Final Up to date on February 21, 2023 by Nellie Huang
Planning a weekend in Miami? Having lived in Miami, I contemplate myself an knowledgeable on Florida. Right here’s my really helpful 3-day Miami itinerary!
Miami is intoxicatingly lovely, with vast boulevards lined with Artwork Deco buildings and palm timber swaying in opposition to the backdrop of lapping waves. Even so, it’s the individuals – largely Latin American inhabitants – that make it in contrast to wherever else within the United States.
Having lived in Miami, I can safely say it’s one in all my favourite cities on the earth. The town is horny, full of life and welcoming, with a vibrant tradition, lush tropical gardens and thrilling cuisines. I’ve returned a number of instances since and it stays a particular place for me. If you happen to’re on the lookout for some insider suggestions, right here’s my really helpful Miami itinerary.
Weekend in Miami Itinerary
Miami is a type of cities which might be excellent for a ladies getaway or a weekend journey with your beloved. This Miami itinerary will make it easier to benefit from your 3 days in Miami and see the very best of town whereas having a good time.
In case you are planning to journey round Florida, please do try my 2-week Florida highway journey.Click on on the hyperlinks under to skip to every part:
That will help you plan your weekend in Miami, I’ve included extra particulars:
Miami Itinerary Day 1: Discover South Seaside
Begin your weekend in Miami on the palpitating coronary heart of town: South Seaside. That is the beating coronary heart of Miami Seaside, with its a whole bunch of dazzling pastel-coloured Nineteen Twenties and Nineteen Thirties Artwork Deco buildings. By day, the solar blares down on the sand and spearmint waters. By night time, ten blocks of Ocean Drive turn into one of many liveliest stretches in Miami, as terrace cafés spill throughout the specifically widened sidewalk.
We suggest reserving a lodge in South Seaside for those who like being within the coronary heart of the motion (scroll down for lodge suggestions). However it’s notoriously costly — a beer in a bar alongside South Seaside can price as a lot as $20. For these on a price range, keep in Coral Gables or Brownsville close to the airport.
Take a Artwork Deco Tour
To get beneath the pores and skin of South Seaside, I like to recommend doing an Artwork Deco Strolling Tour. There’s a safety act in place and not one of the buildings can get knocked down or modified, since they had been constructed earlier than the Nineteen Sixties. You’ll get to be taught extra in regards to the historical past and structure of the Artwork Deco and Miami Trendy (MiMo) kinds from native historians and designers.
Strolling up and down Ocean Drive and listening to the historical past of those buildings is fascinating. Only a quick stroll away is Lincoln Street, a pedestrianized promenade lined with lovely buildings. Collins Ave and Washington Ave are additionally value visiting.
Have Dinner at Española Method
Because the solar units, head to a different charming pedestrianised avenue in South Seaside: Española Method. Designed to resemble a Spanish village, the road is flanked by colonial structure, Mediterranean eating places, and luxurious bougainvillea coated facades.
Mercato Della Pescheria Espanola Method is likely one of the hottest eating places alongside Española Method and we extremely suggest coming right here for genuine Italian meals and recent seafood. Havana 1957 is a fixture of the restaurant scene right here, and serves the very best mojitos in Miami.
Expertise the Nightlife in Miami
On your first night time in Miami, put together to color the city crimson! South Seaside is known for its vibrant nightlife, so benefit from your time right here and hit swanky seaside golf equipment like Nikki Seaside, or extra upscale spots like LIV. Clevelander South Seaside is thought for throwing the very best celebration on the seaside, proper within the middle of all of it on Ocean Drive. An alternative choice to the everyday Miami mega golf equipment is Basement Miami, a stylish place with an ice skating rink, bowling lanes, DJ, and lounge seating.
Miami Itinerary Day 2: Enterprise into the Neighborhoods
Discover Little Havana
Subsequent morning, take a wander round Little Havana, a vibrant Cuban neighborhood in Miami. Little Havana is likely one of the most well-known neighborhoods in Miami, with a compelling historical past, distinct vibe, and sumptuous meals scene.
After the Cuban Revolution in 1959 a number of Cubans left the Caribbean island, with a lot of them coming to Miami. Little Havana is the place most of them collect, along with many different immigrants from Central and South America. It’s a centre of social, cultural and political exercise in Miami.
Strive a Cuban Sandwich
You may’t depart Little Havana with out attempting an genuine Cuban sandwich. Veer off the primary thoroughfare – Calle Ocho – to seek out little Cuba cafes that serve a number of the greatest Cuban sandwiches in Miami. Sarussi is commonly cited because the go-to for a Cubano. Sanguich De Miami, because the title would possibly suggest, does it exceptionally properly. El Mago de Las Fritas gained nice fame for the sandwich when former President Obama stopped in.
Take a Wander in Coral Gables
After a sizzling sweaty day at Little Havana, cool off within the lovely Venetian Pool in Coral Gables that’s only a 10-min drive away. Created from a rock quarry, the Venetian is almost 100 years previous, and is way extra elaborate than your common public pool, boasting rock caves and waterslides to discover.
