Miami is one of South Florida’s premier vacation destinations, with beautiful beaches, great weather, history, culture, sports, and entertainment. Downtown Miami, separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Biscayne Bay and Miami Beach, is a modern metropolis and cultural treasure trove.
From the museums to the streets of Little Havana, you can always find plenty of things to do in Miami. Across the bay, Miami Beach, with its Art Deco District, fantastic stretch of beachfront, and fun vibe, is a must-see in the area. Nearby, Everglades National Park is one of several popular day trip destinations from Miami.
Plan your time and discover the best places to visit with our list of the top tourist attractions in Miami.
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Miami, FL
1. Miami Beach
Located on a barrier island and connected to the mainland by a series of bridges, Miami Beach is a mix of quiet neighborhoods, lively entertainment-focused areas, and long stretches of soft-sand beaches. The southernmost portion of the island is the historic and action-packed area known as South Beach, and this is where you’ll find many of the top attractions and things to do.
One of the biggest attractions in Miami Beach is the Art Deco Historic District, with pastel buildings from the 1930s and early 1940s sporting classic neon signs. An expensive tourist district, this area features numerous beachfront restaurants, shops, hotels, and plenty of sunbathing opportunities.
Miami Beach
The main street in this area is Ocean Drive, a section of road located along the oceanfront and home to some beautiful Art Deco buildings. Ocean Drive was closed to all but pedetrian traffic in May of 2020 but in 2022 opened to one-way vehicle traffic from 15th Street to 5th Street.
One block inland, running parallel with Ocean Drive, is Collins Avenue. Collins Avenue is actually State Road A1A and is the main street in Miami Beach, joining numerous neighborhoods.
2. Art Deco Historic District
Even if you have no interest in the beach, the Art Deco Historic District is worth a trip out to Miami Beach. This architectural style, popular in the 1930s and 40s, dominates the trendy South Beach neighborhood.
These uniquely designed buildings, in a range of pastel colors and displaying large neon signs, were built following a devastating hurricane that struck in 1926. Many are hotels and restaurants, most of which have been beautifully restored. Along some of the main streets, awnings on the lower level of these buildings provide shade for outdoor dining areas. Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue are the two main streets through the area.
If you are interested in staying in one of these historic gems, many of the Art Deco buildings still function as hotels and have much more character than modern hotels. Some good options are the luxury Delano South Beach or National Hotel Miami Beach, or the more moderately priced Hotel Breakwater South Beach.
3. South Beach
Located at the southern end of Miami Beach is the always action-packed neighborhood of South Beach. This is what many people have in mind when they plan a beach vacation to Miami. The wide section of beach that fronts the ocean along Ocean Drive is one of the big attractions. Often full of people in summer, this is the most popular beach in Miami and one of the top beaches in Florida.
This is a place to see and be seen, but also a place to swim and enjoy the shallow waters, escape the heat, and soak up the sun. A paved walk is set well back from the beach, and in behind is Ocean Drive. Art Deco buildings line the streets and offer luxury hotel rooms and a good mix of dining options.
South Beach is home to several popular festivals and events held throughout the year. By day, it’s a great place to wander around or hang out on the beach. At night it comes alive with dining and nightlife.
4. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
This National Historic Landmark, set on 28 acres, was the luxurious winter home of 20th-century industrialist, James Deering. Built in 1916, the mansion features 34 rooms arranged around a central courtyard.
It took more than 1,100 workers and craftsmen to complete the Vizcaya project, many of whom were brought over from Europe to ensure authenticity in design.
The Italian Renaissance-style villa is filled with an impressive collection of European furniture and decorative arts from the 15th to 19th centuries.
The grounds and gardens contain beautiful Italian and French fountains, pools, and sculptures. A breakwater at the base of the steps leading into Biscayne Bay is an ornately carved barge, featuring female figures.
5. Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park, just a short drive from Miami, protects one of Florida’s most unique natural features. These swamplands, covering about 1.5 million acres, are home to alligators, crocodiles, snakes, and birds. This whole area is essentially a shallow river flowing out to the ocean.
Within the park is an informative Visitors Center, as well as walking trails and boardwalks for wildlife viewing. One of the most popular walking trails in the park is the Anhinga Trail, which leaves from the Royal Palm Visitor Center. This trail is less than a mile long but leads through terrain where visitors are likely to see alligators and other animals. This trail is wheelchair accessible and non-strenuous.
