Everything You Need to Do on Your First Miami Vacation

The Best Things to Do in Miami

Google the “top places to visit in the US,” and Miami will always be at the top of any list. In case it’s not on your travel bucket list yet, add it now. And if you’ve already got your trip planned, your itinerary NEEDS to have everything on this list.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

This beautiful 1916 mansion looks just like a palace from Italy, right in the heart of Coconut Grove. Inside, you’ll find 34 rooms filled with original treasures, including sparkling chandeliers from 15th-century Venice and rare silk wallpaper from China.

Take a walk through the perfect hedge mazes, see the Roman fountains, and snap pictures by the limestone boat in Biscayne Bay. Tours happen every hour from 10 AM to 4 PM, but come before 11 AM to avoid the big tour buses.

Make sure to visit the hidden garden with over 2,000 types of orchids and the peaceful tea house by the water.

Wynwood Walls

This amazing outdoor art museum covers six whole buildings and features ever-changing murals by famous artists like Shepard Fairey and Maya Hayuk. Since 2009, more than 50 artists from 16 different countries have turned these old warehouse walls into giant colorful paintings.

New artwork appears every three months, and you’ll find more than 70 galleries, coffee shops, and craft beer places nearby. Take a $25 tour with Miami’s Best Graffiti Guide to hear the stories behind each painting, or explore the 80,000 square feet of art on your own.

Don’t miss Zak the Baker’s famous sourdough challah bread (available Thursday-Friday), grab some Vietnamese coffee at 1-800-Lucky, and check out the Goldman Global Arts Gallery where you can buy special prints from Wynwood artists.

Little Havana

Nothing says “Miami” as the iconic Little Havana. Walk down Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street) where the smell of Cuban coffee and fresh cigars fills the air.

Watch skilled cigar makers work their magic at Little Havana Cigar Factory, or join a game of dominoes at Maximo Gomez Park, where the same friendly players have gathered every day for over 40 years.

Try real Cuban coffee at Versailles Restaurant, famous for its window counter that serves more than 1,000 coladas (Cuban coffee shots) each day.

Visit during Viernes Culturales (Cultural Fridays) on the last Friday of each month, when salsa bands play on street corners and art galleries stay open until midnight.

South Beach Art Deco District

Ocean Drive has the world’s biggest collection of Art Deco buildings, with more than 800 preserved structures from the 1920s and 30s.

Beautiful hotels like The Colony and The Carlyle show off special features like porthole windows, glass blocks, and stepped rooflines in pretty pastel colors.

Join the Miami Design Preservation League’s 90-minute walking tours ($25) to hear fascinating stories about bootleggers and how these buildings were saved.

Oleta River State Park

Just 30 minutes from downtown, you’ll find Florida’s biggest city park – 1,043 acres of mangrove forests and coastal land. Rent a kayak or paddleboard to explore 15 miles of waterways where you might spot manatees and spotted eagle rays swimming below.

Pick from 10 miles of bike trails, there are easy paths for beginners and tricky sections for experts. Relax on three miles of sandy beaches, or join a guided eco-tour at the Blue Moon Outdoor Center to learn about local wildlife.

Design District

This special 18-block neighborhood combines luxury stores with amazing public art. Check out flagship stores from 130+ fancy brands alongside art installations by artists from around the world.

Save some time for visiting the Institute of Contemporary Art for free to see changing exhibitions and the sculpture garden with works by Mark Handforth and Sol LeWitt.

Even if you don’t want to shop, visit the incredible Museum Garage where seven different architects created unique designs for each level. Drop by the 24-foot Fly’s Eye Dome, a special prototype by Buckminster Fuller, or join the monthly art walks every second Saturday.

Biscayne National Park

This underwater park protects 172,971 acres of crystal-clear waters, and 95% of it is beneath the surface. Snorkel or dive to explore six shipwrecks on the Maritime Heritage Trail, including the 1878 Arratoon Apcar and old pioneer settler houses.

Take a three-hour glass-bottom boat tour ($29) to see the Miami skyline and barrier islands. For something special, paddle a canoe through Jones Lagoon where nurse sharks and sea turtles swim in the shallow waters.

Fairchild Tropical Garden

Walk through 83 acres of paradise with the world’s biggest collection of tropical bamboo and palm trees. Scientists work in labs here while visitors explore 11 different types of ecosystems connected by winding paths and viewing spots.

Visit the two-acre Wings of the Tropics to see 40 kinds of exotic butterflies, or check out endangered orchids and bromeliads in the Richard H. Simons Rainforest. Take an early morning tram tour at 10 AM (extra $8) to see everything before it gets too hot.

Pérez Art Museum Miami

This stunning waterfront building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, features hanging gardens with 67,000 plants and 200-foot-long porches overlooking Biscayne Bay. The 120,000-square-foot museum shows contemporary art from the Americas, Western Europe, and Africa.

Come on Second Saturdays for free entry and family art activities. Thursday nights offer special exhibitions and live music, plus dinner at Verde restaurant until 9 PM.

Little Haiti

Experience Miami’s Haitian culture through art galleries, shops selling traditional medicines, and authentic Creole food. Watch traditional kompa music and folk dancing in the Little Haiti Cultural Complex’s 300-seat theater.

Try the city’s best griot (fried pork) and lambi (conch) at Chef Creole, or visit the Caribbean Marketplace with its pretty gingerbread-style architecture to buy handmade crafts and tropical fruit. The monthly Big Night in Little Haiti festival brings live bands and local food vendors.

Beach Hopping

Miami’s beaches stretch for 35 miles, each with its own special character. South Beach’s Art Deco area (between 5th and 15th Streets) is famous for its turquoise waters and people-watching.

North Beach offers a more relaxed vibe with tree-lined streets and Cuban restaurants along Collins Avenue. For a quiet escape, visit Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, where an 1825 lighthouse watches over a mile of pristine beach and nature trails.