Miami Beach visitor guide and visitor center info

Miami Beach Guest is an independent visitor guide run by a small team that knows the city well. We don't sell anything ourselves. What we do is put the questions people ask at a visitor center (where to stay, what's worth the money, how to get around without a car) on one site, with answers you can use before you land and while you're here.

Official visitor center information

For official visitor information, event calendars and maps, the best places to start are the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and the City of Miami Beach websites. Use them for opening hours, official notices and city services, and use this guide for planning: what to do, where to stay and how to get around.

Things to do in Miami Beach

Most first visits start in South Beach: the pastel Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, the wide sand at Lummus Park, Lincoln Road for shopping and people-watching, and South Pointe Park at the southern tip for sunset over the cruise ships. Further north it gets quieter, and North Beach and Haulover are where locals go for a calmer beach day.

Across the causeways you have Wynwood's murals, Little Havana's cafés and cigar shops, and Brickell's rooftop bars. For a full day out, the Everglades are about an hour's drive west and Key West is a long but beautiful road trip south. Our tour finder compares the best-rated boat trips, food tours and day trips by price, length and reviews, and our hotel pages do the same for places to stay.

Getting around

You can manage Miami Beach without a car. The city's trolley routes are free, and the island is flat and easy to walk or cycle. Rideshare is quick for short hops, and street parking and garages are paid, often by app. Miami International Airport is about 10 miles away, usually 20 to 40 minutes by car depending on traffic over the causeways.

When to visit

December to April is the dry, mild season and the busiest, so hotel prices peak and it's worth booking early. Summer is hot and humid, with short afternoon thunderstorms most days. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. If you travel then, choose hotels and tours with free cancellation and keep an eye on the forecast. Spring and late autumn tend to be the best value.

Beach basics

Swim near a lifeguard tower and check the flag before you go in: red means strong currents and a double red flag means the water is closed. Glass and alcohol aren't allowed on the beach. Bring more sun protection than you think you'll need, because the sun is strong all year round.