Miami

When US residents decide where to go on their winter vacation, many consider Miami as one of their priority destinations. Why is Miami so popular? The fact is that Miami has almost everything we need for a good vacation!

Miami has long and beautiful white sand beaches. This is what people in the northern states (and Canada) dream about. Warm weather, sun, ocean and beach are the main things many of us need for a successful vacation.
There's never a dull moment in Miami. There is something for everyone: a rich cultural life, international cuisine and vibrant nightlife. Miami has many hotels to suit different budgets. The best time of year to vacation in Miami is from mid-October to early May.

Miami is located in the southeast of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the second largest city in Florida. The distance from Miami to some cities: New York - 1100 miles (1760 km), Orlando - 230 miles (370 km), Los Angeles - 2330 miles (3760 km), Cancun - 534 miles (859 km), Havana (Cuba) - 230 miles (370 km), London - 4430 miles (7130 km), Rome (Italy) - 5180 miles (8340 km).

Miami International Airport (MIA) served approximately 52 million passengers in 2023. Approximately 70 - 80% of the total number comes to this region for leisure. Miami is often called the cruise capital of the world. Cruise companies offer interesting itineraries departing from the port of Miami. A lot of tourists pass through the city in order to continue their journey by sea.

Miami is most popular among residents of the eastern and northern states. Most tourists come here from New York. Following the Americans, foreign tourists also often include Miami in their travel plans around the United States. Most foreign tourists come to Miami from the countries of South America and Canada. Among the European countries, the main sources of tourists are Germany, Britain, France and Italy.

Miami Beach is the most popular tourist destination in the city. According to surveys, most tourists stay in Miami Beach (48%) and in the city center (19%) during their trip to Miami. Approximately 60% of tourists live in hotels. A large number of people stay with friends and acquaintances. Approximately 5% of tourists stay in rented or own houses.

What do tourists find most attractive in Miami? Here's what they say: beaches - 58%, weather - 57%, shopping - 30%, restaurants - 28%, nightlife - 25%, sights - 23%, Art Deco district - 22%. At the same time, there is a slight difference in the preferences of US residents and foreign tourists. For domestic tourists, the attractive aspects of Miami are arranged in the following order: weather, beaches, nightlife. For foreign tourists: beaches, weather, shopping, South Beach and Ocean Drive, restaurants.

The most popular among tourist places in Miami: Art Deco District (South Beach), beaches, Lincoln Road, Downtown Miami, Bayside Marketplace, Aventura Mall, Dolphin Mall.

Prepare for your trip to Miami (All you need in one place).

South Beach is famous for its entertainment and nightlife. Families with children sometimes prefer quieter areas. For example, Downtown Miami, Brickell, Bal Harbor, Coconut Grove, and Coral Gables. (Many tourists are of the opinion that South Beach and the Art Deco area are also good for family tourists.)

• The Art Deco district is famous for its houses, examples of architecture from the early 20th century. For older monuments of architecture you need to go to the cities of Europe. The area is located in the south of Miami Beach and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean from the east, Sixth Street to the south, Alton Road to the west, Collins Canal and Dade Boulevard to the north.
• There are many beaches on Miami Beach and the surrounding area. The coast in the south of Miami Beach along the Ocean Drive is commonly called the most popular in the city. There are beaches where there are fewer holidaymakers in Miami Beach and nearby. There are favorite beaches for families with children, surfers and same-sex couples.
• Lincoln Road is a pedestrian street that runs east to west between 16th Street and 17th Street in Miami Beach. There are many shops and restaurants here. This is a popular tourist destination in Miami Beach.
• Downtown Miami is a cultural, financial and commercial center of South Florida. In the center of the city there are several museums, parks, training centers, theaters, shops and some of the oldest buildings in the city.
• Aventura Mall is a large shopping center in Aventura, the northern suburbs of Miami, Florida. It is the largest shopping center in the state of Florida. Address: 19501 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura, Fl 33180.
• Bayside Marketplace is a festival marketplace in Miami. It is located on the shores of Biscayne Bay, between the Bayfront Park and the American Airlines Arena. Address: 401 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132.
• The Dolphin Mall is a shopping center in Sweetwater, Miami-Dade County, Florida, to west of the city of Miami. There are many shops and discounters of famous brands. Address: Dolphin Mall, 11401 NW 12th Street, Miami, FL 33172.

