As one of the most popular and vibrant cities in the United States of America, it would be impossible to exclude Miami if you are looking to enjoy a great vacation. The city offers all kinds of entertainment and attractions to people of all ages. If you want to enjoy a fun vacation with your family, you can visit the parks, beaches and museums. At night, you can hop from one bar and night club to another to relax over delicious drinks. The number of restaurants and fashion stores or boutiques is limitless. Since there are too many options for you, it may be a little hard to decide which places to visit and enjoy during your trip to Miami. Keep reading to learn more about the best places to visit in Miami, Florida.
1. Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
You do not have to be a fan of science to visit Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. This science museum is a place where you can have fun and be amused by all the exhibits about weather and technology along with a planetarium and a place where you can gain insights into the diverse wildlife. Nestled in Downtown Miami’s Museum Park, the science museum’s popular exhibitions include Feathers to the Stars which display stories about feathered dinosaurs, to the possibility of future space travel, and an aquarium in where you can learn more about South Florida’s aquatic ecosystems.
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Address: 1101 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, USA
Website: Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Opening hours: 9:30am - 6pm (daily)
Price: 28 USD
2. Freedom Tower
Freedom Tower is one of the most historic buildings and most popular landmarks in Miami. No one visits Miami without making a stop at this landmark whose striking architectural details are going to blow your mind away. The most prominent features include the facade that is richly ornamented and the octagonal tower. It is called Freedom Tower because it represented democracy and hope of new life on new land, for thousands of people back then.
Freedom Tower
Address: 600 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, USA
Website: Freedom Tower
Opening hours: Wed: 1pm - 6pm; Thu: 1pm - 8pm; Fri - Sun: 1pm - 6pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
Price: 12 USD
3. Ocean Drive (from USD 63.13)
Ocean Drive in South Beach is the essence of Miami. This is the place where you can truly experience the soul and culture of Miami. The iconic street is loaded with fancy cars, palm trees, and of course, pastel buildings. There are plenty of things that you can enjoy while in Ocean Drive, such as a shopping spree near Lincoln Road or participate in the pool party.
Miami: Ocean Drive Segway Tour
Duration: 30.0 minute
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4. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens (from USD 85.0)
If you are looking for a place where you can enjoy a museum that is surrounded by the gardens, make your way to Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, which used to be the villa and estate that belonged to an agricultural industrialist, James Deering. Inside the museum, you can admire a collection of artworks and items that will help you understand more about the history, culture and environment of the area from 1914 to 1922. You can also enjoy formal gardens, a mangrove shore and a Rockland hammock, among others.
Miami to Vizcaya Museum, Biscayne Bay Transportation
Duration: 4 hours
Miami Tour Guide
Alexander Gorn
I was born in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, in the Soviet Union, and left for the USA when I was 23 years old, just out of college. Leningrad was and still is a city with great cultural traditions. I fell in love with its world-famous museums, art galleries, theaters, and other attractions. I have been guiding tours for most of my life and began while still in high school. During the summer, Leningrad was visited by numerous youth groups from the UK and USA and English-speaking students were recruited to show them around. That is how I got my first taste of being a tour guide. I continued guiding through college and often worked with young adults. After leaving the USSR, I settled in New York City, went to graduate school, and started my own travel company in 1985. We primarily worked with international visitors showing them famous places of interest all over the country, from coast to coast. Though I had other tour guides working at my company, I continued to guide because it was rewarding and enjoyable. I traveled extensively throughout the country and that's how I first became acquainted with South Florida. I instantly fell in love with this beautiful place and eventually moved to the Miami Beach area. I love South Florida and want my tourists to feel the same way. I am exhilarated by its nature and history and I promise to get you excited as well. See you in Miami!
Tours by Alexander
5. Maurice A. Ferré Park
Situated in downtown Miami, Maurice A. Ferré Park is one of the most beautiful parks that you will find in Miami. Back in 1976, the park opened for the first time as Bicentennial Park in order to celebrate the bicentennial taking place in the USA in the same year. The park is famous for its lush greenery along with a waterfront baywalk and easy access to major attractions such as Bayside Marketplace on one side and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens on the other.
Maurice A. Ferré Park
Address: 1075 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, USA
Opening hours:24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
6. Deering Estate
James Deering was mentioned above, and if you are wondering, Deering Estate belonged to Charles Deering, the father of James Deering. Deering Estate was the place where Charles Deering lived his life until he died in 1927. Now, Deering Estate features a variety of programs, tours and events such as concerts and movies to preserve the culture, art and history of the city.
