Unique Miami itinerary – best 12 daily plans from 2 to 10 days
In this guide, you will find 12 Miami itineraries to suit any length (2 to 10 days) and type of vacation (couples, families, art lovers, or a bit of everything).
This is not a city where one plan fits all. There are so many options, activities, experiences, things to do and see that you could easily spend a month.
Each Miami itinerary has been organised with a detailed daily plan. Use it as it is or get inspired.
But let’s jump into it
Table of Contents
You can read also
- Best districts to stay in Miami City for families, couples, art or nightlife
- Where to stay in Miami Beach (the best 3 areas)
- 19 great things to do in Miami (beach, downtown and nearby)
- All you need to know for the unique drive from Miami to Key West
Best Miami Itinerary – In a nutshell
Here down a few quick points, however, keep reading for more detailed information
- How many days in Miami: in 10 days, you will have ample time to see most of the attractions. A week can be filled with a lot of sightseeing, especially if you plan ahead. In 5 days you will be able to do a great number of experiences, but you may have to give up on something. In 3 days or less you will be quite busy but it can be done, also with half day relaxing at the beach. As for any type of vacation, the more the better, isn’t it?
- Miami itinerary in 2 or 3 days: two or three days in the Miami will be enough time to get a good sense of the city. I suggest planning all well in advance to save time once on site. My favourite itinerary goes through some spectacular art museums and contemporary galleries. There are, however, other options for families, beaches and romantic couples. Read below my five options for a 2 or 3 days in Miami
- Itinerary in 4 or 5 days: having 4 or 5 days will allow you to do so much more. Most importantly, you will not have to rush between attractions. You will have the possibility also to add an interesting day trip, for example to the Everglades National Park, the only place in the world where dolphins, alligators and crocodiles coexist. Read below my four options for a Miami itinerary in 4-5 days.
- Itinerary in 7 to 10 days: This may seem like a long time to spend in any city, but be aware, Miami is different. There are so many places to visit and things to do that you will not have time to get bored, doesn’t matter if you travel on your own, with your partner or with family and kids. Read more below on my 3 options for 7 to 10 days in Miami
- 5 Must do attractions in Miami: it is always hard to pick just 5 attractions in a destination, and the selection in Miami is even more difficult. Let’s start with the Wynwood Arts District, one of the world’s biggest street art installations, loved by adults and children. A day trip to the Everglades National Park is also a must (if staying 5 or more days). An afternoon, and possibly a night, exploring South Beach, and the art déco buildings and architecture. A 60 minutes flight over Miami City and Miami Beach. The Children Museum if you are travelling with your family and kids. You can read my guide to 19 things to do in Miami for more ideas.
- Best 5 beaches in Miami: Another hard choice, because Miami has so many of them. South Beach is certainly a must experience for any trip to Miami. Rent a bike and ride down to Mid Beach and North Beach, both with the own character. Hobie beach is one of the local favourites. Bal Harbour Beach is perfect for a quiet time.
- Best area to stay in Miami: as you can already imagine, it all depends on the type of holiday that you are planning: couples or family, action or relax, and I could keep going. I wrote a guide on the best areas to stay in Miami based on your kind of trip with also a few suggestions on hotels and Airbnb.
- Tell me more about Miami Beach: Miami City and Miami Beach are actually two municipalities. In this post (and most of the guides online) Miami is used interchangeably for both municipalities, much easier. I have, however, written a special guide to Miami Beach where I talk about the three different beaches (South, Mid, North), how they differ, which is better for and what are the best and most convenient hotels to stay at.
- How to get around Miami: You have essentially 3 possibilities: public transportation, Uber/taxi and cycling, mainly in Miami Beach. I suggest renting a car only to visit attractions far from the city. Read more information below with links to bus/metro timetables and bike renters.
Miami Itinerary for 2 or 3 days
This is a very brief visit to Miami, considering the many activities, experiences and thing to do and see in the city.
Should you stay in Miami City or Miami Beach?
It all depends on the type of trip you have in mind.
As a rule of thumb, stay in Miami South Beach if you think to spend there 40% to 50% of your time or you just like to have a daily swim in the ocean
Miami City works best if you plan to visit galleries, museums and areas like Little Havana or the Design District.
Both municipalities have great advantages, however, they are so different in character and style.
For more information, I highly suggest reading this comprehensive post with day-by-day plans of possible 2 and 3-days Miami itineraries based on your kind of holiday (beaches, couples, families, art&culture or everything), including maps as well as photos.
2 or 3 days itinerary guide to Miami
Miami Itinerary for 4 or 5 days
Plan well in advance and you will be surprised by how much you can see and experience in Miami in 4 or 5 days.
You will be able to mix some cultural and art time with some relaxing hours at the beach.
Moreover, you can think also of taking a day trip to the Everglades National Park, the only place in the world where you can spot crocodiles, alligators and dolphins living in the same ecosystem.
And for a different viewpoint and unique experience, take a morning ride on a jet ski through Miami Downtown, Biscayne Bay, and the islands around Miami.
There is so much more you can do that I decided to write a dedicated guide to 4/5-days itineraries in Miami based on your kind of holiday (couples, families, art&culture and everything), including detailed day-by-day plans, maps as well as photos.
4/5 days itinerary guide to Miami
Miami Itinerary for 7 to 10 days
You can certainly plan an exhaustive itinerary to enjoy this city to the fullest, if you stay for one week or even 10 days in Miami.
During your stay, you should organise a day trip to the Everglades National Park and you can also have a road trip to Key West through the Florida Keys.
In saying that, I highly suggest staying at least a couple of days in Key West to really appreciate this Caribbean paradise.
I have organised 3 detailed itineraries in this ultimate guide for 7 to 10 days in Miami, based on the type of vacation you have in mind: couples, families or with a bit of everything.
It is a great reference, with maps, activities, photos and a few suggested hotels and Airbnb where you could stay.
Getting around Miami
There are essentially three ways to get around Miami.
All with the own benefits and drawbacks
- public transportation: Visit the Miami Dade Transit website for timetables and maps. The Airport is well connected by a train.
- Taxi, Uber, and Lyft are all good options. Usually the quickest way to move around Miami, but also the most expensive one. Lyft usually provides the best value for money.
- renting the bike is another great option if you stay or if you are visiting Miami South Beach. If you do not feel like riding on your own, then join this guided art deco bike tour to discover the Art déco buildings and architecture with a local guide.
You can also drive your own car in the city, although parking is not always as easy, besides being not cheap.
I have listed in this guide a couple of day trips outside Miami (Everglades and Florida Keys/Key West). You can decide to join an organised tour for that or do it yourself with a rented car.
In a group of 3 or 4 people, renting a car can be actually a great fun besides being more economical.
I usually book my car on DiscoverCars.com, a website that compares the most known hiring companies, providing the best price, sometimes real deals.
The easiest way to reach Miami is, of course, by flying there and the airport is well connected to the city by a public train
FLiXBUS runs busses between Miami and Florida Keys/Key West (and other destinations in USA) at a surprisingly low price.
They do not save on quality, it must be said, they just give away great deals.
More photos for an itinerary in Miami
