21 Best Things to Do in Miami (Our Favorites in 2024)

21 Best Things to Do in Miami in 2024

Miami is a huge city, so it’s hard to cover absolutely everything you can do. Everyone has different tastes and opinions on what to do there, but we’ve hand-picked our favorite sights to see on your next trip.

1. Bayfront Park

Located in downtown Miami, Bayfront Park is the home of the Bayside Marketplace. You can enjoy food at the courtyard restaurants or do a little local shopping. Many of the paths have plenty of shade and benches for relaxing on extra hot days.

You might even hop on the giant Ferris wheel, where you can see the whole park and beyond from the top. Plus, there is a playground for the kids to stop and play at before you head to the Bayside Marketplace.

The park has a great view of the bay and the ocean, so you can enjoy watching a little boat traffic as well. Try going at night to enjoy the city lights on the water.

2. South Beach

It makes sense to put a beach at the start of this list, especially South Beach. South Beach has almost everything you could want on a beach, with space for swimming, playing, and a whole lineup of fabulous clubs.

You can even rent a bike, do a Segway tour, or walk down Ocean Drive to view the amazing art-deco buildings. Lincoln Road Mall is a great stop for some quick shopping too.

The area is so compact that you won’t need a car to get around. You can find whatever you need in South Beach by either walking, renting a bicycle, or taking a trolley.

3. Miami Children’s Museum

If you have children with you, visiting the children’s museum will provide fun for the whole family. You’ll find plenty of challenging and engaging activities to inspire the entire family’s imagination and creativity.

Different exhibits related to children’s media pop up every so often, so check what’s available before visiting. If you can’t make it to the museum in person, you can utilize the Museum at Home program to do museum activities at home.

4. Tamiami Park

Tamiami Park hosts a huge fair for two weeks every March, with plenty of rides, attractions, games, and food. The park is one of few in Miami to have a public pool so that you can go for a few rounds. 

On the whole, Tamiami Park has lots of sports activities, with space for baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, hockey, and beach volleyball.

You can also use the batting cages, running tracks, and football fields. Tamiami Park hosts many regional sports events and other family activities, and you can always visit the park for free.

5. Tropical Park

That may sound like a bland name for a Florida park, though it’s anything but plain. It’s a relatively massive park with lots of green fields and hills, hiking paths, and a couple of lakes.

You’ll also happen across some exciting forms of wildlife, like invertebrates, birds, and reptiles. There is a boxing court and fitness center if you want to burn some extra calories.

The best part is the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Center, where several different breeds of horses live all year round for competitions or recreational riding. You can rent one of the 200-plus stalls in the stable and ride on one of the two grass courses.

Besides horseback riding, you can also play tennis or racquetball at one of the twenty available courts. Large bike and paddleboat rentals are also available, though you should note that you can only pay in cash for bike reservations.

Food trucks with international cuisine also pop up in the parking lot sometimes so that you can enjoy a quick snack in between games.

6. Historic Virginia Key Beach Park

You ‘ll find Historic Virginia Key Beach Park off of Miami’s Rickenbacker Causeway in Key Biscayne. It’s a good park for avid mountain bikers, with at least 17 paths that will soon include dirt jumps and drops.

Keep in mind that helmets are mandatory for bike riders. All guests are welcome to enjoy the food vendors located at the park. You’ll have to pay an entrance fee if you drive to the park, but it’s entirely free to walk or bike to the park.

Besides biking, there are plenty of signs explaining the park’s history, along with an old-fashioned carousel, remnants of an old railroad, and a giant sandcastle.

If you walk on the beach, you might even find several remnants of sea glass if you’re a collector. Speaking of history, you can book tours around the park, where you can take pictures with the historic cabins.

These are still well-maintained and painted. One fun fact about the park: it used to be a section of Florida beach that only Black people could enjoy during the 1950s and 1960s.

7. Maurice A. Ferre Park

If you need a place to take photo ops of downtown Miami, Maurice A. Ferre park is a good stop. Also, if you plan to stop at the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) and Philip and Patricia Frost Museum on your trip, the park is an excellent place to finish your day.

Two other fun stops, the Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, are within walking distance if you’re craving a little culture.

There are a few art pieces within the park, such as a 20-foot bronze statue dedicated in 2010 and plenty of ramps that provide access to the nearby museums’ gardens.

There are no playgrounds or volleyball courts at this park, but it has plenty of well-manicured lawns and fields, not to mention the standard views of the water.

8. Philip and Patricia Frost Museum

Even if you’re not the biggest science fan, you ‘ll find something to enjoy in this museum’s plethora of fun and intriguing exhibits. There are exhibits related to animals, space, history, anatomy, the ocean, and more.

You could spend a whole afternoon wandering the museum’s expansive aquarium. We can’t forget the fantastic planetarium, which seats 250 people and uses 16-million color 8k projection and surround sound to create a fully immersive space experience.

Similar to the Miami Children’s Museum, exhibits change every so often, so see what new showcases are available before you book your visit.

9. Lummus Park

Lummus Park is close enough to the beach where you can take a dip after relaxing at the park. It’s also a good stop after enjoying the art deco hotels and restaurants across the street on Ocean Avenue.

Parking is limited to only three spots, but there are meters around the park. Plenty of volleyball courts are free to use at the park.

It’s also usually quiet, so you can enjoy a pleasant bike ride (there are bike rentals here) or read a book on one of the many benches. There is even a horse stable with at least one horse in a corral.

You can also enjoy the historical sites of the park, like the stone barracks of Fort Dallas and the Wagner House, which is the oldest surviving house in Miami. Both sites date back to the 1800s.