Deering Estate
Address: 16701 SW 72nd Ave, Miami, FL 33157, USA
Website: Deering Estate
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)
Price: 15 USD
7. Bayside Marketplace
You cannot say you have traveled to Miami if you have not visited Bayside Marketplace, the most popular shopping center that is situated in downtown Miami. You can spend the whole day just exploring this two-story shopping center because there are just a lot of things to see. Bayside Marketplace is home to more than 150 shops, fine-dining restaurants and free live music performances by Miami’s talented local musicians. Once you feel like you have had a fun time inside the shopping center, you can relax over a drink at the nearby marina or charter a boat to enjoy floating on the water.
Bayside Marketplace
Address: 401 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, USA
Website: Bayside Marketplace
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 10am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 11pm; Sun: 11am - 9pm
Price: Free
8. Hobie Island Beach Park
Nestled in between Brickell, Downtown Miami and Key Biscayne, Hobie Island Beach Park makes for an excellent place for you to relax and enjoy a tan while marveling at the clear water and buildings surrounding the beach. It is also a dog-friendly area, so if you are traveling with your furry friend, your dog is going to love playing frisbee with you. What’s more, the water of the beach is rather shallow, meaning you can surf without having to worry about powerful currents.
Hobie Island Beach Park
Address: Old, Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, United States
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
9. Zoo Miami (from USD 24.0)
Whether you are traveling solo or with loved ones, visiting a zoo will always be a fun and worthy experience. Zoo Miami, also known as Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, is the oldest and largest zoo in the state of Florida. Inside the zoological park lives more than 3,000 animals that are ready to greet you upon arrival. The zoo is divided into sections that are based on continents such as Africa, Austalia and Asia. In addition to seeing all the animals, you can also take part in exciting activities organized by the zoo such as feedings, rides and presentations. Zoo Miami also enjoys the reputation of being the only tropical zoo in the continental USA.
Zoo Miami Admission Ticket with Upgrade Option
Duration: 4 to 6 hours
10. Holocaust Memorial
Holocaust is one of the greatest tragedies that ever took place on Earth. During the Holocaust, millions of Jews were killed by the Nazis. Holocaust Memorial was built as a dedication to remember all Holocaust victims. Miami Beach was considered the most ideal place for the monument because the area is one of the areas in the USA with the most population of Holocaust survivors. When you are in Miami, it would be nice to stop by this place and pay respect to the victims.
Holocaust Memorial
Address: 1933-1945 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA
Website: Holocaust Memorial
Opening hours: 10am - 9pm (daily)
Price: Free
11. Miami Children's Museum
There is an old saying that the future lies in the hands of the children. This is exactly what Miami Children’s Museum is all about. Aiming to create a generation that knows it all, Miami Children’s Museum features exhibits that will make learning sound fun to the children through real experience. The exhibits and materials are presented through diverse media and range from arts and culture to community and communication. Some of the best features include Construction Zone, which allows the little ones to use a crane, bulldozer and wheel barrels, among others and Castle of Dreams in which children can start the journey of imagination and adventure through a winding slide, colorful glasses and small tiles with access stairs.
Miami Children's Museum
Address: 980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, FL 33132, USA
Website: Miami Children’s Museum
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)
Price: 12 USD
12. Grapeland Water Park
Take your loved ones to Grapeland Water Park and have fun with recreational activities on the water. The urban green space features pools with slides, tube rides, a ball field, tennis courts and many more. If you want to enjoy all the fun together, you should try Captain’s Lagoon that is open to people of all ages. Buccaneer River Ride is a fun tube ride that will bring you through the whole park. When you are getting some rest and enjoy fulfilling snacks from the snack bar, you can let your little ones have fun with other children. There are two areas that are specially dedicated to children. Shipwreck Island features fast slides and is suitable for kids that are older than six years old. If your kids are five years old and under, bring them to Pirate Plunge because the water is shallow.
