The city of Miami is located in South Florida and is home to an exotic mix of cultures and traditions that offers an inexhaustible amount of tourist attractions and monuments of all kinds. In addition to miles of coastline, beach and dreamy views of the Atlantic Ocean, the city of Miami has a lot to teach you. Like other great cities, such as New York, Miami perfectly combines old buildings with modern buildings, and the art of all with modern architecture. Keep reading to discover the top things to do in Miami with this travel itinerary.
Top things to do in Miami, Florida: Travel Itinerary
We stayed one day in Miami, one in the Everglades (What to see & do in the Everglades National Park) and another in Florida Keys (the perfect day road trip itinerary)
1. South Beach, a must-see in Miami
It was probably the place we liked the most. It is a city within Miami that, as its name suggests, stands out for its beach at the foot of giant skyscrapers, a free access beach where there is an element that I have no doubt that will catch your attention at a glance. Who has not dreamed of taking a picture with the lifeguard booths? Sorry to take away your hopes, but climbing on the booths is not allowed. In fact, they have a big sign to warn you that you may be fined.
Besides the endless beach, clear water and atmosphere, the best thing about this area is Ocean Drive. This street runs parallel to the beach and is lined with bars and restaurants, many of them with loud Latin music. But what stands out the most about Ocean Drive are its unique buildings, most of them Art Deco design hotels. I assure you that each building is more beautiful than the last. It's like taking a walk through the 20's. In addition, all the facades are very well maintained and it is not uncommon to find a classic car at the door.
2. Downtown, the center of Miami
Downtown Miami is another of the must-see places in Miami. It is the financial center of the city. On one side is the office area, Brickell Avenue and the entire river area. An ideal place to feel the fast pace of the city and freak out among so many skyscrapers. Although I warn you that what you are really going to freak out about is the traffic jams during rush hour. If you are going to move around Miami by car, avoid passing through this area at the time of leaving work. Believe me you will appreciate it.
4. Little Havana, a little piece of Cuba in Miami
Little Havana is the neighborhood that represents the icon of the exodus of Cubans to the country of opportunities. You have to come here to walk up and down Calle Ocho, the main street of Little Havana. Here you will find the mythical Tower Theater with its Art Deco façade, step on the most famous Latin stars on the Walk of Fame and enjoy Cuban food in one of its restaurants. Before leaving, don't forget to stop and take a look at Domino Park. In this park it is traditional to see the Cubans themselves playing dominoes.
5. Wynwood, one of the best things to see in Miami
If you like street art the colorful neighborhood of Wynwood will be your next visit. Here are the murals of the most famous artists in the world. From the Spanish Okuda, Pixel Pancho, Aiko or Shepard Fairey. The list is long. Undoubtedly, it is the neighborhood with the best graffiti in Miami and a real delight for those who enjoy as we do open-air museums.
The history of this neighborhood is very curious. Formerly this area was known as Little San Juan, for being a neighborhood where exiled Latinos lived, mostly from Puerto Rico. The neighborhood has been evolving a lot over the years, from being a rather poor and dangerous neighborhood of Miami to being the trendy neighborhood. Thanks to the metamorphosis that has undergone what were once walls of practically abandoned warehouses are now recreated in them true works of art. There is no doubt that street art has given a new life to the neighborhood.
Walking around this area you can see a lot of interesting and free murals. But the most important colorful spot is Wynwood Walls. It is an outdoor museum where murals of the best international artists are exhibited in a few square meters. It also has art galleries where you can even buy works (as you can imagine at really "cheap" prices). The entrance is paid, but if you like street art I think you will like it a lot. In addition, you can take some very original photos with the murals in the background.
Miami's surroundings
Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is another must-see in Miami. It is only an hour's drive from downtown and for various reasons has become one of the most popular excursions. Its most famous inhabitants? Undoubtedly the caimans.
If you are interested in the subject, take a look at the article about the Everglades National Park.
A getaway to paradise: Florida Keys
We are totally in love with the Florida Keys and that is why this excursion could not be missing in any way in this ranking. The keys are a sequence of islands that are linked by bridges that make this road a real treat. The most spectacular: Key West.
If you want more information and know how to plan your day in the keys visit this post: Florida Keys: The perfect day road trip itinerary
