5 Best things to do in Miami + useful travel tips

Miami is a trendy city known for its vibrant nightlife, beautiful white-sand beaches and tropical atmosphere. You can take some amazing day trips from Miami, but the city itself is also a great place to spend a few days. Miami is relatively easy to reach from Europe, with direct flights available from several major European cities, including Amsterdam.

We didn't spend a huge amount of time in Miami ourselves because we were travelling onwards, but we had enough time to visit several of the city's highlights. In this guide, you'll find our favourite things to do in Miami, along with some useful tips for planning your trip.

How many days do you need in Miami?

We recommend spending around two to three days in Miami itself. This gives you enough time to explore Miami Beach, walk along Ocean Drive and through the Art Deco District, and spend some time relaxing on South Beach. If you also want to take a day trip to Everglades National Park, three to four days would be even better. Miami is also a great destination to combine with a longer road trip through Florida or a cruise departing from PortMiami.

What is the best time to visit Miami?

Miami is a year-round destination thanks to its warm climate, but generally, the most pleasant time to visit is during the winter and spring months. From around November to April, temperatures tend to be comfortable and there's less rain and humidity than during summer. The downside is that this is also a popular period to visit Miami, so accommodation can be more expensive. From June onwards, Miami becomes hotter and more humid, with a greater chance of rain and thunderstorms. Hurricane season also runs through part of the warmer months, so keep this in mind when planning a trip during summer or early autumn.

Where to stay in Miami

Where you should stay in Miami depends on what you want to do during your trip. If you mainly want to visit the beach, Ocean Drive and the Art Deco District, Miami Beach is probably the most convenient option. South Beach in particular puts you within walking distance of many of Miami's most famous sights. If you're more interested in exploring the city itself, Downtown Miami or Brickell can be good alternatives. They're also conveniently located if you're planning to leave on a cruise from PortMiami. For a first visit with a focus on the classic Miami experience, we'd personally choose Miami Beach.

Do you need a car in Miami?

If you're mainly staying around South Beach, you don't necessarily need a rental car. Many places are within walking distance, and Miami Beach also has public transport, bikes and free trolley services. For longer distances, taxis and ride-hailing services are an easy alternative. However, if you're planning to visit the Everglades independently or continue your trip through Florida, having a rental car is very convenient. Keep in mind that parking in and around Miami Beach can be expensive, so check the parking options at your accommodation before renting a car.

What are the best things to do in Miami?

There are plenty of things to see and do in Miami, even if you only have a few days. These were some of our favourite places and activities during our visit.

Walk along Ocean Drive and explore the Art Deco District

One of the best things to do in Miami is taking a walk along Ocean Drive. This famous street runs through the southern part of Miami Beach and is one of the liveliest places in the city. You'll see people exercising, walking along the boulevard and, of course, plenty of luxury cars cruising past.

Ocean Drive is also right in the heart of Miami Beach's famous Art Deco District. The area is filled with hundreds of historic buildings, many dating back to the 1920s and 1930s.

The pastel-coloured façades, palm trees and classic architecture make this one of the most photogenic parts of Miami. Take your time walking around the area, because the Art Deco buildings are one of the things that make South Beach so unique.

Have lunch at Casa Casuarina, the former Versace mansion

The former home of Gianni Versace is one of the most iconic places to visit along Ocean Drive. The famous fashion designer lived at Casa Casuarina and was tragically murdered outside his home in 1997. Today, the villa has been transformed into a luxury boutique hotel and restaurant.

The beautiful courtyard and swimming pool now provide the setting for a rather unique lunch experience. Everything about the property still has that extravagant, luxurious style you'd associate with Versace.

We opted for a three-course lunch and everything tasted delicious.

It's definitely a special place to add to your Miami itinerary, especially since you can easily combine lunch here with Ocean Drive, the Art Deco District and South Beach.

Relax on South Beach

Of course, you can't visit Miami without spending some time on South Beach! South Beach, often called SoBe, is located in the southern part of Miami Beach, right next to Ocean Drive and the Art Deco District. It's one of Miami's most famous beaches and is known for its long, wide stretch of sand, turquoise water and colourful lifeguard towers. Those lifeguard towers are scattered along the beach in all kinds of colours and designs and are perfect for taking some classic Miami photos.

Besides taking pictures, you can obviously spend a few hours swimming, sunbathing and simply enjoying the beach. It's the perfect place for a relaxing afternoon after exploring the city.

Look for alligators in Everglades National Park

Around an hour's drive from Miami, you'll find the incredible Everglades. You can drive there yourself or book one of the many organised day trips departing from Miami.

One of the most famous ways to explore this unique landscape is by airboat. There are currently three authorised airboat operators within Everglades National Park along the Tamiami Trail. We went on a typical airboat ride through the Everglades in search of alligators. During the first part of the ride, the boat travels at quite a high speed across the water before slowing down once you reach the quieter areas. Bringing earplugs isn't a bad idea, because those airboat engines are incredibly loud!

Once you slow down, the guide tells you more about the nature and wildlife of the Everglades while keeping an eye out for alligators. We eventually spotted two alligators, which made the experience even more special.

If you have an extra day in Miami, we'd definitely recommend adding the Everglades to your itinerary.

Combine Miami with a cruise

Miami isn't called the “Cruise Capital of the World” for nothing. PortMiami is one of the world's leading cruise ports, with itineraries sailing towards destinations throughout the Caribbean, Mexico and beyond. Combining your stay in Miami with a cruise is therefore a great option, especially if you're already travelling all the way to Florida.

Shorter cruises to destinations such as the Bahamas can sometimes be surprisingly affordable, and cruising is an easy and relaxing way to visit several destinations during the same trip.

We think Miami works particularly well as the starting point or final stop of a cruise: spend a few days exploring the city and South Beach, visit the Everglades and then board your ship for the next part of your trip.