Miami is two cities in one: the pastel Art Deco strip of South Beach, and the Latin American mainland across the bay where Little Havana smells of cafecito and cigars. Walk Ocean Drive's 1930s hotels in the morning, take in the giant murals of Wynwood Walls in the afternoon, and end with live salsa at Ball & Chain on Calle Ocho. The Everglades and its alligators are barely an hour away.
4-day Miami itinerary
- Day 1: South Beach - Art Deco walking tour on Ocean Drive, beach hours at Lummus Park, dinner on pedestrian Espanola Way
- Day 2: Wynwood Walls and the surrounding street art, lunch in a Wynwood brewery, Design District galleries, evening in Brickell
- Day 3: Little Havana - Calle Ocho, domino players at Maximo Gomez Park, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, live music at Ball & Chain
- Day 4: Key Biscayne - Crandon Park beach and the Cape Florida lighthouse, sunset and skyline view from South Pointe Park
Where to stay: neighborhoods that make sense
- South BeachArt Deco hotels with the beach at your door; iconic but loud and pricey around Ocean Drive
- Mid-Beachcalmer beachfront resorts around 40th Street, better value than South Beach
- Wynwoodstreet art, breweries and nightlife on the mainland; no beach, so budget for rideshares
- Brickellglossy high-rise downtown with rooftop bars and good restaurants, handy for the Metrorail
What to eat in Miami
- Cuban sandwich at Sanguich de Miami or Versaillesabout 10 EUR
- Cafecito and a croqueta from a Little Havana ventanita window - about 3 EUR
- Stone crab claws at Joe's Stone Crab (season runs October-May) - the classic splurge, about 40 EUR and up
- Ceviche in Wynwood or Brickellabout 15 EUR
- Empanadas from a Latin bakeryabout 2.50 EUR each
Mistakes most first-timers make
- Renting a car for a South Beach-only stayparking is scarce and 25-40 EUR a night; walk, trolley and rideshare instead
- Sitting down on Ocean Drive without reading the menucheck for automatic 18-20 percent gratuity and inflated drink prices
- Underestimating the summerplan mornings outdoors and expect a drenching afternoon thunderstorm June-September
- Ignoring the colored beach flagsrip currents are real; red flag means stay out of the water
Worth leaving the city for
- Everglades National Park (1-1.5 hours)alligators from the Shark Valley cycling loop or the Anhinga Trail boardwalk
- Key Largo (1.5 hours)snorkeling or glass-bottom boat over the reef at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
- Fort Lauderdale (45 minutes by Brightline train)canal boat rides and a calmer, wider beach
Getting around
From MIA airport the Metrorail Orange Line reaches downtown for about 2 EUR, while a rideshare to South Beach runs 25-30 EUR. On the beach use the free trolleys and Citi Bike; between the beach and mainland neighborhoods you will rely on rideshares at 12-20 EUR a hop.
Why this plan won't send you to a closed café
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