1Beaches
South Beach and Ocean Drive
Sand, lifeguard towers and Art Deco facades: South Beach pairs a swim with a stroll along Ocean Drive, in Miami Beach.
View details for South Beach and Ocean Drive- Best time to go
- November to AprilWinter, with less heat
- Suggested stay
- 3 days to get started4 to 5 days with more beach time
- Airport
- Miami International (MIA)
- Currency
- US dollar (US$)
- Language
- EnglishSpanish widely spoken
- Time zone
- UTC-5UTC-4 during daylight saving time
Overview
A ventanita in Little Havana takes care of coffee; a museum facing the bay takes care of the afternoon. Miami pays off when you go beyond the sand. Get the geography right: Downtown, Wynwood and Coconut Grove are in Miami, on the mainland. South Beach is in Miami Beach, a separate city, linked by causeways over the bay. The distance looks short on a screen; in traffic, it develops opinions of its own.
Set aside one day for Miami Beach, another for museums and art north of Downtown, and a third for Vizcaya, Coconut Grove and Little Havana. Walk within each area and plan transportation between them. To wake up near the sand, stay in Miami Beach; to keep your agenda on the mainland, consider Downtown and its surroundings. A beach with no clock deserves a few extra nights.
Did you know?
Those colorful lifeguard towers have an author, too: architect William Lane designed models that echo the Art Deco of Miami Beach.
In Bayfront Park, sculptor Isamu Noguchi left behind the Slide Mantra: a work of art that doubles as a slide.
The Fly's Eye Dome in the Design District grew out of Buckminster Fuller's research on housing; this photogenic dome carries a proposal for experimental architecture.
Things to see in Miami
1
2Nature
South Pointe Park
At the southern tip of Miami Beach, the park opens up views of the beach and the ships leaving PortMiami, with lawns and a pier.
View details for South Pointe Park
3Museums
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Aquarium, exhibits and a planetarium on the bay: at Frost Science, a big oculus lets marine life glide over your head.
View details for Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
4Museums
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
Modern and contemporary art facing Biscayne Bay, in a building with hanging gardens that become part of the gallery visit.
View details for Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
5Art and architecture
Wynwood Walls
An open-air museum devoted to street art, with murals, sculptures and a gallery; on the streets of Wynwood, the painting carries on beyond the gates.
View details for Wynwood Walls
6Art and architecture
Miami Design District
Among luxury stores, the Design District has public art and inventive facades; start with the Fly's Eye Dome in Palm Court plaza.
View details for Miami Design District
7Neighborhoods
Coconut Grove
Tree-lined streets, restaurants and parks by the bay give Coconut Grove a rhythm of its own, with a coffee break before Vizcaya.
View details for Coconut Grove
8Museums
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
James Deering's former winter home combines interiors with art and furniture, formal gardens and views of Biscayne Bay.
View details for Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
9Neighborhoods
Little Havana and Calle Ocho
Calle Ocho brings together window cafes, nods to Cuban immigration and Domino Park: walk slowly and add some stops for snacks.
View details for Little Havana and Calle Ocho
10Nature
Bayfront Park
Between Downtown and Biscayne Bay, Bayfront Park offers waterside paths and works by Isamu Noguchi for a break in the city center.
View details for Bayfront Park1Beaches
South Beach and Ocean Drive
Between the sand and the Ocean Drive hotels, Lummus Park invites a walk. Look up: geometric lines, curves and soft colors bring the Art Deco along for the stroll, even when you only set out looking for shade.
Start at the beach and leave the facades for later, with a break to eat. The Beachwalk makes it easy to cover the shoreline; you can return to the blocks at night to watch the lighting change the scene.
2Nature
South Pointe Park
When a ship slides past South Pointe, a park bench turns into a box seat. At the southern tip of Miami Beach, you can follow the traffic at PortMiami and see the Downtown skyline far off across the water.
There are lawns, waterside paths and beach access. If it is open, walk out on the pier to see the shoreline from another angle. Save this spot to end your South Beach day.
3Museums
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Few ceilings can compete with an aquarium. At Frost Science, the oculus of the Gulf Stream tank lets you watch the animals from below. The route shifts perspective between exhibit levels, which are devoted to the ocean environment off Florida.
The museum has science exhibits and a planetarium. Pick your priorities when you arrive, especially if you want to combine it with PAMM on the same day. With kids, consider staying longer and trimming the rest of the day's plans.
4Museums
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
PAMM's gardens slow your pace before you reach the galleries. The building by Herzog & de Meuron talks to Biscayne Bay through its porches and covered areas: leave time to take in the architecture.
