Travel guide · United States
Miami travel guide
Art Deco beaches, Cuban coffee windows and street art in winter sun
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Miami pairs a long barrier-island beach, Miami Beach, with a mainland city of Cuban cafés, glass towers and street art. South Beach's Art Deco District and Ocean Drive face the Atlantic; across Biscayne Bay, Little Havana, Wynwood, Brickell and Coconut Grove each show a different side of the city. Winter brings warm, dry weather and peak crowds, while summer is hot, humid and stormy and overlaps the Atlantic hurricane season. Plan 5 days for a first visit; the best months are December–April.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- December–April
- Ideal stay
- 5 days
- Main airports
- MIA, FLL
- Mid-range daily budget
- $230–$400 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- South Beach, Art Deco architecture, Cuban food and Little Havana
Why visit Miami
- South Beach's historic district has hundreds of restored Art Deco and Mediterranean Revival buildings in pastel colours along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue.
- Latin American culture is everywhere, from Cuban coffee windows in Little Havana to Venezuelan arepas and Peruvian ceviche.
- Warm sea and beach weather from late autumn to spring, when much of North America is cold.
- Street art in Wynwood, design stores in the Design District, and contemporary art at PAMM and the December Art Basel fair.
- The Everglades, the Florida Keys and Biscayne National Park are all within a short drive.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Beach · South Beach
South Beach
The beach at Lummus Park, in front of Ocean Drive, is the classic Miami scene: wide pale sand, turquoise water, lifeguard towers painted in bright colours and volleyball courts, with the Art Deco hotels behind.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Architecture · South Beach
Art Deco Historic District
Miami Beach's Art Deco district has hundreds of 1920s–1940s buildings, many restored in pastel colours, with porthole windows, neon signs and 'eyebrow' sunshades over the windows.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Photo spot
Gallery · Wynwood
Wynwood Walls
Opened in 2009, the Wynwood Walls is an outdoor gallery of large murals by international street artists, refreshed regularly, at the centre of a district where almost every warehouse wall is painted.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Photo spot
- Iconic
- Food
Palace · Coconut Grove
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Industrialist James Deering's Italian Renaissance-style winter villa, completed in 1916, sits on Biscayne Bay with formal gardens, a carved stone barge breakwater and rooms full of European antiques.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Couples
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Little Havana
Little Havana and Calle Ocho
Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street) is the spine of Little Havana: cigar shops with rollers at work, walk-up windows serving tiny cups of Cuban coffee and Máximo Gómez Park, where older men play dominoes.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- History
- Free
- After dark
Gallery · Downtown Miami
Pérez Art Museum Miami
PAMM, in a Herzog & de Meuron building on Biscayne Bay, shows modern and contemporary art with a focus on the Americas and the African diaspora.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Views
Where to stay
South Beach is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 9 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, beach and couples
South Beach
Art Deco hotels, Ocean Drive and Miami's busiest stretch of sand
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury, couples and beach
Mid-Beach
Grand resorts and a beachfront boardwalk north of South Beach
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, luxury and solo travellers
Brickell
Glass towers, rooftop bars and Miami's financial district
$$ · Best for families, culture and budget
Downtown Miami
Bayfront museums, the arena and the cruise port
What to eat
- Cuban sandwich — Roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard pressed on Cuban bread until crisp.
- Cafecito and colada — Cuban espresso brewed strong and whipped with sugar into a sweet foam.
- Croquetas — Small fried rolls of creamy béchamel mixed with ham, chicken or fish, eaten with morning coffee and ordered by the dozen for parties.
- Pastelitos — Flaky puff-pastry turnovers filled with guava, guava and cream cheese, or seasoned ground beef, eaten for breakfast or as a snack with a cafecito.
- Frita cubana — A Cuban-style burger of seasoned beef mixed with chorizo on a soft roll, topped with a pile of crispy shoestring potatoes.
- Stone crab claws — Florida stone crab claws are served chilled and cracked with a tangy mustard sauce.
When to go
The best time to visit Miami is December to April, when days are warm and dry, the sea is pleasant and humidity is low — though this is also the most expensive and crowded season. May and November are good shoulder months. June to October is hot, humid and stormy and overlaps the hurricane season, which peaks from August to October; prices are lowest then, but plans need flexibility.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | December–February | Dry, sunny and warm with low humidity: peak season for beaches and events such as Art Basel, with the highest prices. |
| Spring | March–May | Hot sunny days and warm sea, with spring break and festival crowds in March and the rainy season starting by late May. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, humid and stormy, with afternoon downpours, hurricane season under way and the lowest hotel rates. |
| Autumn | September–November | Peak hurricane risk in September and early October, then drier, fresher weather and the return of high season by late November. |
Getting there and around
Miami International (MIA) is about 13 km west of Downtown. Metrorail's Orange Line runs from the airport station to Downtown in about 15 minutes, and an express bus crosses to Miami Beach. Taxis and rideshares take 20–40 minutes to Miami Beach depending on traffic. Fort Lauderdale (FLL), about 45 km north, is a busy alternative airport.
Miami's sights are spread between Miami Beach and the mainland, linked by causeways across Biscayne Bay. The free Metromover and trolleys cover Downtown, Brickell and parts of Miami Beach, Metrorail runs to the airport and Coconut Grove, and rideshare fills the gaps.
Plan your days
Three days covers South Beach and the Art Deco District, Little Havana, Wynwood and a beach day. Five days adds Vizcaya, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne and a day trip to the Everglades or the Florida Keys.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English and Spanish
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many visitors prefer it filtered or chilled.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tip about 18–22% at restaurants unless a service charge has already been added (common on Miami Beach), a dollar or two per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and rideshares, and a few dollars per bag for porters and valets.
Watch the beach flags and swim near lifeguards, as rip currents and jellyfish are common hazards. Protect yourself from heat and strong sun, and follow National Hurricane Center forecasts from June to November. Petty theft from beach bags and cars happens, and Ocean Drive's touts and inflated menus are best avoided.
Flights to Miami
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Miami?
Three days covers South Beach and the Art Deco District, Little Havana, Wynwood and a beach day. Five days adds Vizcaya, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne and a day trip to the Everglades or the Florida Keys. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Miami?
The best time to visit Miami is December to April, when days are warm and dry, the sea is pleasant and humidity is low — though this is also the most expensive and crowded season. May and November are good shoulder months. June to October is hot, humid and stormy and overlaps the hurricane season, which peaks from August to October; prices are lowest then, but plans need flexibility.
+What is Miami known for?
South Beach, Art Deco architecture, Cuban food, Little Havana, Wynwood Walls, Nightlife and Art Basel. South Beach's historic district has hundreds of restored Art Deco and Mediterranean Revival buildings in pastel colours along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue.
+Is Miami expensive?
Miami is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $230–$400 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Miami?
Not for South Beach, Downtown and Brickell, where walking, free trolleys, Metromover and rideshare work well. A car makes sense for the Everglades, the Florida Keys and for spreading your time across several neighbourhoods.