21 Amazing Places to See and Things to Do in Miami, FL


Miami is a city in Miami-Dade County in Florida state of the United States of America. The city is known for its pristine beaches and fun vibe. Partying and clubbing are some of the most fun things to do in Miami at night. The city has a pop culture standing of its own. It has been featured in several films, television shows, and music videos. There are movies, shows, and songs dedicated to the city. Many of the best places to visit in Miami are recognized because of their pop culture fame. The city has been featured in 2 Fast 2 Furious, Ace Ventura, Bad Boys franchise, Baywatch, The Bodyguard, Donnie Brasco, Iron Man, and so on.

The majority of Miami’s tourist attractions are close to the coast. The beaches of Miami have it all. People come here to enjoy the ocean view, relax in the golden sands, enjoy street food, get thrilled of water sports, or just swim to beat the heat. Each of the Miami beaches has a vibe of its own.

Aside from the beaches, there are several outdoor activities to do in Miami including nature trails, jet skiing, kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, jet-pack rides, parasailing, off-roading, and so on. The city has gardens, public parks, sports venues, entertainment venues, recreational areas, wildlife parks, and golf courses. These places are the major Miami attractions for family tourists.

But, Miami is more popular with bachelors and is a prominent spring break and pre-wedding partying destination. Nightlife in general is an integral part of Miami travel with several clubs, pubs, bars, nightclubs, dance bars, and so on. You can find these spread throughout the city and along the beaches in Miami.

The city is well known in the art community as well for its role in the Art Deco movement. Art museums and galleries are a major part of Miami sightseeing. It is also a renowned center for innovative performing arts.

This Blog Post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything from that link then I may earn a small part of the commission and for that, you do not need to pay any extra amount.

Top 21 Tourist Places to Visit in Miami in 5 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Wynwood Walls

These warehouse walls act as an art gallery of sorts. The walls feature large murals of celebrities, historical figures, and fictional characters. It is one of the most popular things to see in Miami. The murals are changed from time to time. While here, you should also check out Wynwood Doors. These are building doors painted by different artists and these too are changed from time to time. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this wall.

I suggest you should try a Wynwood Graffiti Golf Cart Tour.

Wynwood Walls

2. Margulies Collection

This art gallery exhibits the collection of Martin Margulies. The collection features contemporary artwork and vintage photographs. It is one of the best places to visit in Miami for art admirers. You will need about an hour to tour this collection.

Margulies Collection

3. Pérez Art Museum Miami

This museum is dedicated to international artwork hailing from 20th and 21st centuries. The art gallery is supposed to be reflective of the international culture of the city and the country. It is one of the best Miami tourist attractions to see modern artwork from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. You will need an hour to tour this museum.

Pérez Art Museum Miami

4. Freedom Tower

Built-in 1925, this National Historical Site exhibits the Mediterranean Revival style of architecture. It is one of the most iconic landmarks of the city. During the 1960s, this building was used to receive Cuban refugees. Today it is known among Miami attractions for housing the Museum of Art and Design and the Cuban American Museum. You will need an hour to explore this building.

Freedom Tower

5. Gesu Catholic Church

Built-in 1925, this is the oldest church in the city. This pink church is also one of the most photogenic monuments you will come across during Miami sightseeing. The architecture is a blend of several styles. You will need 30 to 45 minutes for this church.

Gesu Catholic Church

6. HistoryMiami Museum

This museum is dedicated to the history of southern Florida and the Florida keys. The museum has 4 permanent exhibits namely Tropical Dreams, The History of Ourselves, Whitman Family Gallery, and Folklife Gallery. Collectively these exhibits shed light on several aspects of the region from pre-historic times to the modern period. You will need about an hour from Miami to tour this museum.

HistoryMiami Museum

Day 2

1. Little Havana

This Cuban neighborhood is the most famous district to explore when you visit Miami. It has been featured in films, television shows, and music videos. The area is great for colorful houses, street art, street food, restaurants, and its general Latin American vibe. It is one of the best things to do in downtown Miami. You will need a couple of hours to explore Little Havana.

I suggest you must try a Little Havana Food and Walking Tour.