The program of modern and contemporary art speaks to Miami's position among the Americas and to its local diversity. Check the exhibitions to choose your priorities. Frost Science is next door, so you can combine the two museums on foot.
5Art and architecture
Wynwood Walls
At Wynwood Walls, the wall is the artwork. The museum brings together murals, sculptures and a gallery. First take in the whole design, then step closer to notice textures that a photo tends to flatten.
Treat the ticketed enclosure and the stroll through Wynwood's streets, where painted facades abound, as two separate things. The works change; an old picture may not match your visit. To get from Downtown and continue to the Design District, plan transportation between the areas.
6Art and architecture
Miami Design District
The dome with circular openings in Palm Court looks like it parked there by mistake. It is the Fly's Eye Dome, tied to Buckminster Fuller's research. Start with it, then look for sculptures, landscaping and facades between the shop windows.
The neighborhood is packed with luxury brands, but you can plan your walk around the public art. Check the district map and pick a short circuit. Your wallet can stay in your backpack while you study the buildings.
7Neighborhoods
Coconut Grove
In Coconut Grove, Biscayne Bay comes with sailboats, parks and tree-lined streets. The neighborhood lets you alternate between a walk and a table for coffee, without turning the morning into a list of ticket booths.
Explore the commercial core and pick a stretch of the waterfront. Then take transportation to Vizcaya: sharing a neighborhood name doesn't mean the entrances sit side by side. Save lunch for Little Havana.
8Museums
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya sets a residence inspired by Italian villas in front of Biscayne Bay, surrounded by tropical vegetation. James Deering's house holds furniture and art; the formal gardens carry the visit outdoors, among sculptures and stone paths.
Set aside time for both the rooms and the gardens. The grounds have steps and uneven surfaces, and some areas may close for conservation. If needed, check the accessible route before buying your ticket.
9Neighborhoods
Little Havana and Calle Ocho
Order a cafecito at a ventanita and you have a reason to stop on Calle Ocho. The street gathers restaurants, murals and references to the Cuban community. Look for the sidewalk stars honoring Latin personalities, Celia Cruz among them.
At Máximo Gómez Park, known as Domino Park, watch the games without interrupting the players; ask permission before photographing people. Round out the walk with a pastelito and time for lunch. Plan transportation from Vizcaya to the neighborhood.
10Nature
Bayfront Park
Downtown stands behind you; the bay lies ahead. Bayfront Park offers paths and places to rest. Look at the interventions by Isamu Noguchi, who redesigned the park, instead of crossing it with your eyes only on the boats.
The idea is to finish by the water. Check the calendar: concerts and events can take over parts of the park and change how you move through it. If it's being set up or closed, swap this stop for more time in Little Havana.
3-day itinerary
Day 1
A day in Miami Beach
- 1South Beach, Lummus Park and Ocean Drive
- Lunch and a break from the sun
- 2South Pointe Park late in the afternoon
Day 2
Museums, murals and architecture
- 3Frost Science in the morning
- 4Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), on foot
- Lunch near the museums
- 5Wynwood Walls, by transportation
- 6Miami Design District, by transportation
Day 3
The Grove, Vizcaya and Calle Ocho
- 7Coconut Grove: coffee and a walk
- 8Vizcaya, by transportation from the Grove
- 9Little Havana and Calle Ocho, with a late lunch
- 10Bayfront Park to end the day in Downtown
Map
10 places on the map
Practical tips
Metrorail and Metromover
Metrorail serves MIA airport; Metromover, currently free, helps you get around Downtown and Brickell. For Miami Beach, check buses, taxis or ride-hailing apps.
Pick your base by your itinerary
Compare lodging and travel times across the bay. If you rent a car, consider parking and traffic on the crossings between Miami and Miami Beach.
Check the calendar before buying tickets
Confirm museum closing days, conservation work at Vizcaya and events at Wynwood Walls; swap the days around as needed.
Sea and belongings
Follow the flags and lifeguards; check water quality and municipal rules. Have someone watch your belongings when you swim.
Heat and storms
Walk early and plan breaks in covered spots. In summer and fall, keep an eye on official tropical storm alerts.
Food and drink
In Little Havana, the ventanita lets you order a coffee and add a snack after eyeing the display. Cuban cooking leads the way: pressed bread, shredded beef and puff pastry with guava. Between beach and museums, save room for a counter break.
Pressed Cuban bread with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard; start with the classic combination.
Puff pastry with guava paste and cheese, a good partner for the coffee ordered at the window.
Shredded beef, for swapping the snack for a full meal at Cuban restaurants.
The cafecito is strong, sweetened coffee; the cortadito adds a little milk. The small cup doesn't mean weak coffee.
