Who has never dreamt of going to Miami? Or more generally to Florida? Complicated not only by the beauty of the city, but also by the various TV series and films, Miami has become the most common American Dream, and has always attracted a lot of tourists, among its skyscrapers, busy life and beautiful beaches.
As you can imagine, there are so many things to do and see that a week would not be enough. But if you are perhaps on an on-the-road trip or simply have little time, it will be important to select the things to see to enjoy this beautiful city to the fullest. Here is the Miami in a Day itinerary!
SEE ALSO: What to see in Miami
One-day itinerary in Miami
This itinerary covers the main stops in Miami, excluding museums and attractions that would take too long to visit.
The day begins in Little Havana, the city's Cuban immigrant quarter, where the Calle Ocho Walk of Fame is a must-see! Continue on to Downtown Miami, the city's financial district! Stroll among the tall skyscrapers and from here enjoy a scenic cruise in Biscayne Bay!
For lunch, reach the Wynwood district, Miami's art district, and lose yourself in the Wynwood Walls, a true open-air gallery! In the second half of the afternoon head to Miami Beach, enjoying the famous Ocean Drive and the Art Deco District!
Finally, end the evening in South Beach, to fully experience Miami's nightlife!
Morning: Little Havana and Calle Ocho Walk of Fame (free), Downtown Miami (free), scenic cruise (€23.00)
Afternoon: Wynwood (free), Wynwood Walls ($10.00/€8.30), Miami Beach (free)
Evening: South Beach Miami (free)
Distance travelled: 19 km
Where to eat: Lunch at The Salty Donut Wynwood, 50 NW 23rd St #112(Get directions) / Dinner at The Lobster Shack, 40 South Pointe Dr #104, Miami Beach(Get directions)
First time in Miami? To maximise your time and get a first impression of the city, we recommend booking a guided walking tour with a local guide or an open-top bus tour.
Below we detail the main attractions to visit during the day.
1 - Little Havana and Calle Ocho Walk of Fame
Photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans. Start this day in Miami in Little Havana, the city's Cuban immigrant neighbourhood. Stroll through the streets of this quaint neighbourhood, filled with colourful murals, flowers and Spanish-speaking people, all accompanied by the intense aroma of coffee. A little corner of Cuba, where you will also come across cigar artisans!
Between strolls, don't miss Calle Ocho, the main point of the area where the Walk of Fame is located, and at the end of which you will find the Cuban Memorial Boulevard Park.
Enjoy a Cuban coffee: you can't leave the neighbourhood without trying the world-famous Cuban coffee served in small glasses. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it is prepared by putting a mixture of coffee powder and raw cane sugar in the filter of the mocha! You'll find several establishments serving it.
2 - Downtown Miami and Bayfront Park
About mid-morning take the 11 bus to Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami, your next stop for the day. The stop is at SW 1 St & SW 13 Av, 900 metres from Cuban Memorial Boulevard Park, and you'll have to get off at SE 1 Av & E Flager St, not far from the park (single ride $2.25, about €2.00). Alternatively, you can take a taxi that will take you right in front of Bayfront Park. Even better, you can use the Uber service, booking the taxi from the app and knowing in advance the cost you are going to pay.
Downtown Miami is the financial and administrative hub of Miami, but also a neighbourhood full of museums, shops, hotels, shows and sporting events. After passing through Bayfront Park, a beautiful park overlooking the sea, with a popular amphitheatre, fountains and used for many events, you will arrive at the Bayside Marketplace, a large shopping centre full of shops and restaurants. But not only that, all the boats that sail around the bay depart from here.
Take a cruise on Biscayne Bay: one of the most scenic ways to enjoy the beauty of Miami is by sea! So don't miss out on a cruise that will take you along the bay, taking in the city's skyline! Departure at 11 a.m., duration 1 h 30 min. Info and costs here
3 - Wynwood and Wynwood Walls
Photo by Daniel Di Palma. Once you've completed the boat tour, head back down to the Bayside Marketplace. From here, travel by public transport, taxi or Uber. By transportation, from Bayside Marketplace take bus line 12 from Biscayne Bd & NE 3 St to Stephen P Clark Center, and from there walk 2 min to NW 2 Av & NW 2 St, where you can take bus 2 to NW 2 Av & NW 22 St.
Have lunch at one of the many eateries in the area, all very distinctive and with all kinds of cuisine, and then take a stroll through the streets of the Wynwood neighbourhood, known as the artistic heart of Miami, full of art galleries, eclectic clubs, murals and craft breweries. Nowadays, this is also one of the city's most popular areas. Among its main attractions is the Wynwood Walls, an open-air gallery where street art takes centre stage. Here you can have fun taking lots of pictures - very Instagrammable!
