Explore
The Travel Guide to Miami
Good to Know
Safety:
A
Budget:
$$$
When to go:
Feb–May, Sept–Oct
Average Costs
Basic
Baller
Dinners
$15
$150+
Drinks
$5
$15+
Hotel
$120
$300+
With its immaculate beaches, iconic style, and penchant for partying, Miami is hands down one of the best cities in the country to escape to for a long weekend. It’s such a perfect destination, in fact, that you might even say that the very word – “Miami” – feels synonymous with “vacation”. If the beaches and aesthetics weren’t enough, it’s also got a dynamic food scene, great shopping, and an art culture that extends far beyond the Miami Biennale – and if the rhythm of the city ever starts to overwhelm you, there are plenty of sandbars, everglades, and oases of serenity where you can unplug off-grid. In short, Miami has it all, and has it all year round.
Families, couples, group getaways, foodies, fashion lovers, sports enthusiasts, anyone determined to ignore their inbox and zen out on the beach
A city as large as Miami offers plenty of variety in terms of price points, but be sure to give yourself room for a little indulgence, as there’s plenty of luxury to go around here. A good hotel will range from $150-$300 nightly, and while there’s no shortage of nightlife and upscale restaurants to drain your bank account, a day spent sunbathing, snorkeling, or paddling is near-free entertainment. As for food, a nice dinner sans drinks will cost $50-$100/person.
With its youthful energy, Miami is largely considered to be very welcoming of LGBTQIA+ visitors, and because it’s a diverse city, the rate of race-based crime is low. (It’s also friendly for solo female travelers.) Just remember that like any big city, some areas are riskier than others. If a neighborhood in Miami feels shady to you, it probably is – but areas like Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Brickell, and all the other places you’ll want to be are safe. Do watch out for mugging and pickpocketing in the wee hours of the morning.
Miami is notoriously sunny and warm year-round, with even the coldest months (December and January) regularly hitting 75-76F. Like most tropical climates, Miami’s seasons can be described as “wet” and “dry” rather than simply “hot” or “cold.”
Summer months can be extremely hot, and they’re also when hurricane season typically begins. Even if you manage to avoid hurricanes, summer is also the rainiest season. In the winter, from December through February, the weather is wonderfully warm and dry.
Autumn is barely noticeable, though the temperatures drop a bit, partly because rainfall remains relatively high and it’s the tail end of hurricane season. Spring weather means highs in the 80sF and no threat of hurricanes.
Winter is arguably the best season to visit Miami for the weather, though this is also when prices on things like hotel rooms can jump dramatically as many vacationers head south to escape the bitter cold further north.
Hotel rates are also high during parts of the spring, thanks to Spring Break visitors. If you time your visit toward the end of spring, though, you can hit the sweet spot after most of the party crowds have gone home, before the temperature climbs and hurricane season starts.
In terms of festivals, Miami’s Carnaval (also known as the Calle Ocho Music Festival) is among the most popular, turning the city’s Little Havana neighborhood into a 10-day street party every March.
Keep the car in park. While you’ll need your own wheels for day trips, it’s significantly cheaper to leave the car at your hotel and use Miami’s public transportation to get around. There’s even a network of free trolley routes through many of the city’s neighborhoods. If you want a little more autonomy over where you go, give Miami’s Citi Bike system a try. A one-hour pass is only $6.95, and if you want to keep the bike for the day it’s $24.
Pack a picnic before you go to the beach. Miami’s beaches are all public, so you won’t have to pay a fee to sunbathe or splash around in the water. But when you start feeling peckish, the nearby food options are pretty much all expensive. Visit a local grocery store or market before your beach day for all the provisions you’ll need at a fraction of the cost.
Steer clear of hotels in Miami Beach. Even if you time your visit to avoid Miami’s most popular tourist seasons, beachfront hotels in Miami Beach are still going to be on the expensive side. Look for lodging that’s in Miami itself, not on the beach.
