3 Days in Miami: The Best Itinerary

Miami is one place in the United States that I had wanted to get to for as long as I can remember. Despite this, it wasn’t until my most recent trip to the US that I finally got around to spending 3 days in Miami. Located in Southern Florida, its a beautiful city, most famous for offering year round sun and sand time. The beach is definitely a big part of it, but there’s other things to do in Miami as well. Its an extremely cosmopolitan city and what many people will think of when they hear the words “holiday destination”.

I think 3 days in Miami is the perfect amount of time to spend in this city. Unlike other major cities in the United States, Miami doesn’t have that many conventional “must-see” sights. Its more about being in this beautiful part of the world and soaking it up. In saying that, there’s plenty of family friendly zoos and other parks that I didn’t visit on my trip. In this 3 days in Miami itinerary, I’ll cover the highlights of the city that I visited, give you plenty of sunbathing time, and even take you beyond the city limits for an unforgettable Florida experience. Welcome to Miami – where life’s a beach!

When to Spend 3 Days in Miami

Being Florida, you should definitely factor in the weather when choosing when to take a trip to Miami. By weather, I mean hurricanes. Hurricane season runs from June all the way through to November, though the worst months are typically September and October. Don’t take that to mean you can’t visit Miami in the back half of the year – I was there in July and the weather was perfect, but I personally would try to avoid September and October if you can. The last thing you want is the weathering your beach vibes!

Another thing to know – Miami gets hot. Really hot. Especially in the summer, when the humidity is high as well. When I visited in July, temperatures were typically in the 30s (Celsius). I love the heat, so it wasn’t a problem for me, but remember to stay hydrated! Despite being associated with summer, Miami is actually a solid winter destination – in January, you’re still looking at temperatures in the high 20s (again Celsius).

One time of year to avoid is mid-March. Miami is VERY popular as a Spring Break destination.

How to Get to Miami

Most visitors will arrive in Miami through the Miami International Airport (MIA), which is located northwest of Downtown Miami. Its one of the US airline hubs, so you’ll have no problems getting a flight here domestically, or from international destinations. The airport is huge, consisting of three terminals, and sees more than 40 million passengers pass through its gates each year. The airport can also be quite busy (I faced a rather long wait clearing customs, as a number of flights had arrived at once).

Miami doesn’t have a great public transport system. Your best option for getting into the city from the airport is to use Uber or other RideShare apps. If you’re staying in Downtown Miami, it will take around 20 minutes, whereas if you’re in Miami Beach, you can expect about a 25 minute ride.

You can also get to Miami by flying into Fort Lauderdale International (FLL), which is about a 30 minute drive north of the city. Its a much smaller airport and therefore isn’t serviced by as many connections, but its worth checking flights to see if you’ll get a better deal here, especially if you’re flying domestically.

Remember to check international travel requirements. If you’re coming from a visa-exempt nation, you’ll still need to apply for an ESTA to enter the United States. If you’re eligible for an ESTA, you should apply on the official website well in advance of your trip.

Where to Stay in Miami

Miami is comprised of Miami proper (often referred to as the mainland) and Miami Beach, which is located across Biscayne Bay, connected by a series of causeways. You’ll be visiting both sides of the bay on a first time trip to Miami. While Miami’s mainland is home to a number of attractions (and generally cheaper), I feel like you have to stay in Miami Beach to get the proper experience. To be right in the thick of this amazing city, you’ll want to stay in South Beach, which is where most of the holiday-goers hang out (and it contains Miami’s famous Art Deco buildings).

Miami is a fairly expensive destination. In general, you can expect to pay roughly the following for a double room in the city (per night):

• Budget: less than $150.00 USD.
• Mid-range: $150.00 – $250.00 USD.
• Luxury: more than $250.00 USD.

