Overview

Miami is a stunning coastal city located in South Florida. This bustling metropolis is nestled at the far south end of the Sunshine State and is the gateway to the Florida Keys, the mighty Everglades, and an international hub to Latin America. Miami is the second most populous city in Florida after Jacksonville and has the third largest skyline in the United States boasting over 300 soaring high rises, 61 of which exceed 491 feet. A super diverse city with a vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. It is a great place to indulge in designer shopping trips, endless beach days at popular spots like South Beach, Michelin-starred menus, and an exotic nightlife scene! Welcome to Miami the city is one of the most popular in the state and in the world for vacationers.

The massive, Magic City of Miami offers visitors a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities. The city is packed with popular sightseeing attractions such as the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Zoo Miami, and the Miami Children’s Museum as well as endless opportunities for a day of retail therapy at the many shopping districts such as the Design District, and a day on one of the beautiful beaches like the famed Miami Beach, and South Beach. Most people come to Miami for sun, sand, and surf and there are a plethora of some of the best beaches in the state of Florida found on Miami’s stretching shorelines. Water sports and other water-related activities abound in Miami, with options to rent a yacht for the day, zip around the waters on a jet ski, go snorkeling or scuba diving, and take a scenic sunset cruise.

Visitors can also do a great deal of people-watching around the city after all it is home to many celebrities and the rich and famous who live in spectacular waterfront mansions nestled along “Millionaire’s Row”. There is a great deal of art to appreciate on Miami’s streets and in the many fantastic galleries and museums. There is plenty of art to appreciate in the Art Deco District, and neighborhoods like Wynwood, where art lovers can admire the Wynwood Walls. 

Things to see and do

Spend the rainy afternoon at The Phillip and Patricia Museum of Science in Downtown Miami’s beautiful Bayfront Park. The expansive establishment features an aquarium, a planetarium, and two science galleries. It hosts a variety of nighttime laser light shows set to themed music by artists ranging from Led Zeppelin to Lady Gaga. Be sure to check out the rooftop terrace on the 6th floor for some incredible breathtaking views of downtown. The aquarium is spread across three levels, there are fun rotating exhibits and interactive displays covering everything from the human microbiome to dinosaurs for all ages.

Feast your eyes on the popular Wynwood Art Walls where bright, vibrant images cover different buildings in the Wynwood neighborhood. Fully immerse yourself in the abstract, symbolic minds of these talented artists who design this eye-catching artwork. Miami’s art district is a unique experience that can be seen in many different places including indoor and outdoor designs and districts. Wynwood and its Art District was founded in 2009 to jump-start revitalization in the neighborhood and the walls act as an outdoor art museum covering over 80,000 square feet of abandoned warehouse walls. 

Check out the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a former estate built in the gorgeous Coconut Grove district as a winter villa for businessman James Deering in the early 1900s. It serves as an incredible museum today showcasing a wide variety of art from teh 15th-19th centuries. The museum exhibits extravagant European architecture, it overlooks the beautiful waters surrounding the city and boasts pristine landscaping with vibrant flowers, and greenery. This is one of the top museums in Miami, and the architecture and atmosphere here are one of its main draws and part of the magnificent experience. 

Take a dip in the stunning turquoise waters of the Venetian Pool. Nestled in the heart of the stunning Coral Gables neighborhood the 1923 limestone creation is refilled daily with refreshing spring water, it boasts cascading waterfalls and hidden grottos. A fun experience to offset the Florida heat, the historic pool features an Italian village theme with an onsite cafe to grab a snack and refreshments. 

Take an iconic airboat ride through the mighty 1.5 million-acre Everglades National Park to see some of Florida’s wildlife and majestic nature such as alligators, turtles, snakes, and birds. This is the largest subtropical wetland in the U.S. and is nicknamed the “River of Grass” due to its slow-moving water. Visitors can learn about the unique and diverse ecosystem and vegetation that filters the water as it moves farther south toward the Florida Bay and Key West. The Everglades Safari Park within the park offers eco-adventure tours including airboat rides, interactive alligator shows, hiking trails, and exhibits about preservation. 

Spend a day wandering around Brickell City Center. The complex offers almost exclusively high-end stores as well as dining and entertainment options, it is a top attraction in Miami. The popular center is nestled in the heart of downtown spanning three city blocks and rises as high as four stories. The center houses around 100 different retailers as well as a cinema. It is a great place to roam around, and head to the upper levels for some magnificent views of the city, especially at nighttime. The culinary options in the area are very highly recommended. 

