How Many Days Do You Need In Miami, Florida?

With a rich mosaic of cultural influences, a burgeoning culinary scene, sweeping sandy beaches, and an engaging history as vivid as its iconic Art Deco district, the city of Miami embodies a unique set of experiences that set it apart as an extraordinary vacation hotspot for both domestic and international tourists.

We spent three nights in Miami, during our first visit and sadly, it wasn’t long enough to experience everything this incredible city has to offer. Instead, we’d recommend visiting Miami for between 5 and 7 nights.

As a result of our limited time in Miami, we had to make compromises (such as less beach / pool time and fewer tourist attractions) which we’d love to fix during a future, longer trip to the city.

Where To Stay In Miami?

Deciding on where to stay in Miami is largely going to depend on what you’re looking for from your trip. Are you looking for a city break? or are you looking for a relaxing beach vacation? While you’ll definitely be able to experience both during your trip. I’d suggest staying somewhere that best reflects what you’re most looking forward to.

Being that we were travelling with our 18-month-old little boy Oliver, we knew that we wanted to stay somewhere with a pool, and near the beach (the less hassle getting to the beach the better!). So for us, staying in Miami Beach was a no-brainer!

This iconic district is famed for its Art Deco architecture, dynamic nightlife, luxury boutiques, and of course, its white sandy beaches. It’s the perfect place for those who enjoy a lively atmosphere and have a taste for the finer things in life.

Roughly a 15-minute drive inland, you’ll find Downtown Miami, the commercial epicentre of the city which also plays host to an array of entertainment and cultural attractions. This is an ideal location for those visiting for business, sporting events, or those who want to be within easy reach of trendy bars and eateries.

However, if you’re travelling to Miami as a couple then consider checking out Brickell. Dubbed Miami’s “Manhattan of the South”. This residential area is characterized by its high-rise buildings, swanky restaurants, luxury shops, and nightlife that buzzes with energy.

Travelling Around Miami

The city of Miami is walkable, up to a point. If you’re staying on Miami Beach, for example, you’ll be able to stroll around the Art Deco District, down the Marina, along the beach, or down Lincoln Road.

Meanwhile, if you’re over in Downtown then you’ll be able to navigate the highrise buildings of Brickell to shopping malls and fancy restaurants. However, getting between these two locations or to other popular attractions in the city is going to require some form of transport.

Public transport is available but is limited and incredibly time-consuming. Therefore most tourists, ourselves included are left choosing between renting a car or taking a taxi (in the form of Uber or Lyft) and personally, we opted for the latter given the high cost of parking and limited spaces within the city.

Things To Do In Miami

Known for its vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, and historical sites, the city of Miami has something for everyone. Here’s just a sample of the most popular things to do;

Little Havana

⏰ Average Time Spent: 2 to 4 Hours

Steeped in Cuban culture and tradition, Little Havana is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Miami. Famed for its cafés, restaurants, and Cuban cigar shops this region of the city has a lot of stories to tell.

We chose to explore Little Havana independently. However, I don’t feel as though we got the ‘true’ experience and were really able to understand and appreciate the history and the culture here. I’d therefore highly recommend booking a guided tour of this area instead. Both group tours and private tours run multiple times a day, 7 days a week and are best pre-booked online.

Art Deco Historic District

⏰ Average Time Spent: 1 to 3 Hours

Nestled in the heart of South Beach is Miami’s Art Deco District. Now, I’m no architectural buff, but even still, it’s impossible not to appreciate the 800 preserved buildings here which make up the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world.

Pastel-hued facades, porthole windows, and sleek, geometric designs will transport you to an era of cinematic grandeur. Better still, these buildings are more than just beautiful relics of a bygone era, instead most interiors have been gracefully transformed into; hotels, cafes, shops, and galleries.

Miami Children’s Museum

⏰ Average Time Spent: 2 to 4 Hours

If you’re travelling with children between the ages of 1.5 and 7 years old then I’d highly recommend visiting the Miami Children’s Museum. This highly engaging and educational facility is one of the best places we have visited with our son Oliver and boasts a wide range of interactive exhibits designed to stimulate curiosity and learning.

From a colourful art studio to a ‘construction zone’, a music studio, and even a kid-sized supermarket, there are endless opportunities for fun and imaginative play. Whether your child dreams of being a firefighter, a television presenter, or a sailor, the Miami Children’s Museum allows them to delve into a world of role-play, exploration, and most importantly, fun.

South Beach

⏰ Average Time Spent: 1 to 9 Hours

If you’re looking to relax while in Miami then look no further than the famous South Beach. Stretching along the coast, this beach is the ultimate relaxation destination. With its soft sand and turquoise waters, it offers a serene escape from the bustling city.

Depending on how long you plan to spend on South Beach, and your budget, you can either lay your towel down on the sand or rent a beach chair or sun lounger (roughly $20 a piece depending on the facility). If you opt for the latter then you’ll also benefit from bar service – which depending on the facility may also include food too!

Wynwood Walls

⏰ Average Time Spent: 1 to 2 Hours

Situated in Miami’s vibrant Wynwood neighbourhood you’ll find the renowned outdoor art museum, Wynwood Walls. When I first mentioned on Instagram that we were travelling to Miami, this was the number one place people suggested we visit, and it did not disappoint.

The venue was established in 2009, by developer Tony Goldman and aimed to rejuvenate the warehouse district by transforming it into a hub of street art and creativity. Here you’ll find an extensive range of large-scale murals created by internationally acclaimed street artists which rotate each subsequent year, with a new selection of both national and international artists ranging from old-school graffiti artists to up-and-coming talents creating artwork for the Wynwood Walls.

How We Spent 3 Days In Miami

We recently visited Miami for the first time, spending three days in the city – and let me start by saying, that definitely wasn’t long enough.

After a long international flight from the UK, we decided to spend our first day in Miami relaxing. So we booked a SOAK Cabana at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel where we were staying and spent the day sunbathing and playing in the pool with our little boy Oliver, before heading down to the beach later that afternoon.

On our second day in Miami, we headed into the city kicking things off at Wynwood Walls. Arriving at this outdoor art museum shortly after it opened meant that even during the height of summer, we were able to take uninterrupted photos of the incredible murals.

After spending an hour or so here we went over to the nearby Brickell to see the highrise buildings and grab lunch and a coffee in some of the most incredible boutique coffee shops and cafés before finishing the day at the Miami Children’s Museum.

We kicked off our third and final day in Miami in Little Havana which is famous for its cafés, restaurants, and Cuban cigar shops before heading back to Miami Beach and exploring Ocean Drive, the Art Deco District, Espanola Way and the world-famous Lincoln Road.

If we’d had a couple more nights in Miami then we’d have liked to have spent more time at the beach and around the pool while also exploring;

• Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
• Jungle Island
• Bayside Marketplace
• Miami Design District

An just in general move through the city at a slightly slower, more in-depth place to really try and appreciate everything that each location had to offer.

How Much Does It Cost To Visit Miami (Per Day)

Of course, the longer you spend in Miami, the more it’s going to cost. As such when deciding how long to spend in the city, it’s worth first considering the budget that you have for your trip.

As a guideline, I recommend budgeting roughly $80 to $200 per person, per day for adults and $40 to $80 for children. This does not include flights but does include things such as accommodation, food, drink & activities.

Given this, a couple would want to budget between $160 and $400, per day for the trip (on average).