The 26 Best Things to Do in Miami
All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
First things first: You came to Miami for some sun, sand and surf, and you’re going to get it—with a side of next-level people-watching, too, of course. And if that's all you want (along with a cold glass of your preferred fruity cocktail or a classic mojito), that's fine, but Miami's beaches and rum drinks are barely the beginning of what the Magic City has to offer. From the highest of high-end designer shops and cutting-edge galleries to all types of walking tours, salsa dancing, unique neighborhoods, museums, and even animal reserves to captivate any kids in your group, this city is the full, sunny package. Here are the best things to do in Miami.
Read our complete Miami travel guide here, which includes:
How we choose the best things to do in Miami
Every review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that activity. When choosing things to do, our editors consider landmarks and experiences that offer an insider’s view of a destination, keeping authenticity, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.
Courtesy Philipp and Patricia Frost Museum of ScienceactivityPhillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Opened in 2017, this LEED-certified building has a dazzling planetarium and thoughtfully composed exhibit halls, but it’s the 31-foot-wide “oculus” lens and viewing portal into the three-story Gulf Stream Aquarium habitat, and its famous hammerhead sharks, that still wow visitors. Grand and modern, the open-air four-building campus, designed by Grimshaw Architects, flanks Biscayne Bay with sweeping views of the water and cruise ships docked at nearby Port of Miami, and encourages explorations and interconnectedness as guests move from the top down, starting on the higher levels of the six-floor complex and making their way through the various exhibit halls and aquarium floors. The museum's permanent exhibits focus on South Florida's crucial aquatic ecosystems, the power of science and the frontier of innovation and technology. Kids love the sting ray touch tanks and the interactive Everglades "River of Grass" virtual environment, while adults appreciate the 3-D planetarium shows that focus on space exploration and climate change.
Jason LopezactivityFairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Spanning nearly 84 acres, the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden is filled with tropical plants, flowers, and trees, including extremely rare species like the petticoat palm. It's also home to flora that can't survive anywhere else in America except for South Florida. For a truly magical experience, make your way to the Wings of the Tropics exhibition, where as many as 40 species of exotic butterflies will engage in a colorful display of acrobatics all around you. It's like something out of a fairy tale. A thorough tour of the Fairchild typically takes about three hours, but time-challenged visitors should opt for a 45-minute tram tour. Horticulture enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunity to see rare plants they won’t find anywhere else in the United States.
Museum of GraffitiactivityMuseum of Graffiti
The museum aims to give historical context to the varied street artists and art amply on display on the streets of Miami's Wynwood neighborhood and beyond—and at this it succeeds. Billed as the first museum devoted to graffiti and the history of street art this small-but-mighty museum is located in the heart of Wynwood, Miami's epicenter for colorful murals and street art. Owned and operated by graffiti art enthusiasts, this institution is dedicated to celebrating previously marginalized artists from around the world who have shaped an entire genre of art with little to no recognition. The museum packs a lot of information into a relatively small space so one could run through it in about 45 minutes but taking time to linger to appreciate the work on display is also rewarding. Younger folks will appreciate the wacky designs on display and colorful sculptures that pay homage to product design and toy-like objects.
GettyactivityMiami Design Preservation League: Art Deco Walking Tour
Located right on the beach on Ocean Drive, smack dab in the heart of South Beach’s Art Deco District, the Art Deco Museum and Welcome Center is where architecture enthusiasts can pop in and learn more about the iconic, colorful buildings that give this neighborhood its personality. You'll be struck by the details you gain on your tour, whether they're about the specific materials used to construct some of Miami's most iconic Art Deco buildings or the nitty-gritty about the luminaries who designed them. In all, you'll walk away with some expert-level factoids—just perfect for a trivia night down the road. This is technically an architecture tour, but anyone with an interest in learning more about Miami Beach—how its culture, people, and buildings came to be—will appreciate it.
