The downtown area of Miami, Florida, will take your breath away. DT The Atlantic Ocean side of Miami is lined with marinas, and there are both natural and man-made islands in the water, as well as some palm trees and impressive high-rise buildings.
Even though Downtown Miami is the oldest part of the city and the centre of its history, there is nothing about it that is old or out of date. DT Miami has kept up with the times and is now a modern, culturally rich neighbourhood with a lot of world-class bars and restaurants, theatres, museums, galleries, and places to hold events.
Downtown Miami has everything you could want, whether you like water sports, boat cruises, or art shows. Here are fifteen of the best things to do in Miami, so you can start making a list while you’re packing your bags. You won’t regret it.
Downtown Miami Guide: How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Whether you live in Miami, are just visiting for the day, or are staying the night before a cruise, our guide to downtown Miami will tell you everything you need to know to explore the city’s heart.
Downtown Miami is on the water and close to PortMiami. It has lots of restaurants, shops, and museums, and some of the best hotels in the city are just a short walk away.
If you’re going to Miami this year, you might want to stay in downtown Miami so you can get to know the city’s best spots. Need a little more persuasion? Check out our guide to downtown Miami to find out all the best things to do and see there.
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Taking a trip to Downtown Miami
Some of the oldest buildings in the city are right next to some of the tallest and most modern buildings in downtown Miami. It is a major business district, but it also has museums, restaurants with beautiful views from the roof, theatres, and shopping.
It is the historic centre of Miami because it has a lot of its original buildings. This gives it a unique look and feel. Here, you’ll find a number of interesting cultural places, such as HistoryMiami and Museum Park, which is home to the Perez Art Museum and the Frost Museum of Science, among others.
Downtown Miami is also close enough to the Biscayne Bay that you can easily rent a boat and spend an afternoon speeding along the bay.
A building in the background is seen behind an elevated MetroMover in downtown Miami.
If you’re flying into Miami, it’s not too hard to get from Miami International Airport to the city centre. Just take the Metromover to the Miami Airport Station, where you can switch to the Metrorail.
The orange line of the Miami Metrorail will take you right downtown. Once you get to downtown Miami and the neighbourhoods around it, you can easily use the free Miami Trolley, Lyft, Uber, Citibike (a bike-sharing system), and parking (if you decide to rent a car).
Where to Stay in the Downtown and Brickell Areas of Miami
First of all, this guide to downtown Miami will have information about Brickell as well. You want to know what or where Brickell is.
From above, you can see the buildings and street traffic in Brickell, Florida.
Brickell is a central urban neighbourhood just south of downtown Miami. It is full of restaurants, high-end condos, and tall commercial buildings that look out over Biscayne Bay.
Brickell is popular with businesspeople and tourists because it has a lot to do, is a good place to do business, and is close to places like Wynwood, Little Havana, and South Beach.
You could easily stay in downtown Miami or Brickell and do a lot of different things without having to travel a lot between the two.
Hotels in Downtown Miami and Brickell that are the best
The Kimpton EPIC Hotel is a good choice if you want a great deal on a hotel with great views of downtown Miami. This hotel was named the second-best value among downtown Miami hotels by TripAdvisor, and it has great food and drinks right on site.
InterContinental Miami
If you want a luxury place to stay, try the Four Seasons Hotel Miami. The rooftop pool surrounded by palm trees is the only thing that beats the location. InterContinental Miami is a good choice if you want to see the bay and get the same level of service as at sister hotels around the world.
Miami Hyatt Centric Brickell
The Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami is a good choice for those on a budget. It has large rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the water. It’s perfect for long-term stays, so it’s a good choice if you need to stay in downtown Miami for work.
Miami SLS Brickell
Try the SLS Brickell Miami, and make sure to go to the spa while you’re there. Or, stay at the W Miami, where the party-friendly atmosphere makes for fun nights without ever leaving the property.
EAST Miami
Want to find a hotel in Brickell that is known for its food and dining? Don’t go anywhere else but EAST Miami. You’ll also love the hotel’s many pools and hot tubs, which make for a great scene by the pool both day and night.
Miami Airbnb, as well as other choices
More and more travellers are using Airbnb and other home-sharing services like VRBO and HomeAway for more private stays without giving up luxury.
If you’d rather have a whole apartment, studio, or house to yourself than share a wall with strangers, you’re in luck. Downtown Miami is full of vacation home rentals that range from cheap to very expensive.
Best Things To Do In Downtown Miami
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Downtown Miami is where culture, history, business, and fun all come together.
You’ll have a lot of fun in the busy business district, which is full of historical sites, museums, and art centres that helped make downtown what it is today.
People come to the area for many reasons, but one of them is the great view of Miami’s skyline.
