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Despite having lived in New York City and traveled all across the United States, Miami remains the American city I know best. Thanks to my U.S. family, I find myself in Miami every year and can confidently say Miami is truly one of the best, and most unique, cities in North America.
In many ways, Miami is the USA’s gateway to Latin America. Walking into a convenience store in Miami, you’re more likely to be greeted with ‘buenos dias’ than ‘good morning’. But don’t let that deter you; in my opinion, it’s all part of Miami’s unique charm.
Miami has played multiple roles throughout history from a playground for gangsters and gamblers, to a refuge for Cuban and Venezuelan immigrants. However, over the last century, Miami has had one constant: the stream of visitors from America and beyond, who descend on this beautiful city for its magnificent coastline.
Whether you’re spending a day in Miami on the way to Key West, or looking to complete the ultimate Miami weekend itinerary, you’ll want to make sure our ultimate 1 day in Miami itinerary is on hand.
Best area to stay in Miami
If it’s your first time in Miami, I always recommend staying in South Beach. This is the heart of Miami’s vibes and simply just a lot of fun. I usually stay at the Urbanica The Euclid or Urbanica The Fifth which is newer, both of which are centrally located, just a short walk from the beach and always well-priced.
If budget is less of a concern, the Colony Hotel and Beacon South Beach Hotel are iconic Art Deco, right-on-the-beach options. For those visiting with kids or looking for a bit more of a quiet escape, you’ll find a string of beautiful hotels around Miami Beach.
1 Day in Miami
Morning: Wynwood
Breakfast: Zak the Baker
There is no better way to starting a day in Miami than by heading to the artsy neighborhood of Wynwood. If you’re looking for breakfast, coffee or a snack, don’t miss Zak the Baker. This is no ordinary bakery and has increasingly become a must-visit Miami institution. Let’s be honest – how many bakeries do you know which hold a Michelin Bib Gourmand?
Zak the Baker is particularly known for their breakfast BLT, featuring salmon bacon, all stuffed into an iconic buttery croissant.
Wynwood Walls
Depending how early you started, spend some time exploring the boutique designers and concept stores which line the streets of Wynwood. Some of my favorites include the Wynwood Tribe Store (fair-trade and up-cycled clothing) and the Wynwood Shop (clothing, jewellery, art).
After some delicious sourdough and pastries, head around the corner to the Wynwood Walls. This open-air street art museum truly revolutionized this neighborhood and helped cement Wynwood as a must-visit on any 1 day Miami itinerary.
If street art is your jam, you’ll want to hop on a quick tour to learn how Wynwood Walls has emerged as an often career-defining space for many of the United States’s best street artists.
Midday: Little Havana
Who said a day in Miami doesn’t include a history lesson? Following the Cuban Revolution of 1959, Miami became the main refuge point for over 500,000 Cubans escaping Fidel Castro’s communist regime. Today, nearly 1.2 million Miami residents identify as Cuban, making Cubans the largest single ethnic group in Miami.
Little Havana remains the heart of the city’s Cuban community. Head first to Calle Ocho, the main strip of Little Havana where you’ll find the Walk of Fame (a Hollywood style strip for Latin American singers, arts and actors), cafes, art galleries and the occasional street market.
Don’t miss Máximo Gómez Park (or ‘Domino Park’). Here, you’ll find groups of older Cuban men playing checkers and drinking coffee. In case the scene couldn’t get any more timeless, the games occur against an excellent mural of presidents of the American countries.
Local tip: In the historic Cuban Memorial Park, you can find a statue of Cuban revolutionary Jose Martí and the eternal torch dedicated to those who defended Cuba.
Beyond specific sites, there’s a real joy in just walking the streets of little Havana, from popping in and out of the small cigar stores and taste testing guava pastries at Cuban bakeries.
Lunch: A Cuban feast
For lunch, why not continue on your Cuban immersion? Firm favorites of the Cuban culinary scene include Sanguich de Miami, Versailles and La Carreta. Each of these will offer many typical Cuban lunch favorites, including Cuban sandwiches and croquetas. Oh, and, by the way, both Mojitos and Daiquiris were invented in Cuba…
Better yet, take a deeper dive into the Cuban culinary world with one of my favourite food tours in Miami.
Early afternoon: South Beach
Few neighbourhoods in the United States are as iconic as Miami’s South Beach. For me, you can’t plan a day in Miami without allocating some time to walking the streets of South Beach and window-shopping in the Lincoln Avenue pedestrian mall. If you’re keen for more art, one of my favorite artists – Romero Britto – has his main gallery on Lincoln Avenue.
Travel tip: In the Art Deco South Beach post office, you’ll find a grand yet extremely confronting mural showcasing the history of Native American relations in Florida.
South Beach Art Deco Walking Tour
Sometimes a historic tour is recommended, other times its truly compulsory. Without a doubt, my favourite thing to do in Miami is the South Beach Art Deco Walking Tour. In fact, I’d go as far as saying it’s the highlight of any 1 day Miami itinerary.
At an efficient 1.5 hours, this architectural walking tour guides you through the design history of Miami, including what makes Miami Art Deco and Miami Modernism (or MiMo) just so unique. The reason I love this tour is because it is so much more than simply who stayed in which South Beach hotel.
Ever since taking the South Beach Art Deco tour a few years ago, I see South Beach as not simply a collection of pretty colorful buildings. Rather this heritage district offers a historic and bold declaration of Miami’s unique place in the American history of the 1920s and 1930s.
Later afternoon: Beach time
Don’t worry, I understand that any 1 day Miami itinerary must include some time on the beach. I personally think you can’t go wrong with South Beach. There’s always a vibe, occasionally some music and the ever-present iconic Art Deco lifeguard towers.
If you’re not a beach person, grab a drink at one of the outdoor cafes along the always-vibrant Collins Avenue.
Evening: Miami after dark
Dinner: For all budgets
If you’re on a budget, make your way over to Alma Mexicana in South Beach. This little Mexican joint is one of my favorite restaurants in Miami and offers some of Florida’s best Mexican food. Enjoy a world-class burrito and fish tacos which will quickly transport you to Baja California.
Miami is America’s great playground and an easy place to spend a lot of money. There’s no shortage of world-class dining in Miami. Some of our favorites include: the exclusive velvet ropes at Stubborn Seed, innovative American-Korean fusion at Kyu or Italian cuisine as you’ve never experienced it at Boia De.
If you’re in Miami over a weekend, don’t miss out on HaSalon, Miami’s favorite party restaurant. You’ll be dancing on the tables before you know it!
Bars and clubs
If you still have energy, there’s no shortage of cocktail bars and nightclubs in Miami. If you’re after one last drink, you can’t go wrong with any of the open air bars along Collins Avenue. However, for Miami’s mixology scene head to Jaguan Sun (the Jailbreak is a godsend) or Spanglish for the Cafetera Old Fashioned which evokes Cuba’s coffee culture.
In case it isn’t yet clear, Miami offers a unique opportunity to engage in Latin American culture. For something different, I always recommend visitors visit the iconic 1930s Ball & Chain in Little Havana. Once you enter the doors, the rum, tunes and moves will quickly transport you to the backstreets of Havana.
If you want to go for a more classic Reggaeton vibe, El Patio in Wynwood is the ultimate spot to mingle with Miami’s reggaeton regulars.
Beyond 1 day in Miami
So you’ve decided to stay a little longer? Miami is the gateway for tours deeper into Florida. With a few extra days, head towards Key West, the southernmost point of the United State, or take a boat alligator-spotting through the magnificent Everglades National Park.
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