Little Havana

2. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

This villa was built in the 20th century and belonged to an industrialist named James Deering. The villa is known for its Italian Renaissance style of architecture. The villa has 70 rooms featuring different types of decors and antique art. It is one of the most fun places to go in Miami for art and architecture admirers. You will need 2 to 3 hours to tour this place.

I suggest you should get your admission ticket to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in advance.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

3. Key Biscayne

This town sits on an island in the Florida Keys. The town and the island are popular for their pristine golden sand beaches and several fun things to do in Miami. It is also popular for its seafood joints, golf courses, water sports, boat cruises, and recreational parks. The island is also home to Bill Baggs Cape Florid State Park where people can enjoy nature trails, birdwatching, camping, and other outdoor activities to do in Miami. You will need 3 to 4 hours to enjoy this island.

Key Biscayne

Day 3

1. Jewish Museum of Florida

Built during the 1930s, this building was previously a synagogue. Now it is a museum dedicated to the history of Jewish people around the world. There is also an exhibit focused on the history of the community in Florida. You will need an hour from the Miami trip to visit this museum.

Jewish Museum of Florida

2. The Art Deco Historic District / Miami Beach Architectural District

This area has around 800 buildings built between 1923 and 1943. These buildings are known for their beautiful art-deco style and pastel color palate. You will come across several historical places to see in Miami. The area is home to several iconic hotels with a history of hosting celebrities. You will need an hour or so to explore this area.

I suggest you should book a Walking Tour of The Official Art Deco.

The Art Deco Historic District

3. The Wolfsonian

This museum is dedicated to art and design. It houses more than 180,000 items of decorative arts, handicrafts, artifacts, paintings, sculptures, and so on. It is one of the best places to go in Miami to witness antique items as well. The museum exhibits originate from North America, Europe, and Asia. You will need an hour to tour this museum.

The Wolfsonian

4. Lincoln Road

This pedestrian street mall is part of South Beach. Shopping is one of the most popular Miami activities and you will find almost everything at one of the shops here. The street also has restaurants, cafes, bars, and art galleries. You will need about an hour to explore this place.

Lincoln Road

5. Holocaust Memorial

This sculpture garden was designed by Kenneth Treister and was founded by a group of Holocaust survivors. The garden features several sculptures depicting the horrors faced by the people during the holocaust. The beautiful sculptures have made this memorial rank among the top things to do in Miami. You will need about 30 to 45 to explore this place.

Holocaust Memorial

6. Bass Museum of Art

This museum exhibits the collection donated by John and Johanna Bass. The museum features artwork by renowned artists including Botticelli, Rubens, Dupre, and Makart. You will need about 30 to 45 minutes from Miami travel to explore this museum.

Bass Museum of Art

Day 4

1. Zoo Miami

This zoo has more than 300 articles and is one of the most popular Miami tourist spots for families. The zoo has African lions, elephants, deer, antelope, gazelle, alpaca, oryx, clouded leopard, orangutan, rhinoceros, jaguar, wolf, and giraffe, hyena, tiger, and so on. You will need about 2 hours to tour this zoo.

I suggest you should book your Entrance Ticket to Zoo Miami in advance.

Zoo Miami

2. Monkey Jungle

This wildlife park houses 30 species of primates in the recreated forest-like environment. The park is quite popular for animal interaction activities and shows. These are popular activities in Miami for family tourists. You will need a couple of hours to tour this place.

Monkey Jungle

3. Coral Castle

This sculpture garden was developed during the 1940s by Ed Leedskalnin. It is one of the most fascinating things to see in Miami, not just for the wonderful sculptures, but also for the legend surrounding its creation. Leedskalnin claimed he used ancient Egyptian methods to move heavy stones to the site, though it was never revealed. You will need 2 to 3 hours from Miami sightseeing to explore this site.

Coral Castle

Day 5

1. Miami Seaquarium

This aquarium and marine life entertainment park is one of the most popular Miami tourist attractions. You get to witness several shows featuring seals, orca whales, sharks, and so on. People can also engage in encounters with animals at this place. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore the seaquarium.

I suggest you should book your Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket to Miami Seaquarium in advance.

Miami Seaquarium

2. Miami Children’s Museum

This museum features multimedia and interactive exhibits to engage children. The museum covers a variety of subjects including science, technology, history, evolution, zoology, geography, cosmology, and so on. You will need 2 hours to tour this museum.

