Where to stay · Miami · United States
Where to stay in Miami
9 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Phillip Pessar, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in South Beach. Art Deco hotels, Ocean Drive and Miami's busiest stretch of sand. Best alternatives — families: Mid-Beach; budget: Downtown Miami.
Key facts
- First visit
- South Beach
- Families
- Mid-Beach
- Budget
- Downtown Miami
- Nightlife
- South Beach
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | South Beach | Art Deco hotels, Ocean Drive and Miami's busiest stretch of sand |
| Families | Mid-Beach | Grand resorts and a beachfront boardwalk north of South Beach |
| Couples | South Beach | Art Deco hotels, Ocean Drive and Miami's busiest stretch of sand |
| Budget | Downtown Miami | Bayfront museums, the arena and the cruise port |
| Luxury | Mid-Beach | Grand resorts and a beachfront boardwalk north of South Beach |
| Nightlife | South Beach | Art Deco hotels, Ocean Drive and Miami's busiest stretch of sand |
| Food lovers | Brickell | Glass towers, rooftop bars and Miami's financial district |
| Solo travellers | Brickell | Glass towers, rooftop bars and Miami's financial district |
| Shopping | Wynwood and the Design District | Street art, breweries and luxury design stores north of Downtown |
| Quiet stays | Coconut Grove | Bayfront parks, banyan-shaded streets and sailing marinas |
| Beach | South Beach | Art Deco hotels, Ocean Drive and Miami's busiest stretch of sand |
Miami neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, beach and couples
South Beach
South Beach, the southern end of Miami Beach, holds the Art Deco Historic District along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, the beach at Lummus Park, the pedestrian Lincoln Road and the quieter South of Fifth area around South Pointe Park. Hotels range from restored 1930s boutiques to large resorts, and it is the centre of the city's nightlife.
- Good
- Beach, Art Deco and nightlife on the doorstep; Walkable, with free trolleys; Wide choice of hotels
- Watch out
- Ocean Drive restaurants are overpriced and pushy; Noisy at night and packed during spring break; Resort and parking fees add up
- Nearby
- Ocean Drive, Lummus Park, Lincoln Road, South Pointe Park
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury, couples and beach
Mid-Beach
Between roughly 23rd and 63rd Streets, Mid-Beach has big resorts such as the Fontainebleau and the Faena, the Miami Beach Boardwalk along the dunes and calmer beaches than South Beach. Buses along Collins Avenue reach South Beach in about 15–30 minutes.
- Good
- Wider, calmer beaches; Resort pools and spas; Short ride to South Beach
- Watch out
- Spread out along Collins Avenue; Few independent restaurants within walking distance
- Nearby
- Fontainebleau, Miami Beach Boardwalk, Faena District, Indian Creek
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, luxury and solo travellers
Brickell
Brickell, just south of Downtown on Biscayne Bay, is a district of high-rise apartments, business hotels, the Brickell City Centre mall and a dense spread of restaurants and rooftop bars. The free Metromover loops through it and connects with Metrorail to the airport.
- Good
- Restaurants and bars within walking distance; Free Metromover and Metrorail to the airport; Modern hotels with bay views
- Watch out
- No beach; 20–30 minutes by car to Miami Beach; Heavy rush-hour traffic
- Nearby
- Brickell City Centre, Mary Brickell Village, Brickell Key, Bayfront Park
$$ · Best for families, culture and budget
Downtown Miami
Downtown has Bayside Marketplace, Bayfront Park, the Kaseya Center arena and Museum Park, home to PAMM and the Frost Science museum. The Port of Miami's cruise terminals are just across the water, so many cruise passengers stay here, and the free Metromover connects Downtown with Brickell and the Omni area.
- Good
- Museums and bayfront parks within walking distance; Close to the cruise port; Good transit links
- Watch out
- Patchy and quiet at night in places; Some streets feel rough after dark
- Nearby
- Pérez Art Museum Miami, Frost Science Museum, Bayside Marketplace, Port of Miami
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, shopping and culture
Wynwood and the Design District
Wynwood's former warehouses are covered in murals, with the Wynwood Walls at the centre and breweries, galleries and restaurants around NW 2nd Avenue. A few minutes north, the Design District mixes luxury fashion boutiques with public art and contemporary architecture. Hotels are few but growing in number.
