He finally arrived in Miami! See the best of the city in less than 24 hours, if you can keep up…
While it is true that you cannot know everything Miami has to offer in a single day, you can have a taste of our flavors, colors, culture and personality. What you get to know in less than 24 hours depends a lot on your personal tastes.
This 24-hour itinerary should satisfy history, art or architecture buffs, as well as free-spirited adventurers. And of course, there’s also something for sun worshippers, shopaholics and foodies. In short, we have everything to keep you busy and interested.
If you want to know much of the city in a short time, the best option is to travel by car. Two other options available are DecoBike, the city of Miami Beach’s public bike rental program, or the bus tours of Gray Line’s Hop On Hop Off, the red double-decker buses that run through most of Miami’s neighborhoods and tourist sites. Both are inexpensive, fun, reliable and accessible and give tourists the opportunity to spend as much time as they want in each destination.
So come on, there’s no time to waste!
Morning: the big attractions
Start with a quick walking or biking tour along the waterfront and get to know the Ocean Drive bustle with the Art Deco pastel buildings. Recharge your batteries by having breakfast under an umbrella at News Café, a great spot for people who enjoy the view, or at The Front Porch Cafe. (Don’t forget to buy a coffee to go, you’ll need caffeine to keep pace with the itinerary we planned!) Visit the Wolfsonian-FIU design museum with its fascinating collection of objects from the years 1885 to 1945, the modern era. If you’re traveling with young children, you can head to Jungle Island or Miami Children’s Museum, both located on MacArthur Causeway between Downtown Miami and South Beach.
Finish at Bayside Marketplace, where little ones can hop on the carousel while you do some shopping for your loved ones in less than an hour.
Lunch: devour our culture
Visit the Design District and stroll the 18 streets of showrooms, galleries, world-class shopping and design studios. It’s also a fun place to have lunch if you’re hungry. On your way back, stop by the busy Wynwood Walls, a tribute to the most important international street artists.
Packed with different styles, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a mansion that offers magnificent European splendor, with 4 hectares of gardens inspired by the Italian and French Renaissance. Or you can stop to see the Biltmore Hotel, the centerpiece of the twenties of “The Beautiful City”, also known as Coral Gables. If you didn’t have lunch, head to Coconut Grove for some shopping or just window shopping and al fresco dining at GreenStreet Cafe. You can also try the selection of ceviches, a local favorite that includes chilled seafood marinated in citrus, at Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar & LatAm Grill.
Afternoon: Little Havana, great shopping opportunities
Next, even if you don’t speak Spanish very well, go to Little Havana for a few hand-rolled cigars and a steaming cup of latte. Drink as you walk to Domino Park to hear the most experienced generation of Cubans play dominoes.
Ready to keep buying? Go to South Beach, Lincoln Road and, nearby, Española Way, where you will find a wide variety of brand stores and small boutiques with the most modern Miami and very interesting antique garments. The visit would not be complete without stopping by one of the art galleries, for example, ArtCenter/South Florida and Britto Central.
Evening: dinner and show
Head back to your hotel for a quick “disco nap” and wardrobe change. For a taste Miami’s famous crustacean, stop by the legendary Joe’s Stone Crab for dinner. This seasonal eatery is extremely popular and often crowded, so arrive prepared to wait (or go to Joe’s Takeout next door if you are in a hurry but craving a Key lime pie and stone crab fix). Otherwise head back to Lincoln Road for dinner atMeat Market, a sultry steakhouse and the ultimate place to see and be seen. (Want to treat yourself? Consider heading to Azul for elegance or Barton G. for novelty. The budget conscious can have a blast at Burger & Beer Joint, instead.)
If you don’t have tickets to a show at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, stop by Mango’s for a fun time. It’s impossible not to see the dancers dressed in leopard costumes at the door of this trendy Ocean Drive spot. When you’ve had enough of that sauce, walk a few blocks to Clevelander and grab a few drinks by the outdoor pool.
Madrugada: nightclubs, drinks and snacks
Do you still have energy? No trip to Miami is complete without visiting a nightclub. Younger guests can go to Space or any of downtown’s mega nightclubs, but those over 25 can go to trendier celebrity venues, such as Mynt, SET and LIV (all in South Beach). Call ahead to include your name on the guest list, otherwise you will have to wait outside.
If you’re hungry, go to Pizza Rústica, which is open until 3 and sometimes even until 6 in the morning. They serve some perfect spiced sandwiches to end a tasty day in paradise.
Do you see it? It is practically impossible to see all of Miami in just 24 hours, but you can certainly get to know some spectacular sites… as long as you don’t waste a lot of time sleeping.
https://espanol.miamiandbeaches.com/things-to-do/travel-guides/itineraries/miami-in-1-day-itinerary
