Miami, a city known for its iconic beaches, live music, various fun activities, arts, architecture, and whatnot, is a city that needs no introduction. You must have heard about Miami in TV shows, movies, etc. This glamorous city is nicknamed “The Magic City”.
Miami, or the city of Miami, is the central portion of Florida in the USA. is located in southeastern Florida in the United States of America It’s the second-most populous metropolis after New York itself.
It’s basically the financial, cultural, and economic pivot of Florida. The city of Miami houses around 467000 people. Miami is known all over the world for its beaches and skiing clubs. It is also one of the best places to travel alone in the United States.
If you are planning for a visit to Miami and are confused about where to start and how to take enjoy your stay in the city, keep reading the article as we discuss the best tourist attractions in Miami and things to do in Miami.
Also see: Best Places To Visit In the USA
Best Things to do in Miami
Here are the top-rated tourist attractions in Miami. If you are planning a trip to Miami, you shouldn’t miss any of these places to get most of your trip.
1. Miami Beach
The most famous part of the entire city is Miami Beach. You must have seen this beauty in various TV shows or movies. An interesting fact about the beach is that it’s located outside Miami city on an Island. Miami beach is quite pedestrian-friendly and one can expect a large diversity of people roaming around. For many people, Miami Beach feels like home. There are a lot of schools nearby which is the reason why it is becoming a residential area day by day.
This area is connected to the mainland by a group of bridges. It’s located in the vicinity of Barrier Island. The area is well known for its quiet neighborhoods and lively atmosphere. It’s also well known for its fine spas, diners, and art deco. The South Beach Art Deco District is a unique collection of over 800 architecturally protected marvels. Other activities done here are riding bicycles, enjoying the nightlife, playing golf and tennis.
2. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya Museum is a weird Italian Renaissance-style villa. The meticulously landscaped gardens spread over an area of 43 acres is quite a thing to see. Vizcaya serves as an excellent background for selfie-holics. The villa houses a unique collection of European antiques and decorative works from the 16th to 19th centuries. A good walk in the villa and its gardens is a must for everyone, especially couples.
This is a National Historic Landmark that is bound in an area of 28 acres. It was the winter abode of the famous industrialist, James Deering. This is a mansion featuring 32 rooms. The garden area surrounds the villa for about 10 acres in the area. The place is open to visitors from Monday to Wednesday excluding Tuesdays and special days like Christmas and Thanksgiving. The place is a showcase of luxury lifestyle.
3. Bayside Marketplace
It is a large mall which is set outdoors featuring more than 150 specialty and shops for tourists. It also includes numerous cafes and eateries. You will be surprised to find some of the unique stores and chain stores. The place is a great tourist attraction for locals and tourists alike. The place is set at the docks, so you can visit the place by boat. As evident from this fact, there is a dedicated water taxi service that can be used to visit this place and nearby areas including some seaside hotels and places.
4. Miami Seaquarium
It is a 38-acre oceanarium which is set on the island of Virginia Key in Biscayne Bay. Founded in 1955, it is one of the oldest oceanariums in the United States. Apart from marine life, this oceanarium showcases a wide variety of reptiles, turtles, birds, and manatees. The park offers daily presentations of boy scouts and hosts many overnight camps.
5. Miami Zoo
This amazing zoo houses more than 2500 wild animals including more than 35 endangered species, over 1000 varieties of plants and over 100 special exhibits. The specialty of this zoo is that unlike many zoos, this zoo group animals with other animals with which they could co-exist peacefully. Also, the animals are kept in a surrounding which is set like the animals’ natural habitat. This zoo also has a water-based play area for children.
Also see: Largest Zoos in the World by Area
6. Jungle Island
Jungle Islands is Miami’s premier entertainment destination that combines the beauty of Miami’s breathtaking landscape and unique animals from all around the globe. Jungle Island is the perfect place to create fun memories for life. Irrespective of who you go with, Jungle Island has something for everyone.
Talking about the activities that can be done here are interacting with animals such as lemur, sloth, capybara, flamingo, etc. Apart from this, you can also try Treewalk village for a much more enriching experience.
This place is way more than just a place to see and interact with animals. It was formerly known as Parrot Jungle. It is an eco-adventure park located on Watson Island. The park features new pop up waterslides and a simulated sky diving wind tunnel. For animal lovers, this is a must-visit place.
7. Coral castle
Miami is full of surprising beauties. Another example of it is the Coral Castle which is a man-made park that contains stone tables, chairs, and much more made out of limestone. It was built by Edward Leedskalnin. It took over 30 years for the man to build the place. He keeps his carving methods private. The amazing thing is that the work was done without using modern methods and by using handmade tools. He used over 1100 tons of coral rock for the building process.
8. Freedom Tower
It’s one of the oldest skyscrapers in the south-eastern United States. It also formerly served as the headquarters of Miami Daily News. It is currently used as a contemporary art museum and a central office to various authorities of Miami Dade College. The tower displays a wedding cake style. It was awarded a U.S. National Historic Landmark for its role in the immigration process of Cubans.