It is also home to a number of historical monuments and landmarks that remember important events in American history.
Are you curious about this place?
Here are the best things to do in Downtown Miami, Florida
Boat Cruise
Take a boat cruise in Downtown Miami in the morning, afternoon, or as the sun goes down, and you’ll be in for a real treat. At the Downtown docks, you can get on a boat and sail out over Biscayne Bay or out into the Atlantic. From there, you can see amazing views of the skyline of Downtown Miami.
There are four-hour party boats with drinks and DJs, cruises with paddle boarding and kayaking, more relaxed trips with stops for snorkelling and swimming, and sailings with champagne at sunset.
If you take one cruise in Downtown Miami, you’ll probably want to take more because it’s so nice to be out on the water.
Miami Museum
Visit the History Miami Museum to learn about the history of Miami, from the first people who lived there to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors to the present day.
The museum is in the Miami-Dade Cultural Plaza on Downtown’s 1st Street. There are more than 70,000 square feet of exhibit space to look at.
The collections include historical maps, postcards, and manuscripts, as well as more than 1.5 million photographs from the late 1880s. There are almost 40,000 pieces of Miami’s history on display, including old boats, furniture, musical instruments, and even things related to aviation and archaeological finds. All of them are interesting.
The Bayside Market
The Bayside Marketplace is a great place to shop and eat while taking in the sights. On Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami, the shopping centre has views of the water, which is lined with palm trees and has a marina full of boats.
The two-story mall is full of high-end shops and boutiques that sell everything from designer shoes to tourist trinkets. For drinks or iced coffee after dark, try the open-air 305 Daiquiri Bar or, for the best ice cream, the Dragon’s Breath. You can eat Argentinian-style steak at The Knife or grilled fish at Tradewinds.
The Bayside Marketplace has so much going on that you’ll need a whole day to see everything.
Arts & Culture
Maurice A. Ferré Park (Museum Park), which is home to the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, should be one of your first stops. The grounds look out over Biscayne Bay, which makes a walk in the park just as appealing as going to one of these great museums in Miami. Contemporary art that focuses on the Americas and makes you think is on display at PAMM. There are also sculptural swinging chairs and interactive, site-specific outdoor installations for taking in the view. At Frost Science, you can look at the 500,000-gallon, multi-floor Gulf Stream Aquarium or go to another galaxy in the Frost Planetarium.
Independence Hall The Museum of Art and Design is in the well-known Freedom Tower (MOAD)
Nearby, the Freedom Tower is one of the most famous buildings in Downtown Miami. Its ornate Mediterranean Revival facade stands out against the modern glass skyscrapers that surround it. It was known as the “Ellis Island of the South” because it was where Cuban refugees came in the 1960s to get their papers processed when they arrived in the U.S.
It is now home to the Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) at Miami Dade College, which has a permanent exhibit on the Cuban diaspora as well as changing visual arts exhibits. Go to HistoryMiami Museum if you want to learn more about the history of the area, which goes back 10,000 years. This Smithsonian Affiliate institution shows how special it is that Miami is at the centre of the Americas.
At the Adrienne Arsht Center, touring Broadway shows and shows by local artists are put on.
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts has a schedule of live music and theatre. The Ziff Ballet Opera House, the Knight Concert Hall, and the Carnival Studio Theater are all in this shiny building. It hosts touring Broadway shows and productions by local companies like Zoetic Stage, Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony, and the Florida Grand Opera.
Eateries and nightlife
There are a lot of different places to eat in Downtown Miami and Brickell, from fine dining to hidden gems. For a classy night out on Brickell Key, go to La Mar by Gastón Acurio at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami’s large patio. As you look out at Biscayne Bay and the city, you can enjoy a variety of Peruvian dishes. First-timers can’t go wrong with the chef’s tasting menu, which gives classic flavours a new twist.
Komodo serves Pan-Asian food that is a mix of tried-and-true classics and new dishes. It also has handcrafted cocktails and a lounge area on the second floor. The most unique thing about this place is the lush garden courtyard where you can sit in an elevated “birds’ nest” that makes you feel like you’re eating in a treehouse.
Soya e Pomodoro might be Downtown Miami’s best-kept secret because it is so unusual. This restaurant serves real Italian food in a historic Beaux Arts building. The romantic atmosphere is enhanced by live jazz.
Downtown Miami is also a great place to go out at night, whether you want to party all night at the E11EVEN Miami ultra-club with headliner DJs, live performances, and trapeze dancers or hang out with the locals at bars like Lost Boy, Mama Tried, or The Corner.
