The neighbourhoods
Miami is really a collection of distinct neighbourhoods, and choosing the right base shapes the whole trip. South Beach is the postcard — Art Deco pastels, the Ocean Drive scene and the beach itself — but it is busy and pricey. Just across the causeways, Brickell is the sleek downtown financial district, all rooftop bars and high-rise views. Wynwood is the arts quarter, walls covered in murals, with breweries and independent restaurants. Little Havana on Calle Ocho is the Cuban heart of the city — cigar rollers, domino players and the best café cubano you will drink. Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, greener and calmer, suit families who want space and Mediterranean-style streets over nightlife.
Beaches worth the trip
The beach is why many people come, and Miami's stretch of Atlantic sand runs for miles. South Beach is the scene — see-and-be-seen, lively, with lifeguard stands that are icons in their own right. For something calmer, drive north to Mid-Beach and Surfside, or cross to Key Biscayne, where Crandon Park and Bill Baggs State Park offer quieter, family-friendly sand and a historic lighthouse. Haulover Beach further north is popular with locals and has proper picnic and grill areas. The water is warm nearly year-round; mornings are the gentlest, before the afternoon breeze and the crowds. Wherever you land, shade and reef-safe sunscreen are non-negotiable this far south.
Eating in Miami
Miami eats like the crossroads of the Americas it is. Start with Cuban: a proper Cuban sandwich and a cortadito in Little Havana, or the always-queued Versailles. Wynwood and the Design District carry the modern, inventive end — small plates, Latin fusion, natural wine. For seafood, stone crab is the local institution in season, from October to May, best known at Joe's on South Beach. Do not miss the everyday pleasures either: pastelitos from a Cuban bakery for breakfast, a Colombian arepa from a food truck, fresh ceviche, and a stop for guava-and-cheese anything. Reservations matter at the popular spots, especially at weekends.
Art and culture
Miami's cultural pull has grown enormously, anchored by Art Basel each December but alive year-round. Wynwood Walls is the free, open-air showcase of large-scale street art at the centre of the arts district. The Pérez Art Museum Miami sits on the bay in a striking hanging-garden building; the neighbouring Frost Science museum pairs well for families. In Coral Gables, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is an early-20th-century Italianate villa on the water — one of the most photographed spots in the city. Little Havana's Viernes Culturales turns Calle Ocho into a street festival of music and art on the last Friday of each month.
Getting around
Miami is spread out and car-friendly, but traffic and paid parking are facts of life, especially on South Beach. Downtown and Brickell are the exception: the free Metromover loop and a walkable core mean you can skip the car there. Between neighbourhoods, rideshares are usually easier than parking, and the beach causeways can crawl at peak times — travel off-peak if you can. If you are staying with us in a home outside the core, a car makes sense for day-to-day freedom, but plan to leave it parked when you head to South Beach. The Brightline train is also a fast, comfortable link if you are combining Miami with Orlando or West Palm Beach.
Where to stay in Miami
Our vacation homes in Miami sleep up to 16, come with private pools, and include the option of a driver meeting you at the airport.