Visiting Miami Beach

Visitors | Getting Here | Weekend | 7 Days | Kids | Facts

Bienvenido a Miami!

Welcome to the land of sun and fun where the off-season is but a distant memory (just ask any local looking for a parking spot in June). There's something happening every week of the year in every nook of the city.

Miami Beach is ground zero for dining, culture, shopping and beaching; the Design District draws the arts crowd; Key Biscayne attracts families; and the city proper pulls a mix. Check out our map to get a lay of the land then visit our calendar for monthly highlights and daily events. Happy travels!

Lodging: Sleep Soundly

After the maddeningly long marathon at the Miami airport, you’re due for some R & R. Find it at the Setai. More Shanghai than SoBe, the property is a sleek, chic escape stocked with Dux beds, Irish linens, granite baths, rainfall showers and plasmas galore. Alternately, check your bags at the Delano or the Shore Club for a hefty touch of scene with your suite.

If you’re seeking more classic Deco style, drop your bags at the Raleigh for the ultimate period furnishings, ocean views and on-site access to one of the best bars in town. Pragmatists, there’s room for you, too. Get the most bang for your buck at the Townhouse Hotel. Rooms and rates are modest, but you’ll be steps away from the beach and a stone’s throw from Nobu’s rock shrimp tempura. Early risers can enjoy a complimentary Parisian breakfast and free WiFi.

Dining Out: Graze Happily

"See and be seen" is Miami’s unofficial motto and dining out provides the perfect opportunity to experience it. Grab the corporate card for an evening of entertainment and excess at Barton G, Prime 112 or Joe's Stone Crab. Local caterer and chef du jour Barton Gerald Weiss shocks with elaborate presentation while Prime 112 lures a celeb-packed crowd and Joe's dishes out iconic Miami stone crabs and scene.

For an evening al fresco, head to the Lido at the Standard, where you’ll find goodies like chick pea fries, Fiji shrimp and dry aged New York strips. If you’re not looking to break the bank, Lime Fresh Mexican Grill satisfies big eaters (Big Cali Burrito) and the health conscious (Lite Quesdilla) with cash left over for dessert. Brave the long line (it moves quickly) and make sure to park legally – towing is a full-time sport in the neighborhood.

Nightlife: Party Professionally

Nightlife is a top draw on South Beach. Be prepared to face the velvet rope for Mokai, a swinging lounge where drinks and a selective door policy make the hipster scene. For a slightly more relaxed scene, cruise over to Table 8 or the Hotel Victor. Both are out-of-the-box hotel bars - Table 8 offers Collins Ave lounging while the Victor serves up Ocean Drive gawking.

Dive bar fans can head to Lost Weekend or Purdy Lounge, where beer, bar games and live music draw regular crowds. Make sure to bring quarters for Photo Hunt - it's dangerously addictive.

Shopping: Spend Wisely

The best thing about shopping in SoBe? The cheesy souvenir era is over. Skip the pink flamingos and oranges and head directly to Bal Harbour, where the best and brightest international designers hold court. Saks and Neimans anchor the mall while everything from Chloe to Yves Saint Laurent is available at stand-alone shops.

For great shopping without total savings depletion, head to Lincoln Road for a mix of sleek boutiques (En Avance, Rosa Chá) and national chains (Anthropologie, Victoria’s Secret). The beauty-hungry can ferret out developing skincare and makeup lines at Brownes and Co. Apothecary while the artistically inclined can browse Britto Central, home base for Romero Britto, one of Miami’s most famed artists. Better bargains (and more chains) lay due west along Collins Avenue. Pick up an outfit for a night on the town at Intermix or Leo Miami.

Activities: See & Be Seen

Miami is abuzz with a million things to do- pace yourself, odds are you’ll be back. First and foremost, hit the beach – tanning and people-watching are professional sports around these parts. Grab a towel and explore – each block offer something different from volleyball to topless tanning.

Once you’ve had your fill of sand and surf, seek solace at the Standard Spa, where bathing is celebrated as an art form. Restorative and refreshing water arrives in many forms, including a unisex hammam, sauna, steel soaking tubs, infinity pool, icy plunge pool and hot tubs galore.

Art lovers can head to the Design District. The area runs 18 square blocks and boasts over 25 galleries, including Artformz, The Moore Space and Bas Fisher Invitational. If you’re in town the second Saturday of the month, catch Art + Design Night, an evening of art galleries, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Missing anything? Check out our Miami Beach Essentials Guide. Eventually, it'll be time to head back to the airport - so sad! The good news? You can take your tan with you. The better news? The Beach is standing by for your return.