Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
1916-1922 Italian Renaissance-style villa of industrialist James Deering with 10 acres of formal gardens beside Biscayne Bay.
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About Miami
Miami is a bayside city of distinct neighbourhoods rather than one centre. Downtown and Brickell hold the museums, Metromover and the financial district; Miami Beach and South Beach have the Atlantic beaches, Art Deco hotels and nightlife across Biscayne Bay; Wynwood and the Design District hold street art and galleries; Little Havana carries Cuban food and music; and Coconut Grove and Coral Gables add historic gardens, Vizcaya and the Biltmore. English and Spanish are both widely spoken. Visitors do best basing themselves in South Beach or Downtown and combining the free Metromover, Metrorail, the Miami Beach trolley and rideshare, with a rental car only for the Everglades, Zoo Miami or Key Biscayne.
- Capital
- Miami (seat of Miami-Dade County; the Florida state capital is Tallahassee)
- Largest city
- Miami
- Population
- About 442,000 (442,241 at the 2020 census); about 6.1 million in the Miami metropolitan area
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Currency
- US Dollar
- Time zone
- Eastern Time (ET): EST UTC-5 in winter, EDT UTC-4 from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November (America/New_York)
Explore Miami by topic
Jump straight to the experience you're planning.
Best places to visit in Miami
The 20 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
Waterfront museum of 20th- and 21st-century international art with hanging gardens and views of Biscayne Bay.
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Science museum with a three-level aquarium, planetarium, and Everglades and ocean exhibits on Biscayne Bay.
South Pointe Park
Southern tip of Miami Beach with a pier, lawns, a promenade and views of cruise ships entering Government Cut.
The Wynwood Walls
Outdoor museum of large-scale murals by international street artists, surrounded by galleries, breweries and murals across the Wynwood district.
Domino Park (Maximo Gomez Park), Calle Ocho
Open-air park where Cuban-American residents play dominoes and chess; the centre of Little Havana's Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street).
Recommended itineraries
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
5-Day Miami Explorer
- Day 1Arrive in Miami, explore city center
- Day 2Visit top attractions and museums
- Day 3Day trip to nearby highlights
- Day 4Local markets and hidden gems
- Day 5Final sightseeing, departure
7-Day Classic Miami
- Days 1-2Miami city highlights
- Days 3-4Regional exploration
- Days 5-6Cultural immersion and local experiences
- Day 7Return and departure
14-Day Ultimate Miami
- Days 1-3Miami comprehensive city tour
- Days 4-6Northern region exploration
- Days 7-9Eastern highlights
- Days 10-12Southern attractions
- Days 13-14Return to Miami, departure
Where to stay in Miami
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Budget $130-190 USD per person
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Mid-range $300-450 USD per person
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
Luxury $900+ USD per person
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
Mandarin Oriental, Miami
Five-star waterfront hotel on Brickell Key island, a short drive across the bridge from Downtown and Brickell, with a bayfront spa and pool.
Check rates on Booking.comEAST, Miami
Contemporary high-rise hotel in the Brickell financial district beside Brickell City Centre, with a rooftop pool and several restaurants.
Check rates on Booking.comFour Seasons Hotel Miami
Brickell tower hotel with a pool deck on the 7th floor, a spa and views over Biscayne Bay, near the Brickell Metrorail and Metromover stations.
Check rates on Booking.comJW Marriott Marquis Miami
Tall waterfront tower on Biscayne Boulevard Way in Downtown Miami, beside Bayside Marketplace and the Port Miami cruise terminals.
Check rates on Booking.comWhere to eat in Miami
Cafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
Joe's Stone Crab
Versailles Restaurant
Mandolin Aegean Bistro
Zak the Baker
Kyu
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink
Book a food tour in Miami We may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Getting around Miami
Miami is best covered with a mix of Metrorail and Metromover for Downtown, Brickell and Coral Gables, free trolleys within neighborhoods, rideshare for Miami Beach and nighttime, and a rental car for day trips. Plan on traffic delays at rush hour (7:00-9:30 AM and 4:00-7:00 PM) and on beach weekends.
Budget breakdown
Daily spend by tier in USD, broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $40-70 USD for a hostel dorm bed or $120-180 USD for a basic motel or budget hotel room, before taxes and resort fees | $200-350 USD per night in South Beach or Downtown plus resort fees of about $30-50 USD per night | $600+ USD per night for Fontainebleau, Faena or Brickell suites |
| Food (per day) | $30-45 USD (Cuban sandwiches, ventanita coffee, food halls) | $80-130 USD (sit-down lunch and dinner, coffee, one drink) | $250-500+ USD (tasting menus and stone crab) |
| Transportation | $0-10 USD (Metromover is free; Metrorail is $2.25 USD per ride) | $25-60 USD (occasional rideshare plus Metrorail; a rental car is about $50-90 USD per day plus parking) | $150-400 USD (chauffeured SUV transfers and valet parking at $20-50 USD per stop) |
| Activities | $0-25 USD (free beaches, parks and Metromover) | $40-120 USD (museums, Vizcaya, boat or Everglades tour) | $200+ USD (private yacht charters, spa days, guided Everglades trips) |
| Daily total | $130-190 USD per person | $300-450 USD per person | $900+ USD per person |
Best time to visit Miami
Weather through the year in Miami
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C.