Visiting info: Wynwood Walls open Mon-Thu 10:30-23:30, Fri-Sat 10:30-00:00, Sun 10:30-20:00. Admission full price $10.00 (€8.30), concessions $5.00 (€4.15).
Taste a craft beer: This neighbourhood is full of craft breweries, with large rooms, attention to detail and lots of great murals! Of them all, we recommend stopping for a beer at the Wynwood Brewing Company(Get Directions).
4 - Miami Beach
Once your visit to Wynwood Walls is over, take a taxi or public transport to Miami Beach, one of Miami's most popular areas. From the Wynwood neighbourhood you can take the direct 110 bus that will take you to Middle Beach in just half an hour. Then, to move along the coast, you have plenty of buses available, including the 103, 112, 113, 119 and 150 lines, which follow the waterfront!
And there you are, admiring the big beaches surrounded by skyscrapers, the classic image of Miami, the one you see in most magazines. You can spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach, or you can explore this part of Miami Beach. We recommend going as far as Lummus Park in South Beach. South Beach is famous for great beaches, clubs, nightlife and restaurants. It is also home to theArt Deco District, a district on the famous Ocean Drive featuring well-preserved art deco buildings and mansions.
Takea photo in front of the Welcome to Miami Beach Sign: like any self-respecting major American city, Miami has its own 'welcome sign'. Take a photo under the one in Miami Beach as a souvenir of this wonderful trip!
Activities and ideas for alternative itineraries
If you visit Miami during the warm season, you might consider devoting half a day to relaxing on the beach! There are beautiful beaches in and around the city as well as Miami Beach! If, on the other hand, you are in the city during colder weather or on a rainy day, you could dedicate a morning to visiting museums! One of the most popular is the Perez Art Museum ($16.00/€13.50), next to which is also the Phillips and Patricia Frost Museum of Science ($29.95/€25.40).
If, on the other hand, you want a nature experience, we recommend Everglades National Park, perhaps taking advantage of the convenient airboat ride, but budget at least half a day!
Finally, if you are travelling as a family, there are plenty of activities to do! In the morning, instead of visiting Little Havana, you can visit the Miami Seaquarium, the largest aquarium in the United States ($49.99/€42.30). Also wonderful is the Miami Metrozoo, the city's huge zoo ($22.95/€19.40), but in this case you have to dedicate the whole day to it!
SEE ALSO: 15 things to see and do in Miami
Family city tour: morning Miami Seaquarium, lunchtime Wynwood district and Wynwood Walls. Afternoon beach at Miami Beach. Alternatively, full day at Miami Metrozoo
Undiscovered Places itinerary: morning at Jungle Island (photo opportunity with parrots). Afternoon relaxation at the Venetian Pools. Evening at the Miami Design District
Free attractions itinerary: Morning Little Havana, Downtown Miami and Bayfront Park. Afternoon Wynwood and Little Haiti, late afternoon and evening Ocean Drive and Miami Beach
Discovering Miami's beaches: morning Key Biscayne beaches, late morning Downtown Miami and scenic cruise Afternoon Miami Beach and Ocean Drive, with relaxation on the beach or surf lessons. Evening in Miami South Beach - discover the 10 best beaches in Miami
Miami and Everglades National Park: morning Downtown Miami and Wynwood neighborhood. 1 p.m. Departure tour to the Everglades, transportation included. Evening Miami Beach
Art discovery day: morning visit Perez Art Museum and Dowtown Miami. Afternoon Wynwood district and Wynwood Walls, late afternoon Art Deco District in Miami Beach. Evening Miami Beach
Before you go: useful tips
Getaround by transport: visiting Miami on foot is impossible, the city is big and the attractions far apart! For a day, we recommend moving around by transport and buying a day ticket (from $5.65/€5.10) - find out more
Optimise your time: the best solution would be to use the Uber service, but it depends on the areas you need to visit. Definitely avoid the busiest hours, so as not to get stuck in traffic.
Consider the sightseeing bus: if you want to enjoy a general overview of the city, seeing as much of it as possible, we recommend the combined sightseeing bus + boat tour! Info and costs here
Evaluate theMiami Pass: depending on the itinerary you want to follow, we recommend you consider purchasing the Go Miami Pass, with many discounts on attractions and activities (from €60.50 - see details)
Treat yourself to a quick lunch: there are many things to see, so opt for a quick lunch (the Wynwood neighbourhood is full of such places, which are not necessarily fast food restaurants) and enjoy a leisurely dinner in the evening instead
Book tours in advance: if you plan to visit Everglades National Park or participate in any special activities, such as a boat tour, we recommend booking as early as possible