10. Rubell Museum

Here we have a regular art museum where you can view and appreciate one of the most significant contemporary art collections in the world.

There are over 7,200 works of contemporary art in the museum, comprised of over 1,000 different artists working in paint and sculpture.

It’s a great place to discover a new favorite artwork and take a break from the hustle and bustle of urban Miami. You can also stop at the Leku Restaurant before exploring some beautiful outdoor gardens if you need a bite to eat.

If you wish to learn what exhibits are on display in the museum, plus any upcoming exhibits, all the information is readily available on their website.

11. Everglades Airboat Tours

Besides beaches, some tourists might think of the Everglades, full of swamps and incredible wildlife. The good news is that you can take an airboat tour of the Everglades, keeping an eye out for alligators and other extraordinary tropical creatures.

Most airboat tours last around an hour. We recommend booking a tour in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the hot sun. Plus, most airboats are covered, so you have protection from inclement weather or scorching sun on your tour.

A little side note: booking a tour between May and November is the best time to catch alligators on a tour since they enjoy the rainy season the most.

12. Crandon Park

If you find yourself in Key Biscayne, Crandon Park is one of the most beautiful, relaxing places you could visit. Besides the usual beach access and green fields, you’ll find lots of wildlife roaming around, like peacocks, iguanas, rabbits, and even a few crocodiles.

The paths are wheelchair accessible, and you can ride your bike down the trails past the animals. There are spaces for barbecuing and playing volleyball, but you’ll need to pay a small fee per vehicle to get in.

13. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

The biggest draw to this park is the lovely lighthouse, which you can tour. Make sure the lighthouse is open before you go, though. You can rent a bike at most nearby hotels and ride to the lighthouse.

There is plenty of open space by the lighthouse for fishing, too.

The shaded picnic pavilions are available for rent, and the beach itself stays shallow far out for swimming and snorkeling. You may see a dolphin or manatee swim into the shallows if you’re lucky.

14. Oleta River State Park

You’ll find this beautiful park on a beach in North Miami, where you might see a dolphin or a manatee in the crystal blue water. Plenty of nearby paths allow you to walk, run, or walk your dog by the water.

The park’s kayak rental is a bit pricey but worth it if you enjoy exploring the water more. The water stays shallow far out, so you can also snorkel off the beach.

This makes it ideal for paddle boarding since the waves never get very high. If you’re not comfortable getting into deep water or prefer a quieter, less crowded beach, this could be ideal.

Believe it or not, they also have yoga paddle boarding classes on Sundays. On top of all that, they also have campgrounds for overnight stays, and you can rent cabanas too.

15. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Be prepared for a lot of swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling at this state park. Once you have finished seeing the beautiful rocks, coral, and fish, you might also do some kayaking in the shallows.

Visiting the aquarium is an excellent way to cap off the day. Scheduling a tour can sometimes be unpredictable because of how windy it is that day. Luckily, the state park is good at rescheduling and giving refunds in an emergency.

16. Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel

If you’re looking to get an amazing view of the beach, look no further than hopping aboard Miami’s premier Ferris wheel.

The Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel towers 200 feet above the Bayside Marketplace, where you can view Biscayne Bay, the Downtown Miami skyline, and Bayfront Park.

Each gondola remains a comfortable 72 degrees inside and takes a 12 to 15-minute revolution around the wheel. You can also opt for a ride in the single VIP gondola with leather bucket seats, a beautiful LED light show, and a glass-bottom floor.

17. Watch the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium

Sometimes you need to partake in a bit of excitement at the local football stadium. Whether you’re rooting for the Dolphins or not, you can get yourself a ticket online, buy some classic stadium food, and enjoy the energy at Hard Rock Stadium.

18. Watch the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena

Similarly, from October to April, you can catch a basketball game at American Airlines Arena to watch the Miami Heat. Once again, you can grab tickets online, purchase arena snacks, and find some fun sports memorabilia for an excellent basketball experience.

19. Kayak in a Transparent Kayak

If you’re lucky, you can rent a transparent kayak for your shallow water adventures. Traveling out into the ocean water around Florida, you can get some physical exercise while enjoying the wildlife swimming around your kayak.

You’ll see several kinds of fish and turtles, plus the occasional dolphin or manatee, depending on where you kayak.

20. Miami Seaquarium

You’ll probably not get any more guaranteed animal encounters in Florida than visiting Miami Seaquarium. Here, you can encounter dolphins, penguins, and seals and even get the chance to swim with some of these beautiful and gentle creatures.

Each encounter lasts roughly ten minutes. These creatures also feature in the Seaquarium’s dolphin and sea lion shows.

Of course, we cannot forget the orca whale show, where you can watch some incredible tricks from some of the world’s most intelligent creatures. Keep in mind that some shows or exhibits may be closed during your visit, so double check before getting tickets.

21. Zoo Miami

There is probably no need to butter up this particular Miami activity. After all, who doesn’t like going to a zoo? You can explore several pavilions with all kinds of animals, and you might be able to feed some of them!

You can feed lettuce to the friendly giraffes, rhinos, parrots, and camels in the zoo for a small fee. Be sure to check out the tortoise encounter and a great horned owl presentation led by experienced and knowledgeable zookeepers.

Read Next: The 15 Best Zoos in the United States

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about fun things to do in Miami:

So, What Are the Best Things to Do in Miami?

It’s objectively hard to say what the best thing is to do in Miami. There are so many beaches, tours, museums, parks, and restaurants to try in just one trip.

The good news is that you may find a few surprises along the way, no matter what kind of trip you have in Miami. Either way, we hope you have a fun trip and leave Miami with unforgettable memories to last a lifetime. Happy travels!