Miami event weekends: what to do between sessions

South Beach Art Deco, Little Havana, Wynwood murals and the Everglades, with the Miami Open and the F1 Miami GP.

Events we cover in Miami

3 Dec 2026*Art Basel Miami Beach
Miami, United StatesCulture16 Mar 2027*Miami Open
Miami, United StatesTennis26 Mar 2027*Ultra Music Festival
Miami, United StatesFestival30 Apr 2027Miami Grand Prix
Miami, United StatesF114 May 2027*University of Miami Commencement
Miami, United StatesGraduation

Arriving

Miami International (MIA) has the Metrorail to downtown; South Beach is 20 to 30 minutes by car. Fort Lauderdale (FLL) is 45 minutes north.

Where to stay

BudgetWhereWhy
BudgetDowntown and BrickellOn Metrorail, cheaper than the beach.
Mid-rangeSouth BeachArt Deco hotels by the sand.
SplurgeMid-Beach and Bal HarbourOceanfront resorts.

Three hotels we would book

Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Tours

Half day · Family

Everglades airboat tour

Alligators and sawgrass.

See times and prices
Half day · Food

Little Havana food tour

Cuban coffee and cigars.

See times and prices
Half day · Low walking · Family

Biscayne Bay boat tour

Celebrity homes from the water.

See times and prices
Half day

Wynwood street art tour

Murals and galleries.

See times and prices
Full day

Key West day trip

Overseas Highway.

See times and prices
Half day · Low walking

Art Deco walking tour

South Beach architecture.

See times and prices
Evening · Low walking · Nightlife

Sunset cruise

Skyline at dusk.

See times and prices

Where to eat

With kids

Rainy-day backups

Free things to do

Getting around