48 hours in Miami: The perfect two-day itinerary

1. Day 1

   
   1. Morning

      Get breakfast and browse at Lincoln Road Mall (1 hour)

      

      Start off your trip on Lincoln Road, a pedestrianized outdoor mall that offers the best of Miami — shopping, architecture, and quality dining. Grab a coffee and a light breakfast at Aroma Espresso Bar before browsing through some of the district's best boutiques and galleries, many of which are housed in restored Art Deco buildings with their original features intact, like the huge H&M occupying the former Lincoln Road Theater. If you’re visiting on a Sunday, arrive early to browse the weekly farmers market, where you’ll find the tastiest coffee and baked goods alongside the local produce.

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   2. Explore South Beach and Ocean Drive (2 hours)

      

      Breakfast done, you’re perfectly positioned for the famous South Beach. While you can easily explore the area on foot, renting a bike will save you time and give you the flexibility to buzz past the crowds that gather in this well-known neighborhood. Check out the colorful lifeguard houses on Miami’s most famous beach, or lay out and catch some rays before continuing along towards Ocean Drive, the heart of Miami’s Art Deco District. Walk along and snap photos of the charming ice-cream-colored buildings with vintage cars parked out front. The Art Deco Museum at 1001 Ocean Drive explains more about the area's past. If you’re looking for a little more structure in exploring their neighborhood, opt for an Art Deco bike tour, where you’ll also visit famed sights like the Versace Mansion, the Botanical Gardens, and Bass Art Museum.
      

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   3. Afternoon

      Slow down at South Pointe Park (1 hour)

      

      Continue all the way to the southern tip of Miami Beach to a local favorite, South Pointe Park. The park is dotted with modern art, like the Lighthouse Sculpture by artist Tobias Rehberger. Watch boats cruising by from the scenic pier, the park’s main attraction, and take in the panoramic ocean views from the best photo spot in Miami Beach. Depending on your mood, you might opt for fishing, people-watching, or even a simple picnic on the beach or the park’s green areas. When you’ve done enough relaxing, hop on the Miami Metrobus for a ride across the causeway to your next stop.

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   4. Immerse yourself in Miami’s modern art scene (1.5 hours)

      

      No trip to Miami would be complete without a visit to the Jorge M. Pérez Art Museum, Miami’s flagship modern art gallery perched on the waterfront at Museum Park. Serving as Miami’s leading visual art institution for over 35 years, the Pérez houses nearly 3,000 works displayed throughout eight galleries. The collection showcases Miami’s multiculturalism, drawing on its location at the crossroads of the Americas. Many of the pieces reflect on the US-Latin-American and Caribbean experience as well as the lives of the African diaspora. Outside, continue your art exploration by spotting the sculptures dotted around Maurice A. Ferré oceanside park, which also contains the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. From here, you can catch the Metromover — a free public transportation monorail — at Museum Park. You’ll get off at the Freedom Tower to head to your next stop.

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   5. Cruise from Bayside to Millionaire’s Row (1.5 hours)

      

      Experience a taste of Miami’s opulence with a cruise around Millionaire's Row, home to celebrities like Gloria Estefan, Puff Daddy, and Enrique Iglesias. While you can walk along the waterfront area, the cruise gives a better look at these stunning homes, and it also brings you around the famous Venetian Islands — including the aptly named Star Island — for more mansion spotting. After docking at the Bayside Marketplace — a 2-story, open-air shopping area — head to the waterfront for a breezy lunch with a view. Many of the restaurants offer the freshest fish caught that very day, so order seafood and a tropical cocktail and soak it all in before hopping back on the Metromover.
      

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   6. Evening

      Go from day to night in Brickell (2 hours)

      

      Wrap the day exploring downtown Miami’s Brickell neighborhood, a walkable, upscale financial district with a very modern feel. Venture over to Brickell Point to see the Miami Circle National Historic Landmark, an archaeological site said to be the only prehistoric footprint on the East Coast left by Miami’s first residents, the Tequesta tribe. When night creeps in, head to Brickell Center to see it light up, transforming from polished professionalism into a lively nightlife hub filled with beautiful people, cars, and venues. Opt for one of the many upscale dining options for dinner, followed by a cocktail at a rooftop bar like Sugar at the East Hotel. For more budget-friendly options, head down to Mary Brickell Village and SW 9th Street for plenty of dining and drinking options.