Grapeland Water Park
Address: 1550 NW 37th Ave, Miami, FL 33125, USA
Website: Grapeland Water Park
Opening hours: 10am - 4:45pm (daily)
Price: 15 USD
13. Historic Virginia Key Beach Park
Situated just north of Key Biscayne, Historic Virginia Key Beach Park is a superb place in which you can indulge in outdoor activities with your family. There are plenty of family-friendly amenities that you will find throughout the park. Picnic areas with grilling pavilions should be your first destination upon arrival. Then, you can bring your kids to the playground area that has an antique carousel. The little ones can also have fun by taking a train ride on the historic “Biscayne Virginia Rickenbacker Central” miniature railroad. For more calorie-burning activities, you can enjoy a hike or a swim.
Historic Virginia Key Beach Park
Address: 4020 Virginia Beach Dr, Miami, FL 33149, USA
Website: Historic Virginia Key Beach Park
Opening hours: 7am - 7pm (daily)
Price: Free
14. The Kampong, National Tropical Botanical Garden
Finally, make a stop at The Kampong, National Tropical Botanical Garden, one of the most picturesque botanical gardens in Miami. Situated in the Coconut Grove neighborhood, The Kampong boasts an extensive collection of tropical fruit cultivars and flowering trees. The collection comes from various places around the world, including South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Take note that to visit the botanical garden, you need to make a reservation in advance.
The Kampong, National Tropical Botanical Garden
Address: 4013 Douglas Rd, Miami, FL 33133, USA
Website: The Kampong, National Tropical Botanical Garden
Opening hours: Wed - Fri: 9am - 5pm (closed from Sat - Tue)
Price: 15 USD
15. Miami Beach (from USD 69.0)
Miami Beach is not a beach, but a beautiful city that is situated in South Florida. You can access this island city through bridges that are connected to mainland Miami. The most famous area of Miami Beach is probably South Beach, which is known for its glamorous vibes. Models and celebrities love spending time in South Beach. As soon as you set foot in this destination, you can enjoy a myriad of high-end restaurants and boutiques along with Art Deco buildings that come with pastel colors.
Miami Beach Food and Art Deco Walking Tour
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
16. Little Havana (from USD 60.0)
You may be in Miami, but you will feel as if you are in Cuba when you make a stop at Little Havana. In case you do not know, Miami is one of the cities that is inhabited with a lot of people from South America, that it feels weird if you cannot speak at least a little Spanish. Experience the vibrant and exotic culture and lifestyle of Cuba by visiting the art galleries, restaurants and coffee shops that are scattered throughout the neighborhood. Many of the nightclubs in the area host live Latin music. You should also entertain yourself by watching a selection of independent and revival movies at the Tower Theater.
Miami: Little Havana Tour with Lunch
Duration: 3 hour
17. Seaquarium (from USD 51.0)
Miami Seaquarium is definitely a must-visit attraction for you when you’re in Miami. The world-class marine entertainment park is among the best on the planet as it offers plenty of things to see and do. In total, Seaquarium features eight marine animal shows. The highly popular ones include dolphins, sea lions and whales. Have a magical time seeing all the dolphins leap and roll. You can also enjoy daily presentations and educational exhibits about marine habitats and worldwide conservation.
Miami Seaquarium Entrance Ticket
Duration: 30 day
18. Everglades National Park (from USD 57.14)
Situated just outside Miami, Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness not only in the state but in the country. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature and a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere as soon as you arrive at the swamp. What’s more; the national park is also the place for you to meet plenty of rare and endangered animal species. Prepare yourself to meet the elusive Florida panther along with alligators and manatees.
From Miami: Everglades Park Airboat Ride & Wildlife Show
Duration: 4.5 hour
19. Jungle Island (from USD 59.0)
Welcome to the most famous eco-adventure park in Miami, Jungle Island. Previously known as Parrot Jungle, Jungle Island is the permanent habitat of amazing animals from around the world, including more than 300 birds and extremely rare orangutans (they are twins). Not only can you encounter these friendly animals, but you can also marvel at the beauty of the tropical landscape itself. You are also welcome to interact with lemurs and feed the American flamingos. Jungle Island also offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you get to find out what it feels like to fly with no parachute.
Jungle Island Park Admission
Duration: 1 to 7 hours
There is no place like Miami
After reading through all the places that you can visit in Miami, you now understand why you must visit the city. There are plenty of wonderful things about Miami where all attractions come together waiting for your embrace. You may not be able to visit all of them, but be sure to visit at least half of them. Enjoy Miami and if you want to come back to this city because you’ve fallen in love with it, there is nothing to stop you.
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