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Published: 10/6/25
What To Do During A First Time Visit to Miami, Florida
A long weekend in Miami wasn’t my idea.
A travel agent tossed out Miami, Florida when brainstorming a girls’ trip destination that wouldn’t require a layover. Although that particular trip turned into a glorious week on the U.S. Virgin Islands, Miami kept tugging at me. I mean . . . art deco architecture, Cuban food, the BEACH; I knew I had to experience Miami for myself.
As a mega city at the southern tip of the contiguous United States, you definitely can’t classify Miami as “cozy.” In fact, I’ve heard it said that Miami is the best place to go in the United States if you want to feel like you’re not in the United States.
Not only is Miami a gateway to popular Floridian destinations like the Everglades and the Keys, for many folks, Miami is the gateway to the United States. The result is a melting pot of cultures that burbles over into language, food, art, and so much more. We quickly discovered that there’s an almost overwhelming number of things to do in Miami.
In this post, I’ll be sharing the favorite things we did on our three-day Miami mini-break in April 2025. While we had to prioritize sipping mojitos under a beach umbrella and eating our way through Little Havana, we also found that the very best things to do in Miami often lurk off the beaten path.
There’s so much more to do in Miami beyond going to the beach, clubbing, and eating. Whether you’re interested in museums, architecture, food, or just finding the best brunch spot in Miami, I’ve got you covered with my round-up of the best Miami activities.
Let’s dive in and find out what Miami is all about!
18 Best Things To Do in Miami
1) Go to the beach
Miami is synonymous with beach going, but the beach most associated with Miami – Miami Beach – is actually a completely separate municipality. Located on a long narrow barrier island, most Miami visitors headed straight across one of the bridges connecting Miami and Miami Beach to start soak up rays and relaxation. We certainly did!
This nine-mile long beach is divided into three sections: South, Mid, and North. South Beach is the best known (anyone else remember the fad diet from the 1990s?!) and most visited, but the whole beach is open to the public. With numerous accesses from the Miami Beach boardwalk, it’s easy to stick your toes in the sand or Atlantic.
While you’re enjoying the beach, be sure to take a little stroll to check out the iconic Miami Beach lifeguard towers. When the towers had to be replaced Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Miami Beach used architect William Lane to design 36 durable, brightly colored towers that complement the city’s beloved art deco architecture.
2) Find the best Cubano in Miami
I arrived in Miami with a goal of eating as many Cuban sandwiches, or Cubanos, as humanly possible during our brief visit.
Despite its name, the Cubano sandwich that many of us associate with Miami (in part, thanks to the 2014 Jon Favreau film, Chef) actually originated in Florida, not Cuba. The sandwich was invented either in Tampa or Key West and originally served to Cuban cigar factory workers.
In Miami, a Cuban sandwich consists of ham, pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and yellow mustard on Cuban bread that’s pressed until toasted and melty. In Tampa, they sometimes include salami.
The sandwiches feature prominently on Miami restaurant menus. Some favorite spots to grab your Miami Cubano include Sanguish, Louie’s at Palm House in Miami Beach, and Cubata in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood. We especially enjoyed the Cubanos at Havana 1957, which has several South Beach locations.
3) Soak up the art deco architecture
Miami is known for its striking art deco architecture, especially the hotels in the South Beach section of Miami Beach.
You can learn all about Miami’s art deco legacy at the Art Deco Museum located in Miami Beach’s Art Deco Visitor Center. Even better, go on one of the museum’s walking tours which takes you past some of the city’s most notable art deco architecture in South Beach.
If you don’t have time for a full tour, you can do a quick self-guided tour on Ocean Drive with some literature from the welcome center. I loved the Art Deco exteriors of Ocean Drive hotels like the Starlite and McAlpin. However, the art deco style lifeguard towers on the beach were my very favorite!
