There is a TON of things to do and see in Miami and I’m telling you right now you definitely won’t be able to do it all. I’ve rounded up some of my favourite things I did while in Miami along with some of the things I wish I had the time for!
Miami is huge so there is definitely a lot of driving involved. Depending on all the different places you want to go it may make the most sense to rent a car for your stay. We opted to uber everywhere because our stay in Miami was broken up and most of the things we wanted to see were in Miami Beach. We were actually in Miami to board a cruise ship and decided to stay 2 nights in Miami at the beginning of the trip and 1 night in Miami at the end of the trip.
Wynwood Walls
Wynwood Walls is easily one of the most popular destinations in Miami. Wynwood is home to some of the most incredible graffiti and street art in the world! The Wynwood Walls cover over 80,000 square feet and approximately 50 artists from 16 different countries have been involved in making the exhibit what it is today.
Pro Tip: Make sure to come early – I suggest showing up right when it opens as it can get pretty crowded. We actually showed up about 30 minutes before it opened and just walked around the Wynwood district admiring all of the art.
Beach
Heading to the beach is one of my favourite things to do when exploring a new place. I’m pretty sure I was made for beach life and can easily spend an entire day swimming and soaking up the sun. If you chose to hit the beach anywhere between 15th and 21st street you are going to be surrounded by tons of beach chairs and hotel guests – a lot of the hotels have direct beach access and share their beach access with some of the other hotels in Miami Beach. The beach between 5th and 15th street is probably the most popular as it is walking distance to tons of restaurants and bars.
Ocean Drive
Ocean Drive is one of the most iconic streets in Miami and is lined with Art Deco buildings, classic cars, restaurants/bars and shops. Ocean Drive is busy no matter what time you are there but it’s the perfect place to stop, enjoy and oversized margarita and people watch! Ocean Drive has something for everyone and is definitely a spot you don’t want to pass on during your time in Miami.
Pro Tip: Ocean Drive can be a bit expensive so if you’re trying to do Miami on a budget be cautious of where you decide to eat and drink. Most restaurants have their menus posted out front so you can check the menu before deciding to sit down.
Lincoln Road Mall
Lincoln Road Mall is a 10-block pedestrian road running between 16th and 17th street and is filled with tons of stores, restaurants and bars – there is literally something for everyone!
Espanola Way
Espanola Way is a charming Spanish-inspired street located between 14th and 15th street. They have tons of restaurants and cute shops to enjoy! I suggest stopping at one of the restaurants while people watching and listening to live music.
Little Havana
Little Havana is a little slice of Cuba brought over to Miami. In the 1960s, Cubans were fleeing the Castro regime and many of them landed in Miami. By the 1970s, Little Havana was more than 85% Cuban. This vibrant neighbourhood is filled with incredible restaurants, shops and art galleries.
There is so much to explore in Little Havana so if you have the time, plan to spend the day exploring. If you are a bit short on time, I would try to at least spend the afternoon in Little Havana.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is the former villa and estate of James Deering, of the Deering McCormick International Harvester fortune, built in 1910. This national landmark is now a museum with beautiful gardens lined around the property.
The Museum is open Wednesday through Monday and you can buy your tickets online to avoid the lines at the museum. Tickets for adult are $22 USD.
The Everglades
Everglades National Park is a 1.5-million-acre wetland preserve located in Miami. The Everglades are made up of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and pine flatwoods and is home to tons of different animals and wildlife.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make time for the Everglades but if I find myself back in Miami, I will definitely visit the park and take one of the airboat tours. Airboat tours are the perfect way to see the park and all the different wildlife, including alligators!
Miami has some of the most incredible food and nightlife I’ve ever experienced before and has tons of things to do. I had an incredible time exploring and can’t wait to go back again one day soon!