I spent 3 days in Miami staying at the Albion Hotel. I loved this place. It was relatively affordable mid-range hotel and situated in an excellent location. The beach was only about a 10 minute walk away, and there were plenty of shops and restaurants nearby (it was just a block away from the main retail thoroughfare of the Lincoln Road Mall. The hotel rooms were spacious with modern utilities (including a bathtub). The stylish lobby contained a bar (which you got a free specialty alcoholic beverage at on check in). There was also a decent outdoor swimming pool and activities deck on the hotel’s second floor. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for somewhere to stay in Miami Beach.

How to Get Around During Your 3 Days in Miami

As I’ve mentioned above, Miami really doesn’t have any kind of major public transport system. There’s a few buses (including the touristy Hop On-Hop-Off buses), but honestly, I didn’t use public transport at all during my stay. If you’re staying in Miami Beach, you’ll be able to get around South Beach on foot. As I said, the beach, the Art-Deco district, the restaurants, and all that you’re coming to this part of Miami for, are within a number of blocks of each other. You’ll need transport to get across to the mainland however. I just used Uber and aimed to do everything over there on one day so that I wasn’t paying for multiple trips.

Over on the mainland, the places you’ll want to go are quite spread out. There is a free trolley service that connects certain suburbs (such as Coconut Grove, Little Havana and Coral Gables), but I really just used Uber out of convenience.

Other Things to Know

Miami, as with the rest of the United States of America, uses the US Dollar (USD) as its currency. ATMs are widespread and you’ll have no problem paying for things by credit card.

Miami is a fairly safe city. As with all major cities, there are parts that you should avoid, but following this itinerary you’ll have no reason to be anywhere near them. You should use your normal common sense as always (be aware of your surroundings, keep an eye out for pickpockets, etc), but you really don’t need to be afraid here. I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all when travelling in Miami, day or night.

Spending 3 Days in Miami

If you’ve got 3 days in Miami, its the perfect amount of time to see this gorgeous city. You’ll spend lots of time in the sun and on (or in) the water. You’ll also dive into the city’s distinctly Cuban culture and see some of the best tourist spots in the area. With Miami being laid out the way it is, this itinerary has been designed to group the Miami Beach attractions together, and then the mainland attractions on another day. It will save you having to make too many Uber rides across the causeways.

Day One: Welcome to Miami Beach

Your first of 3 days in Miami really needs to be spent exploring South Beach. As I’ve said, this vibrant district (where you’ll hopefully be staying) is the very heart of the city. Today you’ll be taking in its charm while wandering its streets and cooling off in the sea. South Beach is my favourite part of any trip to Miami, and I really hope you’ll love it as much as I did.

Take an Art Deco Tour of Miami Beach

The Art Deco Historic District of Miami Beach is world famous, with over 800 buildings in the area listed on the National Register of Historical Buildings. Filled with unique designs from a bygone era, the various hotels, clubs and other structures that line Ocean Drive and its surrounding streets are a must-see when visiting Miami. After a leisurely start to your day (there’s plenty of breakfast options throughout the Lincoln Street Mall and beyond), wander down to Miami Beach’s main drag on foot. If you look for the small Art Deco Museum near Lummus Park, it makes a good starting point. If you want to go inside, admission costs $5.00 USD.

There’s numerous organised tours that you can book that will take you through Miami Beach’s Art Deco scene. While there’s no doubt that you’ll learn a lot, I personally enjoyed wandering around (on a route around the highlights that I planned beforehand) and taking it all in on my own time. I spent about an hour walking the streets and taking plenty of photos of the different buildings. Some of my favourites included the Breakwater and Colony Hotels. They’re all so unique and photogenic (and quintessentially Miami).

An advantage of doing your Art Deco photography early in the day (aside form the obvious fact that it won’t be too hot yet) is that since they mostly face the water to the east, the sun will be beaming down on the buildings.

When you’ve had enough, you might want to grab a leisurely lunch in the area. As a tip, you’ll be paying considerably less if you pick a cafe that isn’t on Ocean Drive.

• Check out my post for a detailed self-guided Art-Deco Tour that you can take in Miami Beach HERE.