Then proceed your homage to Cuban tradition with a drink on the Biltmore Resort. It’s an iconic landmark of the Coral Gables district courting again to 1926 and positively value a go to for its structure. Coral Gables is a quiet residential space house to the College of Miami — that’s the place I went on an trade program and met my husband!
Try Hipster Wynwood Partitions
From Coral Gables, get acquainted with a really completely different facet of Miami on the Wynwood Partitions artwork district, the place you’ll be able to admire a tremendous show of avenue artwork from artists all around the world. Once an unloved industrial district, Wynwood has been remodeled into one in all Miami’s trendiest neighborhoods, bursting with every little thing from spectacular avenue artwork to eclectic boutiques.
Miami Itinerary Day 3: Head to the Close by Key Biscayne
Drive to Key Biscayne
In your final day in Miami, I like to recommend driving right down to pristine island of Key Biscayne, only a 30-minute drive from South Seaside. On the tip of the bottom line is a 400-acre state park named Invoice Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
My favourite factor is to cycle alongside the scenic paths in Invoice Baggs Cape Florida State Park, in addition to go to the seaside at Crandon Park. Don’t neglect to go to the Cape Florida Lighthouse after that. Climb the 112 steps to the highest of what’s South Florida’s solely lighthouse for a spectacular view of the Biscayne Bay.
Have Lunch at Rusty Pelican
Because you’re at Key Biscayne, drop in on the venerable Rusty Pelican for a seafood lunch by the ocean. Its spectacular view of the Miami skyline is unmatched. Whereas it as soon as had a fairly-dated menu, a brand new chef introduced the place new life about three years in the past. We got here right here on most up-to-date journey to Miami, and had been impressed by the fashionable and scrumptious seafood dishes.
Cease at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
In your approach again to Miami, make a cease on the Vizcaya Museum, a Nationwide Historic Landmark constructed between 1914 and 1922. Vizcaya is likely one of the most intact remaining examples from this period, when the nation’s most profitable entrepreneurs constructed estates impressed by the stately houses of Europe.
Make sure you spend a while wandering across the gardens, which resemble the structure of France’s Versailles. The sprawling Formal Gardens had been designed by panorama architect Diego Suarez to really feel like a terrific outside room, connecting to the primary home alongside a North-South axis.
Get Your Tradition on in Downtown Miami
From there, head to downtown Miami for a cultural expertise. Downtown Miami has been given a facelift lately, and it’s now a cool cultural hub excellent for these trying to go beneath the floor of Miami.
Museum Park (also referred to as Maurice A. Ferre park) is a brand new cultural district developed on unused waste land. Right here one can find the ultra-modern Frost Science Museum, which is house to a Planetarium and an Aquarium. Tickets to the Frost Science Museum begin from USD $30. Find out about a few of metropolis’s fascinating historical past with a go to to HistoryMiami, which provides a number of metropolis tour choices and exhibitions.
Calm down at Bayside Market
Within the night, get pleasure from some sundowners at Bayside Market, an leisure complicated proper by the water in Downtown Miami. It’s acquired a pleasant assortment of retailers and eating places, in addition to a marina the place many boat excursions depart from. We used to come back right here throughout our college days each weekend, primarily for the al fresco bars!
Day Journeys from Miami
Do a Street Journey to the Florida Keys
You may’t come to Florida and never take a highway journey to the Florida Keys! The Keys are a coral cay archipelago positioned off the southern coast of Florida. Make Key Largo your first cease within the Florida Keys. This cute beachside city is the biggest city within the Keys with nice eating places that serve up the enduring Key Lime Pie.
Cease at Islamorada, the place you’ll be able to hand feed large tarpon at Robbies, earlier than arriving in Key West, probably the most well-known city within the Florida Keys and the southernmost level of continental US. Go to the well-known Ernest Hemingway Home and the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Don’t miss these free issues to do in Key West.
Go Wild within the Everglades Nationwide Park
Simply an hour away from Miami, you’ll discover the largest subtropical wilderness in america: the Everglades Nationwide Park. An Everglades Airboat Tour is one of the simplest ways to expertise the Everglades because the huge proportion of the Nationwide Park is roofed by swamplands and solely accessible by boat. Examine our expertise cruising the Everglades. Be aware: The Everglades Nationwide Park has an entry price of $30 per automobile, legitimate for 7 days.
Take a Ferry to the Bahamas
I do know it sounds ridiculous, however you’ll be able to truly go to the Bahamas on a day journey from Miami! You may truly catch a ferry to the Bimini islands from Fort Lauderdale, which is simply an hour’s drive away. E-book a day tour for those who’d like them to select you up out of your lodge and present you round Bimini. I like to recommend exploring the Bimini Nature Path, Martin Luther King Junior Memorial, and take a while to benefit from the pristine seaside.
