Miami Itinerary! A Comprehensive Guide For This Amazing City

Miami is such a gem of a destination, with the art deco style, tons of beautiful people, lively Latin vibe, and stunning white-sand beaches, this is one of the must-visits of this country. Yes, it’s possible to just party your nights away here and sleep during the day in extremely overpriced hotels but I promise you that there is a ton of other things you can do there instead. Having visited this place for multiple weekend getaways, bachelorette parties, and my birthday, I bring you the best Miami itinerary options for this amazing destination!

The guide works like this, first, you’ll get all the logistics for your travels, then a description of things to do, and finally some awesome downloadable Miami itineraries at the bottom of the page. Whether you have 1 day in Miami or a week, this Miami travel guide brings you all you need to know. This is a comprehensive full guide on things to do in Miami, however, if you’re planning a specific Miami girl’s weekend, I recommend checking out that post instead!

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. They will not make anything more expensive for you but rather provide a small commission for me should you choose to book it via the link I provide. 🙂

Let’s get to the logistics of traveling to Miami

Where and how long to stay

There are a lot of different interesting Miami neighborhoods but if you’re planning to stay at the beach, drink, and soak in Miami you should stay in South or even Mid-Beach. South Beach is a little more lively and upbeat but Mid-Beach has a lot of nice beachfront hotels. I would choose to stay in those two areas as they’re the closest to all the major things. Don’t forget that Miami has some of the poorest areas in the States, something very easily omitted when you’re just staying in the glamorous parts.

In terms of your length of stay, a weekend in Miami can get pretty pricey especially when you want to eat at the best spots and have the best time. Know that $15 cocktails are the norm, hotels are super expensive, and eating out adds up faster than you think. However, planning correctly, saving where necessary, and not choosing the biggest traps will allow you to have a good time there. I recommend doing anywhere from 3 to 5 days for a sweet spot of relaxing but also exploring the area.

How to navigate Miami

Flights to South Florida are super convenient with Miami Airport being a short 20-minute drive away. Another option, that offers more flight times for some people, especially those living in New Jersey, is taking a flight to Fort Lauderdale instead. It’s a 40-minute drive without traffic and will cost you a $40 one-way Uber ride. It’s a good option but with frequent traffic jams, plan ahead for getting to. If you have or are renting a car, an even better option is landing in West Palm beach. Although it’s the furthest away, I noticed that flight prices can be a third of what you’ll pay flying directly into Miami.

A lot of South Beach is walkable but it can get pretty tiring trying to cover all the ground on foot in the extreme heat. During my last visit, I did the newer Miami Citi Bike option and it was the best thing to happen to the city. I was able to get from point A to point B within a short amount of time while at the same time, loving my bike ride. There were so many parking stations that made that option a more convenient way of getting around. Ubers and Lyfts are also available for longer distances but that quickly adds up. Lastly, I have never used the bus system there but there are a public MetroBus and a free trolley.

Remember, Miami isn’t just South Beach and you’ll want to venture out to other neighborhoods so you will most likely get stuck with a ride-share for getting there. My favorite thing about the shared ride services there is how many awesome drivers are. I’ve learned so much about the area just from talking to them. Renting a car is possible but parking can be crazy expensive, especially with most hotels charging $40 a night to use their lots.

People

Let’s just say that knowing Spanish will come in handy while in Miami. For someone like myself who loves to practice it, sometimes it doesn’t feel like you’re in the states when you’re walking around. People are friendly and the majority of the locals you encounter will work in the hospitality industry so it’s always nice to spark a good convo. There are a lot of foreigners and tourists all over the place too.

Safety in Miami

Is Miami Safe? Just like any major city, Miami has its drug, homelessness, and crime problems. But as a tourist staying in a South Beach area, you’re just as likely to experience crime as you are in a comparable city. Walking around a night you’ll just be surrounded by late-night drunks. Keep your head up for petty crime but don’t feel alarmed all the time either.

Food

There are SO many food options in this town that if you end up having a bad meal, that’s your own fault. Your Miami itinerary needs to consist of good meals! From small hole-in-the-wall establishments to high-end dining, you are bound to find something you like. From trying numerous dining options in the city, my absolute favorite is Pane Vino near Española Way. It’s a small Italian restaurant with the best food in the entire town. They make their own pasta on the spot, the staff is mostly from Italy and they have a nice selection of wine and beers too. It truly makes you feel like you’re really in Italy. It’s certainly one of my top things to do in Miami.