Holocaust Memorial

• Where: 1933 – 1945 Meridian Street, Miami Beach, Florida
• When: 10.00am – sunset daily.
• Admission: Free
• Website: https://holocaustmemorialmiamibeach.org/

Its now the heat of the day, so I’m not unleashing you on the beach just yet. Besides, you’ve just eaten! Your next stop is a few blocks north of the Lincoln Street Mall, and is a stark reminder that Miami isn’t all fun in the sun. Miami is home to a remarkably poignant memorial to the atrocities committed against adherents of the Jewish faith during the Holocaust. I have to admit that I was intrigued as to why this memorial was built in Miami, however as it turns out that Miami Beach is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States.

You won’t miss the Memorial as you head towards its location. It consists of a massive arm reaching up into the sky, covered with individual men, women and children. Pay your respects and then take some time reading the historical information on display on a number of panels that mark the entrance to a tunnel leading into the centre of the Monument. The Memorial is also staffed and I spent a fair bit of time speaking to one of the staff about the story behind it. It was a memorable and sobering experience, and one that I recommend devoting half an hour of your time in Miami towards.

• You can read more about the Holocaust Memorial in a post I’ve written HERE.

Beach Vibes on South Beach

Alright, alright, its time. Its probably the reason you’ve decided to spend 3 days in Miami after all. To the beach! South Beach is well renowned as one of the best beaches in all of the United States. It’s vast stretches of white sand reach for miles along Miami’s coastline, dotted with incredibly photogenic and vibrantly hued lifeguard huts every so many metres. From the moment you get to South Beach, I’m letting you spend the afternoon however you like. There’s plenty of facilities along the beach where you can rent deck chairs and umbrellas if that’s your thing, or you can jump right into the warm water (mind the seaweed!) and splash around under in the sun.

I loved my time on the beach. It was the highlight of my stay in Miami (and this comes from someone that normally rushes around from site to site).

If you’re up for a walk along the sand, head south all the way to the South Pointe Pier and you’ll be able to walk out and join the fishermen on a boardwalk offering stunning views back up the shore with the Miami skyline in the background. On the way back, take a detour under the palm trees of Lummus Park and watch the skaters rush on by. You can even join a game of volleyball if you like. Miami Beach is great. I love every bit of it.

• To read more about Miami’s beaches, check out my post HERE.

Dinner, Drinks and Dancing the Night Away

When you’ve had enough time at the beach and are ready to grab some dinner, there’s countless options in Miami. One of the best spots to stop by is Espanola Way. Located between Washington and Drexel Avenues, this beautiful thoroughfare brings the Mediterranean vibes to the extent that you might even feel that you’ve crossed into Spain! There’s numerous restaurants offering outdoor alfresco dining here. You’ll be diving into Cuban culture later on your 3 days in Miami, but if you want to make a head start, I highly recommend Havana 1957. I ate at the bar and had a sampler serving of a whole bunch of Cuban dishes. IT WAS DELICIOUS. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a mojito or three.

Whatever you decide to do for dinner, you’ll probably saunter back down towards Ocean Drive afterwards. Its up to you whether you want to venture into one of the many bars or clubs, or just want to enjoy life outdoors in the Florida warmth (on one night I was in Miami they even had an outdoor theatre set up in Lummus Park!). Wherever you end up, you can count on finding something to do in South Beach.

Day Two: Mansions, Millionaires and Mojitos

The second of your 3 days in Miami will take you back across Biscayne Bay (and onto it) as you explore the actual city of Miami. After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll want to make your way into the Coconut Grove district. Its across the causeway and an Uber ride should take about 15 to 20 minutes. Also, make sure you’ve booked your ticket in advance for your first stop of the day – its currently required (though I don’t think you’d have any problems logging in and buying it then and there if you’ve got internet access).