Miami Children’s Museum

3. Jungle Island

This zoological park houses rare and exotic animals. But, more than the animals this park is well known for animal encounter activities in Miami and animal themed shows. You will need about 2 hours to tour this animal park.

Jungle Island

If you are looking for more fun places to go in Miami, Florida check out the section below. We have put together an exhaustive list of a variety of attractions and activities in Miami.

Things to do in Miami

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Miami , California

  1. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
  2. Perez Art Museum
  3. Wynwood Walls
  4. Wynwood Doors
  5. The Bass Art Museum
  6. Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
  7. Miami Children’s Museum
  8. History Miami Museum
  9. Institute of Contemporary Art
  10. Wolfsonian Museum
  11. Museum of Contemporary Art
  12. Rubell Museum
  13. Lowe Art Museum
  14. Coral Castle
  15. Holocaust Memorial
  16. Freedom Tower
  17. Coral Gables Museum
  18. Cape Florida Lighthouse
  19. Jewish Museum of Florida
  20. The Barnacle Historic State Park
  21. Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum
  22. Museum of Graffiti
  23. The Margulies Collection
  24. Stiltsville
  25. Superblue Miami
  26. Cubaocho Museum & Performing Art Center
  27. De la Cruz Collection
  28. Artechhouse Miami
  29. Calle Ocho Walk of Fame
  30. Miami City Ballet
  31. Miami Circle National Historic Landmark
  32. Haitian Heritage Museum
  33. Gesu Church
  34. American Museum of Cuban Diaspora
  35. Curtiss Mansion
  36. Museum of Art and Design
  37. MDC Tower Theatre
  38. Pan American Art Projects
  39. Bay of Pigs Museum & Library
  40. Viernes Cultural Center

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Miami

  1. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
  2. Virginia Key
  3. Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Miami

  1. Miami Seaquarium
  2. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
  3. Jungle Island
  4. Venetian Pool
  5. South Pointe Park Pier
  6. Crandon Park
  7. Bayfront Park
  8. FTX Arena
  9. Matheson Hammock Park & Marina
  10. Haulover Park
  11. The Kampong National Tropical Botanical Garden
  12. Pinecrest Gardens
  13. Grapeland Waterpark
  14. Historic Virginia Key Beach Park
  15. Hobie Island Beach Park
  16. Maurice A Ferre Park
  17. Amelia Earhart Park
  18. The Underline Park
  19. The Tropical Park
  20. Domino Park
  21. David T. Kennedy Park
  22. Lock and Load Miami
  23. Casino Miami
  24. Margaret Pace Park
  25. Crandon Golf
  26. Hialeah Casino Park
  27. Fun Dimension
  28. Peacock Park
  29. Magic City Casino
  30. Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel
  31. Montgomery Botanical Center
  32. Alice Wainwright Park
  33. Dezerland Action Park
  34. Santa’s Enchanted Forest
  35. AD Barnes Park
  36. Zoo Miami
  37. Monkey Jungle

Shopping in Miami

  1. Bayside Marketplace
  2. Dolphin Mall
  3. Midtown Miami
  4. Lincoln Road
  5. Design District
  6. Miracle Mile
  7. Bal Harbour
  8. The Falls
  9. Tropicana Flea Market
  10. Brickell City Center

Beaches & Islands in Miami

  1. Miami Beach
  2. Star Island
  3. Nikki Beach
  4. Virginia Key Island
  5. Bal Barbour Beach
  6. Venetian Island
  7. Key Biscayne Beach
  8. Hobie Island
  9. Surfside Beach
  10. Flagler Memorial Island
  11. Nixon Beach
  12. Palm Island
  13. South Pointe Park Pier Beach
  14. Anna Maria Island
  15. Lummus Park Beach
  16. Gasparilla Island
  17. Mid Beach
  18. Long Key Island
  19. North Beach
  20. Grand Bahama Island
  21. Haulover Beach
  22. Siesta Key Island
  23. Sunny Isles Beach
  24. Grassy Key Island
  25. Crandon Park Beach
  26. Eleuthera Island
  27. Hollywood Beach
  28. Hibiscus Island
  29. Oleta River State Park
  30. Indian Creek Island
  31. South Beach
  32. Sunset Islands
  33. 12th Street Beach
  34. Fisher Island
  35. La Gorce Island
  36. Bay Point Island
  37. Normandy Isles
  38. Belle Meade Island