Miami Weekend Information
Tips on how to Get to Miami
By Automotive
If you happen to’re visiting from different elements of the US, driving is certainly extra handy than taking the Greyhound (bus) or Amtrak (prepare). Under is a timetable with the time it takes to drive right here from neighboring cities.
| Distance | Length by Automotive | Length in Time |
|---|---|---|
| Orlando, FL | 236 miles (379km) | 3.5 hours |
| Tampa, FL | 280 miles (450km) | 3 hours |
| Atlanta, GA | 662 miles (1065km) | 9.5 hours |
| New Orleans, LA | 863 miles (1389km) | 12 hours |
By Airplane
Flying into Miami from different elements of the US and internationally is sort of inexpensive. You may fly from Los Angeles to Miami for as little as $300 return (5-hour flight). For the very best fares, we all the time use Skyscanner as they’ve constantly given us the bottom costs.
Flying from Europe to Florida is surprisingly low-cost. We took a direct flight from Paris to Fort Lauderdale with Norwegian Airways (10hours) for $220 a method.
Seek for Low cost Flights to Florida
Tips on how to Get Round Florida
By Automotive
The easiest way to get round Miami is by automobile. Miami automobile rental could be very inexpensive. Our final automobile rental in Miami price us $180 for every week together with full insurance coverage, which is round $25 a day. Verify the present charges right here. If you happen to’re planning on doing a Florida highway journey, it’s greatest to guide a automobile rental with decide up and drop-off at Miami Airport.
In comparison with the remainder of the world, fuel costs in Florida are extremely low. In the mean time Florida fuel costs sit at round US$2.50 per gallon (3.78L). Miami is reasonably unfold out, so having a automobile will certainly be helpful. [We also rented an e-bike for a day just to explore the downtown area.]
E-book Your Automotive Rental!
By Day Journeys
If you happen to desire to not drive, it IS potential to go to standard spots exterior of Miami such because the Everglades Nationwide Park on day journeys. Our favourite website to guide day excursions is GetYourGuide. They constantly provide the very best costs and have free cancellations and cell vouchers.
Most day journeys from Miami price round US$60 and upwards. There are many boat journeys and snorkel excursions in Florida which might be value doing! Listed here are a few of our really helpful Florida day excursions:
Finest Time to Go to Miami
The beauty of Miami is that it’s a year-round vacation spot. The coldest it will get in Miami is round 60°F (15°C) in January. July is the warmest month in Miami, when temperatures can rise to as much as 90°F (32°C).
Our favourite time to go to Miami is in fall between September to November. The climate is ideal round 75°F (24°C), which means you’ll be able to nonetheless go swimming and benefit from the seashores and is derived with out getting fried by the warmth.
The place to Keep in Miami
Funds: Hudson Home
It’s laborious to seek out something lower than $100/night time in Miami, so this fashionable home is a uncommon discover. We stayed right here as soon as after a protracted flight (it’s close to the airport) and it was a terrific place to relaxation up. Hudson Home is made up of a number of double rooms (with shared loos) and spacious residing space. Verify the charges.
Midrange: Biltmore Resort
One of many iconic landmarks of Miami, the Biltmore Resort is housed in a Spanish colonial constructing paying homage to yesteryears. The plush decor and luxurious patio replicate its historical past, whereas the inside has been fully revamped lately. Nevertheless it’s positioned in Coral Gables, a lush residential space round a 20-min drive to South Seaside. Verify the charges right here.
Luxurious: Shelborne South Seaside
Amidst Miami’s iconic Artwork Deco district stands the stylish Shelborne South Seaside lodge. It’s acquired among the best places in Miami, proper on the seaside with an enormous pool and lounge space. We stayed right here on our most up-to-date journey to Miami and completely liked how consultant it’s of Miami with its yellow-and-white design and stylish decor. Verify charges right here.
Luxurious: 1 Resort South Seaside
Positioned within the coronary heart of South Seaside, that is among the best accommodations in Miami. The upscale property has oceanfront rooms and spacious residences with spectacular views. It additionally has 2 swimming swimming pools, together with one adults-only rooftop pool. Verify the charges right here.
Luxurious: Kimpton EPIC Resort
This luxurious Miami lodge is within the centre of town’s monetary district and provides of the Miami River and Biscayne . We’ve additionally stayed right here on one in all our journeys to Miami, and actually liked the spacious, the floor-to-ceiling home windows in every room. Verify charges right here.
The place to Eat in Miami
Miami is the place Latin America meets USA. This lovely fusion is clear from Miami’s vibrant Latino meals scene. You will discover every little thing from genuine Mexican tacos to Cuban home-cooked meals and barbecued Caribbean fare. On high of that, the abundance of recent seafood within the waters surrounding Miami means there’s no scarcity of wonderful seafood eating places on the town!
Listed here are a few of my favourite locations to eat:
Planning Your Journey to Miami
And that’s a wrap! Be happy to print out this Miami itinerary and convey it with you in your weekend getaway! I’ve packed this Miami itinerary with all the very best issues you are able to do in Miami, so get able to have a blast.
Make sure you depart a remark under when you have any questions. Learn extra of my Florida and US articles to get thought in your subsequent weekend journey:
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