- James Keith/Gettyactivity
Pinecrest Gardens
A botanical delight brimming with lush foliage, trees, plants and birds, this city park has plenty of things to do including a splash pad and a petting zoo for kids, plus a botanical garden and an outdoor theater. Established in the 1930’s and originally the home of Parrot Jungle the Village of Pinecrest acquired the 14-acre park in 2002, securing its place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 and transforming it into a venue for events and education. Beyond the breathtaking and massive Banyan trees, the hardwood hammocks, and a serene cypress slough and orchids winding up tree limbs, the park has a full schedule of programming that keeps visitors interested throughout the year, from concerts in the 530-seat amphitheater, to rotating art exhibits to horticulture lectures and holiday festivities. A weekly Sunday Farmer’s Market includes a free community yoga class.
GettyactivityWynwood Walls
Known as Miami's most Instagrammed place (and in Miami's coolest neighborhood), this outdoor "gallery" is a cornucopia of artwork by graffiti artists and muralists that's a nice foil to Miami's museums. Folks are here to stroll, peruse the murals and, of course, take photos. The murals are constantly changing and being updated, but closer to the entrance are the iconic works by artist Shepard Fairey (the artist behind the Obama “Hope” poster). It's a relatively small outdoor space so it's easy to navigate, and there are plenty of benches or rocks to sit on and take it all in. The Walls recently instituted a ticket policy whereby Adult admission is $12, students are $5 and children under 12 are free. People with active social media will love the opportunity for some selfies. Lovers of street art who don't 'gram their lives will also find much to inspire them.
AMOartsAllapattah
Known as one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in a city brimming with them, the barrio called Allapattah, just west of Wynwood, keeps adding artsy attractions to its ever-growing lineup of thrift shops, hipster bars and Latin restaurants (including Dominican and Honduran eateries and a fab Mexican taqueria). The famed Rubell Museum—six former industrial buildings that hold a collection of world-class contemporary works by the likes of Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman and many celebrated newcomers, too—is Allapattah’s heaviest cultural hitter. And right across from the Rubell Museum, a new (Spring 2021) walk-through art experience called Superblue immerses visitors in exhibitions through music and visuals in a way you’ll have to force yourself not to Instagram or Tik-Tok at every turn.
.jpg)
Jen Castro/Esmé Miami Beach HotelactivityEspañola Way
With its twinkling string lights, Mediterranean revival architecture and lively sidewalk cafes this palm tree-lined pedestrian-only street is a charming throwback to Miami’s historic neighborhoods of the 20s. Built in1925, the two-block corridor between Washington and Pennsylvania Avenues was designed to resemble the romantic Mediterranean villages of Spain and France. Here, buildings are made of chalky pink stucco with Spanish tile roofs where sidewalk cafes are shaded by striped awnings. Strolling along the promenade you’ll hear everything from salsa, samba, jazz and techno rhythms wafting from a variety of restaurants—some of which are excellent, and others which cater to a less-discerning crowd—but all are usually packed on weekends and most weeknights. The street hosts weekly programming from flamenco and salsa dancing to yoga and an open air local makers market. A few charming boutique Miami hotels blend in with the lively atmosphere here, offering a unique jumping-off point for visiting and exploring South Beach.
- Gettyactivity
Treetop Trekking
Located within the lush tropical setting of Miami's historic Jungle Island attraction is this aerial adventure park—Miami's first and only—situated over six acres and composed of three different courses based on difficulty level and designed to get participants out of their comfort zone and be immersed in nature. Climbers ascend at their own pace into the treetops where they encounter challenges like balance bridges, Tarzan swings, swinging logs, cable crossings, and ziplines that are suspended off the ground from three to 55 feet, depending on the course. The courses are designed for all ages (kids need to be at least five-years-old to participate) and night treks are also offered on the weekends. My gang opted for the "Thrill Seeker" course, the most challenging with cable tightrope walking and longer ziplines, which tested our agility and fear of heights but also rewarded with spectacular views of Miami's port and downtown skyline.
Iwan BaanactivityInstitute of Contemporary Art (ICA), Miami
Called ICA Miami for short, this is another pillar of the Miami art scene, located in the Miami Design District. The building has a bold and eye-catching metallic facade and was designed by Spanish architect firm Aranguren + Gallegos Arquitectos. Permanent and temporary exhibits with a focus on emerging and local artists; for Miami, this means many Cuban-born and Latin American artists. You don't need hours at this museum, like is the case at others in town, so for people who just want to dabble in Miami's arty side during a vacation, it makes a perfect stop. Interiors are as modern as exterior with brightly lit open spaces. The permanent collections has works by Pablo Picasso, Yves Klein, and Roy Lichtenstein, among others.