Miami is warm all year. The dry season (November to April) is the most comfortable and the most expensive. The wet season (May to October) is hot, humid and stormy and includes hurricane season (1 June to 30 November, peak mid-August to mid-October), but hotel rates fall 30-50%.
Check nhc.noaa.gov and weather.gov/mfl before booking and travel; buy travel insurance with hurricane cover for June to November trips.
Essential travel tips
- Base in one or two areas; crossing Biscayne Bay by road can take 45-90 minutes at rush hour (7-10 AM and 3-7 PM) on I-95 and the causeways.
- Load an EASY Card or use contactless payment on Metrorail; Metromover is free for Downtown, Brickell and Omni.
- Resort fees of $30-50 USD per night and parking fees of $35-60 USD per night are added at most beach hotels; ask the total before booking.
- Book timed entry online for the Frost Museum, Vizcaya, Zoo Miami and Venetian Pool.
- Tip 18-20% at restaurants and $1-2 per drink at bars; check whether a service charge is already added.
- Pack a light rain jacket and sunscreen; afternoon thunderstorms are common from June to October.
- Carry photo ID for alcohol purchases (minimum age 21) and nightlife entry.
Safety information
Know the hurricane season dates: the Atlantic season runs 1 June to 30 November, with the highest risk from mid-August to mid-October. Before booking, check the National Hurricane Center (nhc.noaa.gov) and the National Weather Service Miami forecast (weather.gov/mfl); if a watch or warning is issued, follow hotel and Miami-Dade County instructions at once.
Sign up for Alert Miami (miamidade.gov/alertmiami) and look up the storm-surge evacuation zone (A to E) of the hotel on miamidade.gov/hurricane (zone A is the most exposed, including the tip of South Beach and Key Biscayne). Visitors staying in a coastal zone should be ready to leave when an order is issued; dial 311 for Miami-Dade County information.
Swim only at beaches with a lifeguard tower and read the flag: green is low hazard, yellow is medium hazard, red is high hazard and double red means the water is closed. Rip currents occur on Atlantic beaches, especially with onshore winds; if caught, do not fight the current, swim parallel to the shore, and signal a lifeguard. Dial 911 for any water emergency.
Heat and humidity are the most common medical risk: the heat index can pass 105 F (41 C) from June to September. Drink water often, avoid midday sun, wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and limit strenuous activity from 11 am to 4 pm; never leave children or pets in a parked car.
Expect daily thunderstorms from June to October, usually in the afternoon. Leave the beach and the water at the first sound of thunder; Florida has more lightning strikes than any other US state. Flash flooding can close streets in Miami Beach and downtown during heavy rain and king tides (September to November).
Protect against mosquitoes with DEET or picaridin repellent, especially at dawn and dusk; locally acquired dengue cases have been reported in Miami-Dade in recent years. See the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade (miamidade.floridahealth.gov) for current mosquito-borne illness alerts.
Never leave anything visible in a parked car, including bags, jackets and phone chargers; vehicle break-ins are the most common crime against visitors in South Beach, Wynwood and Brickell garages. Take valuables and passports into the hotel.
Keep phones and wallets secured on Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road, Calle Ocho and the Metrorail; phone snatching and pickpocketing happen in crowded areas and on weekend nights.
Use app-based rideshare (Uber or Lyft) or licensed taxis only: confirm the license plate, driver name and photo before getting in, and ignore unsolicited drivers at Miami International Airport or outside clubs. Taxis from MIA queue at the official curbside stands.
Take care when walking or biking: Miami has a high rate of pedestrian crashes. Cross only at marked crosswalks, watch for turning vehicles and scooters, and note that e-scooters and bikes are not allowed on many beach walkways.
Do not leave drinks unattended at South Beach and Wynwood bars; drink spiking occurs. Use the buddy system, set a meeting point, and use rideshare after midnight rather than walking between districts.
Alcohol is banned on Miami Beach sand and public parks, and open containers are not allowed in vehicles. Miami Beach has imposed emergency curfews, checkpoints and parking restrictions during recent Spring Break weekends in March; check miamibeachfl.gov before traveling then.
Carry valid photo ID: the legal drinking age is 21 and bars, clubs and venues check ID. Recreational cannabis is not legal in Florida for non-medical use, and carrying it can lead to arrest.
Frequently asked questions
Is Miami safe for tourists?
Generally yes in main tourist areas such as South Beach, Downtown museum districts, Brickell, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. Car break-ins, bag theft and drink spiking are the main issues; watch belongings, use rideshare at night and dial 911 in any emergency.
How many days are enough for Miami?
Four days cover South Beach, Downtown museums, Wynwood and Little Havana, and Vizcaya and Coral Gables. Add a day for the Everglades or Key Biscayne.
Do visitors need a car in Miami?
Not necessarily. Metrorail, the free Metromover, buses and the free Miami Beach trolley cover most tourist areas. A car helps for Zoo Miami, Fairchild, Deering Estate and the Everglades, but hotel parking costs $35-60 USD per night.
What is the best time to visit Miami?
November to April has dry, warm weather of 75-82 F (24-28 C) but peak prices. May-October is hot, humid and stormy with the lowest rates; hurricane season runs June 1-November 30.
How do visitors get from MIA to South Beach or Downtown?
Take a taxi (about $32-40 USD flat) or Uber/Lyft (about $25-45 USD), or the Metrorail Orange Line from MIA station to Downtown (Government Center), then transfer to Metromover or bus 120 Beach MAX to South Beach.