9. Venetian Pool
This is Miami’s 820000-gallon pool which was created in 1923 from a coral rock quarry. The pool is filled with spring water. An underground aquifer is used for the process. There are 2 waterfalls that provide scenic background and enhance tourists’ experience. The beauty of the pool is further increased by the palm trees, the loggias, and the porticos. It is truly an unforgettable experience.
10. Wynwood Walls Street Art
Wynwood is a neighborhood in Miami that is famous for its wall graffiti, bars, and many art galleries. You can find anything from a mural painted walls to jazz gardens in here. Many famous artists have contributed greatly to the walls by their artworks. Some of the popular artists are Shepard Fairey, Maya Hayuk and Eduardo Kobra.
If you are short on time but want to explore more in Miami, then Wynwood Walls is the place for you. Known as Miami’s most Instagrammed place, Wynwood walls is the perfect place that you can explore in under 30 minutes! Wynwood Walls is an outdoor museum that is dedicated to graffiti. You can admire the works of the finest artists from all over the world.
Also see: Best Islands To Visit in December
11. Wat Buddharangsi Buddhist Temple
This is a temple that is home to and was originally built by the monks. It is open to people and one can join the monks in daily prayer too. The place was built in 1982. The place is occupied by Thai monks. Each year the temple organizes many events that spread the religious and cultural heritage of Thailand. It was formerly known as the Thai Temple of Homestead.
12. Time Out Market Miami
This place showcases the best of Miami under one roof. It’s a great place for food lovers. The place has one of the best chains of restaurants. Also, live music events are also held here. The place has a very welcoming atmosphere. Apart from the restaurants and bars, this place also contains a live entertainment stage and a demo cooking area. If you love to enjoy food and want to get entertained at the same time, this is one of the great attractions in Miami.
13. Spend the night at Broken Shaker
Are you looking for a cool bar to spend your evenings at? Then welcome to Broken Shaker. It’s everybody’s favorite place to be during the night. You can expect cocktails, lush trees, the old-school vibe from the ’90s, and whatnot. You can also order any drink you feel like having if you are not into cocktails that much. And just in case you feel hungry, there’s a very uber restaurant nearby to feed your appetite.
14. Shopping spree at Lincoln Roads
Ever want to see a parking garage you might not want to come out of? Welcome to Lincoln Road. Well, it is Lincoln Road Mall, because of the shops, boutiques, and restaurants on both sides of the roads. It has got the world’s most glamorous parking garage in the world, no kidding. It is designed by Herzog and de Meuron. There is a large variety of things that you can bring home. Be it day or night, you will always find something exciting going on.
15. Drink Avocado Wine
Hmm, sounds strange right? But you can have a wine made out of avocados at Schnebly Winery in Redlands. The winery has a large number of wines made from unbelievable blends of fruits. They also have wines made from rose and whatnot. You just have to name anything that comes to your mind and it’s there.
17. Rubell Museum
This museum owned by Don and Mera Rubell houses nearly 7,200 works by more than 1000 artists. The fact that this museum is totally private and so popular is itself commendable. The couple started the museum solely after getting inspired by art. In a nutshell, it feels quite amazing to be there.
18. Everglades National Park
This 2,400 square miles national park is the third largest park in the lower 48 states. There are a plethora of activities that can be done here. It is the best place in Miami to show your adventurous side and redefine yourself. From Bird watching to Kayaking to fishing, Everglades National Park has got it all covered. You can also book their guided tours.
19. Art Deco District
Built-in 1925 to facilitate the immigration-process, today, the tower not only stands as a center for thousands of Cuban refugees but also is the most striking and oldest skyscraper in the South Eastern US. Inside the tower, an exhibition of artifacts from the first exiles is displayed. You can view old dresses, guayaberas, and other stuff that was recovered from the Cubans who had fled.
The Miami Beach Art District is a historic district located in South Beach. The area is famous for being the residential area of the famous Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace. The whole street is just photogenic. This is the best place to learn about the architectural and cultural heritage of Miami. At night, the Art Deco district is at its best. The neon vibe and canopy-covered diners are just amazing.
20. Cruise down Ocean Drive
Ocean Drive is one of the must-visit places in Miami that comes in top attractions in Miami. Ocean Drive is the perfect place for scenic beauty lovers. And apart from this, if you are lucky enough, you might get a chance to spot celebrities like Beyonce and Jay Z amongst others. Wondering what can you do at Ocean Beach. Well, apart from taking a good look at the area, you can enjoy various beach parties that happen a lot on Ocean Drive.
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Miami is a nice place to go on a vacation. It is full of life and enthusiasm. It’s clear that the place is worth visiting. As evident from the article. Miami is rich in beaches, live music, outdoor activities, shopping, and more. From November to March is the best time to visit Miami. I Hope, you will explore these attractions in Miami.
These are the best and top attractions in Miami that you can explore during your trip. Miami is a peaceful place filled with beaches and other natural reliefs. Miami is a true place for food and animal lovers.
Although the weather of the place is warm throughout the year, the place gets rainfall from June to November. The best time to visit Miami is mid-February to May. Try to enjoy all the things to do in Miami listed here. We have listed the best tourist attractions in Miami that you must visit in Miami.