Shopping and fun things to do
Brickell City Centre is a high-end open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment complex where you can find stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Apple, and Sephora. There are a lot of places to eat, like Pubbelly Sushi and Tacology. There is also a CMX luxury movie theatre and plans are underway to build an indoor mini golf course.
Bayside Marketplace is near Bayfront Park and Biscayne Bay. It has more than 150 shops and 12 restaurants. It’s also where boat tours like the Thriller Miami Speedboat Adventures and the Island Queen Cruises leave from. This outdoor mall has free live music performances, and the Sky Views Miami observation wheel is also here.
Hobie Island Beach Park
Go to Hobie Island Beach Park to get a breath of sea air. Even though it’s not the best beach for laying out your towel and getting some sun, it’s a great place to watch windsurfers do their thing.
Want to try it? You can. There are places to rent boards right on the beach, and there are parasols and chairs for people who just want to watch.
This is a great place to relax and take some beautiful pictures of the skyscrapers in Downtown, which are across the bay.
Miami Seaplane Skyline Tour
Cross the Rickenbacker Causeway from Downtown Miami to Virginia Key and hop on a seaplane for an exciting thirty-minute flight along the coast.
Take off from the water and fly through the air as the plane heads first to Coconut Grove, then back past Downtown Miami, and then around Dodge Island.
The best way to see the skyline of Downtown Miami is from the air. It’s really cool.
Hang Out at Bayfront Park
Bayfront Park is Greater Miami’s first public gathering place. It was built in 1986 with just one pavilion and some grass.
You can do a lot of fun things outside in the park today.
Check out some of the buildings and monuments that have made Bayfront Park what it is today.
At Bayfront Park, people are sitting on benches with a view of the water. Solarisys / Shutterstock.com
Enjoy the fresh air while you look at Biscayne Bay or walk around the tropical garden and check out the waterfall from 1926.
Take pictures of famous landmarks like the Challenger Memorial, Light Tower, and Slide Mantra.
All of these monuments were made by the well-known sculptor Isamu Noguchi in the 20th century.
Live music and other events are often held in Bayfront Park, especially at the FPL Solar Amphitheater and the Tina Hills Pavilion.
Frost Science Museum
The Frost Science Museum (1101 Biscayne Blvd.) is a big, modern white building with a lot to see. You can learn more about the solar system, the universe, the mind, the human body, ecosystems, flight, and technological advances in this beautiful building.
After that, the 250-seat planetarium with its big dome and the futuristic three-story aquarium that studies South Florida’s marine ecosystem from the surface to the deepest parts of the water are must-sees on the six floors.
Laser Fridays, as the name suggests, are laser shows that happen on Friday nights and cost $10 for adults and $8 for kids.
Perez Art Museum – PAMM
The Perez Art Museum – PAMM (1103 Biscayne Blvd.)is a completely different kind of place. It was opened in 1996 for people who like modern and contemporary art and is dedicated to putting on international shows and collecting works from the 20th and 21st centuries, including many by Cuban artists. Even before you climb the stairs, you’ll notice the “green falls,” a unique welcome made of plants that fall from the ceiling of the outside porch.
There are galleries on each of the museum’s three floors that hold both permanent and temporary works of art. We think everyone should go, whether they like art or not, because it would be hard not to be moved by the colours and feelings in the works, no matter what your taste in art is.
The 45-minute daily tours that come with the ticket and are led by museum guides at certain times are also a big plus. Overall, it’s worth going to the outdoor plaza to see the tropical plants and the amazing view of Biscayne Bay. When we went, the museum was closed on Wednesdays, open from 10 am to 9 pm on Thursdays, and open from 10 am to 6 pm on all other days.
Entrance to Pérez Art Museum
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts is a big building at 1300 Biscayne Blvd. that is used for many different things. The complex, which has a modern look from the outside, was built thanks to the generosity of Adrienne Arsht, a businesswoman and great philanthropist who has helped the arts in Miami, Washington, D.C., and New York City grow over the years.
The facility is made up of several buildings. For example, the Florida Grand Opera Miami, the New World Symphony, and the Miami City Ballet all have their offices there. Parts of the complex are rented out for weddings, meetings, conferences, and performances. These include the Ziff Ballet Opera House and the Knight Concert Hall.
In this big space, don’t forget about the smaller Carnival Studio Theater, where you can see theatre, dance, comedy, and cabaret shows. Every Monday and Saturday at noon, up to ten people can go on free tours that last about an hour. Omni Garage (453 NE 15th ST.), Lot C (1201 NE 2nd Ave.), and Melody Tower are some nearby places to park (corner of NE 14th St. and NE 2nd Ave.). Still, the Metromover makes it easy to get there.