Visit Bayside Marketplace, an outdoor shopping mall nestled along the waterfront by Bayfront Park, and the Miami cruise ship terminal. A popular hub for tourists and home to many chain stores as well as other unique tourist shops and attractions like the Skyview Miami Observation Wheel offering breathtaking views of Miami and Biscayne Bay. There are plenty of places to eat.

Shopping

The massive city of Miami is a shopping metropolis with dozens of different neighborhoods packed with huge shopping malls, alfresco shopping centers, designer boutiques, flea markets, and other luxury flagship stores the shopping possibilities in Miami are literally endless. If you came to Miami to shop then you are in the right place, the city is home to the largest shopping mall in Florida. There is plenty to explore when it comes to shopping with renowned brand names that line streets of bustling districts such as Lincoln Road, charming local boutiques, and a treasure trove of other shops.

Lincoln Road Mall is an outdoor shopping mall located in Miami Beach. This sprawling shopping center is filled with some great shops, and dining options right in the heart of South Beach. Shoppers can find popular retailers such as Athleta, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Gap, Urban Outfitters, and Victoria’s Secret.

Bal Harbour Shops opened in 1965 and is the original Indoor/outdoor luxury shopping destination in Miami, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus with other beloved designer shops such as Chanel, Prada, and Tiffany and Co. A ritzy mall where the celebrities shop, a luxury shopper’s dream.

The Miracle Mile Shopping District is located in the posh neighborhood of Coral Gables. A great outdoor shopping area home to a range of fine shops, luxury boutiques, colorful galleries, and delicious restaurants along the tree-lined streets.

The Dadeland Mall is a large indoor shopping mall featuring mid-range stores with anchors like Macy’s and Saks.

Aventura Mall is the largest mall in Florida, a chic, three-story mall anchored with Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s. It boasts over 300 stores such as Balenciaga, Burberry, Cartier, Fendi, Gucci, and Hermes.

Dolphin Mall features over 240 retailers, an entertainment center, and a movie theater.

The Falls is an outdoor mall with a path winding through the waterfalls, it features mid-range stores.

The Miami Design District is on the rise as one of the newest luxury shopping designations in Miami. It features upscale boutiques from Hermes to Cartier,, and the surroundings areas cutting-edge architecture making it a unique experience.

Beaches

The city of Miami located on the southern tip of the Sunshine State is known for many things, but most of all it is popular for its many spectacular beaches. The soft white sands, warm turquoise waters, and gentle sea breezes attract beachgoers and holidaymakers from all over the globe. Beach bums can relax at many different beach locations in the city, there are some hidden gems, nude beaches, beach clubs, world-famous beaches like South Beach, and family-friendly stretches of sand to satisfy everyone. The number one draw in this marvelous metropolis is its natural, sparkling beaches.

South Beach is a legendary stretch of sand in Miami, it runs from the southern tip of Miami Beach to 23rd Street. This beach has been celebrated in television shows and films, it stretches for just over 2 miles and boasts a wide strip of sand flanked by beautiful Art Deco hotels. The most popular part of the beach runs from 5th to 15th streets along the lively famed Ocean Drive. From 5th Street to 14th Place on Ocean Drive is the lovely Lummus Park, which features playgrounds, bike rentals, and beach chaise and umbrella rentals for the perfect day outdoors.

Mid Beach and North Beach are located just north of South Beach, these beaches are quieter than their neighbor and offer visitors the best of both worlds with a distinctly low-key vibe, and lots of space to relax and sunbathe. Take a stroll along the sandy shoreline and check out the most stylish resorts and hotels that line Collins Avenue between 23rd Street and 46th Street.

Surfside Beach is known as Miami’s Uptown Beach Town, nestled between North Beach and Bal Harbour, a retro-style community decorated with upscale resorts. The pristine stretch of sand stretches for a mile and offers a quiet, luxurious vibe for a relaxed, tranquil day in the sun. There are paved beachside paths here great for walking, biking, and running. The waters here are filled with paddleboarders and kite surfers zipping across the Atlantic. The Surf Club at the Four Seasons Hotel is located here and was a favorite amongst celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra.

Crandon Park Beach is located on the beautiful Key Biscayne at the northern end and attracts those seeking some outdoor thrills. The beach stretches for 2 miles and amenities include a tennis center, a golf course, volleyball courts, cabanas, and picnic tables. There are trails that cross a mangrove boardwalk to a fossilized coral reef and nature tours are available. There is a famous sand bar here that is constantly changing due to the wind and tides.

