Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!
Are you planning a trip to Miami and wondering how to make the most of it? You’ve come to the perfect place!
Located in Southern Florida, Miami is one of the best cities to visit in the US. Between the beautiful beaches, the art deco architecture and the Cuban and Caribbean culture, there is an incredible mix of options there.
3 days in Miami is a good amount of time to see the highlights and some cool hidden gems too.
You’ll find below my recommended itinerary for 3 days in Miami.
✈️ Planning your trip to Miami
How to get to Miami
The easiest way to get there is to fly into Miami International Airport (MIA), which is well connected to the rest of the US and beyond. You can also fly into nearby Fort Lauderdale, which is sometimes cheaper.
👉 Click here to see the best fares to Miami airport.
Once you’re here, you’re going to need a car to get around Miami. The city is much more spread out than you might realise and having a car will give you a lot of flexibility on day 2 and 3.
👉 Click here to see the best car rental prices in Miami.
Where to stay in Miami
Where you stay really depends on the kind of trip you want:
- South Beach: the classic choice for first-timers, right by the beach and the Art Deco district, and great for nightlife. It’s not ideal if you are on a budget though.
- Mid-Beach: a little quieter, with some lovely resorts, and still an easy drive to South Beach.
- Brickell: the modern downtown area, with skyscrapers, rooftop bars and a great food scene.
- Wynwood: trendy and artsy, ideal if you love street art, cafes and breweries.
- Coconut Grove: relaxed and green, a good pick for families or a calmer stay.
🌴 The Ultimate 3-Day Miami Itinerary
🏖️ Day 1: Exploring Miami Beach
Let’s start this Miami itinerary with the most iconic location: Miami Beach!
Located on the other side of the bridge, Miami Beach is a world of its own. It’s very different from the rest of Miami and home to some of the most recognisable landmarks in Florida.
Morning Stop 1: Collins Park & Collins Avenue (Art Deco District)
Start your day in the Art Deco District, which runs roughly between 5th and 23rd Street.
Miami Beach has the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world, with more than 800 pastel-colored buildings from the 1920s to the 1940s.
I’d recommend starting at Collins Park (near the Bass Museum) so you can walk down Collins Avenue and admire some of the buildings before heading over to Lincoln Road.
If you’d like to learn more about the architecture, you can join an Art Deco guided tour later on in the day.
Morning Stop 2: Lincoln Road
Next, head to Lincoln Road, a pedestrian street lined with shops, cafes and restaurants.
It was designed by the famous architect Morris Lapidus, and it’s a lovely, car-free place to wander, do some shopping and people-watch.
Lunch: Española Way
For lunch, walk over to Española Way, a pretty pedestrian street built in the 1920s in a Spanish and Mediterranean Revival style.
It’s lined with restaurants with outdoor seating, so it’s a great spot to sit down for tapas, pasta or a coffee.
Afternoon: South Beach
In the afternoon, it’s time to go to the beach.
South Beach is the most famous beach in Florida.
It can be quite busy (especially since it is touristy) but it’s still a lovely place to swim, sunbathe or just relax.
But that’s not the only thing South Beach is famous for. There are also colorful Art Deco lifeguard towers dotted all along the beach. They are absolutely beautiful and one of the most photographed places in Miami.
Late Afternoon & Evening: Lummus Park & Ocean Drive
Once you’re done at the beach, walk around Lummus Park and finish your day on Ocean Drive, which comes alive in the evening.
The Art Deco hotels light up in neon, and the street is full of restaurants and bars. It’s touristy and a little pricey, but it’s an iconic Miami experience and lovely for an evening stroll.
If you’d rather see Miami from the water, a Biscayne Bay sunset cruise past the downtown skyline and the celebrity homes of “Millionaire’s Row” is a lovely way to spend the evening (they depart from Bayside Marketplace).
💡 TOP TIP: I would recommend booking the bike tour of South Beach as it will allow you to see all the highlights mentioned here and more (like the Botanical gardens or Flamingo Park) which optimise your time a lot more.
🎨 Day 2: Little Haiti, Wynwood & Little Havana
On day 2 of this itinerary, you’ll discover a completely different side of Miami.
Miami is home to many cultures, and this melting pot has given the city an incredible diversity. It also means you’ll get to eat delicious food from the Caribbean and Cuba.
If you’re a foodie, today is your day!
Morning Stop 1: Little Haiti
Little Haiti is one of the most underrated neighborhoods in Miami. It’s colorful, lively and a paradise for foodies, especially if you’d like to try some Creole food.
For a long time, Little Haiti was overlooked by visitors, but it has changed a lot and is now a must for culture lovers.
Morning is the best time of day to visit, and to get the most out of it (and stay in the best areas), I’d recommend going on a walking tour.
It lasts about 1.5 hours, during which you’ll learn the history of Little Haiti, and the guide will point you to the best places to grab food. Click here to see the latest prices.
