Looking for cool things to do in Miami? Don’t forget to check out this list of the very best things to do in Miami, Florida.
Miami is a true paradise with miles of sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, and everlasting sunshine. But you’ll also find pastel-colored hotels and a nice laid-back Caribbean vibe. It’s definitely a great city to visit if you’re planning to relax in the Sunshine State of the United States.
Of course, when visiting Miami, you can also find plenty of tourist attractions and sights. In fact, it can quickly become a little overwhelming to find your way around the many cool things to do in Miami. But don’t worry, this is exactly why I made this list of the very best must-see sights in Miami. These sights seriously include some extremely cool things to do in Miami, Florida.
Table of Contents
The coolest things to do in Miami:
1. Ocean Drive
Ocean Drive is one of the world’s most famous boulevards. It’s characterized by colorful art deco buildings along a seafront promenade. Here you’ll find many exclusive hotels, restaurants, and bars. When visiting Ocean Drive and South Beach in general, you’ll quickly spend a large amount of money. Fortunately, there are also a few places with a more acceptable price level.
The rich and famous are absolutely crazy about the boulevard. The luxury cars rumble up and down Ocean Drive in hopes of being seen. There’s always something going on at Ocean Drive. This is whether you want to soak up the sun, eat a delicious dinner, party at nightclubs, or something completely different. The famous boulevard is best experienced in the evening when the neon lights are shining. Ocean Drive is truly one of the best and coolest things to do in Miami.
2. Venetian Pool
In the town of Coral Gables southwest of Downtown Miami, you’ll find the Venetian Pool. This is the largest freshwater pool in the United States with room for more than 3 million gallons of freshwater. The historic and huge pool was built in 1924 on top of a quarry.
A visit to the Venetian Pool features cascading waterfalls, splashing fountains, adventurous caves, winding bridges, and swaying palm trees. It’s a wonderful oasis in Miami but is probably mostly a great thing to do in Miami for adults. You should be aware that the Venetian Pool quickly fills up with people on the hot summer days. And yeah, as you probably know, there are almost always hot temperatures in Florida. So, remember to arrive early in the morning. Read more about Venetian Pool’s opening hours right here.
3. Wynwood
Wynwood is an artistic district of Miami with impressive street art and graffiti on countless buildings. Just 10 years ago, Wynwood was a run-down neighborhood, and it was best to stay far away from there.
Today, Wynwood stands in stark contrast to its past reputation. The district has been revived with beautiful murals, art galleries, restaurants, and shops scattered throughout the area. Remember to slip past Wynwood Walls, an outdoor gallery with many impressive murals.
4. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a beautiful Italian villa that once belonged to James Deering. Today, it’s used as a museum that has become one of the most popular sights and things to do in Miami. The sumptuous villa consists of 34 rooms circling around a central courtyard. Inside the many rooms, it’s filled with European antiques such as furniture, sculptures, paintings, and much more.
Also, don’t forget to visit the impressive garden belonging to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. The garden offers many beautiful Italian and French fountains, sculptures, and lakes scattered across the huge grounds.
5. Lincoln Road
There’s no doubt that Lincoln Road is one of the best places to go shopping in Miami. Lincoln Road was built in 1960 and is one of the oldest pedestrian streets in the United States. Here you can find more than 200 shops, art galleries, and restaurants.
The pedestrian street has a varied selection of stores, including Zara, Forever 21, Nike, Victoria’s Secret, H&M, Macy’s, and many more. You can also find several lovely restaurants and cafes located in beautiful surroundings. It isn’t that hard to understand why Lincoln Road is an extremely popular attraction in Miami.
Read also: 11 Best Places for Shopping in Miami
6. South Beach
It’s impossible to make a list of extremely cool things to do in Miami without mentioning South Beach. This glamorous and popular neighborhood in Miami is located in the southernmost part of Miami Beach.
This is where you’ll find most of the city’s art deco hotels, Ocean Drive, and the “real” Miami from the movies. One thing is for sure, you simply cannot visit Miami without visiting South Beach at least once! Don’t forget to make your way past the long white sand beach of South Beach. It’s an extremely popular beach in Miami.
7. Bayside Marketplace
Bayside Marketplace is an outdoor shopping mall with more than 150 shops, restaurants, and cafes. The shops consist of international chain stores, specialty stores, and souvenir shops. It’s a very popular shopping mall among tourists. This is also reflected in the large selection of souvenirs.
But it’s also a popular center for the locals who come to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere. Bayside Marketplace is located on the waterfront of Miami with stunning views of the ocean and countless boats. There’s also a small stage in the center, from which there’s often live music.
8. Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami spreads over a huge area and is known as one of the best zoos in the United States. The zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals that seem to be doing well given the circumstances. The animals live in large areas and are only separated from the visitors using ditches.
Zoo Miami is a popular thing to do in Miami for families with children who want to learn more about the animals. Since the park is huge, it may be a good idea to rent a family bike to get around. Otherwise, there’s also a monorail running back and forth between the various areas of the Miami Zoo.
9. Little Havana
Little Havana is a lively neighborhood in Miami that is home to many Cuban exiles. As soon as you step into Little Havana, you immediately feel the atmospheric Caribbean vibe. On the main street, Calle Ocho, Latin music flows out of the speakers of the local shops, restaurants, and bars. Here you can find Cuban food, Cuban coffee, and home-rolled Cuban cigars.
When experiencing the Caribbean vibe of Little Havana, it’s easy to dream of more exotic countries. In fact, it almost feels like you’re standing on a street in the middle of Havana, Cuba. Don’t forget to visit Máximo Gómez Park. Here you can get a unique insight into the Cuban everyday life when the local men play dominoes.
10. Bayfront Park
Bayfront Park is a public city park located on Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami. It’s a very nice park with a great view of the Miami skyline and the ocean.
Inside the park, you can find several different monuments and sculptures. There’s also an amphitheater from which performances are regularly performed. The park also has a playground that’s perfect for the children. Bayfront Park is an excellent park in Miami that’s worth a visit if you’re nearby anyway.
Read also: Where to Stay in Miami: Neighborhood Guide
11. Espanola Way
Espanola Way is just a short walk from Ocean Drive in South Beach. This small Spanish street is extremely charming with its beautiful pink buildings. Along the street, it’s filled with cozy restaurants and sidewalk cafes serving delicious Spanish dishes such as tapas.
The atmosphere on Espanola Way is truly amazing. It doesn’t take much before you think of beautiful Spain. Despite its central location, Espanola Way is often overlooked by tourists. It’s really a shame because it’s an extremely cool thing to do in Miami.
12. Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne is a small scenic island located about a 15-minute drive from Downtown Miami. It’s so close to Miami that you can easily enjoy the view of the Miami skyline from the northern tip of the island. However, it still feels as if you’ve come to a completely different world. In a very short time, you’ve suddenly got away from the bustle of the big city.
On Key Biscayne, you’ll find many beautiful beaches with palm trees as far as the eye can see. There are also two state parks, the most notable of which is Crandon Park. This state park is especially popular with families with children. At the southernmost tip of the island, you can visit an old lighthouse. The old lighthouse dates from 1825. Thus, it’s the oldest existing building in Miami. Key Biscayne is definitely a cool thing to do in Miami.
13. Dolphin Mall
Dolphin Mall is an extremely popular shopping center west of Miami. Here you’ll find a large selection of shops and restaurants. There are no less than 240 international stores in Dolphin Mall. Here you can find everything from Hugo Boss, Zara, Calvin Klein, Forever 21, H&M, and many other popular chain stores.
If you’re planning a shopping trip in Miami, Dolphin Mall is an obvious choice. If you still haven’t had enough shopping, you can also visit Sawgrass Mills Mall. This is one of the largest shopping malls in the United States with more than 350 stores. Sawgrass Mills Mall is located in the city of Sunrise, about 60 kilometers from Miami.
14. Day trips from Miami
Although Miami is a wonderful city, don’t forget to take a road trip in Florida. There are endless possibilities for a memorable trip to Florida that you’ll not forget. For example, you can take a day trip to Everglades National Park and come face to face with free alligators. You can also cross the many bridges along the Florida Keys before ending at beautiful Key West.
There’s also ample opportunity to take a cruise to the Caribbean islands from Miami. It’s also highly recommended to visit Orlando with its many world-famous theme parks. Here’s an overview of some of the most popular things to do outside of Miami. Note that the distance depends on where you’re staying in Miami:
- Fort Lauderdale (49 kilometers)
- Everglades National Park (Ca. 70 kilometers)
- Florida Keys (Ca. 80 Kilometers)
- Fort Myers (255 Kilometers)
- Key West (266 kilometers)
- NASA Kennedy Space Center (361 kilometers)
- Orlando (380 kilometers)
- Clearwater (463 kilometers)
That’s all on this list of the very best must-see sights and extremely cool things to do in Miami, Florida. What are your favorite things to do in Miami? What are you looking forward to on your trip to Miami? Feel free to leave a comment.
Thanks for giving a detailed list of activities when we want to go on a trip to Miami. I really love to do cruising.
I loved that you mentioned that Ocean Drive is one of the world’s most famous boulevards. I would really like to visit my sister since she just moved to Miami about two months ago. I’m hoping that I can plan some really exciting activities for us as well.