4) Explore South Pointe Park
If we’d realized there was a gem of a public green space at the tip of South Beach, we probably would have headed straight to South Pointe Park upon arrival. Instead, it wasn’t until our last hours in Miami that we stumbled upon this lovely waterfront park.
This park features views of Miami proper and boat traffic in Government Cut shipping channel. People come to fish, exercise, walk their dogs, or have their kids play to the splash pad. With public toilets and a pier, we could have spent a lot more time here than we budgeted.
One iconic Miami landmark you’ll want to check out in the park is the South Pointe Park lighthouse. While not an actual lighthouse, this funky, colorful art installation is meant as a metaphorical lighthouse that welcomes guests and residents to the city.
As a bonus: while you’re in the southernmost part of Miami Beach, swing by Under the Mango Tree. This small vegan restaurant is the perfect place for a reset after a weekend of Miami hedonism. An acai bowl and kombucha never tasted so good!
5) Bike along Miami Beach
During our final hours in Miami Beach, after meandering through South Pointe Park, we decided on a whim to grab a Citibike and head back to our Mid-beach hotel via the Miami Beach boardwalk. I always forget how pleasant and easy biking is and I really wish we’d spent our entire stay biking up and down Miami Beach.
Since Miami Beach is on a long, skinny peninsula, you spend a fair amount of time traveling north and south between points of interest. Like in Manhattan, your destination often feels too close to bother with a taxi or rideshare, but ends up being farther than you want to walk.
A bike really comes in clutch, drastically reducing commute times and keeping you out of Miami traffic. We found Citibike stands about every three blocks along Miami Beach’s Collins Avenue. To save hassle, I recommend downloading the app ahead of time if you plan to use the bikes during your stay!
Bikes would have been the perfect way to get up to Louie’s at Palm House for their celebrated Cubano sandwich. If we’d discovered the bikes sooner, I probably would have ridden up the beach to check out more of beach’s unique lifeguard towers too.
If you want to have a bike for your entire stay, Miami Beach also has several bike rental shops.
6) Check out the bakery scene
My sister-in-law (of Milan and Christmas markets fame) used to live in Florida and she recommended we hit up the Cuban bakeries while we were in town. While I came ready to fill up on Cuban pastries and coffee, I was a little surprised by the sheer volume of bakeries of all nationalities, especially in Miami Beach.
Right across from our hotel, we could choose between an Italian bakery (Rosetta) and a Spanish cafe (San Gines). It made for some delicious mornings and afternoon snacks! If you’re a pastry lover, don’t sleep on Miami’s excellent bakeries!
7) Do a food tour in Little Havana
If you only have time for one activity in Miami, I’d recommend doing a food tour in Little Havana.
As Cuba’s closest U.S. city, Miami has attracted generations of Cuban refugees. Little Havana, just west of downtown Miami is the perfect place to immerse yourself in Cuban culture. Here you’ll find various shops selling handrolled Cuban cigars, bakeries, murals, and of course, the famed Domino Park where locals gather for competitive domino games.
I always say the best way to learn about a culture is through food, so I was all about taking a food tour through Little Havana’s small commercial district.
While the food was obviously delicious, I really enjoyed have a tour guide who explained the cultural significance of various businesses, public art and spaces. Since Little Havana’s commercial district only stretches across a handful of blocks, if you explore it independently, you’ll likely walk right most of the neighborhood’s most interesting features if you go without a guide.
8) Go to a rooftop movie
We were super close to heading over to Rooftop Cinema Club on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach for a screening of Dirty Dancing one night during our visit. While we ended up skipping this unique al fresco cinema experience located on the top of a parking garage, it sounded like such a fun way to have a chill Miami evening.
The cinema offers screenings almost every night, with multiple films to choose from on weekends. Several screenings at dog-friendly. They recommend you arrive early so you can play lawn games on the turf covered rooftop and soak up the view. A full concession stand as well as a bar offering a range of movie-themed cocktails keep you sated.