The past of Miami
History Miami, which was called the Historical Museum of Southern Florida until 2010, is a great place to learn about local history. It was made to help people understand how important Miami’s past is, so it focuses on preserving and studying historical and archaeological artefacts from all of Southeast Florida, including the Keys and the Everglades. There is also a folklore centre in the museum. Its goal is to keep music and dance traditions alive.
The plaza outside the building, which looks like a Spanish fortress, is also worth seeing. The weekend gallery tours are worth mentioning. These 40-minute tours are led and take place on Saturdays and Sundays at 1 pm and 3 pm.
Theater Olympia
The Olympia Theater at 174 E. Flagler St. is one of the best things to find in a downtown area that is already full of interesting places. It opened in 1926 and is a beautiful historic theatre in the Mediterranean Revival style. It has a room with beautiful architecture that you must see. Thanks to the Olympia Center, this history is kept alive and thousands of people can enjoy high-quality performances and free events that are open to everyone in a setting that is better seen than described.
At Dino Safari, you can go back in time.
At Dino Safari, you can go on the adventure of a lifetime and feel like you’re living in Jurassic World.
During your walk-through expedition, you can get close to and talk to more than 20 huge, moving dinosaurs.
Keep an eye out for earthquakes and dinosaurs fighting during the tour.
If you think that’s all there is to it, just wait until you have to save a baby dinosaur on the trip!
You’ll also learn about how dinosaurs changed over time, where they lived, and what they did.
Check out the fossils, interactive games, cutting-edge research, and different types of high-tech dinosaurs that move.
Maurice A. Ferre Park is a place to take it easy.
There are many parks in Miami, but if you want to sit back and relax, Maurice A. Ferre Park is the place to go.
You can walk or jog around the 21-acre urban area that is open to the public, or you can do other fun things outside.
As you walk along Miami’s longest waterfront baywalk, you’ll see a lot of interesting public museums.
Stop by the monument honouring the Spanish expedition that came to the Americas in 1492 when you visit the Plaza of the Spanish Navy.
You can also go to places like the American Airlines Arena, Bayside Marketplace, and the Perez Art Museum, which are all close to the park.
Walk around the Underline
When you’re at the Underline on 1st Avenue, you won’t do anything but move around.
The River Room on the 10-mile Underline leads to the Miami River Greenway.
As you walk around with your furry friends, you can walk on the native grass and look at the plants that attract pollinators.
At the Urban Gym, you can play mini-pitch soccer or a half-court game of basketball. There is also a running track and fitness equipment.
Get together with your friends on the Promenade for some snacks and board games.
You can also go to the Oolite Room if you want a place to meditate and clear your mind.
It also has four butterfly gardens and a stone canyon made of rocks from Miami’s Rock Ridge.
Take a boat cruise in Downtown Miami in the morning, afternoon, or as the sun goes down, and you’ll be in for a real treat. At the Downtown docks, you can get on a boat and sail out over Biscayne Bay or out into the Atlantic. From there, you can see amazing views of the skyline of Downtown Miami.
Visit the History Miami Museum to learn about the history of Miami, from the first people who lived there to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors to the present day.
The Bayside Marketplace is a great place to shop and eat while taking in the sights. On Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami, the shopping centre has views of the water, which is lined with palm trees and has a marina full of boats.
Bayfront Park is Greater Miami’s first public gathering place. It was built in 1986 with just one pavilion and some grass.
The Frost Science Museum (1101 Biscayne Blvd.) is a big, modern white building with a lot to see. You can learn more about the solar system, the universe, the mind, the human body, ecosystems, flight, and technological advances in this beautiful building.
The Perez Art Museum – PAMM (1103 Biscayne Blvd.) is a completely different kind of place. It was opened in 1996 for people who like modern and contemporary art and is dedicated to putting on international shows and collecting works from the 20th and 21st centuries, including many by Cuban artists. Even before you climb the stairs, you’ll notice the “green falls,” a unique welcome made of plants that fall from the ceiling of the outside porch.
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts is a big building at 1300 Biscayne Blvd. that is used for many different things. The complex, which has a modern look from the outside, was built thanks to the generosity of Adrienne Arsht, a businesswoman and great philanthropist who has helped the arts in Miami, Washington, D.C., and New York City grow over the years.
The Olympia Theater at 174 E. Flagler St. is one of the best things to find in a downtown area that is already full of interesting places. It opened in 1926 and is a beautiful historic theatre in the Mediterranean Revival style. It has a room with beautiful architecture that you must see. Thanks to the Olympia Center, this history is kept alive and thousands of people can enjoy high-quality performances and free events that are open to everyone in a setting that is better seen than described.
When you’re at the Underline on 1st Avenue, you won’t do anything but move around.
