At a glance: your Miami bucket list
Where: Miami, Florida’s cultural capital, home of dreamy beaches and Latin zing
Best for: Nightlife, distinctive neighbourhoods and sumptuous sands
Don’t miss: A visit to South Beach, the historic Art Deco district with trendy restaurants and bars
Road trip highlight: Hopping from one neighbourhood to the next. You’re the driver, so you’re in charge
Nature fix: Pick between two nearby national parks: Everglades or Biscayne
Getting started: You can fly direct to Miami International Airport with British Airways, and start your fly-drive holiday straight away
The pastel-hued Art Deco architecture and dazzling sand of South Beach. The vibrant street art of Wynwood. The thrumming flavours of Latin and Caribbean cuisine on street corners in Little Havana. Miami is a city of gloriously diverse neighbourhoods, natural beauty and easy access – and you can fly here direct with British Airways.
This globally minded tropical hub is everything you imagine it to be, and more. Here’s your essential introduction…
Exploring Miami’s diverse neighbourhoods
South Beach is a colourful, activity-packed neighbourhood at the southern tip of Miami Beach
Miami
When it comes to mood, Miami doesn’t have just one, but many. The city’s jigsaw of diverse districts, stretching inland from the sun-warmed Atlantic coast, hosts a cornucopia of distinct sights, smells and sounds.
Latin and Caribbean influence is a common thread, running from the exclusive design hotels of Miami Beach to buzzing Little Havana, which is bursting with cigar shops, rum bars, Cuban restaurants and Hispanic cultural centres.
Every visit to Miami should include a visit to South Beach, pictured above; the flagship stretch along Ocean Drive and Collins Ave that’s hemmed in candy-coloured Art Deco buildings transformed into hotels, restaurants and shops. For a trendy waterfront stay, the Kimpton Hotel Palomar South Beach is well placed to explore the vibrant neighbourhood. Just a short walk away, the nearby Bass Museum of Art, set in a 1930s structure, has an impressive contemporary collection from creators around the world.
Miami has gained global recognition for its arts and design scene, and other neighbourhoods put this on show, too. Head to Wynwood for street art dotted between industrialist warehouses, or the Miami Design District next door for public art nestled among luxury shops and wellness venues. Or visit during December’s famous Art Basel, North America’s most important art fair, hosted in cool Miami Beach.
Miami’s fantastic beaches and dining scene
Life’s very much a beach in Miami, with more than 12 scintillating stretches of sand to choose from
Miami
When you’re ready to slip from sightseeing into downtime, Miami has plenty to offer. Spend your day under the Florida sun on the beach: there are more than a dozen stretches of sand to choose from, whether you want the quiet calm of Surfside or the family-friendly shores of Crandon Park Beach.
Arrive early enough and you might catch one of the east coast’s epic sunrises, with joggers and dog walkers all traversing the glowing shoreline.
Once the day presses on, it’s time to get stuck into Miami’s thriving culinary scene. From top-notch food trucks to romantic gourmet restaurants, cool craft breweries and beachside stalwarts, there’s serious range here – in terms of style, price point and cuisine.
There are now 14 Michelin starred restaurants in the city plus all kinds of rooftop bars, where you can cheers with a lime-laden mojito while overlooking the twinkling skyline.
Nature spots beyond Miami
No holiday in Miami is complete without a trip to the world-famous Everglades National Park
Miami
The nightlife in Miami might keep you up late, but you’ve every reason to set the alarm when you know there’s so much to explore – both within the city boundaries and beyond.
For a dose of nature, you have two major hotspots on your doorstep: Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park. The former is home to wild American alligators and rare birds, while the latter boasts the third longest coral reef system on the planet.
Miami is a port city (PortMiami is recognized as the Cruise Capital of the World), with sailings departing for the Caribbean, South America and elsewhere around the United States. You might already be visiting Miami as part of a cruise, wondering how you’ll tick off everything in such a quick visit. The answer? You can’t, you’ll just have to come back again.
Booking with British Airways
- British Airways offers an extensive network of direct flights to Florida, serving Orlando, Miami and Tampa, making it easy to reach the Sunshine State from the UK
- When booking with British Airways Holidays, you can secure your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments*
- All holiday packages include a generous checked baggage allowance
- Access to a dedicated 24/7 support helpline during your trip
- ATOL protection from the moment you book a holiday package, giving you financial reassurance
- Members of The British Airways Club benefit from collecting Avios, earning tier points and using Avios towards the cost of holiday packages
- Upgrade to Club World (Business Class) for a host of additional benefits including lounge access, **increased checked baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding, and a spacious seat that converts to a fully flat bed
- See ba.com/holidays for full details and conditions
*Full balance due seven weeks before departure
**Subject to availability. T&Cs apply
Book your Florida holiday here
