10 Best Things to Do in Miami

If you're in search of a lively beach with some glitz and glam, make your way to South Beach. Many people flock to “SoBe” to see and be seen, but there's also a ton of stuff to do including yachting, snorkelling, stand-up paddle boarding and kite surfing. 

Wander off the beach to explore the vibrant Art Deco district or stop by the museums, art galleries and shops lining the streets. Enjoy sundowners at an Ocean Drive bar before whirling off to party in the clubs late into the night. Nearby 12th Street Beach is an LBGT haven while clothing-optional Haulover Beach is great for working on your full-body suntan.

This pedestrian walkway along the Miami River allows you to take in Downtown Miami’s urban landscapes from a different perspective, and at your own pace. You can start off at either end of the Riverwalk, be it at the Bayfront Park just north of the downtown area, or at the Riverwalk Metromover station near the Government Center. Come around November and you can expect a host of cultural shows held through the Miami Riverwalk Festival. The Riverwalk is also pleasant in the evening, with city lights shimmering on the water’s surface.

Ocean Drive undoubtedly ranks high among the most popular streets in Miami. Traversing the length of South Beach, this is the place to see and be seen in town. It’s a 1.3-mile stretch that was recently pedestrianised. This makes a stroll along Ocean Drive one of Miami’s great leisurely pleasures.

Among the major appeals of this famous street is taking in the area’s unique art deco hotels, restaurants and bars – it’s also great for people-watching. There’s plenty of shops offering everything from haute couture to tacky souvenirs, which further makes Ocean Drive a carnival of contrasts.

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is the former estate of a rich Miami businessman. This beautiful estate in Miami’s Northeast Coconut Grove neighbourhood is reminiscent of an idyllic Tuscan villa. It has lavishly furnished interiors filled with arts and treasures. It is now open to the public as a historical site. The extensive Italian Renaissance gardens are tranquil, with shaded pathways under large trees. It’s surrounded by native woodlands and overlooks Biscayne Bay. 

If you’re looking for a unique cultural scene in Miami, Little Havana can be a great destination. This lovely neighbourhood just west of Downtown Miami is home to the famous Calle Ocho strip, where most of Miami’s best Cuban restaurants can be found. Besides dining and shopping, Little Havana teems with art, and you can enjoy strolls along streets with brightly painted bins, statues, and murals. Beautiful Latin music can be heard throughout the area, with the aromas of coffee, fresh unlit Cuban tobacco, and grilled chorizos permeating the air.

Strolling through Wynwood is a feast for the eyes. One of Miami’s most hip and happening districts is home to Wynwood Walls, an outdoor gallery of colourful murals and dazzling street art. Besides the Walls, you can also find the Wynwood Doors, featuring around 176 ft of roll-up storefront gates adorned in strokes and splashes of colour in similar fashion. The area’s main open green space serves as the centrepiece, featuring successive artworks from different international artists each year.

Housed in a 2-storey building overlooking Biscayne Bay and the marina, the Bayside Marketplace offers a scenic shopping experience in Downtown Miami. Various independent shops and chain fashion outlets make up most of the shopping scene here. For dining, you have plenty of options, ranging from seafood to Latin American, with seating indoors and out. At the marina, you can opt for a sightseeing or sunset boat cruise. The Marina Stage is a big draw, with live bands performing daily.

Many visitors to Miami enjoy the chance to explore the Everglades – the tropical wetlands of Florida with its scenic sawgrass prairies and mangrove-forested estuaries. A great way to explore the Everglades is by airboat, a propeller-powered craft that skims swiftly over the grassy rivers. Various stops enable you to take in the beauty of nature. Wildlife sightings along the way include alligators with their nesting grounds nearby. Back at the base, you can even get the chance to hold a baby gator and chat with local handlers.

Downtown Miami offers a few great rooftops where you can make the most out of the city's great year-round weather and sip cocktails with the city’s breathtaking cityscapes in view. Area 31, a restaurant and bar on the 16th floor of the Kimpton EPIC Hotel, is a good start, with the Miami River meeting the waters of Biscayne Bay down below. Rooftop at E11EVEN on 11th Street brands itself as an all-inclusive nightlife destination, featuring an outdoor hardwood deck where a giant LED screen with surround sound shows sports by day and serves as a backdrop for weekly live music and DJs at night.

Many associate Miami with glamour, and Downtown Miami indeed offers a glitzy clubbing scene. To name a few, there’s Club Space on 34 NE 11 Street, a warehouse space where all-night weekend rage fests are held. Head down here Saturdays from 11 pm and dance away to house and techno, well into Sunday’s wee hours. Blume Nightclub on Miami Avenue has an attached Garden Bar Terrace. This enables you to choose between hard partying on the dance floor under a 16-ft LED chandelier or chill outdoor atmospheres.