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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Miami
Give Miami 3–4 nights: 2 in South Beach for the beach and Art Deco, 1–2 in Brickell or Downtown for food and transit. Skip the car unless you leave the city.
Miami is two cities in one trip. Miami Beach is a barrier island of sand, Art Deco hotels and late nights; the city of Miami across Biscayne Bay is a working downtown of towers, Cuban food and neighbourhoods. They are 20–40 minutes apart by causeway, so pick a base rather than commuting. Winter (Dec–Apr) is dry and busy; summer is hot, wet and cheaper.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (heat, humidity, afternoon storms); peak hurricane season Aug–Oct
- Stay
- 3–4 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $90–140 excl. bed · Mid $160–260 excl. bed · High $300+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $4–7 |
| Cuban sandwich | $8–14 |
| Sit-down dinner, mid-range, per person | $25–50 |
| Beer: bar / supermarket six-pack | $7–12 / $10–16 |
| Rideshare, South Beach to Brickell | $20–35 |
| Metrorail or Metrobus ride | $2.25 |
| Museum entry (Vizcaya, Pérez Art Museum) | $15–25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MIA · Miami International Airport
- 8 km west of Downtown; Metrorail Orange Line to Government Center, about 20 min5 mi west of Downtown; Metrorail Orange Line to Government Center, about 20 min
- FLL · Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International
- 25–40 min north by car depending on traffic; Tri-Rail connects to Miami Airport station
Typical fares
- MIA → Government Center, Metrorail
- about $2.25, about 20 min
- Rideshare MIA → South Beach
- $35–50
- Brightline Miami → Fort Lauderdale
- about $15–30, about 30 min
Get around
Metrorail (Orange Line serves MIA) plus the free Metromover loop in Downtown and Brickell cover the city core; Metrobus reaches the rest. South Beach is a bus or taxi ride from Downtown, not a rail ride. Fares are per ride with free bus–rail transfers; a car only pays off for day trips.
See and do
Known for
- South Beach and Ocean Drive
- Art Deco Historic District
- Little Havana and Cuban food
- Brickell and Downtown skyline
- PortMiami cruises
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Beach and South Beach | Metrobus S from Downtown, or taxi/rideshare over the causeway | 20–40 min |
| Key Biscayne and Crandon Park | Car or rideshare via the Rickenbacker Causeway | 25–35 min |
| Coral Gables | Metrorail to Douglas Road, then bus or short taxi | 30–40 min |
| Hialeah | Metrorail to Hialeah station, then walk or bus | 35–45 min |
| Florida Keys (Key Largo) | Car south on US-1 | 1–1.5 h |
Sleep
- South Beach (Miami Beach)
- Beach on foot, Art Deco streets, nightlife; priciest beds and resort fees.
- Brickell
- Downtown-adjacent towers, restaurants and bars; Metrorail and Metromover access.
- Downtown Miami
- Best for cruises, Brightline and museums; quieter at night in parts.
- Coconut Grove
- Leafy, low-rise, good for families and longer stays; 15–20 min drive to the beach.
- Little Havana
- Cheap eats and local life; few hotels and less walkable at night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-syas |
| Please | Por favorpor fah-VOR |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| The check, please | La cuenta, por favorlah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR |
| Where is the beach? | ¿Dónde está la playa?DON-deh es-TAH lah PLAH-yah |
| I don't speak Spanish | No hablo españolnoh AH-bloh es-pah-NYOL |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer heat and humidity: plan indoor breaks 12:00–16:00 and carry water.
- Afternoon thunderstorms Jun–Nov; lightning on the beach is a real risk.
- Hurricane season runs Jun–Nov, peak Aug–Oct: check forecasts and insurance.
- Ocean currents and rip tides: swim near lifeguards.
- Parking and resort fees add up fast; confirm before booking.
- Some bars and clubs add automatic service charges: check the bill.
Central tourist areas are busy and generally safe by day; the real risks are heat, rip currents and storms. At night stay in lit, populated blocks, keep phones out of sight, and treat unlicensed taxis and no-price bars as a pass.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Miami yet. Suggested stay: 3–4 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- South Beach and Ocean Drive
- Art Deco Historic District
- Little Havana and Cuban food
- Brickell and Downtown skyline
- PortMiami cruises
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Greater Miami and the Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau: www.miamiandbeaches.com/
- Miami-Dade Transit: www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/home.page
- Miami International Airport: www.miami-airport.com/
- City of Miami: www.miamigov.com/
- Wikivoyage: Miami, revision 5271370 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5271370
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Miami
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Most countries have consulates in Miami (check the address); embassies are in Washington, DC.
Spanish is widely spoken; English works everywhere in tourist areas.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/miami). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.