- SimpleImages/Gettyactivity
The Berry Farm
The Berry Farm is polished yet rustic. Rows of sunflower fields, strawberry beds and bell peppers on the vine are nicely laid out and available for the picking, which is charged by weight. There's a nicely-stocked farm stand with produce for purchase and the requisite milkshake bar and soft-serve stand for the mandatory strawberry milkshake which is a must when visiting the Redlands. Covered pavilions offer shade and picnic tables and a barbecue and taco restaurant serves everything from hot dogs to burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches. Besides picking fruit, flowers and vegetables, there's plenty to do here like hayrides, a shaded bounce floor, corn pit, and obstacle course playground. Families will love this foray into Miami's agricultural south and food lovers will appreciate the freshness of the produce and accessibility of the farm-to-table atmosphere.
Courtesy FaenaactivityFaena Theater
It's an opulent cabaret-style theater inspired by Europe's grand opera houses that harkens to a bygone area while feeling totally decadent, sumptuous, and Miami. In the audience, just look up and you'll see a giant crystal chandelier dangling over the scene. The theater's original live production is a cabaret-style spectacle called Allura Cabaret that is perfect for the red velvet surrounds and has elements of the circus (more like cirque) and burlesque. Big names have performed intimate shows here, too, including Bon Jovi, Macy Gray, Miike Snow, Grace Potter, Andra Day and many others. There are only 150 seats in the audience. There's also regular jazz programming. Faena hotel is one of the sceniest and most beautiful in South Beach, but the theater attracts more than just guests with its shows. It's a great place for a sexy date night (cabaret), girls weekend, couples escape, etc.
Courtesy Design District MiamishopMiami Design District
With dozens of shops, boutiques, showrooms, galleries and restaurants, you’d be hard-pressed to not find whatever you're looking for in the Miami Design District—provided you're looking for something delicious or with a designer tag, that is. In addition to a wide range of popular clothing boutiques, there’s an impressive lineup of handbags and accessories (Louis Vuitton, Hermès); jewelry and watches (Rolex, Tiffany & Co.); and home furnishings (Jonathan Adler, Versace Home). L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon and vegetable-driven restaurant Le Jardinier are among the district’s most sought after tables. And the chef-driven Mia Market food hall is a more casual must-stop. If you can dream it, you can find it. And even if you’re just browsing, the window-shopping and people-watching are pretty great, too.
Courtesy lucky-photographer/Getty ImagesactivityCape Florida Lighthouse
Located at the tip of Key Biscayne, nestled inside lush Bill Baggs State Park is the Cape Florida Lighthouse. Though it sits on a tranquil sweep of sandy beach, the pristinely restored monument gives a glimpse into a tumultuous side of South Florida's history. The regal lighthouse, now defunct, tells stories of nautical adventures, Caribbean slave smuggling and strife with Native American tribes. A knowledgeable park ranger conducts the half-hour tour giving details about the monument's history as the oldest structure in Dade County, having been built in 1825, twenty years before Florida became a state. When visiting make sure to wear comfortable shoes, as climbing the 109 steps to the top is a mini-workout. Climbing to the top and seeing the views of the water and Miami skyline is exhilarating. The stories of the structure's history also gives an interesting context for Miami history.
Daniel AzoulayactivityPérez Art Museum Miami
$$Though the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is focused on 20th- and 21st-century international art, and a large permanent collection of works (over 3,000 spread across 8 galleries) by such acclaimed artist as Jenny Holzer and Sam Gilliam. The museums spans 120,000 square feet inside but is best known for its facade, with hanging gardens among its most iconic features. Current exhibitions explore things like post-colonial condition and Africa and African-diaspora art; the museum is in a constant conversation with the current topics consuming society, as well as overlooked and worthy subjects. Timed tickets must be reserved online in advance of visits, so the museum doesn't feel crowded. Elevators and ramps for people with mobility issues. Don't miss a swing in the sculpture garden on the hammock-like net swings overlooking Biscayne Bay.