9) Go to the club
Miami is known for its nightclub scene, especially in South Beach. I was never one for clubs even before I was really leaning into the “elderly” part of my “elderly millennial” descriptor, but if you feel differently, Miami and Miami Beach have a lot to offer. As unspontaneous as it sounds, it’s best to book your club tickets in advance to guarantee entrance.
If a crowded club just doesn’t appeal to you, but you don’t want to totally miss out, my pro tip is to head down to Lummus Park along Ocean Drive. Grab a park bench across from the Palace Bar and Restaurant during one of their famous weekend drag brunches and you soak up the sights and sounds without the oppressive press of humanity.
Another lowkey option is to head to Anthony Bourdain’s favorite Miami Beach bar, Mac’s Club Deuce. Otherwise, you could check out Sweet Liberty or Broken Shaker for laidback evenings sipping drinks.
10) Dine at the former Versace Mansion
Fashion designer Gianni Versace’s Italian style villa – Villa Casa Casuarina – on South Beach’s Ocean Drive is now home to a restaurant not so cleverly named . . . Gianni’s at the former Versace Mansion. It’s the perfect excuse to get glammed up and gawk at 20th century opulence while in Miami.
Yes, it’s a little grim to eat at the location of Versace’s murder. (He was shot and killed on the front steps in July 1997.) But once you’re through the front door, it’s easy to forget the building’s storied past. In fact, you might think you’ve been whisked off to Tuscany.
While it might not be the best meal you eat in Miami, I was very pleased with both the food and the ambiance. The set lunch menu is the perfect way to experience the mansion without breaking the bank. If you’re willing to wait out the would be influencers doing extensive photo shoots in front of the tiled pool for your own photo, I really think this is one of the most fun, unique things you can do in Miami.
11) Learn about Jewish history in Florida
It’s no secret that Florida has a large Jewish population. However, I always associated the Floridian Jewish population with northeastern snowbirds; think Jerry’s parents and their Boca condo in Seinfeld.
But as you might expect, the story of Jews in Florida extends well beyond modern day retirees. The first documented Jews arrived in Florida in 1763 and Jewish and Florida history have been intertwined ever since.
I highly recommend a stop at the Jewish Museum of Florida in South Beach to learn more about the fascinating history of Florida and Jewish people. Located in two former synagogues, the museum features a permanent exhibit about Florida Jewish history with a special focus on Miami Beach. There are also two temporary exhibits. We especially appreciated the docent’s helpful introduction after we checked in.
12) Go to brunch
If you haven’t picked up already with all this talk of bakeries and Cuban fare, one of the best things to do in Miami is eat! Miami Beach actually reminded me a little of Waikiki: all beach, tower hotels, and a dizzying choice of restaurants. With an average of 76,000 daily visitors in town, Miami needs a lot of beds and food!
Since Miami hosts so many cruise ship tourists and cruise ships typically depart Miami in the mid-afternoon, this town has really honed its brunch skills. We loved our brunch at Bon Bouquet in the Mid-Beach area of Miami Beach. Their French inspired menu transported me right back to France!
A note about dining in Miami: Just be aware that every Miami Beach restaurant we visited add an 18-20% service fee to the bill. Our Lyft driver from the airport told us that if we see this charge, you don’t need to tip as the tip is meant to keep staff tip income consistent in a city with a lot of international visitors unfamiliar with American tipping culture.
Obviously we can’t really know how each restaurant uses this extra revenue, but we decided to assume the best and basically used the service fee as a pre-calculated tip. You don’t have to pay this service fee and can ask to have it removed. And you certainly shouldn’t feel pressured to tip on top of the service fee unless you received truly exceptional service.
13) See Wynwood Walls
One Miami attraction that you’ll find recommended over and over again is to head to the Wynwood neighborhood to check out Wynwood Walls. While the entire neighborhood serves as a “gallery” for street art, Wynwood Walls is an open air museum located in the heart of neighborhood that showcases murals, graffiti, posters, statues, and more.
