A first-timer’s guide to Miami
Miami for first-timers — South Beach and Art Deco, Wynwood’s murals, Little Havana, and day trips to the Everglades and the Keys.
Miami is beaches, Latin-American culture and design all at once — easy to enjoy over a long weekend, and a springboard to the Everglades and the Florida Keys.
Where to base yourself
- South Beach — the classic base: the beach, the pastel Art Deco district and the nightlife, though busiest and priciest.
- Mid-Beach & North Beach — quieter sands, still close to the action.
- Brickell & Downtown — a walkable, high-rise hub with restaurants and the free Metromover.
- Wynwood & the Design District — murals, galleries and cafés, a little inland.
Don’t miss
- The Art Deco Historic District walking tour along Ocean Drive.
- Little Havana’s Calle Ocho — Cuban coffee, cigars and domino players.
- The Wynwood Walls open-air street-art museum.
Day trips & when to go
Everglades National Park and the drive down to the Florida Keys are both within reach. November to April is warm and dry; summer is hot, humid and the hurricane season. See places to stay in Miami and New York.