When people think about Miami they think of expensive hotels, overpriced Insta famous spots. We decided to stay away from this and see as much of South Beach Miami as we could in 1 day and we loved it! We had one day before departing on our Bahamas Cruise with MSC and wanted a walkable and efficient route to see what we could of the area. This itinerary is perfect for cruise travellers and short stopovers as well as first time visitors.
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Table of Contents
Quick Overview of Your 1 Day in South Beach, Miami
- Morning → Beach + Ocean Drive
- Afternoon → Walk + food + sightseeing
- Evening → Pre-cruise dinner / sunset
Where Is Miami Beach + Why Visit?
Miami and Miami Beach are located in the southeast of Florida. They are not the same thing, Miami is an urban city on the mainland and Miami Beach is located on the narrow island a few km off shore which is connected to the mainland by bridge.
South Beach is the iconic southern most part of Miami Beach. It is known for trendy restaurants, cool spots and a fun vibe. It is really beautiful with the art deco buildings, stunning walkable beach and vibrant lifeguard huts.
Morning: Beach + Iconic South Beach
South Beach & Life Guard Huts
Spending the morning soaking up the peaceful sunrise over the beach is a must! We loved watching it light up the sky. We walked along the sand and tried to see all of the vibrant life guard huts that we could. I loved doing this, before the beach is busy. Wander along and find your favourite, they are all brightly coloured and some have interesting shapes.
Ocean Drive & Lummus Park
Then wander back to Ocean Drive, grab a coffee and watch the strip wake up. There are so many things to do in South Beach Miami but with only 1 day to see them all we prefered to take it slower and enjoy every moment we could. Ocean Drive is the main street and the centre of the action. This is where you will find all the gorgeous art deco buildings and where we spent most of our time. We also loved sitting in Lummus Park, under the palm trees and feeling like a local.
By exploring early you will avoid most of the traffic (perfect to get your photos of the buildings) and fewer crowds on the beach. You can also avoid the overpriced beach setups, just throw a towel down or wander along without any issues.
There are a couple of walking tours that are really good, especially if you get to book the early slots, they explain the history behind the art deco buildings and really give you so much more of an understanding of the area, check out this award-winning Art Deco & History Walking Tour or this Miami South Beach Art Deco Walking Tour.
Midday: Brunch + Walking Route
Best Brunch South Beach Miami
A must in South Beach is having a long lazy brunch right on Ocean Drive. There are a couple of places that I fell in love with particularly Avalon By Day. It was my favourite brunch and also my favourite art deco building. The cool casual aesthetic was perfect for a lazy meal, sitting outside soaking up the scene is the perfect way to spend time in South Beach Miami and you won’t be the only one! If you are after a fun brunch with your girlfriends then check out Limonada Breakfast Bar + Brunch which is a more upbeat experience!
There are loads of cafes on offer in South Beach Miami though so you can wander along and choose your own or do what we always recommend and join a food tour. This way you can see as many spots as possible and try some excellent food at the same time these are the best reviewed: South Beach Cultural Food and Walking Tour, A Taste of South Beach Food Tour and Donuts, Pastelitos & Patisseries: South Beach Sweets Walking Tour.
If you are keen to check out Little Havana on the Miami mainland side this is the tour we plan to do next visit, it sounds perfect! I would book it as early as possible as it does sell out Little Havana Cuban Food and Culture Walking Tour.
Check out our map for a walkable itinerary if you just want to wander around on your own.
Afternoon: Explore + Relax
There are lots of things to do on a Miami Beach afternoon. One of our top picks is togo for a stroll and some shopping along Lincoln Road Miami where you will find a cool pedestrian street with lots of statues to check out. It really is a must visit.
If you would rather explore further then we suggest some tours which are all super popular and will show you a little more of the area, our favourites are:
2 Hour Group Surf Lesson in Miami Beach – you’re in Miami, it feels wrong not to try and surf! This two hour lesson can easily fit into our itinerary.
Wynwood Walls, Galleries, and Murals Guided Tour – if you are into street art and the urban vibe head out on this tour to check out some of the best in Miami.
From Miami: Roundtrip Bimini Ferry with Hotel Transfers – if you are on a short stop over and aren’t doing a cruise this is awesome! Head out to the Bahamas for a day trip!
Biscayne Bay Millionaire’s Homes Sightseeing Cruise – one of the most popular things to do is cruise and check out the incredibly rich homes along the waterfront!
5-in-1 City Tour and Biscayne Bay Boat Cruise – this one is a little of everything!
Snorkel & Millionaire Row – Private Miami Boat Rental w/ Drinks – spend 2 hours cruising past Millionaires Homes, Racoon Island, swimming and snorkelling.
Evening: Sunset + Dinner
The best place to be at sunset is South Pointe Park Pier. Most people will come here to watch the sunset South Beach Miami. If you walk down there stop off and grab a photo with the Miami Beach sign.
For your final stop of the day head to Española Way for a well earned dinner. Find your favourite cosy little restaurants South Beach Miami and tuck into something delicious while people watching from your front row seat. There is everything here from a little casual to more formal dinner experiences.
South Beach Itinerary Map
This is our South Beach Miami Itinerary Map. It is the best Miami walking map itinerary that is easy to follow as at a glance you can see what you are heading towards.