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Miami

  1. Boat Cruise
  2. Speedboat ride
  3. Jet Ski
  4. Beach Sports
  5. Bus Tour
  6. Walking Tour
  7. Paragliding
  8. Nature Trails
  9. Hiking
  10. Camping

Sightseeing in Miami

  1. Collins Avenue
  2. Biscayne Boulevard
  3. The Miami Wharf
  4. Venetian Islands
  5. Little Havana
  6. Miracle Mile
  7. Brickell Avenue
  8. Star Island
  9. Venetian Causeway Beach
  10. Tamiami Trails
  11. Miami Tower
  12. 12th Street
  13. Art Deco Historic District
  14. Lincoln Road

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Miami

  1. Stubborn Seed
  2. Motek
  3. Boia De
  4. La Traila Barbecue
  5. La Mar
  6. Taquiza
  7. Zitz Sum
  8. Phuc Yea
  9. The Surf Club
  10. El Bagel
  11. Itamae
  12. Old Greg’s Pizza
  13. Ariete
  14. Amara at Paraiso
  15. Cote Miami
  16. Zak the Baker
  17. Mandolin Aegean Bistro
  18. Leku
  19. Ghee Indian Kitchen
  20. Lucali
  21. Luca Osteria
  22. Mignonette
  23. Makoto
  24. Byblos Miami
  25. Jaguar Sun
  26. All Day
  27. Macchialina
  28. NIU Kitchen
  29. Carbone
  30. Over Under
  31. Los Felix
  32. Joe’s Stone Crab

Where to Stay in Miami?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Miami. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Miami.

Luxurious Hotels

  1. InterContinental Miami, an IHG Hotel
  2. Hotel AKA Brickell
  3. YVE Hotel Miami
  4. Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Miami Brickell Downtown
  5. Novotel Miami Brickell
  6. Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay
  7. Kimpton EPIC Hotel
  8. Hilton Miami Downtown
  9. Mandarin Oriental, Miami
  10. Hotel Arya, BW Premier Collection
  11. JW Marriott Marquis Miami
  12. Four Seasons Hotel Miami

Mid-Range Hotels

  1. Hampton Inn & Suites Miami Wynwood Design District
  2. Best Western Plus Miami Airport North Hotel & Suites
  3. Hampton Inn by Hilton Coconut Grove Coral Gables Miami
  4. Hampton Inn Miami Dadeland
  5. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming
  6. Hilton Garden Inn Miami Brickell South
  7. AC Hotel by Marriott Miami Dadeland
  8. Eurostars Langford
  9. SpringHill Suites Miami Doral
  10. Hilton Miami Dadeland
  11. Courtyard Miami West/FL Turnpike
  12. Life House, Little Havana

Budget Hotels

  1. Sinbad Motel
  2. Regency Miami Airport
  3. Travelodge by Wyndham Miami Biscayne Bay
  4. Selina Miami River

TripAdvisor

Custom Tours Package in Miami

How to Reach Miami?

By Air

Miami International Airport is the main airport to reach Miami. You can get direct flights to visit Miami from Dublin, Moscow, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Toronto, Montreal, Madrid, Paris, Seattle, Chicago, Charleston, Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Medellin, Houston, New York, San Jose, Juan Santamaria, Tel Aviv, Washington, Pittsburg, New Orleans, London, Panama City, Dubai, Helsinki, Stockholm, Boston, Rome, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Bogota, Doha, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Istanbul, San Francisco and many more. You can get buses and cabs to get to Miami tourist spots from the airport.

By Road

The Silver Service train route of Amtrack connects Miami to New York, Charleston, Savannah, Washington, Jacksonville, and Orlando. The bus network is far more widespread. You can reach Miami by bus from several cities in the USA.

If you are planning to visit Miami by road, you should head for highway routes 75, 95, 98, 27 or 41.

By Water

Despite being a coastal city, there are no travel water routes to reach Miami. You can get boat rides from Miami to reach the Florida Keys islands and back.


Image Reference

The post 21 Amazing Places to See and Things to Do in Miami, FL appeared first on Wide World Trips.

Wide World Trips

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *