What to do in Miami in 3 days
In the collective imagination, Miami is a dynamic, modern city where the sun and the sea are the masters. Florida’s most famous city attracts millions of visitors every year from all over the world, in search of the sun, the lively social life or as a starting point for discovering the nearby Caribbean or the other wonders that the Sunshine State offers.
Let’s start from the basics or distinguish Miami from Miami Beach. The first, in fact, is the capital and largest city of Miami Dade County. A city full of skyscrapers (it boasts the third skyline after New York and Chicago in the United States), a financial center and a lively cultural center where over the years many communities have settled, especially from Central and Latin America. The other center of interest is the city of Miami Beach, a town in itself, connected to Miami and its international airport by a few bridges. Miami Beach is the most vacationing, partying and seaside soul of the County. A popular destination for American university spring breakers, elite tourism from the world jet set and artistic “jewel” with its wonderful art deco facades.
That being said… How do you get to Miami and Miami Beach? Most visitors arrive in Florida from the city’s airport a few miles from downtown. Other international airports such as Fort Lauderdale and Orlando are a short drive away. However, Miami also has a huge port that welcomes hundreds of cruises to the nearby Caribbean and Mexico every year. Cruise tourism is therefore very established in Miami and the short stop in port may not be enough to fully enjoy the atmosphere that this magical city offers.
What to do/see in Miami Beach
We start from Miami Beach.
As already mentioned, Miami Beach is a separate municipality, overlooking the sea where the architecture changes considerably compared to nearby Miami. This seaside city is in fact famous for its whimsical, colorful and original architecture that we find above all along Ocean Drive, the city’s waterfront avenue, where architecture enthusiasts can admire the city’s splendid art deco hotels. The Art Decò District is in fact teeming with hotels of the most diverse shapes and colors (to be admired even at night when they are colored with lights). For the more expert or curious, guided tours are available which will explain the history of these architectural jewels. Among the unmissable hotels to photograph are the Carlyle, The Alpin, the Avalon, the Colony and the Cardozo, just to name a few. The nerve center of Ocean Drive is the stretch of South Beach, the most famous “neighborhood” of Miami Beach overlooking the beach of the same name. The beach of Miami Beach extends for km from North Beach to South Beach, and experiencing it at any time of day is a must-do during your vacation. On the beach you can also admire the original and colorful lifeguard towers, one of the symbols of the city.
Also along the beach you will find the long Beach Boardwalk where you can walk while admiring the various skaters, street artists or joggers. The Beach Boardwalk opens at various points in parks such as Lummus Park and South Point Park with its pier at the very tip of South Beach.
On Ocean Drive there is also a cult place not to be missed. Or Casa Casuarina, the villa where Gianni Versace was killed. The villa is now a luxury hotel but retains all the charm of the villa of the famous Italian designer who restored it with his unmistakable taste, creating a jewel of luxury that every visitor to Miami must necessarily admire. To enter the villa (in addition to staying there by reserving a room) you can have a drink in the bar or eat in the excellent Gianni’s restaurant. The garden with its swimming pool enriched by mosaics with the Maison Versace logo, the elegance of its common areas and the excellent cuisine amply justify the price of the dinner.
For shopping lovers, the address to reach is Lincoln Road with its mall and many shops. A walk along Collins Avenue and Espanola Way as well as in the delightful botanical garden of the city with its Japanese garden is a must.
How to get around in Miami Beach? If you have rented a car, know that parking is almost all paid and often difficult to find. If necessary, rely on a valet to let you park in the main restaurants and hotels. The ideal is to enjoy the city on foot and, why not, by bicycle, to better savor the cult atmosphere of this colorful city.
What to see/do in Miami
Crossing one of the bridges that connect Miami Beach to Miami (to travel them you can rely on the efficient bus service, a taxi or your car if you have rented it) you reach Downtown, the business district of the city with its skyscrapers and skyline unmistakable. Here you can move easily thanks to the Metromover, a free elevated metro that connects some parts of the city.
Unmissable attractions in Miami are the Design District with its boutiques, modern art installations, a real open-air design museum.
Miami is a multiethnic and multicultural city. The Cuban community is the largest and a tour of Little Havana among its restaurants and clubs is an essential stop on a trip to Miami! Another city within a city is Little Haiti.
Museum lovers cannot miss a stop at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science with its aquarium and planetarium.
Miami offers a wide array of award-winning restaurants, cultural centers and art galleries to satisfy every type of traveler.
Day Trips from Miami
Located in the southern tip of the state of Florida, getting from Miami to other cult spots in the Sunshine state is a pretty simple feat.
Fort Lauderdale with its beaches is located about half an hour from Miami. Further away but just as fascinating, a visit to Orlando and its theme parks can be an interesting possibility. But it is above all the Keys islands and the more famous Key West that represent an out-of-town trip to do once you reach Miami. For nature lovers, a visit to the Everglades park to admire the crocodiles and the tropical flora and fauna of the area is a must