Miami is located on the Atlantic coast in the southern part of Florida, as well as on several islands. The main part of Miami stretches along the coast from the northeast to the southwest for about 18 kilometers. There are banks, central offices of companies, cultural and tourist centers, parks, and residential areas in Downtown Miami.
Little Havana district is also popular with tourists. It hosts festivals and other events that are well known in the US. Miami Beach is the most popular place among tourists.

On the map you can see the location of Miami and Miami Beach (on the islands).

Miami Beach

There are several islands along the coast (partly of artificial origin) at a distance about 2,49 miles from the coast. On these islands Miami Beach is located.

Foreign tourists better know Miami Beach as part of the city of Miami. In fact, Miami Beach is an independent municipality. The length of Miami Beach from north to south is about 8.08 miles, from west to east to 1.43 miles. The islands are connected to the mainland part of Miami by several bridges. To the east of Miami Beach is the Atlantic Ocean, to the west (between the islands and the mainland) the northern part of the Biscayne Bay. Famous beaches of Miami Beach are on the coast of the ocean.

The southern part of the city, South Beach (also known as SoBe) is the most popular area of Miami Beach. In South Beach there are many hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and shops. This area is especially popular with tourists from Canada and Europe. Entertainment can be found here at any time, day and night.

The most famous street here is the Ocean Drive. The length of the Ocean Drive is about 2.3 kilometers. The street is the center of the Art Deco district. A distinctive feature of the area is the houses, samples of architecture of the early 20th century.

You may be interested in: cheap hotels and hostels near the beach and Ocean Drive in Miami Beach.

Airport

Miami International Airport (MIA) is located at a distance about 13 kilometers northwest of downtown Miami. Passenger and cargo flights to the cities of America, Europe and Asia are performed from the airport. In 2016, the airport served 44.9 million passengers.

The most convenient and cheap ways to get to the airport (from the airport) are Metrorail (metro) and Metrobus (bus). The Miami Airport Flyer Bus 150 runs from the airport to Miami Beach (South Beach). The journey takes about 30 minutes.

Metrorail Orange Line trains run from Miami International Airport to Miami Downtown, Brickell, Civic Center, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Dadeland, Hialeah, South Miami and Wynwood. The journey takes about 15 minutes.

There is also a Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood airport located near Miami.

Look for flights to Florida and buy cheap tickets here.

Miami port

Port of Miami is the largest cruise port in the world (by number of served tourists). In 2016 the port served 4.98 million passengers. The port has seven cruise terminals. Cruise ships depart on Caribbean cruises from the port of Miami and from the port of Everglades (Fort Lauderdale).

The port is located on the Dodge Island, between the Downtown Miami and the southern part of Miami Beach.
The distance to the cruise terminals from Miami International Airport is about 7 miles (11 kilometers) and about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

It is possible to get to the cruise terminals of the port from the airport by public transport. For example, you can get to the Miami Downtown by the yellow metro line (Metrorail) to the Brickel stations, and then to the cruise terminals by bus (City of Miami Trolley, Coral Way route).
You can also walk on foot from the Government Center or Historic Overtown / Lyric Theater stations to the terminal. The distance to the Carnival Cruise Terminal from the stations is about 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometers).

Some cruise companies have their own shuttles carrying tourists to ships from the airport. You can take a taxi too.

How to get from the airport to the Miami Cruise Port? The best solution is to book a transfer (taxi, bus) via the Internet. You can do it right now. (The driver will meet you at the airport in Miami and take you and your luggage to the port.)

Where do tourists stay in Miami?

