Sightseeing OverviewMiami has long been a premier tourist destination, acclaimed for its physical beauty and its excellent climate. Year round, the fabled white-sand beaches and clear blue waters lapping
Miami Beach have beckoned visitors to America’s ‘Riviera’. Others are lured by Miami’s world-class shopping and cosmopolitan dining, its international culture and legendary nightlife.
Miami’s diverse neighborhoods offer a range of activities, from cultural to sporting. Residential
Coral Gables is known for its examples of architectural
elegance, including the Biltmore Hotel, Fairchild Tropical Garden and the incomparable Venetian Pool, while the bustling
Bayside harbor complex in
Downtown Miami offers boat excursions. The distinctly Latin district of
Little Havana, home to the city’s huge Cuban population, has cigar-making shops and is the place to be in March for the lively
Calle Ocho Festival. Over in Miami Beach,
South Beach is one of the most-visited neighborhoods, famed for its pastel and stainless steel Art Deco buildings, where the legendary
Ocean Drive boulevard is fringed by Miami’s trendiest sidewalk boutiques, bars and restaurants – the favorite haunts of such local celebrities as Gloria Estefan, Madonna, Ricky Martin and Donatella Versace.
Perhaps Miami’s biggest crowd-puller is its rich multicultural flavor, which gives the city an undeniably unique atmosphere. Just as the rest of America has embraced the rhythms of heart-throb Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira and other Hispanic music sensations, Miami has long been swaying to a Latin remix of sensuality, salsa and South Beach style, making it one of the most exciting cities in the USA.
Visitors should note that Miami is divided into quadrants. Flagler Street runs east–west, thus dividing the city into north and south sections, while Miami Avenue runs north–south, splitting the city into east and west sections. Most Miami addresses refer to these quadrants.
Tourist InformationGreater Miami and the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau Suite 2700, 701 Brickell Avenue
Tel: (305) 539 3000. Fax: (305) 539 3113.
E-mail:
visitor@tropicoolmiami.com Website:
www.miamiandbeaches.com Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1800.
There are also Visitors Centers at Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura, and Bayside Marketplace, 401 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, and elsewhere.
PassesThere are no tourist discount passes in Miami; however, visitors should contact the Visitors Bureau for promotions, specials and money-saving coupons.
Key Attractions:Downtown Miami Downtown Miami is the metropolis’s nerve center (the commercial heart of the city) distinguished by its sleek skyscrapers, impressive government buildings and cultural centers and edged by the Port of Miami, the largest cruise ship port in the world. Brickell Avenue is home to major international banks and businesses, as well as Brickell Village, the area around SW Sixth Street, which has power-lunch restaurants cum buzzing nightspots. On the waterfront, the lively
Bayside Marketplace is a popular shopping and entertainment arcade, clustered around a small harbor and abuzz with bars, shops and market stalls. Bayside is the main stop for the water taxi service (see
Getting Around) and the starting point for several boat tours (see
Tours of the City) of Miami Bay. Adjacent to Bayside Marketplace is the
American Airlines Arena, a 20,000-person entertainment venue and home of the basketball team
Miami Heat. The historic
Gusman Center for the Performing Arts nearby hosts the Miami Film Festival and other cultural events under a painted ‘starry sky’ ceiling. Beyond the port, exclusive
Fisher Island, accessible only by boat or private plane, is the address in Miami and home to many celebrities.
Bayside Marketplace 401 Biscayne Boulevard
Tel: (305) 577 3344.
Website:
www.baysidemarketplace.com Transport: Metrorail Brickell, Government Center or Overtown/Arena.
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 1000-2200, Fri-Sat 1000-2300, Sun 1100-2100.
Admission: Free.
American Airlines Arena 601 Biscayne Boulevard
Tel: (786) 777 1000
or 777 1237 for customer services.
Website:
www.aaarena.com Transport: Metrorail to Government Center then Metromover to Freedom Tower.
Gusman Center for the Performing Arts 174 East Flagler Street
Tel: (305) 374 2444.
Website:
http://gusmancenter.org Transport: Metrorail to Government Center then Metromover to NE 1st Street Station.
South Beach Glitzy, glamorous
South Beach is undoubtedly the trendiest part of town, the place to see and be seen and a magnet for celebrities and fun-lovers who thrive on its cosmopolitan atmosphere, designer shopping, upbeat restaurants and fast-paced nightlife. By day, a young, hip crowd of trendy film-star wannabes, international supermodels, artists, writers, tourists, strollers, strutters and the thriving local gay community all cruise
Ocean Drive and the pedestrian-friendly
Lincoln Road Mall, with its art galleries, shops, and restaurants – providing the colorful mix that fuels the district’s feverish energy levels. By night, salsa or techno music flows from the many dance clubs onto the busy streets.
