Outdoors · Miami · United States
6 best outdoor things to do in Miami
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with South Beach, Frost Science Museum and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 15–19 hours across 5 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 15–19 hours
- Areas
- South Beach, Downtown Miami and Key Biscayne
Outdoors in Miami
Beach · South Beach
1.South Beach
For a calmer stretch, walk south to South Pointe Park, where the pier looks out at cruise ships heading to sea.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Museum · Downtown Miami
2.Frost Science Museum
Look up through the giant oculus lens at the bottom of the aquarium to watch sharks and rays swim overhead.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Park · Key Biscayne
3.Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Ask at the park about guided lighthouse climbs, then rent a bike and ride the island's trails.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- History
- Views
- Kids
- Nature
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Garden · Coral Gables
4.Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Visit in the morning in warmer months and start with the tram tour to get your bearings.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Kids
Zoo · South Miami-Dade
5.Zoo Miami
Arrive at opening; the animals are more active and the afternoon heat is intense.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Park · South Beach
6.South Pointe Park
Come in the late afternoon, when cruise ships often depart and the light falls on the water.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| South Beach | South Beach and South Pointe Park | Half a day + 1 hour |
| Downtown Miami | Frost Science Museum | 3 hours |
| Key Biscayne | Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park | Half a day |
| Coral Gables | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden | 2–3 hours |
| South Miami-Dade | Zoo Miami | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 2 free, 1 low cost, 3 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is South Beach; group the rest by area to save travel time.
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): South Beach → South Pointe Park, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Downtown Miami): Frost Science Museum, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Key Biscayne): Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Coral Gables): Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 5 (South Miami-Dade): Zoo Miami, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- February: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 6 rainy days, very busy crowds. One of the best months for weather: dry, sunny and comfortable, with high hotel prices.
- January: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 7 rainy days, very busy crowds. Dry, sunny and warm, with occasional cool fronts; high season, so book hotels and restaurants early.
- March: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 6 rainy days, very busy crowds. Warm and sunny; spring break and big music events make South Beach very busy.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- South Beach — Art Deco hotels, Ocean Drive and Miami's busiest stretch of sand
- Downtown Miami — Bayfront museums, the arena and the cruise port
- 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?
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.
+Which of these are free in Miami?
South Beach and South Pointe Park.