Hotels/Hostels

If it didn’t hit you how expensive Miami is, it will when you’re booking a hotel. The per-night rates at the hotels you want to stay at are simply ridiculous and don’t be surprised when you get hit with a $40 resort fee per night too. Are the hotels nice? Yes but sometimes you wonder if it’s all worth it. Airbnbs can be good options but you won’t get the same amenities. To mention a couple of the ones I personally stayed at:

• Redbury – didn’t love it, rooms were nice but the amenities were shit, and the SLS beach access what a total joke because they treated you horribly.
• Pestana – loved it, super clean and the staff was super nice, not beachfront though.
• The Franklin – an apartment-like property, good for a group of friends.
• Generator Hostel is my absolute favorite budget pick for the area. You can easily rent a whole room to yourselves with the ladies.
• Marseilles – trendy backyard, beachfront but most people using their space aren’t staying at their hotel.

There are also hostels in South Beach with reviews ranging from horrible to awesome. I never stayed at the crazy party ones and with the reputations that they have, I only recommend them if you’re looking for a weekend of complete debauchery. As I mentioned above, an amazing pick in the city is the new Generator Hostel which is a European chain that I also stayed at in Paris and Stockholm. Although located a little further uptown, I loved the traditional hostel feel, outdoor lounge space, and pool. The staff was super friendly and there was a nice hostel vibe going on too. There are private rooms on the property too if you’re not into sharing a room anymore. Weekday rooms start at a little over $20 a bed which for those amenities is incredible in Miami.

Booking.com

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Perfect Things To Do in Miami

If you’ve never been to Miami, I recommend starting with the top items on my list and working your way down. While I wouldn’t keep on returning to a lot of these top places, I think you should experience them at least once in your life.

South Beach – Ocean Drive

At some point in your life, you probably came across images of “narcos-style” Miami with art-deco buildings, neon lights, palm trees, and exotic cars. Well, that was most likely a part of Ocean Drive. If I could travel back in time, this is the area I would visit.

As the name suggests, it’s a road located next to the ocean with a stretch of colorful pastel buildings. There are a couple of historical landmarks on it including the most known one, the Versace Mansion, now a restaurant and a hotel. Other buildings known for their design include Colony Hotel, Park Central Hotel, the famous Breakwater, The Carlyle, Cardozo, or The Tides.

However, unless you’re an enthusiast of architecture, chances are you’ll just pass right them and head to the more obnoxious part of Ocean Drive which includes day-party bars, drag shows, huge overpriced drinks, and an overall obnoxious party scene.

Ocean Drive can be a mess, especially at night, but it’s certainly worth taking a stroll during the day and then once more during the night. My personal favorite evening activity throughout the years remains Mango’s, a dinner show spot that turns into a dancing atmosphere at night. Another spot I like for drinks on that road is Havana 1957, my favorite spot to sit and people-watch. A nice pause for your day in Miami exploring.

Lummus Park Beach

This should technically be a subsection of Ocean Drive as these two are super closer neighbors. It’s also the home of Calisthenic Park which is a free outdoor gym full of super-fit humans working out. After you’re done admiring the beautiful people, put on your swimsuit and head over to the public beach. During the summer the water is amazing and there is nothing better than spending a day on the beach in Miami. Although you’re not allowed to legally drink on the beach, this rule doesn’t seem strictly enforced so don’t forget to back a cold 6 pack.

Beach Boardwalk, Towers and South Pointe Park

In addition to the beach I mentioned above, all of South Beach borders a beach 🙂 There is a relaxing boardwalk stretching along with it. It’s not a boardwalk that you’ll find in Jersey though, it’s designed for strolling or bike riding which I HIGHLY recommend there.

In addition to beautiful beaches, note the Miami lifeguard towers. Most of them have vibrant colors and cool designs so a fun thing to do is to walk along the beach and take cool pictures with them.

If you take the boardwalk all the way down, you will reach South Point Park. Again, I really recommend biking this entire thing to see the most. This park has a long pier going out in the water from which you can admire some beautiful South Beach views as well as occasional ships passing by. If you end up getting on that bike as I keep on insisting, when you’re done with the pier, keep on biking down on the south side until you reach the Marina. Compared to the crowded main area, you won’t find many tourists strolling around there so you’ll get to admire the beautiful, multi-million dollar boats casually parked there.

A couple of known restaurants in that area are Smith and Wolensky Steakhouse, Monty’s Sunset, and Joe’s Stone Crab.

Collins Ave, Lincoln Road and Española Way

Let me just put the three cousins here and give you the gist of what each is. You should take a stroll on each of these on your Miami itinerary:

• Collins Ave: Runs parallel to Ocean Drive. It has a bunch of hotels and shops but it’s not necessarily the most appealing to me. Some stretches of it have hotel bars so it’s nice to enjoy a cocktail inside them. Some big hotels like Fountainbleu, Confidant, 1 South Beach, SLS, Lowes and Dream are located on it. The insta-famous spot at Faena Hotel is also on this road.
• Lincoln Road Mall: It’s a shopping pedestrian street. It has some overpriced restaurants on it too and street performers at night. It’s a good street to shop on. I also like their Christmas decorations in the winter.
• Española Way: Located about 2 blocks down and running parallel to Lincoln Road, it’s a much smaller spot but probably the most charming of them. It’s full of restaurants and good bars. I would suggest eating here just to get the cute European vibe it gives.