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Where To Stay In South Beach Miami
If you are looking for the best hotels South Beach Miami these are the ones we recommend in each category.
Budget
Whitelaw Hotel – we stayed here for the excellent location, free coffee in the morning, clean rooms, comfortable beds.
Freehand Miami – a little further up the beach this is a solid budget option
Mid-range
Marriott Stanton South Beach – beautiful option in the southern area
Loews Miami Beach Hotel – Great location and very well liked
Luxury
W South Beach – Great location, big comfortable rooms and gorgeous surrounds.
The Setai, Miami Beach – stunning, perfect relaxation spot in South Beach
1 Hotel South Beach – incredibly luxurious and excellent position
Is South Beach Miami Safe?
Is South Beach Miami safe is a question we have been asked so many times and honestly we think so. There were lots of police cars around and we were actually surprised by this as it felt so calm and relaxed. There seemed to be no cause for concern and if anything there was an upbeat vibe. We always follow our usual travel safety precautions and we felt fine in South Beach Miami.
Miami Beach safety for tourists tips:
- Be sensible – you don’t need to be running around pulling cash out in the street, keep your valuables close to you.
- Know where you are – use your maps and know where you are whether you are in an Uber or taxi.
- Be aware of your surroundings – if you are walking early morning or late at night make sure you keep your head up and know what is happening around you.
Pre-Cruise Section
If you are heading off on a cruise from Miami these are the Miami cruise port tips we wished we knew before we went.
What to do before cruise Miami – this was something we were wondering and honestly we worried way too much! There is tons to do, our itinerary above will have you sorted with lots of options to choose from.
Getting from South Beach to port – this is super easy! We did have to try and get an Uber for a while as prices started getting higer around lunch time so try to go a little earlier to avoid a higher fee. Alternatively you can book a shuttle Miami Airport or Hotel to Miami Port. It will be more expensive but it will be on your time frame. It is a pretty quick ride once you have your transport.
When to leave – we decided to catch an Uber around 11am which was checkout. We had to wait and keep trying for about an hour to get a decent price as it was fluctuating as it got busier. I would choose to leave a little earlier next time to avoid this.
Luggage tips – when we got to Miami port our Uber driver dropped us at our MSC cruise terminal and we were immediately met by a luggage porter. They found our baggage tickets and printed them for us. He took our bags and loaded them saying they would be on board by sail away. Make sure to have some cash on hand to tip them, there is no electronic or ATM option here.
Uber vs taxi – personally I prefer Uber so I can choose the destination on the map and track it, as well as agree to a set price. There were plenty of them around, although pricing did fluctuate.
Cost of 1 Day In Miami
Wondering is Miami expensive? We were before we came here and the question is always answered with ‘it depends’ because it does. It depends if you want to eat at restaurants or from a supermarket. It depends if you want to take the bus or Ubers, if you want to rent a sun bed or throw down your towel or stay in a luxurious hotel instead of a budget one.
In general rooms can be from $80 USD to $1000+ USD, food from $5 for a sandwich to $100 + USD for a meal at a restaurant. It really does depend on how you travel.
How To Get Around Miami
Getting around Miami without car is really easy. The South Beach area is super walkable, we loved strolling around here. There are also a couple of free options such as trams and even boats to get around. Uber Miami cost is pretty reasonable as well. We paid about $20USD to get from the Miami International Airport to South Beach Miami. If you are looking for an easy way to get around to the main sightseeing spots then check out the Hop-on Hop-off Open-top Bus Tour with Optional Cruise these buses are excellent ways to take the hassle out of getting around a new city without a car.
Best Time To Visit Miami
The best time to visit Miami overall is between March and May. It has warm weather that is not too hot and also has some fun festivals. Miami generally experiences lows of about 20°C to about 30°C.
Mistakes To Avoid
These are our Miami travel tips that will help you understand what not to do in Miami! The things we wished we had thought of or realised when we were there:
- Staying too far from South Beach – this is a really cool area and I think we enjoyed our time more because we were so central to South Beach.
- Overpaying for beach chairs – you really don’t need to unless you have planned a big beach day.
- Underestimating the weather – in the heat of summer it will be sweltering! Be prepared for the weather in Miami by month so you are ready. We were there in March and it was actually colder than I expected with some rain.
FAQ 1 Day in South Beach Miami
Is 1 day enough in Miami?
1 Day in Miami is enough to see the art deco buildings along Ocean Drive, do a tour or chill on the beach. We spent 1 day in Miami and would happily come back to see more!
Can you walk South Beach?
Yes! It is one of the great things to do in South Beach Miami, it does go for a long way so do as much as you like. We loved this early in the morning when it was quieter.
How far is cruise port?
The cruise port is about 20 mintues or 12km/7.4 miles from our hotel in South Beach Miami.
South Beach Miami is the perfect place to explore on a short stop over or for a day or two before your head off on a cruise. We found it to be a cool place full of culture, interesting architecture and fun vibes. We already can’t wait to return!
Continue planning your trip:
Read next: Is a Virgin Voyages Cruise worth it?
Plan your trip: Is the MSC cruise the best, cheapest cruise from Miami?
Don’t miss: Stuff to to do in Palm Springs!
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We hope this guide helped you plan an unforgettable trip.