Wynwood’s reputation for the arts came with the emergence of Art Basel Miami Beach in the early 2000s. This annual modern art fair (which yes, originated in Basel, Switzerland) lead to a revival of art through Miami and Miami Beach.
While Wynwood once housed more than 70 art galleries, the neighborhood experienced significant decline during the 2020 pandemic. It’s now home to just a handful of galleries. These days you’re more likely to run into a smoke shop than an art gallery while wandering its streets.
I’m a lukewarm modern art lover at best, so this wasn’t a huge highlight, but it definitely qualifies as a uniquely “Miami” thing to do!
14) Shop at Lincoln Road
Lincoln Road is Miami’s most celebrated shopping district. Located along an eight-block long stretch in the Midbeach area of Miami Beach, Lincoln Road is dotted with outdoor art installations, restaurants, and of course dozens and dozens of shops.
While this pedestrian only outdoor mall is a nod to the central pedestrian only areas you’ll find in European cities like Milan and Copenhagen, the vibes at Lincoln Road are decidedly American. Most of the stores are well known brands like Sketchers, Macy’s, and Victoria’s Secret and dining options include the Cheesecake Factory and McDonald’s.
As a Minnesotan – home of the Mall of America, baby! – it takes a pretty impressive mall such as the West Edmonton Mall to pique my interest. We probably would have skipped it all together if it hadn’t been so close to our hotel.
We did find some fun art galleries tucked among the chain stores. I especially loved Kush Art Gallery and I’ll admit I got a disproportionate amount of joy picking out some new Korean skin care products at Miniso.
15) Explore Bayfront and Maurice A. Ferré Parks on the Miami waterfront
While Miami attractions are often far apart, the Miami waterfront between Bayfront and Maurice A. Ferré Parks right on Biscayne Bay provides a compact, family-friendly place for Miami exploration.
This is where you’ll find Skyviews Observation Wheel as well as the Miami Walk of Fame. When you walk in between the two parks, you’ll spot the Freedom Tower, Miami’s first skyscraper so called because Cuban refugees were processed in the building when they started arriving in Florida in the 1960s.
You’ll find two of Miami’s premier museums – Frost Museum of Science and the Perez Art Museum – as well as the Bayside Marketplace shopping mall. If your visit falls during the NBA season, you can pop into nearby Kaseya Center for a Miami Heat game. At the waterfront, you can embark on a sightseeing or party boat tours or rent a jet ski.
16) Gawk at cruise ships
Miami is a major U.S. port and you won’t have to spend much time on the beach before you spot a cargo ship heading in or out of port. It’s also the embarkment point for many Caribbean cruises. In fact many Miami Beach guests are only in town for a single night then head to one of the cruise terminals to set out in the Gulf of Mexico.
When you drive the MacArthur Causeway between Miami and Miami Beach, you’ll spot several of these massive boats docked along Dodge Island. Even if you couldn’t care less about cruises, these boats are truly floating cities and quite the spectacle to behold!
17) Check out the nearby National Parks
It might seem like a bit of a oxymoron that Miami’s sprawling metropolitan area of over six million residents is within spitting distance of two national parks.
Biscayne National Park sits just south of Miami. Since this national park is almost entirely water, the best way to see the park is to get out on the water yourself. The Biscayne National Park Institute offers a variety of guided boat tours and kayaking opportunities every day. The tours departing from Coconut Grove are the most convenient from Miami visitors.
You can also day trip down to Everglades National Park. For an airboat tour of the Everglades, head towards the Shark Valley entrance of the park.
18) Head out on a road trip through the Florida Keys
While it’s unlikely you’ll run out of things to do in Miami, if you find yourself overwhelmed by the big city, grab a rental car and head south towards the Florida Keys.
Use my round-up of all the best stops on the drive from Miami to Key West to guide your road trip down the path of Henry Flagler’s famous overseas railroad.
