Visiting Miami for the First Time? Here’s What To See and Do

Locals in Miami love to get up early and see their city at sunrise. Rise early, and you’ll see plenty of locals jogging, on bikes, and opening a yoga mat on the beach. One of the best ways to experience dawn is from the seat of a kayak, where you can see the sun breaking the horizon from out on the water. Other options for early morning activities include a beach breakfast picnic, sunrise yoga, sunrise paddleboarding, a Segway tour, or a photography session.

Tropical greens, blues, and corals fill the Art Deco Historic District in Miami Beach, a must-visit area for architecture lovers—or anyone interested in local history. Go for a guided stroll through this section of South Beach, and you can learn about the landmark buildings and how they were preserved or get a peek at hidden spots visitors don’t usually see. To cover ground quickly, you can also choose a Segway tour or a bike tour. Some tours also include an introduction to the local food scene.

No first time visit to Miami would be complete without getting on a boat. Cruising along the coastline, dropping anchor to swim or snorkel, or raising a glass on a sunset cocktail cruise are all fun ways to embrace Miami boat life. There are a variety of different tour companies in the city offering everything from relaxed sightseeing tours that take you past celebrity mansions to private boat rentals that take you to the city’s famous sandbars to sunset tours that let you enjoy the sight of the city as its lights come sparkling to life.

One of the best ways to experience Cuban culture in Miami is to visit Little Havana on a food tour. An experienced guide can take you on a neighborhood stroll and also tell you about the area’s history, culture, and food. These tours usually pair stops for specialties like Cuban coffee and sandwiches with other cultural activities, like watching cigar rollers at work and listening to Cuban music.

Miami is a city known for its creativity, and this is on bright display in the Wynwood district. This mainland neighborhood—which is quickly becoming a destination for art, food, and shopping—is home to the famous Wynwood Walls, an outdoor attraction made up of street murals painted by international artists. To learn about the history of Wynwood and its street art efficiently, you can join a tour that will take you around the various pieces in a golf cart or a party bike.

Miami’s architecture keeps on evolving and you can see its most modern examples in the Miami Design District, north of Wynwood. Spanning 18 blocks, this shopping and arts district is home to a number of upscale fashion boutiques, cutting-edge contemporary galleries, and trendy restaurants. Adding to the aesthetic, you’ll also find an abundance of captivating public art, from monumental installations to colorful murals.

To get away from the crowds and see an unspoiled side of the coastline, head to the city’s parks. For a relaxing afternoon, visit Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park at the tip of Key Biscayne to see a historic lighthouse, have a picnic with an ocean view, hike or bike along groomed trails, or just raise a glass and watch the sunset. Other options include Crandon Park, which has a nature center and tennis courts, and Oleta River State Park, where you can kayak or canoe.

Miami boasts a variety of world-class museums covering a wide range of subjects from art to history to science. Head to the Pérez Art Museum Miami for 20th- and 21st-century art, or tour the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens to see historical furniture and interiors. If you’re on a family trip, head to the Miami Children’s Museum for interactive exhibits or Frost Science, where you can learn about the world’s oceans, the Everglades, and more.

After hopping between Miami’s top museums, make a beeline for some of the city’s lesser-known cultural offerings. Learn about Haitian culture at the Haitian Heritage Museum, or dive into Jewish history at the Jewish Museum of Florida. If art is more your thing, don’t skip the fascinating World Erotic Art Museum (adults-only) or The Bass, home to educational activities and colorful artworks.

Related: 7 Under-the-Radar Museums in Miami

In Miami, the ocean offers far more than a way to cool off and go swimming, and locals enjoy a variety of fun and adventurous watersports. Popular options for exploring the coastline include jet skiing (rentals are fast and easy) and parasailing, which lets you see the coast from the air and get a rush of adrenaline. If you like kayaking, you can rent a boat on your own or take a guided sunset tour, a clear kayaking tour, or a nighttime excursion with LED-lit boats. If you’ve ever wanted to try stand-up paddleboarding, take a speedboat tour, or go deep-sea fishing, Miami is the perfect place to embrace the adventure.