Day 1
South Beach & Art Deco
Start with breakfast in South Beach, then take an Art Deco walking tour along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue. Spend the afternoon on the sand at South Pointe Park and stay for sunset and dinner in the neighbourhood.
Miami is where the United States tips into the tropics — a low, luminous city of pastel Art Deco, swaying palms and warm Atlantic surf. Cuban coffee, Latin beats and round-the-clock nightlife give it an energy unlike anywhere else in the country.
South Beach draws the crowds with its beaches and neon, but the real Miami spreads inland: murals in Wynwood, dominoes in Little Havana, galleries in the Design District. The Everglades and the Florida Keys sit within an easy drive, tropical wilderness on the city's doorstep.
Itinerary
Day 2
Wynwood, Design District & Little Havana
Spend the morning among the murals of Wynwood Walls, then browse the galleries and showrooms of the Design District. End the day on Calle Ocho in Little Havana with a café cubano and live music.
Day 3
Everglades day trip
Drive west to Everglades National Park for an airboat ride and a boardwalk walk among alligators and wading birds. Head back for a final Miami sunset over Biscayne Bay, perhaps from Vizcaya.
Highlights
🏘️Neighbourhood
Ocean Drive & Art Deco
A neon-lit parade of 1930s pastel Art Deco hotels facing the sand along South Beach. Stroll the strip at dusk, then cool off in the ocean just a block away.
✨Experience
Wynwood Walls
An open-air museum of giant murals by street artists from around the world, at the heart of Miami's warehouse arts district. Wander the surrounding blocks for galleries, craft breweries and taco joints.
🏘️Neighbourhood
Little Havana & Calle Ocho
The beating Cuban heart of Miami, where domino players, cigar rollers and salsa spill onto Calle Ocho. Sip a café cubano at Ball & Chain and watch the street come alive.
🌿Nature
Everglades National Park
A vast subtropical wetland of sawgrass, mangroves and alligators just an hour west of the city. Take an airboat ride or a boardwalk walk to spot herons, turtles and gators in the wild.
🏖️Beach
South Pointe Park
The southern tip of Miami Beach, where a breezy park, a fishing pier and pale sand meet the turquoise water. Watch cruise ships glide out to sea as the sun drops behind the skyline.
🏛️Landmark
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
An Italianate villa of 1916 set among formal gardens with a limestone barge on Biscayne Bay. Wander the frescoed rooms and manicured terraces for a taste of Miami's Gilded Age.
Neighbourhoods
South Beach
The glamorous barrier island of Art Deco hotels, wide beaches and buzzing Ocean Drive. Best for first-timers who want sand, nightlife and people-watching in one place.
Wynwood
A former warehouse district turned open-air gallery, splashed with murals and lined with breweries, cafés and boutiques. The place for street art, craft beer and a young creative crowd.
Little Havana
The Cuban and Latin American heart of the city, centred on lively Calle Ocho. Come for café cubano, cigar shops, domino parks and live salsa.
Design District
A polished quarter of luxury boutiques, public art and design showrooms north of downtown. Best for high-end shopping, sculpture-spotting and stylish dining.
Where to eat
Cuban sandwich
Roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard pressed into crisp Cuban bread. A Miami institution — grab one at a ventanita counter with a coffee.
Café cubano
A tiny, intensely sweet shot of espresso, the fuel of the whole city. Order a colada to share at a walk-up window, or a cortadito with steamed milk.
Stone crab
Sweet, meaty claws harvested in season (October to May) and served chilled with mustard sauce. A Miami Beach classic, best eaten at an old-school seafood house.
Ceviche
Fresh fish or shrimp 'cooked' in lime juice with onion, chilli and coriander, a nod to the city's Latin American soul. Cool, zingy and perfect in the heat.
Good to know
Best time to visit
Winter and spring (November–April) are the sweet spot: warm, dry and sunny, ideal for the beach. Summer is hot, humid and stormy with a hurricane-season risk from June to November, though hotel prices drop.
Getting around
Miami is spread out and built for cars, so many visitors rent one, especially for the Everglades or the Keys. In the tourist core, the free Metromover loops around downtown, the Miami Beach Trolley is free, and rideshares fill the gaps.
- Currency
- USD $
- Languages
- English
How much does Miami cost?
A realistic daily budget per person, in three styles.
Backpacker$70per person / day
Mid-range$150per person / day
Comfort$300per person / day
Miami can be expensive, but there are options for every budget.
Local tips
- ✓Winter is peak season — book beach hotels and stone-crab tables well ahead.
- ✓Rent a car if you want the Everglades or the Keys; parking in South Beach is pricey, so use garages.
- ✓Carry a light layer — restaurants and shops crank the air conditioning to arctic levels.