The breathtaking stretch of beachfront at Bal Harbour Beach is one of the poshest beaches and neighborhoods in all of South Florida. The pristine white sand beach here is great for relaxing and sunbathing with plenty of people donning designer bikinis and bathing suites. This popular beach has easy access to upmarket shopping, 5-star restaurants, and stunning accommodations such as the St. Regis Bar Harbour Resort.

Dining

Miami is an extremely diverse city and this is reflected in the city’s famous cuisine with heavy influences from Latin America, Caribbean, Soul, and Jewish. Combined with mainstream American cuisine, Miami has generated a unique South Florida cooking style known as Floribbean cuisine. This new cuisine twist can be found throughout Miami and South Florida in chain restaurants such as Pollo Tropical. The coastal city of Miami is also known for its long history as a seaport, and for its fresh seafood, there is an abundance of seafood restaurants dotted along the Miami River, and around Biscayne Bay.

There are so many different types of restaurants to choose from in this sparkling city with high-end restaurants housed in glitzy hotels, think Prime 54 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, outdoor dining at posh shopping malls, food trucks on iconic streets, and oceanfront beach clubs, celebrity chef ran restaurants, and waterfront bars along the famous shoreline. The diverse selection of gastronomic experiences in Miami is waiting for you.

Foodies can explore the city’s authentic Latin and Caribbean cuisine and culture in iconic neighborhoods such as Little Havana, and Little Haiti. Food lovers are encouraged to try a few of Miami’s staples such as the Cuban Sandwich, cafe con Leche, Bistec de Palomilla, and Croquetas, these are increasingly popular due to the influx of Cuban immigrants in the 1960s. There are some landmark eateries in the city such as the MICHELIN-recommended Versailles restaurant in Little Havana since 1971, it's an iconic establishment well worth a visit. Other classic dishes to sample in Miami include Peruvian ceviche and Haitian griot pork stew.

The dining options are endless in Miami’s large collection of neighborhoods like Wynwood and the Miami Design District, which are both home to some of the most exciting restaurants in the city. Wynwood is the place to dine al fresco with an assortment of open-air restaurants, lounges, and craft breweries. Award-winning celebrity chef James Beard put Miami’s Design District on the map over a century ago along with Michelle Bernstein (Chef from Miami) and longtime collaborator Julio Cabrera (mixologist, master bartender) who all came together to open Cafe La Trova in Little Havana. This festive and stylish restaurant is the place to go for elevated Cuban cuisine accompanied by live music. It also has a MICHELIN recommendation. Other neighborhood hot spots here include Swan & Bar Bevy located in the heart of the Design District, this indoor/outdoor dining experience is owned by music superstar Pharrell Williams and David Grutman.

Nightlife

Miami has a magical nightlife scene, it ranks among some of the best in the world, when the sun sets in Miami the stars come out. Miami’s hot, late-night energy and entertainment opportunities are endless with several popular neighborhoods overflowing with restaurants, bars, nightclubs, beach clubs, and more. Miami has a very distinct nightlife scene with an amazing diversity of options, styles, and vibes to choose from, there are salsa clubs, rooftop bars with views of the city’s famed skyline and spectacular sunsets, late-night clubs, and pulsating music scene. Miami Beach made the nightlife scene famous in Miami and is home to some of the prime destinations for a night on the town. Think LIV located at the Fontainebleau in Mid Beach, or Twist South Beach which has been a must-visit LGBTQ+ nightlife spot for over 25 years, Hotel Gaythering on the iconic Lincoln Road is known for its nightly themes. Downtown Miami is another popular neighborhood for nightlife home to the extravagant E11EVEN Miami, an ultra club open 24/7 along with other great clubs, hip bars, and endless entertainment venues like the Kaseya Center, and the Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts. 

What better way to celebrate a sun-soaked beach day or day of retail than sipping a tropical beverage on the sand, Miami is the host of so many beautiful beaches lined with iconic beach clubs and resorts, beachfront bars and restaurants, and waterfront dining all with spectacular views. Vacationers should be sure not to miss happy hour at popular spots throughout the city and its beaches, Happy Hour is the perfect way to begin your night out with 2-for-1 drinks you can’t go wrong. There is always something new popping up in Miami with places such as Dante’s HiFi, which is a sophisticated “vinyl listening bar” for music and cocktails in a sleek comfortable environment. Bad Bunny recently opened Gekko, a Japanese-inspired steakhouse and lounge with local nightlife impresario David Grutman which is quickly becoming one of the hottest scenes in Brickell.