What is the best area for tourists to stay in Miami? Let's try to choose together.

South Beach. South Beach is the place that made Miami so famous. South Beach is the southern part of Miami Beach. The area is known for its beautiful beaches, Art Deco architecture, and vibrant nightlife. This is the best choice for those who want to be in the center of the action. If I were younger and going on vacation to Miami for the first time, I would choose South Beach.

North Beach. North Beach is located in the northern part of Miami Beach, north of 60th Street. The North Beach area is much quieter and calmer than the southern part of Miami Beach. This area is probably right for you if you are looking for a relaxing beach holiday for the whole family. The beach is just as beautiful, but you'll be sharing it with fewer people.

Mid Beach. Mid Beach, the central part of Miami Beach, is located between South Beach and North Beach. By choosing this area you can get the best of both neighboring areas. Mid Beach stretches along the oceanfront for 3.2 miles, from 23rd Street to 60th Street. There is a beautiful beach, excellent hotels, stylish restaurants and bars.

Downtown & Brickell. Downtown Miami and the Brickell area are the mainland business districts of Miami. Vacationers also often choose this area. It is believed that it is easier to reach many cultural attractions from here.

Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. Coconut Grove is on the Miami mainland, south of Miami Downtown. Coconut Grove and Coral Gables are often cited as the safest neighborhoods in Miami. Coconut Grove is also one of the greenest areas in Miami. There are no such large beaches as in Miami Beach. You can go to Matheson Hammock Park Beach.

Key Biscayne. The Key Biscayne island is located south of Miami Beach and is reached by a separate bridge from the mainland. This is a great place for a relaxing holiday, for a family holiday. If you like parties, then this is not for you. There is a beautiful, uncrowded beach here. You don't have to agonize over choosing a hotel - The Ritz-Carlton is probably the only upscale hotel on the island. (I would choose Key Biscayne for my next Miami vacation.)

South Beach, North Beach, Mid Beach, Downtown & Brickell, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne are (probably) the best places to stay in Miami for tourists. These are fairly safe areas.

See also: The best hotels in Miami or Cheap hotels in Miami Beach.

Events

Many interesting events take place in Miami every year. These activities are a good addition to the beaches, nightclubs and shops, so that tourists can have a good holiday. This page contains information about only a few annual events.

• The Calle Ocho Festival is the largest street festival of Hispanic communities in the southeastern United States. This colorful festival of Latin American culture is one of the largest in the world. The festival is held in March in Little Havana in Miami, Florida, between SW 8th Street and 27th Avenue.
• Miami Broward Carnival is a festival of Caribbean region peoples and countries culture. The event attracts about 50 thousand participants annually. The main events of the carnival are held in Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds, as well as in other places of the city. Among the main events of the carnival: the bands parade, a king and a queen coronation.
• Art Deco Weekend is an annual cultural festival that is held every year at Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. There are many interesting events during three days on the South Beach. The event is held with the intention to keep the buildings in the Art Deco style along the Ocean Drive.
• The annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival is one of the most important cultural events in South Florida. The festival is a mixture of fine art, music and culinary arts. The festival is held in the Coconut Grove district (a little south of the Miami Downtown).
• Miami Beach Gay Pride is one of the colorful events in Miami Beach. It is three-day event with Beach Party, a Festival and Parade. Gay parade usually takes place in mid-April. The main venue is Ocean Drive in the southern part of Miami Beach. It is not necessary to be a member of the LGBT community to come to see this festival.
• Marathon and a half marathon in Miami are held annually in late January or early February. Start of the race is held on the Boulevard Biscayne 601, between the American Airlines Arena and The Freedom Tower.

Useful links:

• Tickets can be bought on the official website of the event.
• Book your hotel 👍 in Miami in advance.
• Find flight and buy a plane ticket to Miami online.
• Book a taxi 🚕from the airport before your trip.
• You can rent a car here.
• Guided tours and skip-the-line tickets in Miami and Miami Beach.