end luxury, designer jewelry, exclusive brands not found elsewhere in Miami
🎁 Unique Souvenirs to Look For
- •Hand-rolled cigars from a Calle Ocho cigar shop (check legal import limits before returning home)
- •Cuban coffee — bags of Café Bustelo or local roasters like Panther
- •Guayabera shirts — traditional pleated Cuban dress shirts
- •Wynwood street art prints from gallery shops along NW 2nd Avenue
- •Art Deco-inspired prints, postcards, and books from the Miami Design Preservation League
- •Tropical fruit hot sauce or Cuban-style spice blends from a Little Havana fruit stand
💵Money & Tipping
US Dollar
Code: USD
The US Dollar is accepted everywhere. ATMs are ubiquitous. Miami has many currency-exchange desks at the airport and in tourist areas, but ATM withdrawals typically offer better rates.
Payment Methods
Credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere. Contactless payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay) is widespread. Small Cuban coffee windows, fruit stands, and some food vendors may prefer cash. Watch for double-tipping in restaurants where service is already included.
Tipping Guide
18-20% is standard. Many South Beach restaurants add an 18-20% "service charge" or "auto-gratuity" — always check the bill carefully before tipping again.
$1-2 per drink at bars, or 18-20% on a tab. More at upscale clubs and rooftop lounges.
15-20% for taxis. Uber/Lyft tipping through the app.
$2-5 per bag for bellhops. $3-5 per night for housekeeping. Tip valet $2-5 each time they retrieve your car.
15-20% for guided tours. $5-10 per person minimum for walking tours.
$1 at the ventanita, or 10-15% at counter service. Tip prompts on screens are common.
💰Budget
budget
$90-150
Hostel dorm, transit and occasional rideshare, beach days, cheap Cuban lunches, free museums, self-catering
mid-range
$230-380
Mid-range hotel in Miami Beach or Brickell, mix of restaurants, rideshares, 1-2 paid attractions per day
luxury
$600+
Luxury South Beach or Design District hotel, fine dining, beach club day passes, spa, nightlife
Typical Costs
| Item | Local | USD |
|---|---|---|
| AccommodationHostel dorm bed | $40-70 | $40-70 |
| AccommodationMid-range hotel (double, South Beach) | $200-350 | $200-350 |
| AccommodationLuxury hotel | $450-900+ | $450-900+ |
| FoodCuban cafecito at a ventanita | $1.50-3 | $1.50-3 |
| FoodCuban sandwich at a counter spot | $9-13 | $9-13 |
| FoodLunch at a casual restaurant | $18-30 | $18-30 |
| FoodDinner for two with drinks (South Beach) | $150-280 | $150-280 |
| FoodCocktail at a rooftop bar | $16-22 | $16-22 |
| TransportMetrorail / Metrobus single ride | $2.25 | $2.25 |
| TransportMetromover ride | Free | Free |
| TransportUber MIA to South Beach | $18-35 | $18-35 |
| AttractionsVizcaya Museum & Gardens | $25 | $25 |
| AttractionsPérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) | $18 | $18 |
| AttractionsEverglades airboat tour | $30-45 | $30-45 |
💡 Money-Saving Tips
- •The Metromover downtown is completely free — use it instead of walking in the heat
- •Many beaches (including most of South Beach) are free and public — pack your own lunch
- •Cuban food at counter spots in Little Havana is outstanding and a fraction of South Beach prices
- •Wynwood street art tours are self-guided and free outside the ticketed Wynwood Walls
- •PAMM and the Frost Science Museum offer discount or free evenings — check schedules
- •Book beach hotels in the shoulder seasons (late April-May, September-November) for huge discounts
- •Watch restaurant bills for auto-gratuity before adding a tip — 18-20% is often already added
- •Lincoln Road farmers market on Sundays has cheap snacks and fresh tropical fruit
🗓️When to Visit
Best Time to Visit
December through April is Miami's peak and best season — warm, dry, sunny days with low humidity. November and May are excellent shoulder months with good weather and lower prices. June-September is hot, humid, and stormy but offers the best hotel deals.
High Season (December - April)
Crowds: Very highSnowbird season. Perfect weather, packed beaches, full hotels, and maximum prices. Holidays and spring break (March) bring particular chaos to South Beach.
Pros
- + Best weather of the year
- + Low humidity
- + All attractions and beach clubs at full swing
- + Art Basel in December
Cons
- − Highest hotel prices
- − Crowded beaches and restaurants
- − Spring break chaos in March
- − Traffic on MacArthur Causeway
Shoulder (May & November)
Crowds: ModerateTwo sweet spots before and after peak season. Weather is still great, prices drop, and crowds thin out. Arguably the smartest time to visit Miami.