PETER A PANOPOULOS DIAZ/Courtesy Upper Buena VistashopUpper Buena Vista
A 120 year-old majestic oak tree serves as the focal point of this funky shopping destination just north of the Design District. The Bodhi "wish tree," as it’s called, is based on a Buddhist tradition of designating a tree to be used as the object of wishes and offerings. In addition to the tree you’ll find gardens and walkways that connect the businesses and micro-boutiques that make up the neighborhood. It's a diverse set of spots here: There is, for example, an Italian restaurant, a pet spa, and a cryotherapy spot. An Asian tradition suggests writing your wish on a ribbon and tying it to the wish tree for eternal blessings. The ribbons are sold for a one dollar donation (used to plant trees through the group One Tree Planted). So far the ribbons have raised enough to plant hundreds of trees and plants. The mood is definitely spirit-lifting and world-repairing.
GettyactivityJewish Museum of Florida - FIU: The South Beach Jewish Walking Tour
Sponsored by Florida International University and run through the Jewish Museum of Florida, this look at the history of the Jewish people and Jewish culture in Miami begins at the museum itself, a historic former synagogue. Small groups first watch a short video presentation and then get a look at some of the main artifacts (if you're interested in the museum itself, you can return later). Then begins a two-hour walk around a 10-block radius, with stops at various significant buildings such as the Lord Balfour Hotel. The tour is a great palate cleanser for the decadence and glitz of Miami Beach. It’s a humbling, grounding experience in the best way, and gives some much-needed cultural context to this part of the city.
Courtesy Lincoln Road MallshopLincoln Road Mall
Running almost the entire width of South Beach, Lincoln Road Mall is a mile-long pedestrian mall and one of Miami’s favorite spots for outdoor activities—besides the beach, which is just a couple blocks away. Designed by Morris Lapidus, the architect behind The Fontainebleau hotel, the strip maintains a fun, Miami Modern (MiMo) style of the past, but with more than 100 fashionable shops, restaurants, bars, and cafés. For a dedicated dose of retail therapy, head straight to Alchemist—located at the top of 1111 Lincoln Road, a seriously fancy parking garage designed by Swiss starchitecture firm Herzog & de Meuron. The gallery-like boutique is as pretty as the clothing it sells, and the clothing it sells is strictly top-tier: Celine, Rick Owens, Maison Margiela, and others. The store recently launched its own brand of easy-to-wear Ts, dresses, and hoodies.
GettyactivityAncient Spanish Monastery
Originally known as The Monastery of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels, this ancient monastery, a true architectural wonder, started life in the year 1133—in northern Spain. It was eventually purchased by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who had each structure dismantled, stone-by-stone, packed into more than 11,000 crates, and shipped to New York. After sitting in a warehouse in Brooklyn for more than a quarter-century, the crates were purchased by new owners who understood the stones’ potential value as a tourist attraction. They spent nearly two years relocating and rebuilding the structure in North Miami. Though we tend to save the phrase “work of art” for museums, it’s really the best way to describe this wondrous structure—especially when you understand how much time, dedication, and precision it took to reassemble it.
Anne Rippy/AlamyactivityAdrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
Designed by architect Cesar Pelli in 2006, Miami’s iconic performing arts center was built on the site of a former Sears department store, of which a seven-story Art Deco tower is preserved, now home to a small cafe and book store. Composed of two imposing buildings that take inspiration from beige-colored shells, the 2,400-seat Ziff Ballet Opera House and 2,200-seat Knight Concert Hall are connected by Thomson Plaza for the Arts, an outdoor public gathering space. The complex also includes the Carnival Studio Theater, an intimate venue for experimental productions. The buildings are united by a grand oval-shaped public plaza that stretches across Biscayne Boulevard. A popular gathering space with outdoor performances and events, the plaza is an inviting oasis with lush garden terraces, fountains, shade trees, and greenery.