How To Get Around Miami
No question about it: Miami is a megacity and has some real accessiblity issues. My overall impressions of Miami would probably be a lot warmer if the city offered better public transportation.
Instead, Miami’s public transportation is limited to buses and a free people mover train that runs a 4.4 mile loop in downtown Miami. If neither of those options work for you (and they probably won’t), you’ll inevitably get stuck in traffic as you travel between Miami’s far-flung points of interest.
Not unlike Key West, you can only get so far on your own two feet in Miami and Miami Beach. Here are your best options for getting Point A to Point B in Miami:
Bike
If you’re staying right on the beach in Miami Beach, a bicycle is a great way to get around the city. Bonus: you get a little exercise too! You can use a bike from one of the ubiquitous Citibikes stands or rent from one of the dozens of rental shops in Miami and Miami Beach.
Trolley
If you’re staying in Miami Beach, don’t sleep on the free trolley that runs various loops around Miami Beach from 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. every day. You can download an app to track trolleys. Once we cracked the trolley code, it got a lot easier to tootle from one end of Miami Beach to each other.
Rideshare
For longer distances, we relied completely on rideshares. There’s no shortage of Lyfts and Ubers around Miami and Miami Beach.
Bus
Miami does offer a pretty extensive public bus service. Full disclosure: while this surely would have been the most economical way to move between Miami and Miami Beach, I never took the time to figure out the bus system. It did however look pretty easy to get from the airport to Miami Beach via the buses.
We did use the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off tour bus with limited success. Since this bus only runs for 6 measly hours each day, it will likely strand you at a Miami attraction. (We ended up needing to take a Lyft back to our hotel from Wynwood Walls.)
If you can plan your day very carefully around the bus schedule and stops, I did think it was worth it for some air conditioning and decent commentary about the city’s sights and culture.
Where To Stay in Miami
Even if you’re just in Miami for a long weekend, I highly recommend splitting your stay between Miami Beach and Miami. If I could do this trip over again, I would spend two nights on Miami Beach and then spend our final night in Miami. This will allow you optimize your time in each city without having to tangle with bridge traffic going back and forth.
As it was, we spent three very pleasant nights at National Hotel on Collins Avenue in South (almost Mid) Beach in Miami Beach. This adult-only hotel is known for its swimming pool and martini bar. We really enjoyed the beach access and friendly staff.
We also considered staying in the nearby (and adorable) art deco Hotel Greystone. The rooftop bar and pool were awfully tempting!
If we’d stayed in Miami proper, I probably would have opted for the InterContinental Miami because of its proximity to Bayfront Park and a Metromover station that would making seeing all of the downtown Miami attractions very easy.
Conclusion: Make the most of your first time in Miami
While I expected to find more things to do in Miami than could possibly fit in a long weekend, I didn’t expect to be so overwhelmed by the southern Florida city. A massive, vibrant city, Miami serves as a gateway to the Spanish speaking world. It’s by far the most bilingual American city I’ve ever visited. Our Minnesotan accents weren’t always readily understood!
The best thing to do in Miami is lean into that cultural diversity. Grab a Cubano and mojito in Little Havana. Learn about influence of Florida’s Jewish population at the Jewish Museum of Florida in South Beach. Check out the impressive display of street art in the Wynwood neighborhood. Go to a drag brunch at the Palace Bar and Restaurant.
Don’t forget about quintessential Miami activities like touring the art deco district, biking along the boardwalk, or going to the beach either. In addition, you’ll find world class museums, unparalleled access to National Parks, and excellent shopping, including at the famed Lincoln Road pedestrian mall.
While Miami can feel big and inaccessible, there are so many moments of delights to be found in Miami and Miami Beach. Whatever brings you to town, I hope this post gives you unique ideas of things to do around the city beyond eating Cuban food and going to the club. While I didn’t fall madly in love with Miami, I still really enjoyed my time here.
As always, feel free to drop me a line if there’s any way I can help you craft a memorable and beautiful Miami visit.
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