MiamiTravel Guide

If you're looking for a central location in the heart of the action, South Beach offers one of the best areas to stay in Miami. With a host of accommodation options available, this location provides you with direct access to dining, the favoured shopping strips of Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive, and the hustle and bustle of iconic South Beach.

Downtown Miami offers a wealth of choice when it comes to places to stay in Miami. This area houses some of the biggest names in the accommodation industry with rates that are more budget-friendly than South Beach. Best of all, the central location provides ready access to all the major tourist destinations like Wynwood and Miami Seaquarium. 

Featuring luxurious resorts and boutique hotels, Coral Gables positions you in the heart of Miami arts and culture. This picturesque part of the city has a historical feel that harks back to Miami's 1920s heyday. Spend a day basking in the famous Coral Gables Venetian Pool or shopping to your heart's content at a destination that's within 20 minutes' drive from Downtown Miami. 

Funky, laidback and offering great access to local restaurants and shopping, Coconut Grove is a more relaxed and affordable option than the heart of Miami. This destination is about a 20-minute bus ride from Downtown but includes great shopping, elegant motels, and easy access to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and the Miami Science Centre. 

If you're after ocean views, spectacular sunrises and idyllic beaches, Miami Beach has a host of accommodation options to suit all budgets and tastes. The area features large-scale beachfront resorts, historic Art Deco hotels, and self-contained apartments. This region also sees you close to all the action of South Beach but with less of a premium price tag. 

The four-hour drive from Miami to Key West features a host of attractions to visit and activities to enjoy. The route takes you across the Overseas Highway to the southernmost tip of the United States. The drive alone is spectacular, but once you reach the end of the US, there are even more delights to enjoy like snorkelling and spectacular sunsets. 

The 600,000ha protected habitat that is the Miami Everglades is a place like no other. Attracting environmentalists and researchers the world over, it's home to wild mangroves, giant alligators, and towering sea grass. The Everglades also features the Miccosukee Indian Reservation, and the area can be explored in a host of ways including cycling, camping, and airboat tours.

Once a neglected area, Wynwood and the Design District has re-emerged to become the modern arts and creative hub of Miami. The area features museums, large installations of street art, and over 60 art galleries. A major drawcard of the area is the famous Wynwood Walls where over 40 murals by acclaimed artists are painted on the exterior of buildings. 

The Perez Art Museum is home to a vast collection of modern and contemporary works celebrating the culture and diversity of Miami. Overlooking Biscayne Bay, the striking gallery focuses on 20th and 21st century works and also boasts elaborate hanging and sculpture gardens. The Perez Art Museum is open daily and is located in Museum Park near the Museum of Science. 

Committed to documenting, protecting and conserving Miami culture, HistoryMiami Museum features a selection of permanent displays and changing exhibitions. The museum aims to help people understand how the region's past affects its future and includes an aviation hall, photography displays, and the popular Tropical Dreams exhibition recounting a 10,000-year history of South Florida. 

Housed in a former public library, the Bass Museum showcases international contemporary art. The museum features permanent and temporary exhibitions with the aim of expanding the definition of contemporary art. Exhibitions include the use of multimedia, fashion, design and architecture, and they span eight galleries, social spaces, a dedicated learning centre, and a cafe. 

Explore the famous coloured buildings and stunning architecture of Miami with a tour of the Art Deco historic district. Comprising four areas, the region is renowned the world over for its distinctive building designs and bright decor that harks back to a heyday in the 1920s. The Art Deco historic district is located on Miami Beach between 5th and 23rd Street. 

Renowned as the social, cultural and political epicentre of the city, Little Havana Miami is situated near Downtown. It features a vibrant street life, enticing restaurants, a host of notable landmarks, and a character all of its own. Named after the capital of Cuba, the area is home to Cuban exiles along with many Central and South American immigrants. 

Just south of Miami's modern skyline is a nod to Italian culture and history in the form of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. The former winter home of businessman James Deering, this stunning mansion with equally spectacular gardens is designed to replicate an Italian villa. The gardens are renowned throughout America as some of the most ornate, featuring Italian and French influence.

Swim with dolphins and dive deep into a world of underwater wonder at Miami Seaquarium. This 15ha oceanarium is one of the oldest in the United States and features endangered species along with traditional favourites like penguins and sea lions. Located in Downtown Miami and boasting spectacular skyline views, the Seaquarium is open 365 days a year. 

Famous the world over, the Art Deco architecture of Miami is explained and documented in detail at the Art Deco Museum. The facility allows you to better understand the architectural heritage and community culture of Miami Beach, providing an insight into the three main historic building styles of Miami. Opened in 2014, the museum also features scaled building models, roving displays, and personal memoirs of residents

From South Beach to Coral Gables, Miami restaurant precincts serve up a smorgasbord of varied delights. South Beach accommodates every taste and every budget, Coconut Grove boasts everything from burgers to fine-dining, and Coral Gables is emerging as the must-visit destination for all things food. Meanwhile, Sunset Harbor crams a host of cuisine options into a few small blocks, and Wynwood offers casual eats with an artistic view. 

Miami food markets are more than willing to oblige when it comes to finding fresh produce or engaging in some serious street food indulgence. For street food that goes above and beyond, check out Miami Marketta. Open three nights a week, this is a foodie's haven. Meanwhile, Miami's health-conscious population means each weekend the city embraces an array of farmers' markets featuring endless local produce. 