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

• Where: 3251 S Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida
• When: 9.30am – 5.30pm Wednesday to Monday with last admission at 4.30pm (closed on Tuesdays)
• Admission: $25.00 USD for adults.
• Website: https://vizcaya.org/

I didn’t know much about Vizcaya Mansion before planning my trip, but its definitely a place to see and explore when you’ve got 3 days in Miami. Overlooking Biscayne Bay, the city’s most opulent property served as the winter residence of millionaire James Deering, dating back to its construction in 1916. The mansion is a blend of architectural styles, with inspiration spanning from the Renaissance to the Neo-Classical eras. Vizcaya and its stunning gardens subsequently opened to the public in 1952, following the property’s acquisition by the county, and has been converted into a museum. You can take an audio tour to learn about the man behind its creation, explore the various furnished rooms, and check out all kinds of artworks and artefacts from the museum’s collection.

While wandering through the 34 of the mansion’s 70 rooms that are open to the public is memorable, I feel the highlight of Vizcaya are its elegantly manicured and seemingly never-ending gardens. You’ll be taking part in many an impromptu photo shoot as you wander about (its also quite a popular spot for wedding photos). There’s so much to see, but my favourite spot was right by the water at the mansion’s rear. Standing by the docking area, you’ll look beyond a stone barge to the Miami Beach skyline across the bay.

You should expect to spend around 2 hours wandering around the Vizcaya Estate. I got there at about 10.30 and was ready for lunch by the time I left.

• Want to learn more about Vizcaya? Check out my detailed post HERE.

Little Havana

As you might expect from its name, Little Havana is the Cuban neighbourhood of Miami. Cuban culture is a huge part of this city, with many Cuban immigrants settling in Miami after fleeing their homeland in the 1960s. The neighbourhood is about a 10-15 minute drive away (call that Uber) from Vizcaya and is filled with countless shops, bars, cafes and more. As for where to start (particularly if you’re ready to eat), I recommend getting dropped off near Versailles Restaurant. Its arguably Miami’s most touristed food spot, but this dining institution offers delicious delicacies. Versailles was my first experience with Cuban cuisine, and I LOVED it. Order the sample platter for a bit of everything, but also don’t pass up that classic Cuban sandwich!

Beyond Versailles, you can wander along the main road (Calle Ocho). The heart of Little Havana is found between 11th and 17th Avenues. Browse the cigar stores, follow the Cuban Walk of Fame, and try one of the myriad flavours at Azucar Ice Cream Company. From there, you’ll be across the road from the Instagram-famous Calle Ocho sign. Right next door is Maximo Gomes Park where you can watch the locals partake in their favourite pastime – shuffling dominos (they really get into as well). There’s plenty of people watching to be done in Little Havana, so take your time just chilling out for as long as you feel like.

• My post about Little Havana covers some of the things I did in this exciting neighbourhood. You can read it HERE.

Millionaire’s Row Boat Cruise

• Where: Boats depart from 401 Biscayne Bay Boulevard, Miami, Florida
• When: Boats depart throughout the day 10.30am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday and 10.30am – 6.00pm Saturdays and Sundays.
• Admission: $30.00 USD for adults.
• Website: https://islandqueencruises.com/cruises/millionaires-row-sightseeing-cruise/

One of the best things to do in Miami is to take a cruise across Biscayne Bay and see Miami from the water. Its called the Millionaire’s Row, as you’ll spend a lot of the time checking out the often exotic and mind-blowing mansions of celebrities on the private islands in the bay. When you’re ready to get out on the water, you’ll need to head to the Bayside Marketplace and find the ticket booth for Island Queen Cruises (you can’t miss it). Sign up for the next tour (you can book in advance, but I had trouble with their online booking system) and their staff will show you where to meet for your cruise. The Bayside Marketplace is about 10 minutes away (by car) from Little Havana.

Millionaire Row cruises run for about 90 minutes and are definitely worthwhile. When you board, most people will head to the top deck, but I personally thought I had a great spot up the very front of the boat (just pack a hat on a sunny day!). Kick back as you journey past the massive cruise ships in port. As the mainland turns into an amazing skyline, you’ll see sites like the Scarface Mansion, with all the spots being pointed out by a riveting guide. Its basically a guided city bus tour on the water! You can also buy snacks and drinks on board.

• You can read about my experience on a Millionaire’s Row Cruise in Miami HERE.

