Miami, FL

Best time to visit Miami

• Spring (March to May): One of the best times to visit Miami for balmy beach weather, plus lively festivals such as Miami Beach Pride.
• Summer (June to August): Summer brings sizzling heat, high humidity and hurricane season, but it’s a great time to snag cheaper rates on accommodations and catch seasonal events like the IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Festival. 
• Fall (September to November): Expect low hotel rates and cooler temperatures than summer; rainstorms are common, but typically short-lived. Enjoy food festivals like Miami Spice and South Beach Seafood Festival. 
• Winter (December to February): A great time to visit Miami for outdoor activities like exploring the Everglades National Park. Expect clear skies, minimal rainfall and mild temperatures. 

How many days to spend in Miami

Allow around three to four days for a Miami trip to explore top neighborhoods including South Beach, Wynwood and Little Havana, and visit top cultural attractions and museums. If you’re planning a couple of day trips to the Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys, five to seven days is about right.

The vibe of Miami

Miami has two distinct areas: the city of Miami and Miami Beach, just across the bay. The former is the cultural and business hub, where dazzling skyscrapers sit alongside famous museums and diverse enclaves like Little Havana, the beating heart of the city’s Cuban community. Meanwhile, the latter is best known for South Beach, where you’ll find iconic art deco buildings just steps from the sand. A Miami vacation can be fast-paced or laid-back, beachy or urban, low-key or ultra-luxurious. And like a tropical mojito, Miami’s different flavors mingle in a combination that’s classic and refreshing at the same time.

What is Miami famous for?

Sugar-sand beaches lapped by the deep blue Atlantic are among Miami’s biggest draws, as are the candy-colored facades along South Beach’s Ocean Drive. This iconic street has hundreds of well-preserved art deco buildings dating to the 1920s and 1930s. You’ll recognize Miami from the big (and small) screen: the detective show Miami Vice was filmed here, along with classic movies like Scarface, The Birdcage and Goldfinger. Miami is famous for its large Latin American community, with some 70% of residents identifying as Hispanic. Expect Latin American street food, Hispanic festivals, and bars that hum with salsa and bachata music. Stroll through Little Havana to explore Miami’s Cuban culture and history.

Events in Miami

Watching spectacular fireworks over Miami’s skyline from Bayfront Park is a fitting way to welcome the New Year in the Magic City. In January, Art Deco Weekend is an all-out celebration of the Roaring Twenties, featuring jazz bands, antique displays and classic car shows. Coconut Grove Arts Festival (February) brings an extensive local art market to this bohemian neighborhood, while the Miami Film Festival (April) showcases international films, talks and events. Miami Beach Pride in April offers a rainbow of LGBTQ+ events, including a parade along Ocean Drive. Sporting events in Miami include the Capital One Orange Bowl football playoffs (January), the Miami Open tennis tournament (March) and the Beach Polo World Cup (November). To experience Latin culture, music and food, visit during the eight-week-long Carnaval season from February to April. 

Food in Miami

One of the best ways to discover Miami’s diverse cultures is through its food. Begin by chowing down a Cuban sandwich, consisting of smoky ham, swiss cheese, dill pickles and yellow mustard on Cuban bread. Versailles Restaurant in Little Havana has served some of the best for over 50 years. Then seek out Latin American specialties like arepas (Venezuelan cornmeal cakes), pastelitos (Cuban flaky pastries) and empanadas (savory turnovers). The city is brimming with great pizza, from Detroit-style thick-crusted slabs to stone-baked Neapolitan slices. And it’s practically a rite of passage to eat freshly caught stone crab at Joe’s Stone Crab, a century-old seafood restaurant in South Beach.

Nightlife in Miami

As darkness falls, South Beach’s soft pastel buildings are illuminated by neon signs, transforming it into a buzzy nightlife hub. Get into the swing of it with happy hour at Mac's Club Deuce, an iconic dive bar that appeared in Miami Vice. If you want to dance the night away, there’s everything from thumping EDM venues to LGBTQ+ discos and Latin clubs. Downtown, sophisticated watering holes abound, whether you’re craving a low-lit lounge with crackly vinyl music or a rooftop bar with views of Miami’s skyline. Follow the sounds of salsa and rumba to Little Havana, the best spot for mojitos and Cuban-inspired cocktails.

Shopping in Miami

A shopping spree in Miami could mean splashing out at designer stores, sampling local produce at farmers markets or hunting for unique treasures in boutiques. Lincoln Road is one of the prettiest retail destinations, offering a variety of mid-range to upscale stores along a palm-shaded street in Miami Beach. The epicenter of luxury labels is the Miami Design District, with an impressive array of world-renowned designers in a modern, leafy neighborhood. For a retail experience with a difference, Curio at Faena Bazaar features multisensory fashion, art and design installations inside the renovated 1930s Atlantic Hotel. And foodies shouldn’t miss the Coconut Grove Farmers Market for its bounty of fresh Florida produce.

Best beaches in Miami