Overview

Miami has sights for everyone. It has fantastic white-sand beaches, bustling promenades, streets of shops, bars and restaurants, and some notable landmarks. South Beach is where it's at and has the best bathing, while Lummus Park Beach is a bit more eclectic. Culture-vultures should check out Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and the Miami Art Museum, and lovers of nature the Florida Keys and the Everglades.

South Beach

South Beach, known affectionately as S0Be, is perhaps the most famous stretch of beach in the US. It is three-dozen blocks of white sand backed by an unending grandeur of real estate, shopping malls, restaurants, and bars. People come here to bathe and to be seen by day and night. The Art Deco style of many of the buildings here is the main attraction and is often featured in films.

Little Havana

Little Havana is the Cuban/Hispanic slice of Miami which came about after Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. It is located to the west of downtown Miami and the main thoroughfare is the bustling Calle Ocho. It is loaded with shops and eateries and if you are after a contraband Cuban cigar, this is the place to come. Domino Park is a popular people-watching area in Little Havana.

Lummus Park Beach

Lummus Park Beach can be found between 6th and 14th streets on Ocean Drive and is the place where most of the filming in Miami goes on. This beach has all sorts of things going for it, depending on your persuasion. You can practice topless bathing here or head for the de facto gay area of the city, 12th Street, which is dissected by the popular Promenade.

Miami Zoo

Miami Zoo is more like an open, walk-about safari park than an actual zoo, giving you the illusion that you are sharing the same space as the animals. In this cage-free zoo, the lions and rhinos and other dangerous creatures are segregated from visitors by the clever use of moats. Children are sure to love a visit here.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

This superb museum was a villa back in the day and is one of the most impressive in the whole country. It took years to build at a very high cost and is loaded with 16th century art. Its original décor and furnishings are still intact and the gardens that lead down to Biscayne Bay are amazing. Guided tours of the 34-room villa and gardens are free.

Miami Art Museum (MAM)

Max Beckmann, Jim Dine, Eric Fischl, and Stuart Davis are all well represented in this fantastic contemporary art museum. The art focuses on Caribbean and Latin America and displays are continually rotated. Be sure to also check out the Miami-Dade Cultural Center and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.

Key Biscayne

Located a few miles offshore from Miami, just across the Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne features a large resort built near mangrove creeks and coral reefs and an abundance of wildlife. A large glass-bottom boat and a scuba diving catamaran do regular cruises. Key Biscayne is perfect for those with a love of the outdoors.

Everglades and Florida Keys

Many people come to Miami specifically to visit these two world-class regions. The Everglades are right on Miami's doorstep; an easy drive west of the city. They encompass an incredible subtropical wilderness that features an array of wildlife, including crocodiles, alligators, dolphins, and manatees. To the south of Miami are the expansive Florida Keys, with their fine beaches, excellent fishing and diving, and laid-back atmosphere. Key West at the tip of the island chain is the main draw.

Overview

Miami is the envy of cities all over the United States for its sunny weather and beaches. The beaches are open year-round, and apart from the hurricane season, you can bathe for months on end without getting wet. Winter is the best time to be here and enjoy the water sports action, including jet-skiing, surfing, windsurfing, snorkelling and scuba diving. The golf and fishing in Miami are also great.

Beaches

Miami has miles of beaches, stretching from the iconic South Beach all the way to Key Biscayne. You can go bathing, swimming and partake in all manner of water sports like snorkelling as well as wildlife spotting at Key Biscayne. Lummus Park Beach is more of a fun beach for the younger element and also has some pretty good surf.

Scuba diving and snorkelling

Miami has lovely clear waters for the best part of the year, with the exception of the hurricane season at the end of the summer. There are several shipwrecks within easy reach of the coast as well as an array of coral reefs. Beginners can simply hire snorkel gear from any beach and go for a paddle, while Key Biscayne offers good scuba diving as well as snorkelling.

Fishing

Deep-sea fishing is particularly good off of the coast of Florida. Tuna, snapper, kingfish, grouper, and even sailfish are some of the goodies you can expect to hook on a deep-sea fishing adventure and there are many small, fully-equipped charter boats that visitors can hire. Those with less experience, or less budget, could join a larger fishing expedition.

Golf

There are dozens of golf courses in and around Miami, including those of the public and private variety. While many are members-only, or are only open to those who are members of an international club elsewhere, Crandon Golf Course is a high quality public 18-hole course with no such restrictions. It is a beautiful course with a fine setting. Doral Gold Resort is another good one, with the well-known par-72 Blue Monster, while Biltmore Hotel has a championship course. Green fees are steeper at weekends and in the winter.

Spectator sports

American football, basketball and baseball are all enjoyed to excess in Miami and the city has some of the best facilities in the state for games. Baseball sees the Florida Marlins play at the Pro Player Stadium, while Miami Heat play basketball at the American Airlines Arena. Jai alai, a fast ball game similar to lacrosse, is also lots of fun to watch and get involved with in Miami.

Dining and shopping

Miami has some of the best eating and shopping in the country and the good thing is that the layout of the city is set up well for both. There are thousands of cafés, snack bars, and restaurants with every cuisine imaginable in all areas of the city, from the stodgy American diner up to the best Japanese and Latin American food, as well as a massive amount of fast-food joints selling hotdogs, burgers and sandwiches. You will also find a vast choice of shops here to boot, with numerous massive malls and more chic boutiques than you could ever hope to shop at in one visit.

