8 Places to Visit Around Miami Besides South Beach
South Beach is fun for a day. The Art Deco hotels are gorgeous, the beach is famous and the people-watching is world class. But if that’s all you see, you’ve missed most of Miami.
In this guide
The city is huge and wildly varied, with Cuban neighborhoods, an Italian-style palace, a pool carved out of a quarry and a giant wetland full of alligators less than an hour away. Here are eight places to visit around Miami besides South Beach.
1. Wynwood
Wynwood used to be a warehouse district. Now it’s covered in some of the best street art on the planet. The Wynwood Walls is a gated outdoor gallery of huge murals by artists from around the world, and it charges for entry.
Honestly, you can see plenty for free just by wandering the surrounding blocks, where almost every wall is painted. Wynwood also has breweries, galleries and good restaurants, and it gets lively at night. Go in the late afternoon, when the light is soft and the heat eases off.
2. Little Havana
Little Havana is the center of Miami’s Cuban community, and its main street, Calle Ocho, is where you should spend a few hours. Watch the old men play dominoes in Máximo Gómez Park, better known as Domino Park.
Then order a cafecito from a walk-up window. It’s sweet, strong and served in a tiny cup. Grab a Cuban sandwich for lunch, see hand-rolled cigars being made, and if it’s the last Friday of the month, stay for Viernes Culturales, a street festival with music and art.
3. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya is a 1916 winter home built to look like an Italian Renaissance villa, right on Biscayne Bay. Inside, the rooms are full of European antiques. Outside, the formal gardens have fountains, statues and hedges trimmed into neat geometric shapes.
The stone barge in the bay, carved with sea creatures, is a favorite photo spot. Allow about two hours. It’s closed on Tuesdays, and timed tickets are best bought online.
4. Coral Gables
Coral Gables is a beautiful planned city from the 1920s, full of Mediterranean-style buildings, banyan trees and quiet streets. It feels nothing like South Beach.
The highlight is the Venetian Pool, a public swimming pool built in an old coral rock quarry. It has waterfalls, caves and a little stone bridge, and it’s filled with spring water. Book a time slot in advance, especially on weekends. Afterward, drive past the grand Biltmore Hotel for a look at its towering facade.
5. Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove is one of Miami’s oldest neighborhoods, and it’s green, relaxed and right on the water. It has a bohemian past and a lot of big shady trees.
Walk through Peacock Park by the bay, browse the shops and cafes along Main Highway and visit the Barnacle, the oldest home in Miami-Dade County still standing on its original site. It’s a nice slow afternoon, and it pairs well with Vizcaya, which is just next door.
▶ Watch This Before You Go
6. Key Biscayne
Cross the Rickenbacker Causeway and you’re on Key Biscayne, an island with some of the calmest, prettiest beaches near Miami. The water here is often clearer than in South Beach, and it’s far less crowded.
Head to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park at the southern tip. The Cape Florida Lighthouse, built in 1825, is the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade, and you can climb it on guided tours. The views from the causeway back to the downtown skyline are great too.
7. The Everglades
Less than an hour west of downtown, the Everglades is a vast “river of grass” and one of the most unusual national parks in the country. You’ll almost certainly see alligators.
The best easy option is the Shark Valley entrance, where a 15-mile paved loop runs through the wetlands. Rent a bike or take the tram tour, and you’ll pass gators sunning themselves right beside the path. Airboat rides are offered just outside the park. They’re loud and touristy, and also a lot of fun. Visit in the dry season, December to April, for more wildlife and fewer mosquitoes.
8. Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is about 40 minutes north, and it makes an easy day trip. The city is full of canals, and it’s sometimes called the Venice of America.
Walk Las Olas Boulevard for shopping and lunch, take a water taxi along the canals to see the waterfront mansions, then finish at the beach. It’s calmer and more family-friendly than South Beach. The Brightline train connects downtown Miami and Fort Lauderdale in about 30 minutes, so you don’t even need a car.
Do you need a car?
For Wynwood, Little Havana and Fort Lauderdale, you can manage with rideshares and the Brightline. For Coral Gables, Key Biscayne and especially the Everglades, a car makes life much easier. Rent one for a day or two rather than the whole trip.
When to go
The best time to visit Miami is November to April, when it’s warm, sunny and less humid. Summer is hot and rainy, and hurricane season runs from June to November. That’s also when hotel prices are lowest.
How to plan your days
Miami is spread out, so group places that sit near each other. Wynwood and Little Havana work as one day, since they’re about 15 minutes apart by car. Vizcaya, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables are all close together in the south, and they make a perfect second day.
Key Biscayne is a good beach day on its own, and it’s an easy escape from the city. The Everglades needs most of a day once you count the drive, the loop and a stop for lunch. Fort Lauderdale fits in as a relaxed half day by train.
Start early wherever you go. Miami gets hot by late morning for much of the year, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. Plan outdoor sights for the morning, and save museums and long lunches for the hottest part of the day. And yes, you can still squeeze in an evening on South Beach. Just don’t let it be the whole trip.
Common questions
What’s the best area of Miami besides South Beach?
Wynwood and Little Havana are the most interesting for first-time visitors.
How far are the Everglades from Miami?
Shark Valley is about 45 minutes to an hour west of downtown.
Is the Venetian Pool open all year?
It’s open most of the year but usually closes for a few winter months. Check before you go.
Is Key Biscayne worth visiting?
Yes, for calm beaches, the lighthouse and great skyline views.
Can you get to Fort Lauderdale without a car?
Yes. The Brightline train takes about 30 minutes from downtown Miami.