South Beach itself, with its white sands, palm trees and dazzling blue sea, stretches from Lincoln Road Mall to South Pointe Park at the southernmost tip (great for surfing, fishing and sunsets). The main access point is
Lummus Park, bordering Ocean Drive, a favorite park for in-line skaters and volleyball players. However, the most striking feature of South Beach is its famous
Art Deco Historic District – over 800 buildings within one and a half sq kilometers (one sq mile), all in the same streamlined architectural style, painted in pastel shades and lit with brilliantly colored neon lights. Even the Burger King on Alton Road is housed in an Art Deco structure. Tours of the district are offered on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday mornings or Thursday evening and self-guided tour maps are always available at the
Art Deco Welcome Center.
Lincoln Road Mall to South Pointe Park
Transport: Bus C, K, M or W; or Electrowave.
Art Deco Welcome Center 1001 Ocean Drive
Tel: (305) 531 3484.
Website:
www.mdpl.org Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 1000-2200, Fri and Sat 1000-2400.
Admission: Free; US$20 (guided tours); concessions available.
Miami Beach Miami Beach is located on a long slender island connected to mainland Miami by four main causeways. It comprises various coastal towns, each with its own personality – including Surfside, the upscale shopping district of
Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles Beach, South Beach (see above) and Golden Beach. Miami Beach’s white sands extend from Lincoln Road Mall northwards to 87th Street, with a scenic boardwalk popular with joggers and strollers, and pastel-colored Art Deco lifeguard stations dotting the shoreline. A variety of watersports are available, including windsurfing, sailing, jet-skiing and parasailing.
Lincoln Road Mall to 87th Street
Transport: Bus C, G, H, L, M, S or W.
Bal Harbour Shops 9700 Collins Road
Tel: (305) 866 0311.
Website:
www.balharborshops.com Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-2100, Sat 1000-1900, Sun 1200-1800.
Admission: Free.
Little Havana After Fidel Castro took power in 1959, refugees fleeing Cuba settled just west of downtown Miami, in a neighborhood known as Little Havana. Today, with its 800,000-strong Cuban-American community, this colorful district has a distinctly Latin atmosphere with its Spanish signs, Cuban coffee bars and restaurants, small cigar factories and street-side food stalls, selling such delicacies as
baho (Cuban stew) and freshly squeezed juices. Monuments to anti-Castro Cubans line the streets, especially around
Calle Ocho (Eighth Street), the liveliest part of Little Havana and the venue for the Calle Ocho Festival, a famous annual spring carnival – America’s largest street party.
Little Havana
Transport: Metrorail Vizcaya; then bus 17 or 24.
Key Biscayne Linked to the mainland by the Rickenbacker Causeway,
Key Biscayne combines traditional Florida-style houses with ostentatious mansions belonging to some of Miami’s wealthiest residents. The beaches here rank among Florida’s best – their fine sand and relatively calm seas make them a popular choice for families. Other top attractions include two beautiful parks (
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area and
Crandon Park) both with magnificent beaches, bike trails and nature walks. The small
Crandon Family Amusement Center in the park has an old-time carousel, playground and outdoor roller rink.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area 1200 South Crandon Boulevard
Tel: (305) 361 5811.
Website:
www.dep.state.fl.us/parks Transport: Bus B.
Opening hours: Daily 0800-sunset.
Admission: US$1 walk-in ; US$5 per car (maximum 8pp), US$3 single occupancy.
Crandon Park 4000 Crandon Boulevard
Tel: (305) 361 5421
or 7388/5 (Amusement Center).
Website:
www.miamidade.gov/parks/parks/crandon_amusement.asp Transport: Bus B.
Opening hours: Daily 0800-sunset (park); daily 1000-1900 (Amusement Center).
Admission: Free; US$4 (parking); US$1 (three carousel rides).
Miami Seaquarium Located on beautiful Biscayne Bay, the
Miami Seaquarium has over 10,000 aquatic creatures on display – including crocodiles, ‘gators’ and seals, as well as fish of every imaginable shape, size and color. Star acts include Lolita, a 7,000-pound killer whale (visitors should sit at least six rows back in the audience to keep dry), Salty the sea lion and TV superstar Flipper the dolphin. The most impressive aspect of Seaquarium, however, is its genuine attempt to preserve and protect marine life. The in-house Marine Mammal Rescue Team is constantly striving to save stranded or injured manatees, dolphins and whales in the waters of South Florida. Other exhibits include
Discovery Bay, a natural mangrove habitat used to rehabilitate rescued sea turtles; and the special
Manatee Exhibit where manatees are nursed back to health, ready for release into the wild.