Bayside Marketplace

• Where: 401 Biscayne Bay Boulevard, Miami, Florida
• When: 10.0am – 10.00pm Monday to Thursday, and until 11pm Friday to Sunday.
• Admission: Free
• Website: https://www.baysidemarketplace.com/

When you disembark from your cruise, you may as well spend some time exploring Bayside Marketplace. Yes, its super touristy (the complex is the most popular shopping district for tourists in Downtown Miami), but its an enjoyable area to wander, filled with bars, restaurants and street performers. If you want to get away from the bustle of it all, you can also head across to Bayfront Park. This public park by the water is the perfect spot for some relaxation as the afternoon fades away (some days they even run free yoga classes here).

Back in the Marketplace, you’ll probably be drawn to the Miami Wheel. This giant ferris wheel offers excellent views of Miami from above, though it is just a ferris wheel (its not one of those amazing ones like the London Eye). I rode it, but it wasn’t the best part of my day by any stretch of the imagination.

You can easily spend the evening around the Bayside area. Like I said, there’s plenty of restaurants and bars and you can also do your souvenir shopping around here. Sure, its a pricey part of town, but so is the South Beach alternative. The tourists come here for a reason – its a fun place to be!

Day Three: From Miami to the Everglades!

Spending 3 days in Miami gives you just enough time for an excursion out of the city itself. Considering there’s a UNESCO recognised National Park less than an hour away, you definitely should see it. On the third day of this itinerary, you’ll take a half day tour of Florida’s famous wetlands before getting back to Miami in the early afternoon. That will give you plenty of time to relax under the sun and enjoy Miami’s vibes for the remainder of your stay.

Everglades National Park

The Everglades cover over 1.5 acres of the south Florida wilderness and are known around the world for their endless mangroves, alligators and airboat rides. Home to hundreds of animal species, this unique ecosystem is beautiful in its own way. Its also protected as a US National Park. You could easily do a multiple day adventure through the Everglades, but you won’t have time for that on a short stay of 3 days in Miami. Instead, you’ll find countless providers offering half day trips to various sites in the park to whet your appetite. I visited the Everglades on an organised four hour tour from the city, in which we visited Sawgrass Recreation Park, but there’s plenty of others.

Most tours to the Everglades will include a airboat ride. Its undoubtedly the highlight. In all likelihood, you probably won’t see any wild alligators at most tourist spots (though it is possible), but the experience of the wind rushing through your hair as you careen through the swampland makes up for that. Most tourist centres will also have exhibits housing alligators in captivity, so you won’t miss out on coming face to face with Florida’s most iconic reptile. You’ll likely also have the chance to grab some lunch before heading back to the city.

• I’ve written about my trip to the Everglades from Miami HERE.

Back to the Beach?

When you get back to Miami (probably around 1.30pm or so), I’m setting you loose to do whatever you want. I’ve said it a few times, but the best part about being in Miami is soaking in the Florida weather and just letting the day go by. Personally, I’d head back to the beach for a swim, though the possibilities are endless. Feel like another cocktail? There’s so many spots to choose from in Miami. If the weather’s not great (or you just want a more cultural experience), Miami has a number of museums and galleries (some of the more notable being the Perez Art Museum and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, both of which could easily eat up half a day).

As for dinner, its all up to you as well. Depending on what you’re craving, I have a few recommendations. Cuban is always at the top of the list for me in Miami, and Bella Cuba is another great spot in South Beach (drunk chicken rice? yes please!). If you’re wanting a break from the Cuban kitchen, 11th Street Diner makes for a fun traditional American experience. Of course, you’ve also got the famous Joe’s Stone Crabs – say no more! Whatever you’re looking for, chances are you can find it at a delicious restaurant in Miami.

I was already looking forward to experiencing Miami, however after visiting this city, its a place I’ve very much fallen in love with. If you’re planning on spending 3 days in Miami (or more), hopefully this post has given you a few ideas for how to spend your time in town. What are your favourite things to do in Miami? Are there any must-do places that I’ve missed out on?