Endless sunshine, year-round warm weather, one of the best urban beaches on the planet, a delicious cuisine, an extremely international population, and the gateway to the Caribbean: there are a lot of things you can say about the cosmopolitan gem of South Florida, and essentially every one of them is a reason to be excited about spending 3 days in Miami.
Whether you’re headed south for a long weekend in Miami or as the kick-off to a trip down to the Keys or out to the Caribbean, following this 3 day Miami itinerary will be sure to leave you smitten with the city of sun and sea.
From the shores of South Beach to the restaurants of Little Havana, here’s how we suggest seeing Miami in 3 days.
Day 1: South Beach + Beyond
Kick off your day on South Pointe Park Pier.
This pier has some of the best views in Miami, and is the perfect place to start your 3 days in Miami!
If you stroll out along the pier and turn back, you’ll see the skyline of downtown Miami in the distance ahead of you… and the length of South Beach, framed by the sea on one side and the skyline of Miami Beach, on the other.
It is an utterly fantastic view–and as soon as you’re done gaping, you’ll have easy access to South Beach!
Walk + swim + lounge on South Beach.
We recommend dedicating the bulk of the first day of your Miami itinerary to its best-known attraction: beautiful South Beach, which is indisputably one of the best beaches in the USA.
You’ll be at the far southern end of the beach when you come down from the pier, so feel free to walk as long as you like before finding a place to set up and relax for the day.
Don’t forget to stop and take a photo with a few of the amazing Art Deco lifeguard stands that the beach is known for!
Also, fair warning: South Beach has a fairly noticeable seaweed problem, so depending on when you visit, you might be sharing the sand with a pile of weeds–but really, it’s not a big deal.
Soak up some shade at Lummus Park.
After all the sun on South Beach, your skin will likely be dying for a break.
In other words, it’s the perfect time to enjoy a bit of shade at picturesque Lummus Park!
This beautiful park is framed by South Beach on one side and Ocean Drive on the other, and its many, many palm trees create a lovely canopy of shade to rest in.
If you’d like to explore, this is a great place to rent a bike or play a game of volleyball–but it’s also a great place to simply relax.
Stroll down Ocean Drive + Collins Ave.
Miami is well-known for its Art Deco (and Meditteranean Revival, and Miami Modern) buildings: on the central streets of Miami Beach, it can sometimes feel like you’re standing inside a delightful, retro throwback, all neon signs and pastel detail.
It’s a delight to behold, and the streets–especially Ocean Drive and Collins Ave, in our opinion, though Washington Ave is popular too–are incredibly fun to walk down, with or without a tour.
However, if you’re particularly interested in the history of Miami Beach or in architecture, you might want to look into adding an Art Deco tour to your Miami itinerary!
There’s also an Art Deco museum located in the neighborhood, though our understanding is that it is fairly small.
Check out Espanola Way.
This small pedestrian street in Miami Beach was built to mimic a Spanish village, and as a result, has a very Europe-meets-Miami vibe.
It’s not big, but the twinkling fairy lights overhead and the tempting restaurants that line the streets are certainly a reason to visit (and maybe even pick up dinner here).
Not all of the restaurants get great reviews, so we do recommend doing some research before sitting down! Havana 1957 is a reliable option, and we’ve heard good things about A La Folie Cafe as well.
If you’d rather stroll through Espanola Way but sit down to eat dinner somewhere a bit quieter, Alma Mexicana is a quick walk away and a delicious, unpretentious, and affordable option.