4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne
Tel: (305) 361 5705. Fax: (305) 365 0075.
Website:
www.miamiseaquarium.com Transport: Bus B.
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1800.
Admission: US$25.95; concessions available.
Coconut Grove Located on the edge of Biscayne Bay, south of downtown Miami,
Coconut Grove is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, with bohemian roots. Settled by a multicultural group of Bahamians and New Englanders, the neighborhood drew artists and intellectuals, who set up summer homes here. Today, it is a trendy district with a bustling village atmosphere, full of colorful galleries, theaters, nightclubs, fine restaurants, hip sidewalk cafés and shops. The main attraction is
The Gallery at CocoWalk, a stylish shopping mall packed with restaurants, bars, shops and a cinema. It is also home to the
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (see below).
Transport: Metrorail Coconut Grove.
The Gallery at CocoWalk 3015 Grand Avenue
Tel: (305) 444 0777.
Website:
www.galleryatcocowalk.com Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 1100-2200, Fri and Sat 1100-2400 (bars and restaurants until 0200).
Admission: Free.
Coral Gables This elegant Mediterranean-style residential district (16km (10 miles) southwest of downtown Miami) was created by local developer George Merrick during the boom years of the 1920s. Today, it contains some of the city’s finest architecture, set amid broad boulevards, canals and parkland. Some buildings are preserved as historic landmarks, including the stunning
Biltmore Hotel, identified by its 15-story tower modeled on the Giralda bell-tower in Seville. The remarkable
Venetian Pool, transformed from a mere rock quarry in 1923, has exotic bridges and waterfalls and was the site of many high-society soirées and beauty pageants in its time, as the vintage on-site photographs reveal. Today, it is the only swimming pool on the National Register of Historic Places. Coral Gables is also known for its art galleries, its exclusive
Miracle Mile shopping street, its neatly manicured golf courses and some of the best hotels and restaurants in town.
Transport: Metrorail Douglas Road, then bus 42, 72 or J.
Biltmore Hotel 1200 Anastasia Avenue
Tel: (305) 445 1926. Fax: (305) 913 3159.
Website:
www.biltmorehotel.com Venetian Pool 2701 De Soto Boulevard
Tel: (305) 460 5306/57.
Website:
www.venetianpool.com Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1100-1930, Sat and Sun 1000-1630 (Jun-Aug); Mon-Thurs 1100-1730, Sat and Sun 1000-1630 (Sep, Oct, Apr and May); Tues-Sun 1000-1630 (Nov-Mar).
Admission: US$9.50 (Apr-Oct); US$6.25 (Nov-Mar).
Historical Museum of Southern Florida This museum offers a fascinating insight into the region’s past. It has a small but impressive collection of hands-on displays, archive material, historical objects and multimedia presentations, which covers 10,000 years of Florida history from the first settlers to the present day.
Miami-Dade Cultural Center, 101 West Flagler Street, downtown Miami
Tel: (305) 375 1492. Fax: (305) 375 1609.
E-mail:
hasf@historical-museum.org Website:
www.historical-museum.org Transport: Metrorail Government Center.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1700, every third Thurs 1000-2100, Sun 1200-1700.
Admission: US$5; concessions available.
Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium The nationally renowned
Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium, associated with the Smithsonian Institute, features interactive scientific exhibits on physics, electricity, light, sound and anatomy, as well as daily astronomy and laser shows in the adjacent planetarium. It also boasts South Florida’s largest natural history collection and a wildlife center that rehabilitates injured birds of prey and reptiles and displays more than 175 live animals.
3280 South Miami Avenue, Coconut Grove
Tel: (305) 646 4200. Fax: (305) 646 4300.
Website:
www.miamisci.org Transport: Bus 48; or Metrorail Vizcaya.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800 (last entry at 1700).
Admission: US$10; concessions available.
Art Museums The
Miami Art Museum displays international art since World War II, complemented by art from other periods to provide historical perspective. Meanwhile, the new Miami Beach Cultural Park has many art institutions, one of which is the
Bass Museum. The permanent exhibits of this weighty art museum focus on European works from the 15th to 18th centuries. A new wing, designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, also has a outdoor sculpture garden. The
Wolfsonian Museum, affiliated with the Florida International University, was founded by an eccentric world-traveller and Miami native from his own collection of modern design and ‘propaganda arts’. One-of-a-kind exhibits address 19th- and 20th-century political themes, displaying the arts and crafts that were created to persuade, nationalise or rally citizens. The gift shop sells high-design home decor objects and lovely art books.
