The Best Things to Do in Miami Beach

The City of Miami is too often conflated with Miami Beach. One famous case? When LeBron James announced he was coming to the Miami Heat by saying, “I’m taking my talents to South Beach.” (As he knows now, the team plays across the bay, in Downtown Miami.)

Incorporated as a city in 1915 (nearly two decades after its mainland neighbor), Miami Beach’s boundaries stretch from South Pointe Park at the southern tip of the island all the way north to 87th Street, where the City of Surfside gains sovereignty. There’s a wealth of attractions within those eight miles, so hop aboard the literary equivalent of one of those amphibious duck boats to take a tour of the best things to do in Miami Beach.

See Art Deco Architecture on Ocean Drive

No matter how much the sidewalk cafes overcharge for adult beverages, no trip to Miami Beach is complete without a visit to Ocean Drive. Take a walk from Fifth to Fifteenth Street to appreciate the unique architecture and history of Miami Beach’s most famous road. The first landmark, at 728 Ocean Drive, is now a CVS, but you’ll recognize it as the apartment where Tony Montana famously chainsawed through some rival drug dealers in the 1983 classic Scarface. Next door, you’ll find an inflatable mannequin of Montana sitting in a classic convertible. Keep walking north to News Cafe, where Gianni Versace picked up his last newspaper before tragically being gunned down on the way home to his mansion. Ocean Drive entertainment options also range from drag brunches at Palace Bar to live jazz at the Betsy Hotel.

Hit the Beach

Let’s not overthink this. Even if you’re the kind of person who goes to Paris and refuses to visit the Eiffel Tower, if you come to Miami Beach and don’t visit our pride and joy, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Miami Beach is home to one of the most beautiful and famous coastlines in the world, with its long, wide expanse of sand stretching out to the bluest of waters. Somehow, even when Spring Break in Miami Beach is at its wildest, by the next morning, maintenance crews manage to clear debris so that as the sun rises over the Atlantic and you hear the continuous crash of waves, you think there is no better place to be in South Florida.

Bike or Skate the Beachwalk

It seems like it should have always existed, but it wasn’t until 2022 that the boardwalk that runs parallel to the beach was completed — one continuously paved path running all the way from South Pointe Park to 87th Street. Along the way, you have a constant view of the Atlantic Ocean to the East and historic Miami Beach hotels to the West. The space is reserved for bicycles, pedestrians, and skaters, while electric bicycles and scooters can get you a ticket. Keep your eyes and ears alert as you ride: The Beachwalk can get packed with cyclists with a need for speed.

Have a Meal on Española Way

These two charming pedestrian-only blocks, between 14th and 15th street from south to north and Washington Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue from east to west, were designed in the 1920s to mimic a Mediterranean artist colony. The amount of art produced within its borders is an open question, but there is plenty of al fresco dining to enjoy here. Some of the best choices include A La Folie, a low-key French cafe where you can slurp on a cold bowl of gazpacho and a hot crepe, and Moshi Moshi, where you can chow down on excellent sushi and sake into the late-night hours.

Contemplate Humanity at the Holocaust Memorial and Botanical Gardens

The sculpture of a giant, bronze outstretched hand with figures desperately hanging on to it outside this memorial is a heartwrenching sight. A wall lined with the names of those killed during the Holocaust drives home the reality of the event this landmark memorializes. The memorial is just a short walk to the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, so you can take more time to reflect among the many acres of subtropical plant life.

Enjoy Lincoln Road Mall

When you picture a shopping mall, you likely think of air conditioning and food courts. That’s not the model at this outdoor, pedestrian-only hub (though be alert to crossroads, where cars do drive through). From Washington Ave. to Alton Road, you’ll find restaurants with sidewalk seating and high-end stores offering everything from candy to clothing. There’s also a farmer’s market on Sundays, and the Lincoln Road Antique & Collectibles Market pops up here on select Sundays from October through May.

Visit a Museum

While the Miami Beach cultural scene is most active in December, during Art Basel, a trio of the city’s museums is worth checking out year-round. The Bass Museum, at 2100 Collins, has rotating exhibits and a permanent collection extending to the exterior of Collins Park. The Wolfsonian, on 1001 Washington Ave., is owned by Florida International University and focuses on design and industrial history. Finally, the Jewish Museum of Florida, located in a former synagogue at 301 Washington Ave., spotlights Jewish culture and history in surprising ways, with past exhibitions focusing on everything from Jewish comic book artists to Jewish connections to cannabis.

Take a Short Walk on a Long Pier at South Pointe Park

South Pointe Park, at the southern tip of Miami Beach, truly became a landmark with the 2014 reopening of the South Pointe Pier. It was well worth the wait. The pier offers a beautiful view of Government Cut, with cruise and cargo ships passing to and from the Port of Miami. Little ones will enjoy the rest of the park, with its playground and splash pad, and the vistas of the evening sun setting below Downtown Miami’s skyscrapers are treats for visitors of all ages.