Photo: Wilfredor, CC0 on Wikimedia Commons
Three days for a group that likes a late start: the pastel hotels and neon of Ocean Drive, the murals of Wynwood, then one big night of music on Calle Ocho in Little Havana. Beach mornings, a lighthouse and the gardens of Vizcaya keep the pace easy.
Dishes the travel guides name for this place, and the restaurants they list for them.
A sandwich brought to Miami by Cuban immigrants in the 1960s, now part of the local food culture.
A strong coffee brought by Cuban immigrants that has become a symbol of the city's cuisine.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Listings are what the guides list, not a ranking, and places change, so check before you go.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: warm, sunny days with little rain score highest (the air stands in for the sea, which is not included). Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Sleep in, then ease into the day on the beach. The pastel Art Deco hotels, a walk down Lincoln Road and Española Way finish a day that ends with the lights on.
Start the late morning the Miami way: a small, strong, sweet Cuban coffee and a flaky pastry filled with guava and cheese, bought at a sidewalk window.
Local tip Order a colada to share, which comes with tiny cups for the whole group.
Hours change, so check before you go.
The wide green strip between Ocean Drive and the sand, with palm trees, bright lifeguard stands and a long white beach. A late, slow morning here is the whole idea.
Go when Late morning, once you have slept in and before the midday sun is at its strongest.
Local tip Look for the brightly painted lifeguard stands, a favorite photo spot. Check the flag at the stand before you swim, and keep an eye on your things.
Rows of pastel hotels from the 1930s, with rounded corners, porthole windows and neon signs, along Ocean Drive and the streets behind it. The whole district is a protected historic area.
Go when Midday for the pastel colors, and again after dark when the neon is lit.
Local tip Look up at the rooflines and the signs, and walk a block or two inland, where the buildings are quieter and just as good. Walk it twice, once in daylight and once at night.
Fresh ceviche, grilled fish or a plate of fried calamari, eaten under an umbrella with the beach in view. Stone crab claws are a Florida specialty, in season from fall into spring.
Local tip Stone crab comes cold with a mustard sauce. Check ahead that it is in season, and share a platter.
Hours change, so check before you go.
A pedestrian street of shops, cafe tables and palm trees that runs across South Beach, with mid-century touches by the architect Morris Lapidus. An easy place to people-watch.
Go when Afternoon, when the cafe tables fill and the palm shade is welcome.
Local tip Look overhead for the curved canopies and the odd-shaped concrete touches of the mid-century design, then take a cafe table and watch the street.
A short, pedestrian lane of Spanish-style buildings in pink and ochre, with arched balconies and cafe tables in the street. Music spills out most evenings.
Go when Early evening, as the lights come on and the music starts.
Local tip It is one short block, so stroll it once, then take a seat with a view of the walkers. Follow the sound to the best live music on the lane.
Spanish-style small plates suit a group: croquetas, grilled shrimp, patatas bravas and a pitcher of sangria in the middle of the table.
Local tip Order in rounds so the table stays full, and book ahead for a larger group.
Hours change, so check before you go.
Start late, with murals in Wynwood and the design galleries to the north. By afternoon you are on Calle Ocho in Little Havana, and the evening is the night the trip has been building to.
An open-air courtyard of large murals by artists from around the world, with more street art on the blocks around it. Check ahead for how entry works, then wander the streets after.
Go when Late morning, when the light is good on the walls and the crowds have not yet built.
Local tip The murals change, so the walk through the streets around the courtyard is half the show. Check ahead for how entry works.
A pedestrian neighborhood of galleries, fashion shops and public art, with big sculptures and a Buckminster Fuller dome in the main plaza. A cool, easy stop in the middle of the day.
Go when Midday, when the covered walkways are a welcome break from the sun.
Local tip You can enjoy the architecture and public art without buying anything. Look for the large sculptures and the Fuller dome in the main plaza.
Miami has a strong Peruvian food scene: citrusy ceviche, then lomo saltado, a stir-fry of beef, onions and fries over rice.
Local tip Share a few dishes and ask for the ceviche made to order.
A small shaded park on Calle Ocho where older Cuban men play dominoes and chess in the afternoon. A quiet corner of Little Havana before the evening begins.
Go when Afternoon, when the games are in full swing.
Local tip Watch quietly from the edge, and ask before you take a photo of a player. Check ahead for what visitors may do in the park.
Before the music, eat the classics: slow-roasted pork, ropa vieja (shredded beef in a tomato sauce), black beans and rice, and sweet fried plantains.
Local tip Go early, since the dance floors fill late, and order a few plates for the table.
The main street of Little Havana after dark: sidewalk windows for Cuban coffee, cigar rollers, murals and live Latin music, with bands and dance floors behind the doors. This is the big night out.
Go when From early evening into the night, for the music at its best.
Local tip Walk the street once, then follow the music through the doors. Salsa lessons are often offered early in the evening, so try one before the dance floor fills. Plan a rideshare home.
A pressed sandwich of roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard on Cuban bread, the classic end to a long night.
Local tip Eat it hot, straight from the press, and share one if you are full.
Hours change, so check before you go.
A recovery day. Start at the tip of Key Biscayne, ride the causeway back with the skyline in view, step into the gardens of Vizcaya and end by the water downtown.
After the big night, a long brunch: eggs, pancakes or avocado toast, and a tall glass of fresh orange juice.
Local tip Order a Cuban coffee, which is much stronger than it looks.
A state park at the southern tip of Key Biscayne, with a wide, quiet beach, a boardwalk through the dunes and an old brick lighthouse from the 1820s. Check ahead for the lighthouse tour and park entry.
Go when Morning, for a quiet beach, soft light and a slow start. If you are up for first light, the beach faces east.
Local tip Walk the boardwalk through the dunes to the lighthouse. Check ahead for the tour times and for what the park asks of visitors.
The bridge road from the mainland out to Virginia Key and Key Biscayne, with wide views of Biscayne Bay and the downtown skyline. Stop at a viewpoint on the way back, and check ahead for the toll.
Go when Midday on the way back, when the skyline is in clear light.
Local tip Pull off only at the marked viewpoints and small beaches, and check ahead for the toll. The skyline is best from the Virginia Key side.
The waterfront spots along the causeway serve the day’s catch grilled, fried or in a sandwich, with the bay beside the table.
Local tip Sit outside if the weather allows, and ask what came in that morning.
An Italian-style villa from the early 1900s on Biscayne Bay, with formal gardens, fountains and a stone barge in the water. Check ahead, since entry can be timed.
Go when Afternoon, when the light is soft on the gardens and the stone barge.
Local tip Allow time for the gardens as well as the house. Walk down to the water for the view back toward the villa. Check ahead for timed entry.
A waterfront park in downtown Miami with open lawns, a bay walk and a view of the skyline lighting up at dusk. A gentle way to end the trip. Check ahead for evening events.
Go when Sunset (about 7:29 PM), as the skyline lights up and the bay turns gold.
Local tip Walk the bay edge toward the water, then look back at the towers. Check ahead for concerts and events, which can close parts of the park.
For the last night, find a table on the water downtown: grilled seafood, a long table for the group and a skyline to look at.
Local tip Book ahead for a larger group, and ask for a table near sunset.
Hours change, so check before you go.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, February to May and November to December are the best months for a beach trip to Miami. This plan is built for mid March, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 3 days in Miami, planned for mid March. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 1.5 to 12.7 miles between its stops, and 20.9 miles in all across 3 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
4 days in Key West and the Florida KeysAbout 110 miles awayAn easy add-on
5 days in OrlandoAbout 200 miles away
4 days on the Georgia coast and in the OkefenokeeAbout 370 miles awayOther guides with a page about Miami. Each one opens in a new tab.
WikivoyageMiami, the free travel guideCondé Nast TravelerMiami travel guideTime OutThings to do in MiamiThe GuardianMiami travel featuresThe InfatuationRestaurant guide to MiamiPhoto: User:Colinkb7, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Marc Averette on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Daniel di Palma, CC BY-SA 2.5 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Massimo Catarinella, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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