Day 1: South Beach and Bayside

Tips:

• Parking in Miami can be expensive, however, because of Miami city’s vastness, you will have to travel by car. For stress-free travel around the city opt for Uber.
• Rush hour during a Miami working week is a real thing – traffic can be particularly heavy from 4pm to 7pm on the major highways, so it’s best to plan your commute.
• Miami is majority a Latino city – 70% of its population is Hispanic. It is the Latin capital of America, so English might not always be an option. Embrace it.
• South Beach is the most popular tourist spot, but there’s plenty to see over the bridge – Miami isn’t fully explored without visiting Wynwood or Little Havana.
• Ocean Drive is great for admiring the art-deco hotels, but the strip restaurants tend to be expensive and low on quality, there’s plenty of alternative for foodie spots.
• Planning to go clubbing? Be warned, clubs don’t get going in Miami until after midnight so don’t be fooled in turning up too early.

Fly in and out: Miami International Airport (MIA)

Hotel: South Seas Hotel, 1751 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA

Palm tree lined walkways, colourful beach huts, art deco appreciation and party vibes – there are so many things that will make you fall in love with Miami.

This itinerary is aimed to give a helping hand to your planning, as Miami is a vast city.

Staying directly in South beach is a good move if you plan to curate your itinerary around getting serious doses of vitamin D, and a splash of nightlife. There are lots of places to explore on foot; whether you’re keen to photograph the colourful lifeguard huts before the crowds, go for a morning run along the boardwalk, admire the art deco hotels or enjoy people watching along the famous Ocean Drive. 

Day 1: South Beach and Bayside Marketplace

If, like me, you enjoy exploring your surroundings when you land somewhere new this itinerary is for you. If you’re a runner, I recommend a morning run along the boardwalk (passing “Muscle beach”) to get a feel for the sights of South Beach. If running (especially on holiday) isn’t for you, the hop-on, hop-off bus loop is a good way to find your bearings.

South Beach is also perfect for getting around by bike. The Citi Bike programme offers locals and visitors the chance to rent a solar-powered bike at an hourly rate.

For a ‘beach day,’ South Beach is ideal, boasting miles and miles of white-sandy beaches and colourful beach huts to admire on a beach walk, when sunbathing gets too much. It’s nice to spend half-day on the beach. Some hotel packages include access to the sunbeds, however, you can also pay daily to rent umbrellas and sun loungers.

Along Collins Avenue there is a lovely Italian bakery called Rosetta, which is worth a visit to grab a take-out lunch to enjoy on the beach – the window displays are mouth-watering.

Bayside Marketplace is a great location to head to in the late afternoon. It’s essentially an outdoor shopping mall, with a real buzz and energy with lots of eateries and bars.

Here you can catch a boat ride along ‘Millionaire’s Row’ to sample how the rich & famous spend time in Miami. You’ll cruise past the exclusive Star and Palm Island, glimpsing into properties owned by stars such as Gloria Estefan, the Beckhams, and Alicia Keys.

The Miami Tour Company offer a 90-minute cruise with daily departures on the hour from 10.30am until 7.00pm. The afternoon rides get popular, it’s best to book online.

Most locals say the best way to see Miami is to experience it by water and the boat trip hosts a running commentary to exploring the sights. It’s a worthwhile sightseeing trip.

There are lots of places to enjoy a waterside beverage and bite to eat post-boat ride at Bayside. Yet, to try one of the exclusive Miami eateries on the foodie “hot list”  it’s worth booking a table in advance at the popular Southern food eatery, Yardbird, back in South Beach. A restaurant that loves mac and cheese, fried chicken, and bourbon. Ever since it first opened there’s been a line out of the door to try their famous family-owned recipe.