From the sizzling nightlife of South Beach to the authentic Cuban flavors of Little Havana, Miami offers one of the richest cultural experiences of any city in the United States. Its diverse neighborhoods house everything from world-famous street art to world-class restaurants, hotels, shopping centers, and cultural venues. Miami’s colorful history is matched only by the vibrancy and verve of the modern global city it’s continually blossoming into today.
Miami has attracted the world’s most daring and creative minds since its evolution from native Tequesta lands to the promising new frontier of railroad tycoon Henry Flagler in the late 1800s. A developing father of Florida, Flagler expanded his Florida East Coast Railway to Miami in 1896 and the rest, as they say, is history.
Today, Miami is a destination for lovers of art, design, food, shopping, and even the great outdoors. Read on for Travel + Leisure‘s ultimate guide to the Magic City, covering everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip.
Time Zone
Eastern Standard Time (Daylight Savings Time is observed seasonally; dates vary)
Best Time to Go
Spring is one of the best times to visit Miami. You’ll find fewer crowds, pleasant temperatures, and plenty of outdoor events and activities to enjoy. Plus, April and May are the Miami Attraction & Museum Months, when you can score admission discounts and BOGO deals. The South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Carnaval Miami, Miami Fashion Week, and the Miami Open are other highlights of springtime in Miami.
While Miami’s beaches are at their brightest in summer, the temperatures are sizzling and the weather is humid. Crowds are at their lowest, so it’s a fine time to go if South Beach tops your to-do list, but limit your sun exposure and stay hydrated. If you enjoy spoiling yourself — top restaurants and hotels, spa treatments, the works — but want to get the best bang for your buck, August is the best month of the year to visit Miami: it’s the only time when Miami Spa Months, Miami Spice Restaurant Months, and Miami Hotels Months overlap.
October and November are Miami’s Entertainment Months, when you can explore Miami’s diverse entertainment scene for less. Don’t miss the world-famous Miami Book Fair held every November. Temperatures are cool to mild during South Florida’s “winter,” and the weather is drier, but this also means it’s peak travel time and you’ll find thicker crowds of tourists and higher prices. Each December sees Art Basel, an annual convergence of the world’s artistic set; winter is also prime time to catch a Miami Heat game. Visit in February to check out the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, held every Presidents’ Day weekend.
How to Get Around
Metta Motors Rent A Car
Trains: Brightline connecting Miami to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and eventually Orlando (price varies); Tri-Rail (price varies); Metromover map.
Metrorail: Metrorail is a 25-mile dual track that provides service to Miami International Airport (MIA) and runs from Kendall through South Miami, Coral Gables, and downtown Miami and other destinations.
Buses: Metrobus serves all major shopping, entertainment and cultural centers, as well as major hospitals and schools. Service is available from Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, West Miami-Dade, Broward County, Homestead, Florida City and the Middle Keys.
Trolley: trolley (free)
Taxis: USA Taxi, Super E-Z Taxi, Central Cab, Yellow Cab, KB Village Taxi; water taxi
Car service: various limo and chauffeur services available for hire; rideshare (Lyft, Uber)