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2. Day 2

   
   1. Morning

      Discover Wynwood and the Design District (3 hours)

      

      Start your day exploring the unofficial capital of Miami’s art scene, Wynwood. Grab a Cuban coffee and croquette at Suite Habana Cafe and make your way around the creative neighborhood, where old warehouses have been transformed to hip galleries and cafes. Whether you book a walking tour to get a deeper dive into the neighborhood’s artistic history or choose to explore it yourself, be sure to stop by Wynwood Walls, the world’s largest open-air art museum. The museum requires a ticket, but the area has plenty of free graffiti and outdoor art to see too. You’ll be right by Miami Design District, another creative haven adjacent to Wynwood. The area is relatively new and has a high-end feel, with designer boutiques, sleek architecture, and a buzzing design scene.

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   2. Soak up the fun in Coconut Grove (2 hours)

      

      You shouldn't leave Miami without spending plenty of time on the water, and Coconut Grove is the perfect spot to do it, so head south from Wynwood to this area known for its lush parks and laid-back atmosphere. Stop for lunch at one of the many sidewalk cafes before walking down CocoWalk to browse through chic shops and indie boutiques. If you continue to the waterfront you can try stand-up paddle boarding or parasailing in the bay, or get your heart pumping with a thrilling flyboarding adventure.
      

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   3. Afternoon

      Explore the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (2 hours)

      

      One of Miami's National Historic Landmarks, the former villa and estate of businessman James Deering, is a perfect example of Miami’s Mediterranean Revival architecture style. Deering’s lavish parties and anonymous hospitality earned him a reputation as Florida’s “Great Gatsby” and a tour around the lavish museum will show you why. The grounds offer a window into Miami's Golden Age, including 32 rooms of European art and 10 acres of striking Italian Renaissance gardens. Tickets must be booked in advance.

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   4. Go to the Keys (2-3 hours)

      

      The swampy, alligator-filled Everglades National Park and the string of islands that make up the Florida Keys might be a bit far out for 48 hours in Miami, but you can still get the same otherworldly vibes at Key Biscayne, an easy 15-minute drive away. Cross the causeways to find some of the US’s best beaches — attracting more local or in-the-know sun worshippers — and nature trails winding through the island’s two verdant state parks that bookend the town, but there’s no chance of forgetting where you are when you spot the breathtaking views of Miami’s skyline as the sun sets behind it. Looking for the best viewing spot? Skip the sundowners at the oceanfront hotels and bars — you’ll be on the wrong side of the island to see the sunset — and head to the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Located at the southernmost point, the Cape Florida Lighthouse is the oldest structure in Miami-Dade County and has unobstructed ocean views as far as the eye can see. You can’t watch the sunset from the top (tours of the lighthouse are only possible at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM, Thursday through Monday, and included in the park entrance fee) but the views are just as good from the paths around its base.
      

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   5. Evening

      Eat and dance your way through Little Havana (2.5 hours)

      

      Miami is the most Cuban-influenced city in America, and you’ll get a taste of authentic Cuban culture with a visit to Little Havana. Soak up the culture along Calle Ocho, the buzzy main street, where you'll find authentic Cuban restaurants, coffee shops, and old school cigar shops. While you’re exploring, keep an eye for the Walk of Fame on Calle Ocho — Miami’s equivalent of the Hollywood Walk of Fame — that includes tributes to famous Latin artists and personalities, from Gloria Estefan to Sammy Sosa. If you want to learn about the area and taste your way around it with a local, come earlier and take a guided food tour, but the best way to experience the sights, sounds, and flavors is to follow your ears and nose to the most lively spots, and salsa until dawn.

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