One of the treats to holidaying in Miami is the sheer number of eateries and the diverse range of dishes, owing to the multicultural make-up of the city and the abundance of fish. The other aspect is the positioning of the city on the coast and the wonderful architecture, with everything from lofty alfresco patios to snack bars, coffee shops and the highest of high-end fusion eateries.

The cuisine of Miami is the so-called Floribbean, a funky blend of Caribbean and Latin dishes influenced by Asian tastes from the So Cal coast out west. Seafood is the main eat in Miami, and there are some wonderful grills with exciting fishy dishes. Grilled swordfish with spicy mango chutney is a special in Miami, along with lobster, oysters, crab, and yellowtail.

The main eating areas in Miami are the trendy cafés along South Beach and Coconut Grove. There are also some superb high-end restaurants in these areas as well as in Coral Gables, although expect to pay premium prices in these chic parts of town. For seafood, Key Biscayne just outside Miami is a must, while Little Havana has cheap Cuban and Mexican foods. Street food is good in Miami and you can have yourself a fish taco in minutes for just a few bucks.

Shopping is one of the main pastimes in Miami, being beaten only by sunbathing and eating. There are major malls, shopping centres and arcades all over the place, many of which also come with obligatory entertainment thrown in. The Bell Harbor Mall is a shopaholic's dream, with well-known designer stores like Gap. You will also find a staggering array of eateries here and at most of the other large malls in town, and all types of shops.

Coconut Grove, South Beach, and the Miracle Mile are popular areas for shopping malls, yet Miami also boasts loads of open-air shopping centres which are pedestrian friendly and sell all types of merchandise at generally cheaper prices than the air-conditioned malls. Expect to also see trendy cafés and designer clothes in the open-air malls. Downtown Coconut Grove is one such open-air shopping area in Miami, with boutiques and cafés galore.

Another popular shopping area in town is the Biscayne Corridor, which resides in the downtown area and comes with eclectic high-street boutiques and some great people watching. Those in the Little Havana area should head for Calle Ocho for shopping, with its numerous old cigar shops and bakeries. It's a real buzz to wander around this area, complete with Latin music and the smells of Cuba. For bargains and kitschy souvenirs, head for Flagler Street.

Miami has so much good eating in all areas that you are spoilt for choice. Its high-end restaurants generally have the best settings, décor, chefs and signature dishes and range from all-American affairs to some great Latin American and Italian food, and tastes of the Mediterranean. The seafood is particularly special and prices are often good.

Overview

Getting to Miami is made easy by the massive and well-connected Miami International Airport, which receives flights from all over the world and is well linked to the city, beaches, and hotels. Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses serve Miami from all over the US, while transport options within the city include buses, trams, light rail trains and taxis.

Airports

Miami International Airport is the gateway to Miami and southern Florida, serving 30-odd million passengers from scores of destinations and airlines annually. The airport's terminal is well decked out with comprehensive passenger facilities that include banks, ATMs, and currency exchange, as well as shops, restaurants and bars. There are also business facilities here and an onsite hotel. Flights come in from all over the USA and Europe with big-name carriers, including from New York, Los Angeles, London, Dublin and Amsterdam.

Miami International Airport is just 10 miles from downtown Miami and has a good selection of transfer options to the city and hotels. Shuttle buses run from the airport to useful areas in the city 24 hours and depart from just outside Arrivals. You should check with your hotel to see if they offer a courtesy shuttle as many of the larger establishments do. Taxis can also be found in this area and are metered.

Meanwhile, the Miami Tri-Rail train is the best public transport option from the airport, running to downtown Miami and other convenient city locations. Metro-Bus and Greyhound also serve the airport and are the most cost-effective transfer options. They also serve many locations outside of Miami. A high percentage of travellers to Miami also decide to hire cars and all major car rental firms are represented at the airport. The route to the city and beach is straightforward and well signposted.

Public transportation

Amtrak trains serve Miami from all over Florida and from cities farther afield. Services come in from the likes of New York and Chicago and although journey times are quite long, travelling by train is a great way to travel and see the American countryside if you already happen to be in the country.

Greyhound is the other main public transport option to Miami and is the cheapest. Connections can be made to Miami from virtually anywhere in the US and there are three Greyhound bus stations in Miami. You can also get here by boat, with the Port of Miami receiving cruise ships from all over the world.

Public transport options within Miami are good, with a huge network of buses, an elevated rail system, and tram transport. Metrobuses provide the most extensive public transport, serving dozens of routes throughout the city including popular tourist areas. Bus stops have blue and green signs. Travelling around by Electrowave electric trolley is a fun way to get about Miami Beach. They run every few minutes and are cheap.

The MetroMover is a popular light-rail system running on two loops of downtown Miami and taking in hotels, shopping centres and other areas of interest to tourists. A very convenient service with frequent trains, MetroMover also happens to be free and services run every minute or so during peak hours. The elevated train system known as the Metrorail serves the likes of Coconut Grove and Brickwell Avenue, with services running every 20 minutes from 06:00 to midnight. Taxis are also ubiquitous in Miami and can be hailed from anywhere.