Wynwood

Wynwood is a little bit out of the way from South Beach but it’s one of those gentrified neighborhoods you love to hate and can’t miss on your Miami itinerary. Don’t get me wrong, the graffiti is awesome but each year that I visit, more and more $20 cocktail places appear. Maybe I can’t appreciate the cultural level of some of the galleries there but come on, some of it has to be a joke right?

Anyway, get a burger at Kush, a taco at The Taco Stand, a brew at Wynwood Brewing Company, a mojito at Mojito Company, a spritz at Astra Rooftop, a sugary slice of cake at Fireman Derek’s, and of course, do not forget to check out the Wynwood Walls.

Oh and to party, check out El Patio, Dirty Rabbit, Wynwood Factory, Vandalo, Shots, and sometimes Wynwood Marketplace.

Little Havana

This is probably one of my favorite areas of Miami and should certainly make it to your Miami itinerary! Little Havana is located about 15 minutes south of Wynwood and it’s a Cuban gem. The main part you’ll explore is Calle Ocho. Yes, the Mr. World Worldwide Calle Ocho. The little stretch has all things Cuban: restaurants, cigar shops, little trinket shops, and of course Cuban people.

You can’t miss Domino Park, where cute older gentlemen play dominoes, Azucar for the famous guava ice cream, Versailles for famous Cuban diner dishes, Ball and Chain for mojitos and salsa, Cubaocho Museum for performances and amazing drinks, Little Havana Cigar Factory for purchasing some amazing local cigars, Guantanamera Cafe and Lounge for enjoying one in the true atmosphere of Calle Ocho.

For some activities you can do one of the following:

• Visit on the first Friday of the month for Viernes Cultures for an outdoor celebration of the area.
• A great company that gives awesome culinary tours is Miami Culinary Tours. I did a tour with them a couple of years back and in addition to tasting all the best places, I got to learn some cool local history. Although a bit pricey, I highly recommend them.
• It’s generally hard to find a free walking tour in Miami, something I always recommend if you read my other guides, and I haven’t found one for this area yet either. Viator has a bunch of paid options so if that’s something that interests you, check out what they offer.
• Every March there is also a huge Carnaval celebration.

Don’t forget to try croquetas, Cuban sandwiches, Ropa Vieja, Sweet Plantains, and of course, my beloved cafecito.

Bayside Marketplace

This is a pretty touristy place but I personally really enjoy its atmosphere. As the name suggests, it’s mostly occupied by shops but there are also many restaurants there that sell to-go drinks. My selling point of the place is that it’s on the water and that you can catch some locals dancing some mid-day salsa there. Another new addition to this place is the giant Ferris wheel that offers some awesome views of the area.

Brickell/Downtown

Brickell and Downtown are very different areas of Miami as they are the financial/business parts of town. It definitely has a more upscale vibe compared to the craziness of South Beach. They’re home to a lot of good restaurants like La Mar, which I personally really like, or other popular spots like salt bae’s Nusr-et Steakhouse, a spot known for its stunning sunset views called Crazy About You, a laid back drinks spot Dolores but You Can Call Me Lolita, a known rooftop bar Sugar, or its only nightclub, El Tucan.

You can also find The Wharf, an outdoor drinking garden/dancing spot which is a super awesome bar in that area. One of my top picks.

There are many dinner options there, a lot of them being crazy expensive. My pick for that area is Casablanca Seafood Bar & Grill. It’s located on the river a little bit further out of the main zone. When you come at night and sit outside, you’ll catch those crazy party yachts parked right out. It might not be the fanciest spot in that area but the food is delicious, the views are unique and it doesn’t necessarily break the bank.

In terms of things to do in Brickell, you’re going there for the restaurant/night vibe. It’s not necessarily an area of heavy attraction options.

Vizcaya Museum & Garden

Right around the corner from Brickell, you can find the Vizcaya Mansion. It’s a stunning Renaissance Villa and gardens, formerly owned by a rich guy named James Deering. I’d personally visit that place again and again. Everything in that mansion screams old-school money. It’s a shame that you can’t bring a picnic basket there because it’d be the PERFECT place for one. However, they do host a bunch of little events throughout the year so check out what is coming up. Prepare to pay a $22 entrance fee too.

Miami Design District

To be honest with you, I have not visited this area yet despite being in Miami about a dozen times. I always put it off till my last day and then I end up drinking a cocktail on the beach instead. So, please check it out and let me know if it’s worth the hype 🙂

So this fairly new area is a spot for luxury shopping but more importantly some cool outdoor art. Its innovative and unique pieces stand out from the traditional art-deco vibe you’ll find in South Beach. Check out their page for the latest installations.