- Good
- Street art on every block; Breweries, bars and restaurants; Close to the Design District's shops
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Crowded and loud on weekend nights; A car or rideshare is needed for the beach
- Nearby
- Wynwood Walls, Miami Design District, Midtown Miami, ICA Miami
$ · Best for culture, food lovers and budget
Little Havana
Little Havana, west of Downtown, is the historic centre of Miami's Cuban community. Along SW 8th Street (Calle Ocho) you'll find walk-up coffee windows, cigar rollers, the domino tables of Máximo Gómez Park and live music at bars such as Ball & Chain, and the monthly Viernes Culturales street festival keeps the culture on show.
- Good
- Cuban food and live music; Lower accommodation prices; Strong cultural identity
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Far from the beach; Quiet side streets at night
- Nearby
- Calle Ocho, Máximo Gómez Park, Ball & Chain, Tower Theater
$$$ · Best for couples, families and quiet stays
Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove, one of Miami's oldest neighbourhoods, has a leafy village feel, with banyan trees, sidewalk cafés around CocoWalk, the Barnacle Historic State Park and marinas on Biscayne Bay. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is just to the north, and Metrorail runs to Downtown and the airport.
- Good
- Green, relaxed and walkable; Close to Vizcaya; Metrorail access
- Watch out
- No ocean beach; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, The Barnacle, CocoWalk, Peacock Park
$$$ · Best for couples, families, quiet stays and luxury
Coral Gables
Planned in the 1920s by George Merrick, Coral Gables has Mediterranean Revival architecture, banyan-lined avenues, the historic Biltmore Hotel, the Venetian Pool and the shops and restaurants of Miracle Mile. It is calm, upscale and close to the airport and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
- Good
- Elegant, quiet streets; Good restaurants; Close to the airport
- Watch out
- A drive from the beaches; Little nightlife
- Nearby
- Biltmore Hotel, Venetian Pool, Miracle Mile, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
$$$ · Best for families, beach and quiet stays
Key Biscayne
Across the Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne is a quiet island of residential streets and two big beach parks: Crandon Park, with calm water and a nature centre, and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, with its 1825 lighthouse. A handful of resorts make it a peaceful base, though it is a drive from the city's sights.
- Good
- Calm, family-friendly beaches; Quiet and green; Easy cycling
- Watch out
- Few hotels and restaurants; Causeway traffic at weekends
- Nearby
- Crandon Park, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Virginia Key, Rickenbacker Causeway
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| South Beach | $$$$ | Ocean Drive, Lummus Park, Lincoln Road, South Pointe Park |
| Mid-Beach | $$$$ | Fontainebleau, Miami Beach Boardwalk, Faena District, Indian Creek |
| Brickell | $$$ | Brickell City Centre, Mary Brickell Village, Brickell Key, Bayfront Park |
| Downtown Miami | $$ | Pérez Art Museum Miami, Frost Science Museum, Bayside Marketplace, Port of Miami |
| Wynwood and the Design District | $$$ | Wynwood Walls, Miami Design District, Midtown Miami, ICA Miami |
| Little Havana | $ | Calle Ocho, Máximo Gómez Park, Ball & Chain, Tower Theater |
| Coconut Grove | $$$ | Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, The Barnacle, CocoWalk, Peacock Park |
| Coral Gables | $$$ | Biltmore Hotel, Venetian Pool, Miracle Mile, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden |
| Key Biscayne | $$$ | Crandon Park, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Virginia Key, Rickenbacker Causeway |
Getting to your hotel
Miami International (MIA) is about 13 km west of Downtown. Metrorail's Orange Line runs from the airport station to Downtown in about 15 minutes, and an express bus crosses to Miami Beach. Taxis and rideshares take 20–40 minutes to Miami Beach depending on traffic. Fort Lauderdale (FLL), about 45 km north, is a busy alternative airport.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Miami for first-time visitors?
South Beach. South Beach, the southern end of Miami Beach, holds the Art Deco Historic District along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, the beach at Lummus Park, the pedestrian Lincoln Road and the quieter South of Fifth area around South Pointe Park.
+Where should families stay in Miami?
Mid-Beach: Wider, calmer beaches.
+Which area of Miami is best for a budget stay?
Downtown Miami ($$): Bayfront museums, the arena and the cruise port.