Courtesy Venetian PoolactivityVenetian Pool
In the early 1920s, as part of real estate developer George Merrick’s plan to turn Coral Gables into a South Florida destination, he commissioned the reconstruction of an abandoned four-acre coral rock quarry into what he imagined would be one of the world’s most magnificent public swimming pools. And boy, did he succeed. Opened in 1924, the Venetian Pool—originally known as the Venetian Casino—brought a piece of old-world European architecture to the then-growing city. Pictures don’t do the Venetian Pool justice; it's truly is a thing of beauty, and it's well worth the trip to Coral Gables for the first-hand look. That said, on hot days—and particularly on weekends and in summer when kids are out of school—it can get crowded. Management stops allowing people in once the pool has reached capacity, so we recommend calling ahead of time to see if there's still room. Or plan to get there early.
GettyactivityDeering Estate
Charles Deering was a successful businessman and philanthropist who recognized Miami’s potential as a great winter escape, even in its earliest days of development. As such, he created The Deering Estate—a 444-acre environmental and archaeological preserve fronting Biscayne Bay. Even if you don’t consider yourself an “outdoorsy type,” The Deering Estate is bound to impress. With so much to see and do, both indoors and outdoors, it’s a fantastic way to get to know the history of the city and its environment. Outdoor enthusiasts and families tend to make up the majority of visitors, but the Estate is chock full of areas that would be of just as much interest to history buffs, animal lovers, environmentalists, and archaeology enthusiasts.
Courtesy Greater Miami Convention & Visitors BureauactivityLittle Havana Food & Cultural Tour
Since 2010, Miami Culinary Tours has orchestrated deep dives into some of Magic City’s most famous neighborhoods, Little Havana among them. The heart of Miami’s Cuban population, the area includes Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street), famous for Domino Park, strong cafecitos, and counter-service croquetas. You’ll get to experience all of that and more over the course of two-and-a-half hours on this popular walking tour, which hits several Calle Ocho hotspots. Just be sure to book online; tickets must be purchased in advance. You won't soon forget all the delicious things you've eaten—you may even be tempted to plan a return visit to the neighborhood before the tour's over! But you'll also learn about some of the neighborhood’s cultural customs, including Santeria, and pay a visit to a local cigar factory. Those are the kind of experiences that will stick with you long after your trip.
.jpg)
Courtesy Monkey JungleactivityMonkey Jungle
This facility—essentially a conservation and observation park—has been here since 1933 and so boasts an impressive history. It is home to around 500 primates, covering 18 different species of monkeys and apes. Guests navigate the 30-acre park through a series of tunnels, and indeed the park’s tagline is "Where the humans are caged and the monkeys run wild". The animal inhabitants live in semi-natural habitats where they can live as they would in the wild. Even including the special shows, it’s easy to see almost everything in the park in a couple of hours. It’s perfect for families with young children who may not have seen wildlife up this close before, and the information and habitats will also be of huge interest to fans of natural science in general.
Bill SumneractivityVizcaya Museum and Gardens
Can’t decide between a trip to Miami and a vacation in Italy? Here you can have a little bit of both. In the 1910s, noted industrialist James Deering brought a taste of Europe to Biscayne Bay when he commissioned the construction of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, modeled on a centuries-old Italian villa, as his winter home in Miami. In the 1950s, James Deering’s nieces decided that their uncle’s carefully constructed estate—now a national landmark—could make for an interesting tourist attraction. Between the house and its grounds, Vizcaya is a living museum dedicated to the early days of Miami’s rise as a destination and to old-school European design. The waterfront home’s many treasures include more than 2,500 antique art objects and furnishings; 10 acres of immaculately landscaped gardens, including 2,000 orchids; and 25 acres of endangered forest lands.
GettyactivitySouth Pointe Park
As much as Miami locals might have liked to keep South Pointe Park under wraps, it was only a matter of time before word got out about this park, located at the southernmost tip of South Beach just a few steps from Joe’s Stone Crab, the legendary restaurant that everyone's got to try at least once. While it’s technically just a city park, the 17-acre spot offers much more than a couple of benches and pretty palm trees. There’s beach access, a fishing pier, a playground for kids, interactive water features, paved sidewalks for jogging, biking, and skateboarding, and a dog park. Given Miami’s art-forward reputation, it’s probably not surprising that the park benches here are works of art all their own.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Recommended