Pros
- + Better hotel deals
- + Beaches less crowded
- + Still mostly dry in November
- + Warm ocean water
Cons
- − Humidity climbing by May
- − Early hurricane risk in May
- − Some events quieter or over
- − Late-afternoon storms begin in May
Wet Season (June - August)
Crowds: Moderate to highHot, humid, and rainy, but still busy with domestic summer tourists. Afternoon thunderstorms are near-daily, ocean temperatures are bathtub-warm, and prices drop.
Pros
- + Lowest summer hotel prices in luxury hotels
- + Warm ocean water
- + Miami Spice restaurant deals (August-September)
- + Fewer international crowds
Cons
- − Oppressive heat and humidity
- − Near-daily thunderstorms
- − Hurricane risk rising
- − Mosquitoes in the Everglades
Hurricane Peak (September - October)
Crowds: LowThe statistically riskiest months for Atlantic hurricanes. Still hot and wet but the quietest, cheapest time to visit. Always buy travel insurance if booking in this window.
Pros
- + Lowest hotel prices of the year
- + Empty beaches
- + Best restaurant availability
- + Miami Spice deals
Cons
- − Active hurricane risk
- − Humidity and heat
- − Some smaller attractions close
- − Weather can disrupt flights
🎉 Festivals & Events
Art Basel Miami Beach
DecemberOne of the world's most important contemporary art fairs, with 250+ galleries at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The week transforms Miami into a global art capital.
Calle Ocho Festival
MarchThe largest Latin street festival in America, closing off 24 blocks of Little Havana for a day of Cuban music, food, and dance during Carnaval Miami.
Miami Film Festival
MarchA 10-day international film festival emphasizing Latin American and Iberian cinema, with screenings at historic Art Deco theaters.
Winter Music Conference & Miami Music Week
MarchA week-long electronic music industry gathering that has spawned Ultra Music Festival and dozens of pool parties, club nights, and showcases across the city.
🛂Visa & Entry
Miami is in the United States. Entry requirements follow US federal immigration law. Most visitors need either a visa or an approved ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program. Miami International is a major gateway for Latin American arrivals.
Entry Requirements by Nationality
| Nationality | Visa Required | Max Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Citizens | Visa-free | 6 months | No visa or ESTA required. Valid passport needed. Can enter by land, air, or sea. |
| UK Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days | ESTA required ($21, valid 2 years). Apply online before travel. |
| EU/Schengen Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days | ESTA required. Apply at least 72 hours before departure. |
| Australian Citizens | Visa-free | 90 days | ESTA required. Standard Visa Waiver Program rules apply. |
| Brazilian Citizens | Yes | Up to 10 years (multiple entry B1/B2) | B1/B2 tourist visa required. Miami has large Brazilian expat community and regular direct flights. |
| Chinese Citizens | Yes | Up to 10 years (multiple entry B1/B2) | Must apply for a B1/B2 visa at the US Embassy. Interview required. |
Visa-Free Entry
Tips
- •Apply for ESTA at least 72 hours before your flight
- •ESTA costs $21 and is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires
- •MIA is a major international hub for the Americas — immigration can be slow, especially on afternoon arrival waves from Latin America
- •Global Entry ($100, 5 years) significantly speeds up arrival at MIA
- •US Customs allows $800 in duty-free goods per person; cigars from Cuba have additional restrictions
💬Speak the Language
English and Spanish are both everyday languages in Miami; many locals switch between them mid-sentence ("Spanglish"). Haitian Creole and Portuguese are also widely heard. Don't be surprised if you're addressed first in Spanish.
| English | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Cafecito | Cuban espresso (sweetened) | kah-feh-SEE-toh — the short, sweet espresso that fuels Miami |
| Ventanita | Walk-up coffee window | ven-tah-NEE-tah — found at Cuban restaurants and bakeries citywide |
| Dale | OK / Go on / Let's do it | DAH-leh — a catch-all Miami affirmation, popularized worldwide by Pitbull |
| 305 | Miami area code used as identity | three-oh-FIVE — shorthand for "from Miami," seen on everything from tattoos to hats |
| Qué bolá | What's up? (Cuban greeting) | keh-boh-LAH — informal Cuban-Spanish hello, distinct from the standard ¿qué tal? |
| Pata de pollo | Literally "chicken leg" / someone broke or unstylish | PAH-tah deh POH-yoh — Cuban slang for tacky or cheap |
| Colada | Large shared cup of Cuban espresso | koh-LAH-dah — comes with small plastic cups for sharing with coworkers |
| 305 till I die | Miami loyalty phrase | A declaration of devotion to Miami, seen on merch and popularized by hip-hop |
| Oye | Hey / Listen | OH-yeh — a casual Spanish attention-getter used constantly |
| The Beach | Miami Beach / South Beach | When a local says "going to the Beach," they mean Miami Beach, not any beach |