Each Miami area offers its own after-dark excitement, with a vast variety of places to relax as the sun slips slowly beyond the horizon. From happy-hour hotspots to poolside cocktails and the rooftop bars of Downtown, Miami bars and nightlife take the glitz and glamour of this vibrant city to a whole new level. 

With their distinctly Cuban influence, Miami cafes boast a strong coffee culture destined to delight lovers of all things caffeine. If you're after a truly authentic blend, head to Calle Ocho in Little Havana and join the kerbside queue to sample the best cup. Meanwhile, great coffee can be found on almost every corner, with many cafes also featuring the novelty of old-style coffee counters. 

From antiques to the latest fashion, Miami markets are the place to seek out one-off pieces and bargains. The Miami Flea is particularly unmissable if you'd love to support local artisans while hunting for great handmade souvenirs. If you're looking for up-and-coming products, the former warehouse district of Wynwood is home to all the latest trends at the Wynwood Alley markets. 

There's no shortage of Miami shopping centres to realise any shopper's retail dreams. Among the most renowned are Bayside Marketplace on the waterfront and the luxurious Bal Harbour Shops. For the ultimate retail experience, Aventura Mall ranks among America's best, while Dadeland Mall is home to all the big names, and Brickell City Centre is the latest luxury precinct to join the shopping scene. 

Featuring vibrant and colourful outdoor tree-lined malls, Miami shopping precincts symbolise the sun-loving culture of the region. South Beach is a great place to kick off any shopping spree with the iconic Lincoln Road Mall and Ocean Drive. Check out the designer district of Wynwood, explore the up-market boutiques of Coconut Grove, or settle in for a day exploring the stores of Miami Lakes. 

Miami taxis are plentiful and easy to find. Most use a meter and generally rates are reasonable. Just ensure any cab you hail is licensed by checking for prominent signage and a phone and licence number. Many cabs also accept credit cards, but that's worth a check too, and as the passenger, you'll be responsible for any tolls incurred during the trip. 

Cycling is a great way to navigate the city, with Miami bike hire readily available. Many shops and resorts hire bicycles, while the CitiBike service also provides bike stations where you can easily hire a bike from a number of convenient locations. Miami is progressively being transformed into a bike-friendly destination so there are a host of dedicated bike lanes and routes to explore. 

Featuring trains, trolleys and buses, the Miami public transport system is a convenient and affordable way to navigate the sprawling city. Among the options is the above-ground rail line known as the Metrorail, and the free-of-charge Metromover. Meanwhile the Metrobus boasts over 1,000 buses servicing the greater area, along with a free trolley service in the city centre. 

To really take in the sights, sounds and bright hues of the city, walking Miami is the ideal way to navigate this exciting destination. In fact, the city is widely regarded as a walker's paradise due to its beachside pathways and flat terrain. Walking also offers the opportunity to avoid the traffic and explore precincts like South Beach, Little Havana and Downtown at a more leisurely pace. 

Slightly less crowded than its southern counterpart, Miami Beach is a wide expanse of sandy, white beachfront with clear blue waters and endless sights. Enjoy all the activity of the skaters, cyclists, and joggers traversing the elevated boardwalk. Pull up a chair and relax in the sun, or take in the view from the nearby restaurants and eateries. It's a beach with it all in the heart of Miami. 

Acclaimed as America's primary party beach, South Beach Miami is the beach you've seen in magazines, on postcards, or on TV. It's a vibrant bustling beachfront that attracts a lively crowd enjoying the active pace. Stroll the beach and watch the frivolity, take in the ocean view dotted with cruise ships, or venture a little further to explore the Art Deco buildings nearby. 

Located on the southern end of Miami Beach, Lummus Park Beach boasts ocean frontage and an inviting park. It's the perfect place to people-watch and take in all the activity or even dive into the adventure yourself. Play volleyball, have a picnic, or grab your skates and join the fast-paced passing parade. 

Quieter than the southern beaches in Miami, North Beach is popular with locals and visitors alike. The wide and sandy shoreline offers an old-fashioned band shell, adjoining park, and showers. Concerts are regularly held in the vicinity and an array of restaurants are located nearby, offering the opportunity to catch some rays, then grab a bite while enjoying the ocean views. 

Situated on a narrow stretch of land between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, Haulover Beach is noted for its crisp blue waters and nearly 2.5km stretch of soft, white sand. It's a favoured destination for swimming and kite flying, with a nearby nine-hole golf course and tennis courts. Haulover Beach is located to the north of Miami Beach. 

Located on Key Biscayne, Crandon Park is a sprawling series of beaches that features an amusement area and a nature centre with exotic plants, rare fish, and wildlife. Noted as one of the Miami region's greatest assets, Crandon Park has a number of ecosystems to enjoy, including mangroves, dunes and sea grass beds. There are also cabanas for hire, barbecue facilities, and a park. 

With more than 1.5 kilometres of sandy beachfront, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is a haven for swimming and snorkelling, and also features the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse. Further activities in the region include boating, fishing and kayaking, along with hiking and wildlife spotting. Occupying a third of the island of Key Biscayne, this is a place to soak up the sun and explore.