Miami Beach is a city in southeastern Florida. The city is known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife. Almost everyone who has a Florida tour makes visits Miami Beach. In Miami is also one of Florida's International Airports.
Miami Beach has a number of fun things to see and do, upscale restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. Miami Beach never sleeps! People often visit Miami Beach for a variety of reasons. Some people are looking for a beach with a vibrant nightlife, but you can also start or end a tour here.
Also read: Top 5 sunny winter destinations | This is how you spend the winter
Geography
Miami Beach is a city in Miami-Dade county with a population of just under 100.000. There may be some confusion about the geography of Miami. Miami is located in the southeast of Florida and when one speaks about Miami, this is usually about the agglomeration of 5 million inhabitants, but Miami is actually a city with more than 400.000 inhabitants within the agglomeration. Like Miami, Miami Beach is also a city within this conurbation.
Miami Beach is a place in the east of Miami-Dade and is surrounded by water. You reach the city mainly over bridges. To the west you will find Biscayne Bay and to the east the Atlantic Ocean. Miami Beach has an area of approximately 50 km2 of which about one third consists of land and two thirds of water.
What are the 5 must-sees in Miami Beach?
1.South Beach
If you say Miami, of course you say Beach! The pearly white beach of South Beach has been one of the most beautiful beaches in the world for years. The beach of South Beach is a bustling beach where you can regularly encounter a famous world star. Everywhere and especially here on the beach it is a place to see and be seen. Walk from the south, at the South Point Park Pier and heads north along the boardwalk along the beaches. Pay special attention to the lifeguard towers, they all have their own style and color.
2.Ocean Drive
During your visit to Miami Beach you should take a walk on Ocean Drive at least a few times. This street is perhaps one of the most famous streets in Miami. Ocean Drive is approximately 2 km. long and rightly ”the place to be”! Along this colorful street you will find the hip clubs, restaurants and bars. You stumble over the expensive and luxury cars here. Ocean Drive is also the heart of the Art Deco District. Walk this street at least once during the day, but certainly also in the evening. When it gets dark, the Art Deco buildings will light up the famous neon lighting.
Ocean Drive has been the setting for many movies and television series. The most famous TV series are of course Miami Vice and CSI Miami, but the movie Bad Boys was also shot here.
3.Art Deco District
In Miami Beach you will find the Miami Beach Historic District, or its more popular name, Miami Art Deco District. In this area you will find the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. Most of the buildings in this area were built after or after the economic crisis (1929 – 1939) and the “Great Miami Hurricane” of 1926.
The buildings have mainly straight lines and rounded corners. The buildings are often painted in pastel shades and equipped with neon lighting. Most buildings can be found along Ocean Drive. The Art Deco District has been an official Historic District since 1979.
4. Lummus Park
Lummus Park is a park in Miami Beach and is located east of Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th Streets. The park consists of lawns, palm trees and sports fields. In some places there are sometimes some bars. A boardwalk runs through the park that turns into a boardwalk on both sides. Nice to see is "Muscle Beach" where many beautiful people come together every day to train. Nowadays this is the area where many videos for Instagram or TikTok are recorded.
5. Versace Mansion
There are hundreds of buildings in the Art Deco District, but some are just as special as others. At 1116 Ocean Drive you will find Casa Casuarina, also known as Versace Mansion. In 1992 Gianni Versace bought this house and had it renovated and expanded with an extra wing pool. On July 15, 1997, the design for the door of this house was murdered. At the moment Casa Casuarina is a hotel and restaurant. You can make a reservation here and have a bite to eat but beware, a dinner is not for the small wallet.
Other Things to See in Miami Beach
Holocaust Memorial
On Meridian Avenue in Miami Beach you will find Holocaust Memorial† This memorial was conceived in 1984 by a Holocaust survivor and opened in 1990. The site of the Holocaust Memorial is not special in itself and is designated by the municipality between Meridian Avenue and Dade Boulevard.
Lincoln Road
Lincoln Road is a pedestrian zone that runs parallel to and between 16th and 17th Streets. Between Washington Avenue and Alton Road you will find a Mall with shops, restaurants and galleries. On Lincoln Road you will also find the Colony Theatre.
Botanical Garden
The Miami Beach Botanical Garden is a beautiful green spot in this vibrant city. You can enjoy tropical flowers, plants and trees here. Lectures, painting lessons and yoga classes are given here. A nice walk is of course also possible. A visit to the Miami Beach Botanical Garden is free.
Nature in the area
In the vicinity of Miami Beach you will find some very beautiful natural parks. These natural parks are definitely worth a visit. During a sun vacation in Miami Beach, a day trip to the Everglades, Big Cypress National Preserve and/or Biscayne National Park is highly recommended.
Everglades National Park
For a visit to the Everglades you can book a day trip with one of the many tour operators or a renting a car† You will encounter the first organizations with the famous airboats after only 45 minutes. The Everglades are of course known for the many Alligators in the area. On the way, take a good look at the water along the road, you have probably already seen a handful before you reach the official entrance of Shark Valley Visitors Center have arrived.
Also read: All National Parks in the United States of America | List
Big Cypress National Preserve
West of the Everglades, also along Hwy 41, you'll find it Big Cypress National Preserve† Directly along Hwy 41 you can enjoy this nature reserve. Drive a bit over the Walk Road or take a short walk on the Kirby Storter Boardwalk† It's all free too!
Florida Key & Key West
One of the most impressive getaways from Miami Beach is a day trip to Key West. You can book these on site, but of course you can also book a renting a car† The rates of rental cars in Florida are not very high. You have to plan a long day for this outing because the drive to Key West takes at least 2,5 to 3 hours.
During the day trip to Key West you will drive the Overseas Highway through the Florida Keys. Here you can enjoy the relaxed hippie-like atmosphere with the Ocean on one hand and the Gulf of Mexico on the other.
Key West is the southernmost part of the United States of which it Southernmost Point marks the (approximately) exact point. In Key West, visit the Old Town, Southernmost Point, take a walk about Duval Street en Mallory Square† Enjoy the sunset at Sunset Pier or visit it Shipwreck Museum.
When is the best time to visit Miami Beach
The best time to travel to Miami Beach is from November to April. During this period it is often dry and the temperatures and humidity are lower than the rest of the year. This makes Miami a city where people like to spend the winter. Another big advantage is that the chance of a hurricane is lower. The hurricane season runs from June to November. Of course you would rather not have your holiday disrupted by a huge hurricane!
More about Miami
Of course, in addition to the places in this Miami travel guide, there is much more to experience in the area. Want to know more about Miami? If you have any questions, you can also ask them on the Miami Forum.
