The 9 best things to do in Miami, Florida for first-time visitors (2026 guide)

1) Soak up the sun in Miami Beach

Miami is the beach city of the mainland United States, and the most quintessential turquoise waters can be found in Miami Beach. This nine-mile long municipality is technically outside of the city of Miami — you’ll need to cross a short causeway over Biscayne Bay to get to this strip of beaches. South Beach (aka SoBe) is the most famous of the bunch, hosting vibrant, bathtub-temperature waters and white sand studded with its famous pastel lifeguard towers. If you want a free and family-friendly spot, head to the very tip of Miami Beach to South Pointe Park. At the strip’s northern end you’ll find the significantly less family-friendly Haulover Beach —  one of the only nude beaches in Florida. 

💡 What to know before visiting Miami Beach: 

• South Beach is the most famous place in Miami, so expect crowds — especially on weekends. If you want a bit more room to breathe, head north of 23rd Street on Collins Avenue.

• Beach chair rentals at resort properties cost around US$30-50 per day. 

• A fantastic way to explore Miami Beach is on bike, along a path that stretches from South Pointe all the way up to Bal Harbour. Citi Bike rentals cost around US$3.50 per 30 minutes and are available at stations along the route.

2) Get lost in pastel colors in the Art Deco Historic District

South Beach's Art Deco District is one of the most architecturally unique places in the US. It’s home to more than 800 preserved buildings from the 1920s and 1940s, making it the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world. Ocean Drive is the most iconic stretch, saturated with pastel hotels and outdoor cafes worth exploring during both the day and evening. Don’t miss the Colony Hotel and the (in)famous former Versace Mansion (now officially called Villa Casa Casuarina). 

💡 Tips for exploring Miami’s Art Deco Historic District:

• You can take a 90-minute guided tour run by the Miami Design Preservation League, where the pretty pastel buildings will be coupled with gruesome mob stories. The cost of the tour depends on the time and day you take it as well as the size of the group you’re with. Spots fill up quickly so the company recommends booking them two weeks in advance. 

• If you want to veer away from crowds, head to Española Way, a pedestrian street with boutiques, galleries, and a small weekend market. 

• The former Versace Mansion is now a boutique hotel open for tours at around US$35 per person.

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3) Admire street art in Wynwood (and try your hand at it!)

Once upon a time, Wynwood was a warehouse district that faded into the background. As artists slowly started filling the district’s walls with graffiti and murals, it became one of the most photographed neighborhoods in the world. Two spots you won’t want to miss in this district are the Wynwood Walls outdoor museum and the world’s only Museum of Graffiti.

Wynwood Walls

Wynwood Walls is an outdoor museum showcasing over 50 huge murals by internationally-recognized artists, including Shepard Fairey and Kenny Scharf. Aside from admiring the murals themselves, you can book one of several additional packages to try your hand at spray painting or even design your own spray can. 

🎟 Ticket prices: General admission costs US$12 for adults, US$5 for youth aged 6 to 17, and free for children under 5. 

🕗 Opening hours: Every day from 10:30am to 6:30pm.

💡 Tips for visiting Wynwood Walls:

• Weekday mornings mean fewer crowds and better photos. The murals rotate regularly, so even if you've been before, you're likely to see something new.

• You can find free murals in the surrounding streets, especially NW 2nd Avenue and NW 23rd Street. 

Museum of Graffiti

Wynwood’s Museum of Graffiti is the only museum in the world exclusively dedicated to — you guessed it — graffiti. You’ll get a history lesson on how the perception of graffiti and street art shifted from illegal scrawls in back alleys to high-brow art sought by the country’s wealthiest bunch.

🎟 Ticket prices: Around US$20 for adults, free for children 13 and under.

🕗 Opening hours: 

• 11am to 6pm from Monday to Thursday

• 11am to 7pm from Friday to Sunday

4) Sample Cuban flavors in Little Havana

Miami’s Little Havana is home to the world’s biggest Cuban diaspora. The district is a gift to the senses — colorful murals and vintage cars line the streets, live music spills out of open doorways, and the smell of freshly baked bread follows you around every corner. 

Start at Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street), where a Walk of Fame embedded in the sidewalk pays tribute to Latin icons, including Gloria Estefan and Roberto Durán. The Little Havana Visitor Center is also on Calle Ocho if you want some guidance on what to explore. From there, eat your way through the neighborhood and then relax at Máximo Gómez Domino Park amongst locals playing dominoes in the shade. 

🍽 What to eat and drink in Little Havana:

• A Cubano sandwich. Roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on pressed Cuban bread. Fun fact — the sandwich was invented in Florida, not Cuba, for cigar factory workers. 

• Cuban coffee. A café cubano is a tiny, intensely sweet espresso shot. Order one at any bakery on Calle Ocho and drink it standing at the counter.

• Guava pastries. A staple of Cuban bakeries, they’re flaky, buttery, and filled with sweet guava paste. 

• Mojitos. Head to the bar attached to Cubaocho Museum and Performing Arts Center on a warm summer’s evening. 

💡 Tips for visiting Little Havana:

• You can take a guided walking tour (around US$55-70 per person) covering a cigar factory and several stops for food and drink. 

• Ball and Chain on Calle Ocho opened in 1935 and still hosts live Latin and jazz music most nights. Get there by 9pm if you want a table.

5) Hit up one of the city’s many museums

Miami's museum scene tends to get overlooked in favor of beaches and nightlife, but the city’s got a surprising number of unique and world-renowned institutions worth visiting. If you don’t know where to start, check out one of the following Miami museums. 

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Located in Coconut Grove, Vizcaya Museum is an estate that includes 34 rooms filled with European antiques and more than 10 acres of Italian Renaissance gardens on the waterfront. You might recognize the building’s gorgeous exterior from Iron Man 3 and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. 

🎟 Ticket prices: US$25 for adults, US$10 for children aged 6-12, and free for children under 6. 

🕗 Opening hours: 

• 9:30am to 4:30pm from Wednesday to Monday

• Closed on Tuesday

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)

Sitting on the edge of Biscayne Bay, PAMM hosts an impressive collection of contemporary and modern Latin American art and works by Kehinde Wiley, the artist behind Barack Obama’s presidential portrait. You can get there for free on the Metromover via the Museum Park station.

🎟 Ticket prices: US$18 for adults, US$16 for students, youth aged 7 to 14, and seniors, free for children 6 and under. 

🕗 Opening hours:

• 11am to 6pm on Monday

• Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday

• 11am to 9pm on Thursday

• 11am to 6pm on Friday and Saturday

• 1pm to 6pm on Sunday

Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

Located right next to PAMM in Museum Park, the Frost Museum is a fantastic place for families with kids. The museum features a 500,000-gallon aquarium, a multi-level planetarium, and intricate Florida ecosystem exhibits. 

🎟 Ticket prices: US$29.95 for adults, US$24.95 for youth aged 4 to 11, and free for children 3 and under.

🕗 Opening hours:

• 10am to 5pm from Monday to Thursday

• 10am to 6pm from Friday to Sunday

6) Take a cruise or boat ride on Biscayne Bay and the Everglades

Lounging on the beach is nice and all but Miami’s surrounding waters deserve exploration up close and personal. A great way to do so is to book an excursion ever so slightly outside Miami’s city center to admire the city’s skyline or the Everglades, one of the most fascinating ecosystems in the country. 

Biscayne Bay sunset cruise

A 90-minute cruise on Biscayne Bay gives you views of a fiery sunset foregrounded by Miami’s skyline and Star Island’s celebrity mansions. Prices start at around US$35 per person through tour operators like Miami on the Water. If you want something with more adrenaline (à la Miami Vice), speedboat tours run for around US$55 per person.

Kayak or paddleboard in Biscayne National Park

About 30 minutes south of downtown Miami you’ll find Biscayne National Park, home to the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. About 95% of the park is underwater, so a guided kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard tours run by a park ranger is the only way to get around. Entry to the park is free and guided tours run around US$50-70 per person.

Everglades National Park airboat tour

Drifting through a canopy of twisted mangroves with alligators looming below the water makes a visit to the Everglades feel like an Andersen fairytale. Airboat tours from Everglades Safari Park cost around US$30-45 per person and include a wildlife show with live alligators. 

💡 Tips for visiting the Everglades: 

• Avoid the peak summer months (June through September) if you can. The heat and mosquitoes are borderline unbearable. But regardless of when you visit, it's non-negotiable to pack mosquito repellent. It’s also a good idea to stay updated on vaccines protecting you against mosquito-borne illnesses — add it as a to-do item on your international travel checklist.

• Internet access is hard to come by at national parks so it’s worth researching all your options on how to get internet while traveling before venturing outside the city. 

7) Stroll through one of Miami’s many unique neighborhoods

A great strategy to explore the sprawling city of Miami is by taking it one neighborhood at a time — here are some of our favorites. 

Miami Design District

Even if high-end shopping isn't for you, this upscale neighborhood is worth checking out for the public art installations and architecture alone. Plus, admission to the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is always free. If you’re looking to splurge on a Michelin-starred dinner, book a reservation for Cote Miami, a Korean steakhouse. 

Coconut Grove

Miami’s Coconut Grove is the antithesis of South Beach. It’s the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood in the city and it feels especially residential — peaceful enough for the hum of cicadas to drown out conversation had at one of its many cafes. Vizcaya is here, along with CocoWalk (an open-air shopping and dining hub) and the Barnacle State Historic Site, a pioneer homestead.

Brickell

Sometimes called the “Manhattan of the South,” the financial district of Brickell has reinvented itself as a dining and nightlife destination for young adults. Spend an afternoon at Brickell City Centre and grab a drink at a swanky rooftop lounge.

8) Take a day trip from Miami

Some of the most unmissable parts of Miami are actually slightly outside the city. If you’re looking for a break from the city, check out our picks for the best day trips from Miami.

The Florida Keys and Key West

The Florida Keys are a unique arc of coral islands in the Gulf of Mexico, about 3.5 hours away from Miami. Drive the scenic Overseas Highway where the Atlantic meets the Gulf on a journey toward the edge of the map. Go snorkeling, gorge on key lime pie, and try to make sense of Key West’s eccentric ways of life. 

Everglades National Park

The Everglades are located just an hour west of Miami's neon skyline. This massive wetland is a labyrinth of sawgrass marshes and mangrove forests that serves as the only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles coexist. Take an airboat tour, hike the Anhinga trial, look for sunbathing reptiles, and discover the rugged natural side of Florida’s southern tip.

Fort Lauderdale

Often called the “Venice of America,” Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city famous for its winding canal system and upscale waterfront homes. It’s located 30 miles north of Miami (about 45 minutes by car). The city offers a mix of sun-soaked beaches with a sophisticated downtown arts and shopping scene. Hop on a water taxi, stroll along Las Olas Boulevard, and marvel at the yachts along the water. 

9) Take a dip in the Venetian Pool — the largest freshwater pool in the US

Don’t be fooled — you haven’t accidentally booked yourself a trip to the Mediterranean when you get to Venetian Pool, but it’ll sure feel like it. One of the Miami area’s most unique attractions, the Venetian Pool is located about half an hour away from the center of Miami, in Coral Gables. This stunning site is the largest freshwater pool in the US, carved directly out of a coral rock quarry and lined with waterfalls and grottos. The Venetian Pool is also a great place for families with kids and the grounds often host summer and lifeguard camps. 

🎟 Ticket prices: Around US$15-20 for adults and US$10-13 for children. 

🕗 Opening hours: Hours are seasonal, so you’ll need to check before you visit.

The best things to do in Miami with kids

Miami isn’t all poolside cocktails and late nights — you’ll have plenty of places for the whole family to enjoy. We’ve already mentioned the Venetian Pool, but some other spots in Miami to take the family to include: 

• Zoo Miami. The largest zoo in Florida spreads across 750 acres and is home to more than 2,000 animals, organized by geographic region. Plan for at least half a day — it's big. Tickets cost around US$22.95 for adults and US$18.95 for children aged 3-12.

• Miami’s Children Museum. Located on Watson Island, halfway between Miami and Miami Beach, this museum is designed for children under 10. Interactive exhibits cover everything from media and communications to health and community. Tickets cost around US$25 for both adults and children and it’s open daily from 10am to 6pm.

• The Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). The PAMM runs rotating exhibits and workshops for kids — check its official website to see what’s going on each month. Plus, it’s free on the second Saturday of each month. 

Things to do in Miami at night 

Miami is a night owl’s dream, wherein there’s probably more things to do at night than during the day. Here’s what to do as a first-timer in Miami’s night scene:

• Go clubbing in South Beach. High-end clubs like LIV or Story enforce strict dress codes (no sneakers or shorts), with Friday and Saturday being the peak nights for celebrity sightings and world-class DJs.

• Have a drink in Wynwood. After sunset, Wynwood feels more creative and "local" than South Beach. The area draws an artsy crowd to spots like 1-800-LUCKY or Wynwood Brewing Company for low-key craft beers and late-night vibes.

• Take a sunset cocktail cruise. A top-tier "golden hour" activity, these Biscayne Bay cruises offer unbeatable skyline views for about US$35 to US$55. Book in advance for weekends to secure a front-row seat to the city lights.

• Listen to live music in Little Havana. Ball and Chain on Calle Ocho is legendary for live Latin jazz and salsa. There is often no cover charge, but you should arrive by 9pm to grab a seat and a mojito before the dance floor packs out.

Free things to do in Miami

Miami ain’t cheap, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find plenty of free things to do. Some of the best free activities in Miami include: 

• Visit a public beach. Miami’s public beaches (including South Beach, Haulover Beach, and Crandon Park) are completely free to access. 

• Marvel at street art in Wynwood. While the famous Wynwood Walls museum now requires a paid ticket, the surrounding blocks of NW 2nd Avenue are free to walk and photograph.

• Head to the Metromover. This free, automated downtown loop covers Brickell, Downtown, and Museum Park. It’s a low-key way to see the city from above without paying for a tour.

• Bayside Marketplace. An outdoor waterfront complex with free entry, live music, people-watching, and views across to PortMiami.

• Go to a free event in Bayfront Park. This park sits right on Biscayne Bay and hosts free concerts, community yoga, and cultural events throughout the year.

• See cat and dog statues in Maurice A. Ferré Park. Walk the "Dogs and Cats Walkway,” featuring 52 oversized painted animal sculptures by local artists scattered across the grounds. It’s weird in the best possible way and a great photo stop.

• Stroll through the Art Deco District. Ocean Drive and the surrounding streets are the attraction. You can admire the neon signs and 1930s architecture for free just by walking the sidewalk.

• Free museums. The Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is free on the second Saturday of each month. The Institute of Contemporary Art Miami in the Design District is also always free.

Important things to know about visiting Miami in 2026

A few events taking place in 2026 will make Miami more crowded and pricier: 

• From June 15 and July 18, 2026, Miami will be hosting seven soccer matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The matches will be held at Hard Rock stadium in Miami Gardens. Expect higher hotel prices, crowded restaurants, and to rub shoulders with soccer fans from around the world. 

• The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix will take place on May 3, 2026. If you’re checking out it for the first time this year, take a peek at our F1 Miami Grand Prix guide.  

Stay online in Miami with a Saily eSIM

Miami is a sprawling city that’s easiest to navigate when you have internet access at your disposal. The issue is that if you’re visiting from outside the US, your carrier can charge you sky-high roaming fees just to stay online. Our favorite way to avoid roaming in the US is to get a prepaid eSIM for the US. Getting an eSIM is much more convenient than finding a kiosk or shop to buy a Miami SIM card. All you have to do is download an eSIM app like Saily, choose a plan that works for your trip, install your eSIM, and you’re online the moment you land in the country. If you’ve got a long layover on your way out, you can use a Saily eSIM for faster and more reliable internet speeds than the Miami Airport Wi-Fi can offer. 

Further reading:

• Best places to visit in the USA for the first time

• Best time to visit the USA