Miami blends Latin American energy with American beach culture — South Beach, Art Deco architecture, Little Havana, and Wynwood's street art define it.
Miami blends Latin American energy with American beach culture like nowhere else in the United States. South Beach's Art Deco architecture with pastel-colored hotels, Little Havana's Cuban cafes with hand-rolled cigars, Wynwood's street art district with the world's largest collection of outdoor murals, and the Everglades' wild landscape of alligators and airboats create a city that feels international at every turn. The nightlife and food scenes are world-class year-round with influences from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and Central America. Miami is the only major US city founded by a woman (Julia Tuttle).
December through April offers the best weather with warm temperatures and low humidity but is the most expensive time. May and November are shoulder months with good weather and lower prices. June through October is hot, humid, and hurricane-prone with the cheapest flights and hotel rates. Winter is peak season with Art Basel in December drawing the art crowd. Spring Break (March-April) brings crowds to South Beach. Hurricane season peaks August-September.
American Airlines uses Miami as a major hub with extensive Latin American networks to 70+ destinations. Delta, United, and JetBlue serve MIA from major US cities. British Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss, and Air France offer European connections. LATAM and Avianca connect to South America. Spirit and Frontier provide budget domestic options. Air France and KLM offer European routes from MIA. Copa connects via Panama City to Central America.
Miami International Airport (MIA) is 13 km from downtown with the Metrorail Orange Line reaching the city center in 30 minutes for .25. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) is 40 km north with often cheaper domestic fares and the Tri-Rail connecting to MIA. Compare both airports -- FLL savings can be + on domestic routes. MIA has three terminals connected by the MIA Mover and people mover. The airport is a major gateway to Latin America with extensive connections.
Fort Lauderdale Airport often has 30-50% cheaper domestic flights than MIA and is close to the Brightline train to Miami. South Beach parking is expensive -- use the free Miami Beach trolley instead. Little Havana restaurants serve authentic Cuban meals for -12. The Wynwood Walls street art district is free to visit. Key Biscayne's beaches offer natural beauty without South Beach prices. The Metro day pass is .65 for unlimited Metrorail and Metrobus. The Brightline train connects Downtown Miami to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Miami is a car-dependent city but the Metrorail has two lines covering 25 miles from Dadeland to the Health District. Single fares are .25 and a day pass is .65. The Metromover is free and loops around downtown and Brickell, connecting to Metrorail stations. The Miami Beach trolley is free and covers the beach and causeways. Brightline high-speed rail connects Miami to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and soon Orlando with fares from $30. Uber and Lyft are widely available. The city is not walkable outside of South Beach, Wynwood, and downtown. The Freebee app offers free rides within certain neighborhoods. Biking is practical on Miami Beach with the 8-mile boardwalk and bike rentals.
South Beach offers beachfront Art Deco hotels from $250-400 USD per night. Brickell and Downtown provide modern high-rise hotels from $130-250 USD with Metrorail access. Coral Gables offers quiet upscale hotels near the University of Miami from $150-300 USD. Wynwood provides boutique hotels in the arts district from $120-200 USD. Budget travelers check hostels in South Beach from $20-50 USD.