Book nightclub admission in advance. The nightclub scene in Miami is famous, and it’s almost impossible to get into many popular clubs without an advance reservation. It may still be a splurge for you, but getting your tickets well ahead of your trip can cut the entry fee dramatically.
Miami’s spectrum of fresh, unique flavor combinations knows no bounds, making the dining scene here a true delight. Cuisine tends to focus on bright, citrusy notes that are common in Central American/Cuban/Caribbean food, but you’ll often find a dose of Asian influence in lots of the trendiest restaurants. Of course, seafood reigns supreme too, so don’t leave without donning a metaphorical shellfish bib at least once.
Miami is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States. This means that there’s no shortage of options when it comes to where to stay—but sometimes an embarrassment of riches can make choosing a hotel more overwhelming.
Miami is, overall, on the high end of hotel price ranges. That’s especially true during the city’s busiest tourist seasons (December through February) when the average rate for a hotel room can be $200/night or more. There are hotel deals to be found, however, if you’re willing to forgo things like beachfront property.
Miami is brimming with great hotel options to suit an array of budgets and tastes, from surprisingly stylish hostels to some of the most coveted resorts in the country. Miami Beach, Brickell, and Coral Gables are great places to check out if you’re beginning your hunt for the perfect hotel but need a little guidance on where to start.
Both the Metrorail/Metromover and trolley systems in Miami offer great ways to get around popular areas without a car, and Uber and Lyft are both readily available throughout the city. Anybody looking to stick to one or two areas for the majority of their trip needn’t rent a car, but if you prefer to do so, keep in mind that traffic can be hectic and avoid rush hour at all costs.
The main airport serving Miami is Miami International Airport (MIA). It’s about eight miles away from downtown, and serves as a hub for American Airlines. Miami is also a focus city for Avianca, Frontier, LATAM, and Spirit.
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is just over 20 miles away from Miami, making it another good option. There are more low-cost airlines operating out of Fort Lauderdale than Miami, with more flight options on Southwest, Allegiant, JetBlue, and Spirit.
Ready to go? Check out our tips for finding cheap flights to Miami.
Miami International Airport (MIA) is connected to the city’s public transit networks, including the Metrorail and Metrobus. The Metrorail’s Orange Line ($2.25) serves downtown Miami as well as Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. There’s also a Miami Beach Bus ($2.25) if you’re headed straight for Miami Beach. Taxis are available from the airport, and there’s a flat rate of $22 from the airport into downtown. Lyft and Uber also serve the airport, with rates into the city starting at about $10.
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is conveniently connected to a commuter rail line that runs from Miami’s airport to Palm Beach. Tri-Rail trips from FLL all the way to MIA are a little less than one hour and cost under $4, though you can disembark before that point at the Metrorail Transfer stop to get into Miami on the Green Line. There are numerous taxi companies serving Fort Lauderdale’s airport, and taxi fares into Miami starting at around $70. Lyft and Uber both serve FLL, too, with fares into Miami starting in the $40 range.
Birds of Paradise, by Diana Abu-Jaber (2011), offers a peek into some of the quirks of the Miami metro area through the eyes of several members of one family, while Joan Didion’s Miami (1987) explores a grittier side of the city. Florida’s own Carl Hiaasen’s first novel, Tourist Season (1986), is a thriller set in Miami and elsewhere in South Florida.
Back in the 1980s, Miami made its way into every living room in the country via Miami Vice, the extremely popular detective show that absolutely looks its age these days. HBO’s Ballers showcases a more contemporary version of the city, and the comedy spy series Burn Notice was filmed all over the metro area. Fans of the show Dexter know the story takes place in Miami, and there were a few scenes shot in the city—but most of the film locations were actually in California.
Movie buffs can see Miami on the big screen in films like The Birdcage, Marley and Me, Moonlight, Scarface, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
Sign up for free to start getting flight alerts. Or upgrade to get 4x the deals, rare destinations, peak season tickets, and Mistake Fares. Either way, you’ll never overpay on flights again.