History · Miami · United States
7 historic sites to see in Miami
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alexf, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Art Deco Historic District, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and Little Havana and Calle Ocho. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 13–17 hours across 6 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 13–17 hours
- Areas
- South Beach, Coconut Grove and Little Havana
Historic sites in Miami
Architecture · South Beach
1.Art Deco Historic District
The Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive runs guided walking tours.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Photo spot
Palace · Coconut Grove
2.Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
It is one of the most atmospheric places in Miami for a slow morning.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Couples
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Little Havana
3.Little Havana and Calle Ocho
Live salsa plays in the evenings at bars such as Ball & Chain.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- History
- Free
- After dark
Park · Key Biscayne
4.Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
From the seawall you can see the Stiltsville houses standing in the bay.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- History
- Views
- Kids
- Nature
Historic site · Coral Gables
5.Venetian Pool
It is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Homestead
6.Coral Castle
Built single-handedly over more than two decades by Latvian immigrant Edward Leedskalnin, Coral Castle is a garden of carved limestone blocks, some weighing several tonnes, in Homestead about 45 km south of Downtown.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
Historic site · South Beach
7.Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
Entry is free.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| South Beach | Art Deco Historic District and Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach | 2 hours + 45 minutes |
| Coconut Grove | Vizcaya Museum and Gardens | 2–3 hours |
| Little Havana | Little Havana and Calle Ocho | 2–3 hours |
| Key Biscayne | Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park | Half a day |
| Coral Gables | Venetian Pool | 2–3 hours |
| Homestead | Coral Castle | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 3 free, 3 low cost, 1 mid-priced. Book ahead for Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and Venetian Pool. The longest visit is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Vizcaya Museum and Gardens: Timed tickets are sold online and weekends can sell out; book ahead.
- Venetian Pool: Entry is capped; reserve online in advance for summer and weekends.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (South Beach): Art Deco Historic District → Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Coconut Grove): Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Little Havana): Little Havana and Calle Ocho, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Key Biscayne): Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Coral Gables and Homestead): Venetian Pool → Coral Castle, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- September: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 18 rainy days, quiet crowds. The height of hurricane season and one of the wettest, stickiest months; prices are low, but keep plans flexible and consider travel insurance.
- October: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 13 rainy days, moderate crowds. Still hot, with hurricane risk early in the month, before drier, fresher air arrives; stone crab season usually opens mid-month.
- June: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 17 rainy days, moderate crowds. Hot and humid with almost daily afternoon thunderstorms; hurricane season officially begins on 1 June.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- South Beach — Art Deco hotels, Ocean Drive and Miami's busiest stretch of sand
- Little Havana — Calle Ocho, Cuban coffee windows and domino games
- Coconut Grove — Bayfront parks, banyan-shaded streets and sailing marinas
- Coral Gables — Mediterranean Revival streets, the Biltmore and the Venetian Pool
- Key Biscayne — Island beaches, a historic lighthouse and parkland across the causeway
More of Miami
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Miami?
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.
+Which of these are free in Miami?
Art Deco Historic District, Little Havana and Calle Ocho and Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach.