MIAMI, UNITED STATES
In the words of Will Smith, “Welcome to Miami”! A city known for its Latin culture, tropical climate, nightlife, and Art Deco architecture, the “Magic City” is a place where fun and luxury take center stage. Whether you’re in Wynwood or South Beach, the colors and electricity of this city are palpable at every turn. Miami’s unique combination of relaxing beach vibes and hip urban energy have turned “Vice City” into one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States!
Attractions:
Explore Little Havana: Given how much I love Havana, it’s no surprise that this Cuban-inspired neighborhood is my favorite in Miami! From street art to cuisine to colorful buildings, you truly feel like you’ve been transported to the largest island in the Caribbean when you visit Little Havana. A perfect day here starts at Versailles Cuban Bakery for a café cubano and pastry; it doesn’t get more authentic and tasty than this! From here, make your way east on Calle Ocho, the main street of Little Havana, toward Downtown Miami. If you walked it straight, you’d be in the city center in 90 minutes, but I recommend carving out a few hours because there’s a lot to see along the way! 20 minutes from Versailles, just past SW 27th Avenue, you’ll see the famous “Little Havana” wall mural. Continue east for another 20 minutes to reach the heart of Little Havana. The artwork and rooster sculptures you’ll see here are incredible! Key spots to check out here are the Futurama 1637 Art Building (local art exhibit), Ball & Chain (iconic nightclub with live music), MDC's Tower Theater (old, Art Deco-style cultural landmark), Azucar (colorful ice cream shop), Maximo Gomez Park (public space known for locals playing dominoes and smoking cigars), Old’s Havana Cuban Bar (best spot in Miami for mojitos and Cuban sandwiches), and Calle Ocho Walk of Fame (boulevard paying tribute to Cuban & Latin icons). Sorry, that was a mouthful. After thoroughly exploring the center, make one more stop before reaching Central Miami. Drop by Taquerias el Mexicano and ask to visit the hidden mezcal and tequila speakeasy above the restaurant (Los Altos)!
Soak in Wynwood’s Street Art: My second favorite neighborhood in Miami is Wynwood. This part of town is heaven for lovers of street art and graffiti! Be sure to stop in Wynwood Walls, a prominent urban graffiti art museum; entrance costs $10 and tours cost $15. If you’re interested in the history behind the graffiti and a holistic view of the area, I recommend the 1-hour golf buggy ride tour ($39) or the 75-minute walking tour ($29).
Lay out in South Beach: Home of the fun-colored lifeguard towers, this is the place for lounging on the beach. In addition to the sand, there is also some pretty sight-seeing here on Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road Mall (two pedestrian thoroughfares). Not to mention the Art Deco Historic District, which is beyond gorgeous. Other points of interest here include Lummus Park, South Pointe Park Pier, and Mac's Club Deuce (coined the oldest bar in Miami). And even though it’s technically just north of the South Beach border, you can’t visit this area without walking or jogging the legendary Miami Beach Boardwalk (and visiting the IG-worthy bar, Broken Shaker)!
Experience Downtown Miami: If I had to pick one word to describe Downtown Miami, it would be lavish. “Extra” is a close second. Embrace it though! It’s a fun area to wander around and window shop. And why not experience it firsthand? When in Miami, why not hop on a boat cruise (Island Queen Cruises & Tours), splurge on a rooftop cocktail bar (Bloom Skybar), or ball out at a neon-lit, 24-hour nightclub (E11EVEN)? Even if you don’t usually do these things, you’re in Miami, so why not?
Visit Everglades National Park: If you can swing a trip to the Everglades, it’s well worth it! From Miami, it’s a 1-hour drive. Unlike many other national parks in the U.S. though, there isn’t much “hiking” here, but there are a few short trails and boardwalks visitors can explore. It’s quite pretty! Disclaimer - you’ll see plenty of alligators and crocodiles here. In fact, Florida is the only place in the world where both species harmoniously coexist!
L’Artisane Creative Bakery: Coined as the first French vegan bakery in the US, their chocolate croissants are to die for!
Other places to check out include: Biscayne National Park, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, Bayside Marketplace, Museum of Graffiti, Pérez Art Museum, Jungle Island, Gesu Church, and Maurice A. Ferré Park.
Accommodation:
Hotel - Ocean Five: Located in the Art Deco District of South Beach, this hotel is perfect for those in search of a tame, yet exciting, Miami experience that won’t break the bank. It’s on the quieter side of the historic Ocean Drive, but still very close to all of the surrounding attractions. And unlike most hotels in the area, Ocean Five does not have any resort fees! Those looking for more luxury will want to stay north of 5th Avenue in South Beach or in Central Downtown.
Hostel - Freehand Miami: Whether you’re looking for a private room or dorms, this is your spot. It’s one of the few budget-friendly hostels in Miami that organizes shuttles and tours to surrounding destinations, such as Little Havana, Everglades, and Key West. Freehand also has yoga classes, a pool, and two bars on-site (one of which being Broken Shaker referenced above). Did I mention it’s just a short 5-minute stroll from the Miami Beach Boardwalk?
Transportation:
Miami’s main train station is Miami Station; all trains below leave from here. The main bus station is Miami Airport Intermodal Station; all buses below leave from here. As you’ll see see, there are not many bus or train transit options for cities outside the state of Florida. For all interstate travel, I recommend flying (particularly on American, Delta, or United).
Orlando is 1 hour by airplane from Miami and costs $50-$175 depending on the time of year (on American). The bus ride is 5 hours and costs $32. The train ride is 5 hours and costs $39. By rental car, the drive is 3.5 hours.
Tampa is 1 hour by airplane from Miami and costs $50-$175 depending on the time of year (on American). The bus ride is 9 hours and costs $34. The train ride is 5.5 hours and costs $38. By rental car, the drive is 4 hours.
Miami International Airport (MIA) is 8 miles northwest of the city center and accessible via train, bus, and taxi. The metrorail connects passengers to Downtown Miami, while the bus connects passengers to Miami Beach.
Train (MIA Mover & Metrorail): The total ride is 30 minutes and costs $2.25. First, board the MIA Mover (a free, automated shuttle train). This 5-minute ride will take you from MIA Airport to Miami Airport Intermodal Station. From here, board the orange line metrorail to Downtown Miami (25 minutes; $2.25). Trains run every 15 minutes from 5:00-12:00am.
Bus (MIA Mover & Airport Flyer): The total ride is 35 minutes and costs $2.65. First, take the above-mentioned MIA Mover to Miami Airport Intermodal Station. From here, board the Airport Flyer (also known as Bus 150) to Downtown Miami. This daily express bus to Miami Beach has multiple stops from 1st to 44th Streets; this ride is 30 minutes and costs $2.65. Buses run every 30 minutes from 6:00am-11:00pm.
Taxi: The ride from MIA to Downtown Miami is 30 minutes and costs $35-$55 depending on the time of day.
Another option is to fly into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), which is 30 miles north of Miami. From FLL, travelers can reach Miami via train or taxi/Uber.
Train: The total ride is 1 hour and costs $4.75. First, take the Tri Rail from FLL to Metrorail Transfer (40 minutes; $2.50). Tri Rail trains run sporadically from 5:00am-9:45pm (schedule here). From Metrorail Transfer, board the green line metrorail heading toward Miami/Dadeland South; the ride downtown is 20 minutes and costs $2.25. Metrorail trains run every 15 minutes from 5:00-12:00am.
Taxi: The ride from FLL to Downtown Miami is 45-60 minutes and costs $55-$80 depending on the time of day.
The photo of the iconic “Little Havana” wall mural is courtesy of Valerie.