Miami Holidays

Cycle the 15-mile Shark Valley loop through the heart of the Everglades, where alligators often rest beside the trail and wading birds gather along the waterways. Stop halfway at the 70-foot observation tower for wide views across the River of Grass.

Boat into Biscayne National Park and snorkel around the remains of the Mandalay, a steel-hulled schooner wrecked on Long Reef in 1966. Its shallow setting makes it particularly accessible to snorkellers, with reef life surrounding the remains beneath the water.

Paddle into shallow Jones Lagoon, one of Biscayne National Park’s more remote corners, where rays, upside down jellyfish, schools of fish and wading birds can appear along the route. Motorised vessels are excluded, helping keep the lagoon noticeably quieter.

Take on Oleta River State Park’s extensive cycling network, with beginner routes alongside more demanding trails such as Stairway to Heaven. Twisting paths run through dense vegetation and Australian pines, bringing proper off-road riding surprisingly close to central Miami.

Board an airboat at one of the authorised Everglades concessions along Tamiami Trail, around 15 to 20 minutes east of Shark Valley. Skim across shallow sawgrass wetlands and keep watch for alligators and native birdlife across this distinctive South Florida ecosystem.

Step inside the Freedom Tower, built in 1925 as the Miami Daily News headquarters and later used as the Cuban Refugee Center from 1962 to 1974. Its redesigned galleries now trace the stories of migration and exile that helped reshape modern Miami.

Pause at Brickell Point beside the Miami Circle, where a patterned group of holes forms a 38-foot-diameter circle cut into limestone bedrock. Discovered in 1998, the site is linked to the Tequesta and may mark the footprint of a prehistoric structure.

Walk through Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, opened in 1945 as Miami-Dade County’s segregated beach for Black residents. The shoreline became an important gathering place, and visitors can now connect with a significant chapter of Miami’s Black community and civil rights history.

Climb the 109 spiral steps of Cape Florida Lighthouse, first erected in 1825 and rebuilt in 1846 after damage during the Second Seminole War. The surrounding cape also formed part of an escape route used by fugitive slaves and Black Seminoles heading towards the Bahamas.

Enter Coconut Grove’s pioneer era at The Barnacle, Ralph Middleton Munroe’s 1891 waterfront home and the oldest house in Miami-Dade still standing in its original location. Its wide porches, tropical grounds and boathouse offer a glimpse of Biscayne Bay before modern Miami developed.

Spend time along Calle Ocho, where Cuban culture is woven into everyday Miami life. Watch regulars play dominoes at Máximo Gómez Park, stop for Cuban coffee, see cigar rollers at work and follow the Walk of Fame honouring Cuban and Latin American figures.

Step into Miami’s Haitian community through Little Haiti, where Kreyòl, Caribbean flavours, music and art shape the neighbourhood. Visit the Cultural Complex for Haitian exhibitions and performances, then browse the Caribbean Marketplace, inspired by Port au Prince’s historic Iron Market.

Experience Miami’s Black cultural legacy in Historic Overtown, once known for its thriving jazz scene and “Little Broadway” nightlife. Visit the Historic Lyric Theater, seek out Purvis Young’s murals and see how music, art and community continue to shape the neighbourhood.

Walk through Historic Little Bahamas in Coconut Grove, where Bahamian settlers helped establish one of Miami’s earliest communities. Visitors can see coral rock and Dade County Pine homes, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church and distinctive cemetery markers reflecting Bahamian and African American heritage.

Visit Miccosukee Indian Village in the Everglades to experience the Tribe’s living culture. Browse museum artefacts and archival photographs, watch live craft demonstrations and learn how Miccosukee traditions, identity and close relationship with the Everglades continue into the present day.

Step into Miami’s biggest art week as Art Basel fills the Miami Beach Convention Center with leading galleries, contemporary masters and emerging names. Around it, satellite fairs, museum exhibitions and pop-up events spread across Miami Beach, Downtown and Wynwood each December.

Join Little Havana at its liveliest during the Calle Ocho Music Festival, the headline event of Carnaval Miami. Fifteen blocks of SW 8th Street fill with Latin music, folkloric dance, street food and stages celebrating cultures from across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Watch leading ATP and WTA players compete at Hard Rock Stadium during the Miami Open each spring. Beyond the matches, visitors can enjoy local food, live music and fan experiences, making the tournament feel closer to a city festival than a traditional tennis event.

Taste your way through the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, held annually across Miami Beach and Greater Miami. The programme brings together renowned chefs, local restaurants and culinary personalities for beachfront tastings, intimate dinners, masterclasses, wine seminars and lively late-night events.

Explore everything from sleek motorboats to superyachts at the Miami International Boat Show, an annual February fixture spread across several waterfront venues. Visitors can tour vessels, see new marine technology and experience Miami’s deep connection with boating and life on the water.

Catch Broadway musicals, theatre and classical concerts at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Downtown Miami. Its 2026–27 programme includes touring Broadway productions, locally produced theatre and performances by major orchestras and soloists, giving visitors several styles of live performance in one complex.

Spend an evening at Faena Theater in Miami Beach, where red velvet, gold-leaf décor and an intimate cabaret setting frame original productions and live music. Current programming blends cabaret, cirque-style performance and jazz, making it a more theatrical alternative to Miami’s larger concert venues.

Head to the Miami Beach Bandshell for open-air concerts a few steps from the ocean. The historic North Beach venue hosts international touring artists, local musicians, family programmes and free community events, with a calendar that moves easily between jazz, Latin, indie and global sounds.

See touring musicians, comedians and occasional ballet or stage productions at The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater. Opened in 1950 and later modernised as a concert venue, it combines an Art Deco-influenced exterior with a 2,713-person capacity and varied year-round programme.

For Miami’s nightlife, LIV at Fontainebleau Miami Beach brings DJs, hip-hop artists and late-night crowds under one roof. The club operates Thursday to Sunday, usually from 11pm to 5am, and is strictly 21+, with a dress code and passport requirements for international visitors.