The Best Places in Miami for Tourists

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1. South Beach

South Beach is Miami's iconic hotspot, known for its vibrant nightlife, Ocean Drive's promenade, culinary scene, Art Deco architecture, and pristine white sands. Visit Lincoln Road for shopping and Española Way for dining. For booking, visit b0arding.com. Other non-beach attractions include the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum and The Bass art museum, while the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach is a poignant memorial to the victims of Nazi Germany.

Best Hotels:

Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach• 1 Hotel South Beach • Loews Miami Beach • Kimpton Palomar South Beach • Marseilles Beachfront Hotel

2. Mid-Beach

Miami Beach’s Mid-Beach neighborhood runs along the Atlantic shore from 24th Street to North Beach, a three-mile strip of sand lined with plush resorts, cocktail bars, and cafes. It’s a popular place to stay, with historic resorts such as the Fontainebleau, posh restaurants such as Nobu and Hakkasan. Expect a more relaxed atmosphere than you’ll find South Beach, while still offering convenient access to Miami Beach’s best dining, nightlife, and sights.

3. Downtown Miami/Brickell

Downtown Miami, the administrative and cultural heart of the city, is home to the iconic Freedom Tower and the Bayside Marketplace mall. It features museums like Pérez Art Museum Miami, Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, and HistoryMiami Museum. Nearby attractions include AmericanAirlines Arena, AmericanAirlines Arena, and the Port of Miami. Brickell, the city's financial center, is home to luxurious business hotels.

4. North Beach/Surfside/Bal Harbour

Miami Beach consists of three neighborhoods: North Beach, Surfside, and Bal Harbour. North Beach is close to South Beach, offering easy access to shopping and nightlife. Surfside is an upscale residential community with a walkable downtown area. Bal Harbour is a wealthy enclave known for luxury shopping and luxury accommodations. North Beach features a 6-mile beachfront pathway, while Surfside hosts events like the Third Thursday Block Party and First Friday Beach Picnics.

5. Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove was founded in the 1870s partly by Bahamian immigrants, and today it’s one of the city’s premier shopping neighborhoods known for its oak-lined streets, boutiques, galleries, excellent restaurant scene, sidewalk cafes, and bayfront marinas. Some five miles southwest of Downtown Miami, it’s home to the annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival and Caribbean style carnival, as well as historic tourist attractions such as Barnacle Historic State Park, the Kampong tropical botanical garden, and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the former home of industrialist James Deering. Premier shopping malls include CocoWalk and Mayfair in the Grove.

6. Wynwood/Midtown/Miami Design District

Wynwood, a former warehouse district near Downtown Miami, has transformed into South Florida's arts hub in just over a decade. With over 70 art galleries, hip restaurants, and bars, it's home to the Miami Selfie Museum, Museum of Graffiti, Rubell Museum, and Margulies Collection at the Warehouse. The Miami Design District, across I-195, features over 130 art galleries, hip shops, and restaurants.

7. Coral Gables

Coral Gables, a historic Miami neighborhood, was developed in the 1920s with a Mediterranean theme by George Merrick. Its canopied streets, Spanish-style homes, Miracle Mile, Biltmore Hotel, Venetian Pool, and the University of Miami campus are standout attractions. For a quick tour, hop on the free Coral Gables Trolley.

8. Little Havana/Overtown

Little Havana, Miami's first Cuban enclave, is a vibrant hub of Hispanic culture with Latin-inspired cafes, restaurants, and stores. It features the Cubaocho Museum, El Rey De Las Fritas, Versailles, and monuments to Cuban freedom. Accommodations include apartment rentals and motels, with Life House being a boutique hotel. Overtown, Miami's historic heart, offers a walking tour and The Black Archives – Historic Lyric Theater.

9. Key Biscayne

Linked to the mainland via the Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne feels like a million miles away from South Beach. Services, hotels, and apartment rentals are located in the residential section of the island (known simply as the “village”), but the real attractions lie beyond here: Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, the Miami Seaquarium, Crandon Park Beach (one of the best beaches in the city), and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, featuring swimming beaches and historic Cape Florida Lighthouse.

10. MiMo/Little Haiti

MiMo, also known as Miami Modern, is a trendy neighborhood north of Downtown Miami, known for its boutique hotels, restaurants, and mid-century architecture. It's home to Little Haiti, a vibrant neighborhood with Caribbean culture, and nearby hotels.