Perez Art Museum

Ok I am only listing it here for the outdoor space and sculpture garden and I only recommend visiting it if 1) you’re interested in the current exhibition or 2) you’re in the downtown area and you saw everything else. Maybe I’m an uncultured swine or got spoiled by my New York museums like MET or MOMA but for a $16 entrance, there was nothing I particularly enjoyed there. What I did love, however, is their outdoor space and views of the port. I walked around the actually not-awful gift shop, bought a nice cup of coffee, and spent some time on the cool swings outside.

Speaking of the outdoors, if you end up visiting (or skipping) the museum, take a stroll in the park next door called Maurice A. Ferré Park, where you can catch the giant cruise ships making u-turns in the port.

Day Party

It’s Miami. Chances are you didn’t come here just to lay on the beach. You probably came here to party too. If you’re staying at a beachfront hotel, follow the music. If you’d like to brunch on a beach, check out Nikki Beach restaurant. On the weekends, just walk down on Ocean and you will find a bunch of party options. Hotel day parties are popular too but they can get pricey if you have guys in your group. Fun fact, if you’re a girl you can pretty much party for free in Miami.

On Sundays stop at Broken Shaker for some good cocktails, The Palace for a drag brunch, salsa at Ball and Chain, or a drunk brunch at El Patio.

Boat Parties: Another must-do, if you’re partying in Miami, is a boat party. If you have a large group of people, rent one easily on this website which is what I did. If you’re in a smaller group then just find one on the major event websites for a fair fee. There is nothing better than Miami buildings as your backdrop while sipping a cold cocktail on a boat.

Night Party

Miami is known for its nightlife. You can go bar hopping but prepare to drop at least $15 a drink. A cool place is Bodega, a hidden club in the bathroom. Although this place used to be my go-to for taco and dancing, it’s becoming a little too hyped up but it’s still worth visiting at least once.

Clubs are abundant throughout the city and parties start after midnight. If you have a group of girls, search insta for #miamipromoter and get free bottle service for the whole night at a selected club. Don’t be offended if the promoter asks you for pictures of your group. It’s a shallow technique used to fill up clubs with good-looking girls. As long as you’re put together and dressed to impress you should be fine.

The biggest clubs include Story, Liv, or Space at which you can find a DJ lineup almost every weekend. There is a ton of little ones too where promoters will take you to and in my experience, those end up being even more fun due to a smaller crowd. Guys, you will need to pay a good chunk to have a good night 🙂 A fun place to check out is E11even, it’s truly life-changing 😉

Couple of other recommendations for your Miami itinerary:

Note some other interesting things in Miami if you’ve explored everything else above.

• Key Biscayne: The next key after the Virginia key, if you can’t make the full Key West drive, check this area out for Crandon Park and Cape Florida Lighthouse. This is also where you will find the beautiful sunset restaurant, Rusty Pelican.
• Everglades Tour: If you want an airboat ride in the middle of the swamp with some big crocodiles, there is a ton of tours offered with many including transport from your hotel.
• Celebrity Home Cruise: If you care about things like looking a the homes of the rich and famous, there is a bunch of tours running from Bayside Marketplace that can take you on this cruise of invasion of privacy. A simple google search will return at least a dozen companies doing this tour.
• Unique experiences: I like to see cities through activities like Food Tours, Walking Tours, or even kayaking tours. To find cool things to do in a city, always check out Airbnb experiences in which locals post cool things you can do in the area.

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Perfect Miami Itinerary: FREE Downloadable Guides for your trip

You can easily spend at least a week in Miami but unless you have a large budget, plan for a more realistic three-day trip. If you’re also planning to take a trip to the keys, make sure to check out my Key West guide.

Perfect 1 Day in Miami

Seeing the highlights of Miami is doable in one day but it’s certainly not enough to relax and fully enjoy it. However, if that’s all that you got, download the Miami 1-day itinerary below. You will start exploring Ocean Drive and then head to an option of two different areas of town. For dinner, you will return to South Beach and have dinner in a lively atmosphere.

Perfect Two Days in Miami

My Miami 2-day itinerary option is a little more doable. On your first day, you will explore the popular Ocean Drive and then head to Wynwood. You will be ending your night back in the world-famous Miami Beach. For your second day, you will enjoy a nice breakfast, followed by a cultural experience and live music in Little Havana, and ending your day in the Brickell area.

Perfect Three Days in Miami

My favorite is the Miami 3-day itinerary option for this city. You get to soak in the atmosphere, see the main highlights and have some time to party. Your first two days will be very similar to the two-day itinerary above. On your third day, you will first enjoy a nice Miami brunch. Then you’ll head to an activity based on your preferences. You will end your end at a dinner with a sunset view of Miami.

¡Viajar a Miami!

Here is a map and some additional recommendations:

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