Miami Art Museum Miami-Dade Cultural Center, 101 West Flagler Street, downtown Miami
Tel: (305) 375 3000. Fax: (305) 375 1725.
Website:
www.miamiartmuseum.org Transport: Metrorail Government Center.
Opening hours: Tues-Fri 1000-1700, Sat and Sun 1200-1700, third Thurs of the month 1000-2100.
Admission: US$5; concessions available; free on Sun and second Sat of the month.
Bass Museum 2121 Park Avenue, at 21st Street, Miami Beach
Tel: (305) 673 7530.
Website:
www.bassmuseum.org Transport: Bus J.
Opening hours: Tues–Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1100-1700, second Thurs of the month 1000-2100, closed Mondays and holidays.
Admission: US$6; concessions available.
Wolfsonian Museum 1001 Washington Avenue, South Beach
Tel: (305) 531 1001. Fax: (305) 531 2133.
Website:
www.wolfsonian.fiu.edu Transport: Bus J or Electrowave shuttle.
Opening hours: Mon-Tues, Fri and Sat 1100-1800; Thurs 1100-2100, Sun 1200-1700.
Admission: US$5; concessions available.
Zoos Miami MetroZoo, just south of Miami, is a state-of-the-art cageless zoo, with over 700 animals of 240 species roaming the 116-hectare (290-acre) grounds, separated by moats from spectators. Wildlife shows, a petting zoo, tram tours, monorail, gift shops, food courts and a playground provide fun for all the family. MetroZoo has also won a number of awards for its successful breeding of rare and endangered animal species.
At
Monkey Jungle, the humans are kept in caged walkways while the primates roam freely. Here, visitors can see North America’s first colony of wild monkeys, crab-eating monkeys diving for treats and hundreds of other exotic primates in lush, tropical jungle surroundings.
The relocated
Parrot Jungle and Gardens, now on its own island between Miami and Miami Beach, is a unique bird sanctuary-cum-botanical garden with more than 1,100 birds and 100 plant varieties, together with alligators, giant tortoises and apes. Spectacular trained bird shows run throughout the day and children can help hand-feed the birds, hold one of the free-flying macaws or play with the animals at the petting zoo.
Miami MetroZoo 12400 SW 152nd Street (Coral Reef Drive), Richmond Heights
Tel: (305) 251 0400. Fax: (305) 378 6381.
Website:
www.miamimetrozoo.com Transport: Metrorail Dadeland South; then Metrobus Coral Reef MAX to Miami Metrozoo.
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1730 (last entry at 1600).
Admission: US$11.50; concessions available.
Monkey Jungle 14805 SW 216th Street
Tel: (305) 235 1611. Fax: (305) 235 4253.
Website:
www.monkeyjungle.com Transport: Bus 35 to Cutler Ridge Mall.
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1700 (last entry at 1600).
Admission: US$17.95; concessions available.
Parrot Jungle and Gardens Watson Island, off I-395 MacArthur Causeway
Tel: (305) 666 7834. Fax: (305) 661 2230.
Website:
www.parrotjungle.com Transport: No public transport currently.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800 (last entry at 1700).
Admission: US$24.95; concessions available.
Further Distractions:Fairchild Tropical Garden This magnificent 33-hectare (83-acre) botanical garden is located just south of Coconut Grove. It contains extensive collections of rare tropical plants, a 1,440-sq-meter (16,000-sq-foot) conservatory, 11 lakes and lily ponds and a rainforest exhibit, set among a waterfall and stream.
10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables
Tel: (305) 667 1651. Fax: (305) 661 8953.
Website:
www.fairchildgarden.org Transport: Bus 65.
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1630.
Admission: US$10; concessions available.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Vizcaya is a beautiful Italian Renaissance-style palace set in four hectares (10 acres) of picturesque formal gardens, south of downtown Miami on Biscayne Bay. Built as a winter residence for the Chicago industrialist, James Deering, in 1916, the mansion is modeled on neo-classical designs and its 70 rooms are filled with antique furnishings spanning the 15th to 19th centuries. Tours are available.
3251 South Miami Avenue, Coconut Grove
Tel: (305) 250 9133. Fax: (305) 285 2004.
Website:
www.vizcayamuseum.com Transport: Metrorail Vizcaya.
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1700; gardens until 1730 (last entry at 1630).
Admission: US$12; concessions available.
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