Afternoon Stop 1: Wynwood Walls
It’s only a 5-minute drive from Little Haiti to Wynwood. There are a few places to park, but for convenience and a reasonable price, opt for the parking lot at the corner of NW 2nd Avenue and NW 29th St. You’ll pay at the meters, and 2 to 3 hours is plenty of time in Wynwood.
If you’re taking public transport, hop on bus 2 from Little Haiti. It takes about 15 minutes.
Wynwood used to be the warehouse district and has become one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Miami over the last decade. It’s known around the world for its murals, with street artists coming from everywhere to paint here.
The best place to see them is Wynwood Walls where you’ll find murals, sculptures and a small museum. It was created in 2009 by Tony Goldman to revitalise the district. You can book your tickets online in advance.
It’s one of the most Instagrammable spots in Miami, so bring your camera. It gets busy at the weekend, so visit during the week if you can.
To learn more about the history of Wynwood and its murals, go on a walking tour, where the guide will tell you all about Miami’s street art and galleries. Click here to see the latest prices.
Afternoon Stop 2: Little Havana
Little Havana is the Cuban district of Miami. From Wynwood, it’s a 10 to 15 minute drive, and you’ll find lots of on-street parking in the little streets near 8th Avenue, most of it free.
Visiting Little Havana feels like being transported to Cuba: cigar shops, domino players and delicious food.
Start at Calle Ocho, the most famous street in Little Havana. It’s the main avenue and also the Cuban version of the Walk of Fame, with stars on the ground featuring famous Cuban celebrities.
You’ll see cigar shops where the cigars are rolled by hand, and plenty of spots for a Cuban coffee, which is delicious. There are also a few parlors selling homemade ice cream.
To really experience Little Havana, go on a walking tour. You have two options:
- History walking tour. There’s a lot to learn about Little Havana, so if you’re a history buff, this is a great option. Click here to see the latest prices.
- Food tour of Little Havana. The best thing about this part of Miami is the food, so a food tour with a local is a great way to spend your time. Click here to see the latest prices.
While you’re in the area, head to Domino Park (Máximo Gómez Park), where locals play dominoes and chess at the tables. It’s authentic and fun to watch.
There’s also a small square next to it with colorful walls and dominoes painted on the ground, which makes a great photo spot.
Dinner: Versailles Restaurant
Address: 3555 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135, United States
There’s no better place to eat Cuban food than Versailles Restaurant.
It calls itself the most famous Cuban restaurant in the world, and it’s a great place to try authentic Cuban-Floridian food, including the famous Cuban sandwich.
The restaurant is split in two: a sit-in restaurant at the back (better for dinner) and a snack bar where you can get sandwiches, croquetas and other Cuban snacks.
The food is delicious and reasonably priced, the atmosphere is great, and there are lots of locals, which is always a good sign.
It’s a bit of a walk from Domino Park, but you can drive there and park at the back for free as a customer.
🌳 Day 3: Coral Gables, Coconut Grove & Key Biscayne
On your last day, head south to explore some of Miami’s leafiest and most historic areas.
Morning: Coral Gables
Start in Coral Gables, known as “The City Beautiful” for its Mediterranean-style architecture and tree-lined streets.
Begin on Miracle Mile, a half-mile stretch of Coral Way lined with shops, boutiques and restaurants.
Then visit the Venetian Pool, a swimming pool carved from a coral rock quarry back in 1924 and fed by spring water. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the most unique places to swim in the country (just check the opening times ahead, as they’re seasonal).
Next, stop at the Biltmore Hotel, a 1926 Mediterranean-style hotel with a huge pool and beautiful grounds. Even if you’re not staying, it’s worth a look around.
If you love plants, the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden nearby is an 83-acre garden that’s well worth adding.
Afternoon: Coconut Grove
Next, head to Coconut Grove, Miami’s oldest neighborhood and a relaxed, green place to spend the afternoon.
Wander around CocoWalk for shops and restaurants, stroll down to the waterfront and marina, and enjoy the laid-back, tropical vibe.
On the way (technically just north of the Grove), don’t miss Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, a stunning Italian-style villa and gardens right on Biscayne Bay. It’s one of the most beautiful spots in Miami, and you can book your tickets here.
Late Afternoon: Key Biscayne
Finish your trip on Key Biscayne.
You can reach it via the Rickenbacker Causeway, which has fantastic views of the Miami skyline (the Rusty Pelican is a lovely spot for a drink with a view on the way) and it’s one of the best small towns in Florida.
Once on the island, you can relax at Crandon Park beach, or drive to the southern tip for Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
Here you’ll find the Cape Florida Lighthouse, built in 1825 and the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County, along with lovely beaches and a great view out over the water.
It’s a peaceful place to end your three days in Miami.
🗺️ Miami 3-Day Itinerary Map
💡 A few practical tips
- A car makes this itinerary much easier, but be ready for traffic and paid parking, especially on Miami Beach.
- Winter (roughly December to April) has the best weather but the biggest crowds and prices.
- Book walking and food tours ahead, as the popular ones fill up.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen, water and a hat, as it gets hot and sunny year-round.
🔗 You May Also Be Interested In:
