Top Things to Do in Miami: Art Deco, Wynwood, Vizcaya, Little Havana and the Everglades
Miami rewards travellers who split their time between the beach and the mainland. South Beach gives you the Art Deco district and the sand, while Downtown, Wynwood, Coconut Grove and Little Havana show a different, less postcard-driven city. Plan on at least three or four days if you want to cover the highlights below without rushing, and add a day if the Everglades are on your list. Where you base yourself changes how much time you spend in transit, so it's worth matching your neighbourhood to the things you actually want to see.
Art Deco South Beach on foot
The Art Deco Historic District runs along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue in South Beach, and it's genuinely a walking destination - the pastel facades, terrazzo lobbies and neon signage are packed into a compact grid. Guided walking tours (several operators run daily departures from around Española Way) explain the architectural details you'd otherwise miss, but the district also works fine self-guided with an early morning start before the heat and crowds build.
Staying in South Beach means you can do this before breakfast and be back at the hotel by mid-morning. Options here range from the design-forward 1 Hotel South Beach and W South Beach to the more classic Ritz-Carlton, South Beach and ANDAZ Miami Beach, with Nobu Hotel Miami Beach, AC Hotel by Marriott Miami Beach, Albion South Beach Hotel, 6080 Design Hotel and Aqua Hotel & Suites covering a wider range of styles and budgets in the same walkable pocket.
Wynwood Walls and the arts district
Wynwood is Miami's mural neighbourhood - Wynwood Walls itself is a curated outdoor gallery of large-scale street art, and the surrounding blocks are filled with independent galleries, coffee shops and converted warehouse spaces. It's a daytime and early-evening area rather than a beach one, and it works best on foot or by rideshare from a nearby base.
AC Hotel Miami Wynwood puts you inside the neighbourhood itself, useful if you want to wander back for a second look after dinner. Kimpton EPIC Hotel by IHG in Downtown Miami is a short ride away and pairs well with a day that also includes Downtown's waterfront and Brickell.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya is a preserved early-20th-century estate on Biscayne Bay, with formal Italian-style gardens and a house museum full of period furnishings. It's a slower, quieter counterpoint to South Beach and Wynwood, and worth a half-day rather than a rushed stop. Check current opening hours and ticketing on the museum's own site before you go, since these change seasonally.
Coconut Grove, just next door, is a leafy, low-key neighbourhood with its own restaurant strip. The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami and Arya Hotel & Suites Coconut Grove both put Vizcaya within easy reach and make a good base if you want a break from the more high-energy parts of Miami.
Little Havana and Calle Ocho
Little Havana centers on Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street), where cigar shops, domino games at Máximo Gómez Park, and Cuban coffee windows give the neighbourhood its identity. It's best explored slowly on foot over a couple of hours, ideally with a stop for food along the way.
There's no hotel directly inside Little Havana in our listings, but Brickell is close by and connects easily by rideshare or a short drive. Four Seasons Hotel Miami, Aloft Miami - Brickell, AC Hotel by Marriott Miami Brickell and Atwell Suites Miami Brickell by IHG all put you a few minutes from Little Havana while keeping you closer to Downtown's restaurants and the river.
Boat tours and day trips to the Everglades
Biscayne Bay boat tours (sightseeing cruises, sunset trips) typically depart from Downtown or South Beach marinas, so either area works as a base. The Everglades, on the other hand, are a separate day trip west of the city - airboat tours and wildlife-focused excursions run from gateway towns outside Miami proper, and you'll want a rental car or a tour operator that includes transport, since it's not a walkable or transit-friendly destination.
If an early Everglades departure or a late flight is part of your plan, Aloft Miami Airport is a practical, low-friction choice for that one night. For the boat tours themselves, InterContinental Miami by IHG and JW Marriott Marquis Miami in Downtown are close to several bay departure points.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need to cover these five things in Miami?
Three to four days is realistic if you want a proper look at each - one for South Beach and Art Deco, one for Wynwood and Downtown, one for Vizcaya and Coconut Grove, and part of a day for Little Havana. Add a full day if you're doing an Everglades trip, since travel time to and from the park eats into the day.
Which area is best for exploring the Art Deco district?
South Beach itself, since the district is a walking destination and staying inside it means you can explore before or after the crowds without a commute. Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue are the core streets to focus on.
Do I need a car to visit the Everglades from Miami?
Yes, in most cases. The Everglades are outside the city and not served by regular transit, so you'll either rent a car or book a tour that includes transport from Miami.
Is Little Havana walkable and safe for tourists?
Calle Ocho and the surrounding blocks are generally walkable during the day, with plenty of foot traffic around the shops and cafés. As with any city neighbourhood, stick to the main commercial streets and keep the usual awareness of your surroundings.
When is the best time of year to do outdoor sightseeing like Wynwood and Vizcaya?
The cooler, drier months (roughly December through April) are more comfortable for walking tours and garden visits. Summer in Miami is hot and humid with a higher chance of afternoon storms, which can affect outdoor plans.