One Day in Miami Itinerary: How to Spend One Day

Miami is well-known for its Latin American influences and the area’s stunning white-sand beaches. Even if you just have a few days in Miami, you’ll be able to see many of the city’s most intriguing attractions.

During your first 24 hours in Miami, you’ll walk down Ocean Drive in South Beach, admiring the Art Deco buildings. You stroll around Wynwood and shop in the Miami Design District. Little Havana has the pulse of Cuba and Latin America. And you’ll relax with a beverage in hand, listening to the Atlantic Ocean sea breezes as the sun sets behind you.

Are you ready to make the most of your trip to Miami? With this comprehensive 1-day Miami travel itinerary, you can plan the perfect day.

MORNING

Choice 1: 

Start your day with real Cuban coffee; you can’t visit Miami without experiencing Cuban culture! You’ll notice Cuban coffee kiosks all around the city, so choose one near your hotel.

If you’re staying in the Brickell neighborhood of Miami, as I recommend, take an Uber or Lyft to Miami Beach for some sightseeing! I would NOT advocate driving (even if you own a car) since the parking situation in Miami Beach is among the worst I’ve ever seen. Save yourself the trouble!!

Have your Uber driver drop you off at Lincoln Road, a lengthy street with a lot to see! You could easily spend a few hours in this neighborhood picking up fresh fruit from fruit stalls, browsing flea markets for old cameras, and going pub hopping.

Choice 2: 

First and foremost, there is the beach. Walk, run, or cycle along the 40-block Miami Beach Boardwalk, which spans from 5th to 46th Streets along the Atlantic. Visit Miami Beach’s candy-colored Art Deco Historic District and famed Ocean Drive. Grab a quick cortadito and Cuban toast at Havana 1957 for breakfast or a quick cortadito and Cuban toast at The Front Porch Cafe – that Cuban coffee will fuel the exciting day ahead.

Inside The Bass, there is a colorful artwork.

Visit The Bass to see some modern art.

Then, go to a neighboring art gallery. The Wolfsonian-FIU features a great collection of Modern Era designs, while the Bass concentrates on contemporary art. Or, at The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, you may learn about almost 250 years of Jewish history, arts, and culture in Florida.

Traveling with little children? Instead, visit the Miami Children’s Museum. Climb the two-story Castle of Dreams sand castle with your kids and explore the construction zone, then proceed to Bayside Marketplace to ride the Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel and buy for gifts.

AFTERNOON

Choice 1: 

Head to the Miami Design District for lunch, a magnificent oasis of design showrooms, galleries, high-end eateries, and haute couture boutiques. Itamae serves sushi, Pura Vida serves healthy bowls, and Swan & Bar Bevy serves pizza. Check out Paula Crown’s SOLO Cup installation, which features a message regarding single-use plastics. Then, stop into adjacent Wynwood and explore the acclaimed Wynwood Walls, which have the highest concentration of street art in the country.

Continue south for additional Greater Miami landmarks. The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables is a National Historic Landmark with stunning Mediterranean grounds. Vizcaya Museum & Grounds in Coconut Grove offers Gilded Age buildings and 10 acres of luxuriant gardens. If you’re looking for a food or a drink, head to GreenStreet Cafe, a Coconut Grove institution, or Jaguar for mojitos and cevi.

In Little Havana, you may immerse yourself in Greater Miami’s famed Cuban culture. After seeing true “Level 9” rollers hand-roll stogies at a cigar shop, travel to Domino Park to witness old-timers play furious games of, you guessed it, dominoes. Join the locals lined up for café con leche at one of Tiny Havana’s numerous “ventanitas,” or little windows serving Latin food and drink, as the clock strikes 3:05 p.m. (a homage to Miami’s first area code).

Return to South Beach with that additional caffeine boost to shop on Lincoln Road or Espaola Way. Explore art galleries such as Oolite Arts and Britto Central, as well as people-watching at one of the many restaurants and pubs on either street.

Choice 2: 

Have a lunch an then  go to the beach! You may continue south on Lincoln Road until you reach the boardwalk! If you enjoy riding your beach cruiser along the boardwalk, there is a wide bicycle track that runs down the beach. You may hire a bike from Citi Bike, which has stations every few blocks, or from a firm like South Florida Trikke!

Unless you want to spend the entire day on Miami Beach, I would not recommend renting beach chairs or cabanas. The majority of chair and cabana rentals are for the entire day, not by the hour! If you have additional days in Miami, I believe it would be enjoyable to relax by the beach because it’s an amazing beach!

Since you only have one day in Miami, I recommend biking or strolling the meandering seaside route. Along your tour, you may see all of the different shaped and colored lifeguard stations!

EVENING

Choice 1: 

A day in Miami would be incomplete without a delicious meal. During stone crab season, wait in line at the legendary Joe’s Stone Crab, where tailed waiters twirl around a formal dining room with platters of its delectable Florida stone crabs and Key lime pie. (Tip: They do not accept bookings, so arrive early and be prepared to wait.) Nearby, Barton G. promises spectacular dish presentations with fire displays and props, while Estiatorio Milos serves some of the greatest upmarket Mediterranean food outside of Greece. If you’re on a budget, Lolo’s Cantina at the Marriott Stanton South Beach or Joe’s Take-Away window at Joe’s Stone Crab are good options.

If you’re not watching an off-Broadway production or a performance at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, follow supper with a show at Mango’s, an Ocean Drive institution where dancers in outrageous costumes play Brazilian Samba and Cuban Conga into the wee hours of the morning. Palace, Miami’s most prominent drag bar and restaurant, is just a few blocks away and always has a performance going on.

Do you want a nightcap? If you’re already in Miami Beach, stop by the Clevelander Hotel pool, where there’s usually a party going on, or dance the night away at one of the city’s iconic nightclubs, such as Mynt, STORY, or LIV. Find a promoter who can get you on the guest list ahead of time if it’s a weekend, or be prepared to wait behind the velvet ropes until a nice bouncer allows you in. Club Space in Downtown Miami keeps the celebration rolling all night.

Satisfy your late-night appetites at Pizza Rustica or La Sandwicherie, both of which are open until 5 a.m. on weekends. You won’t be the only one waiting for an after-hours snack.

Choice 2: 

After spending the day visiting Miami South Beach, it’s time to return to the downtown area to experience a different side of Miami!

Before you head out to the greatest dining spot in Miami (more on that later), you’ll board the Island Queen Cruise to view Millionaire’s Row! The cruises are quite reasonable, last 90 minutes, include a cash bar, and provide breathtaking views of Miami. The cruises leave every hour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and are first come, first served!

After you’ve eaten the Greatest MEAL OF YOUR LIFE, Sugar, it’s time to head to the city’s best rooftop bar! This boho-chic rooftop bar is located in the Brickell District. It has an Asian-inspired jungle and delectable cocktails.

Bonus Ideas for Things to do in Miami

• Everglades National Park day excursion (just 30 minutes away!). Here’s a tour that starts in Miami!
• Take a snapshot in the Wynwood District Art Murals.
• Food Tour in Little Havana
• Rent a private boat for the day to explore sand bars (excellent choice for large parties!)
• Rent Cabanas and unwind on a Miami Beach Speed Boat Tour.
• On Espanola Way, dine under the twinkling lights.
• Extend your stay in Miami by taking a road trip from Miami to Key West!

Have a good trip and be safe！