One of the most enjoyable ways to experience the Everglades is on an airboat tour. These high-speed boat trips take visitors out into the marshes and streams to see alligators and other wildlife. The Miami Everglades Airboat Adventure with Transport half-day tour provides transport from your hotel to the park, includes a 30-minute airboat ride, a live alligator show at the Everglades Alligator Farm, and transport back to your hotel.
6. Bayside Marketplace
Bayside Marketplace is a large outdoor-style mall with more than 120 specialty and tourist shops, numerous cafes and restaurants, and daily live entertainment. Visitors will find some well-known chain stores, as well as many unique, one-of-a-kind places. The marketplace draws locals as well as tourists.
As may be evident in the name, the mall is located along Miami’s waterfront, looking out over docks and boats. Many people come here simply to soak up the atmosphere. Tour boats leave from here, visiting locations around Biscayne Bay. There is also a water taxi service to Miami Beach and downtown hotels located in the area.
A brand new attraction has risen at Bayside Market: the Sky views Miami Observation Wheel. Towering 200 feet in the air, this giant Ferris wheel has 42 climate-controlled passenger gondolas plus one glass-floored VIP version. The views out over Biscayne Bay and Miami you’ll see during your 15-minute ride are spectacular.
7. Little Havana and Calle Ocho
Little Havana, the Cuban district of Miami, isn’t known for its wealth of tourist attractions but more for its distinctive cultural scene. Restaurants and specialty food shops line the streets, and Latin music drifts through the air. Locals socialize in the open spaces.
Murals grace the walls of buildings, showing important Cuban figures and scenes of daily life. Calle Ocho is the main thoroughfare running through the district and home to much of the activity, but Little Havana spreads well beyond, into the surrounding streets and avenues. For people-watching, the area offers a great deal of entertainment. And, of course, this is the place to visit for Cuban cuisine or perhaps, a surprise to most visitors, a great haircut at one of the numerous barber shops.
The Calle Ocho Festival, held in March, is a celebration of Cuban culture and the largest of its kind in the world. Over the years this street festival has expanded to include more Latin American cultures and is now a great way to experience Latin American music and Caribbean cuisine.
8. Bayfront Park
Bayfront Park, on the east side of Biscayne Boulevard, is a 32-acre green space, adjacent to the Bayside Marketplace. The park has several interesting monuments and sculptures. One of the unique features is the electronically controlled Pepper Fountain.
Other highlights include the Challenger Memorial, commemorating the crew of the Challenger spacecraft; the Light Tower, an amphitheater used for musical performances of all kinds; and a children’s playground. Locals often come here just to run or walk on the paved trails.
9. Perez Art Museum
The Perez Art Museum, known locally as the PAMM, occupies a section of prime real estate on Miami’s waterfront. Inside an architecturally stunning building designed by Herzog & de Mueron is housed artwork from the 20th and 21st centuries.
The museum has been celebrating art from local and international artists for over 25 years. In addition to the permanent collection, the PAMM hosts a regular procession of temporary exhibits. The interior of the building is almost a work of art in itself. Light, airy spaces along with incredible views out over Biscayne Bay invoke a sense of calm and introspection, helping to aid in your appreciation of the artwork. You’ll find the permanent exhibits are primarily displayed on the first and second floors; the temporary exhibits are usually on the second floor.
The PAMM has a well-regarded on-site restaurant named Verde. Settle in at a table either inside or outside on the expansive patio and enjoy a light lunch while you soak up the fantastic views out over the water.
10. Miami Seaquarium
Located on the Rickenbacker Causeway on the way to Key Biscayne, the Miami Seaquarium is a good place to take the family for an afternoon of entertainment and education. This aquatic facility is home to a wide variety of sea creatures, including killer whales, dolphins, stingrays, seals, and penguins among many, many others.
The Seaquarium offers a variety of animal shows; however, the killer whale and dolphin shows are currently suspended as of writing. But don’t despair, Salty the Sealion is still performing! If you’d like to get up close and personal, animal encounters are available for an additional fee. These include three options for interacting with dolphins, one with penguins, and the opportunity to swim with seals.
In addition to the shows and animal encounters, the Seaquarium has an extensive number of educational animal exhibits and an area devoted to marine conservation.