Miami is hands down one of my favorite cities in the U.S., and this guide has been in the works for a pretty long time. Here you have weather, beaches, city life, culture, and amazing food all in one place. There’s something for every type of traveler in Miami, and for my fellow East Coasters, it is perfect for a weekend getaway.
If you’re thinking about a warm-weather getaway this spring but don’t want to leave the country, Miami would be a solid bet. Here are some of my top things to do in Miami in the spring.
Things to do in Miami in the Spring
Getting There & Getting Around
One of the things I love about Miami? How easy it is to get there from the Mid-Atlantic! You can opt to fly into either Miami International Airport (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Flying into MIA would put you closer to town. However, it’s usually cheaper and less crowded to fly into FLL — and without traffic, the Uber ride into the city is only 30 minutes.
There’s no need to rent a car in Miami (unless you want to make a road trip to the Florida Keys like we’re planning on doing next month!) Parking in the city is limited and pretty expensive. We got around town via Uber and Lyft very easily, and some hotels in Miami Beach will offer shuttles.
Miami Travel Guide: Where to Stay
There’s no shortage of hotels in Miami, and I’ve hardly made a dent into them. I’ve stayed at a few places that I’ve loved, and I’ve also stayed at a few spots that were a bit underwhelming.
If you want to stay in Miami Beach, we preferred to stay in Mid Beach over South Beach. It was a lot less crowded and far more residential, yet there were still some great restaurants and nightlife within walking distance. We were only a 5-10 minute Uber ride away from South Beach, which was ideal. One boutique hotel we’ve stayed at in Mid-Beach and loved was Sixty80 Design Hotel. It’s a brand new hotel that just opened in the Spring of 2019, and it’s very sleek, modern, and the staff is incredibly friendly. There aren’t a ton of amenities here, but they have a rooftop pool, gym, and a Starbucks in the lobby.
The next time we stay in Miami, we’re going to try to stay in/near Wynwood, since that’s our favorite part of town. If you want to be surrounded by nightlife, shopping, and people, I’d opt to stay in South Beach. We’ve booked some last-minute trips to Miami in the past, and we love using HotelTonight to read reviews of each property and get a great rate. You can use my code “BFRIESLAND1” for 20% off your first booking on the app!
Miami Travel Guide: Things to Do
- Go Mural Hopping in Wynwood. As I mentioned before, Wynwood was hands down our favorite neighborhood to hang out in. You can go mural hopping at the acclaimed Wynwood Walls, which is free and open to the public. They offer in-depth tours, but you can also browse them at your leisure.
In addition to Wynwood Walls, one of the best things to do in Miami in the Spring is walk around this neighborhood and stumble upon some incredible street art. Almost every building in this part of town has some sort of mural on it!
- Book a Day Pass to a Luxury Hotel/Resort with ResortPass. If you want a luxury hotel experience but don’t want to break the bank, look into booking a ResortPass at one of Miami’s most acclaimed hotels. Here, you can book either a Day Pass, Spa Pass, or a Cabana at reasonable prices. If you’re traveling with a group of friends, I’d highly recommend getting a cabana — they start as low as $75, and they’re pretty affordable once you start splitting the costs among your party!
- Luxury Shopping in Bal Harbour. Hop into an Uber and head just north of town to Bal Harbour for a luxury shopping experience you won’t forget. The Shops at Bal Harbour is an exquisite, luxury open-air shopping mall with some of the best shops and restaurants in the area. If you make it up there, have dinner at Makoto — it’s one of Tom and I’s favorite restaurants in town!
- Visit The Bass. If you need a break from the Miami heat, stop by The Bass, which is a contemporary art museum with some of the most unique installations in town. For a small admission fee, you can view rotating exhibits from some of the most acclaimed artists in the world. From October-May, you can gain free admission to the museum on the third Thursday of the month from 6-9 pm.
- Take a Day Trip to the Everglades. If you want to get out of the city and experience the great outdoors, plan on a day trip to the Everglades. It’s only a 40-minute ride from Downtown Miami, and it is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.
- Get Lost in Little Havana. Immerse yourself in Cuban culture, and head to Little Havana for the day. Here, you can enjoy authentic Cuban food, catch a movie at the historic Tower Theater, dance to salsa music, walk the Calle Ocho Walk of Fame, and much, much more. Little Havana deserves its own article, but you can view some of the best things to do in the neighborhood here!
- Book an Airbnb Experience. If I’m not on a tight schedule, I love to book Airbnb experience in nearly every city I travel to. With Airbnb experiences in Miami, you can go on culture walks, yacht cruises, food tours, and many more. Check them out here!
Miami Travel Guide: Where to Eat & Drink
Long story short: Miami is huge, there’s a lot of ground to cover, and it was pretty daunting to pick the absolute best places to eat in town. I’ll have to keep updating this list for years to come because there are always new restaurants popping up!
I’ve spent the most time in South Beach and Wynwood, so we’re going to break it down and share the best things to do in each neighborhood when you’re looking for things to do in Miami in the Spring:
Wynwood:
- Dr. Smood: A small chain in the Miami area that serves healthy breakfast options and great coffee. Great place to grab a quick bite to eat!
- SuViche: If you’re craving ceviche, sushi, or Peruvian fusion fare, SuViche is your spot. Lively, Instagrammable atmosphere and solid prices.
- 1-800-Lucky: Love Asian cuisine? This is the perfect place for you! 1-800-Lucky is a 10,000 square foot food hall that’s home to seven incredible Asian restaurants. Whether you’re craving sushi, ramen, dim sum, or Thai, there’s plenty of options to choose from here. Plus, they have a bumpin‘ soundtrack playing at all times, and quite possibly one of the best speaker systems I’ve ever heard in a food hall!
- Mr. Kream: Mr. Kream is a hip hop ice cream parlor (yes, you heard me right!!) They offer delicious, one of a kind flavors, a D.J., and they have quirky decor that pays homage to the rap greats.
- Dasher and Crank: Not gonna lie: we did a mini ice-cream tour of Miami (can you blame us?) Dasher & Crank was another one of our favorites: they make ice cream from scratch in house using local ingredients, and they have a great selection of vegan ice cream as well.
- Veza Sur Brewing Co: A fantastic brewery with a great outdoor space serving Latin-influenced beers. If you’re not that big into beer, you’ll likely love their beer cocktail offerings.
- J Wakefield Brewing: The brewery in Wynwood that any beer enthusiast needs to try. Very hip, Star Wars-themed tasting room, and a robust selection of IPAs, stouts, and sour beers.
Mid/South Beach:
- Diez y Seis: This restaurant has one of the best, most innovative brunches I’ve ever had! They offer a buffet-style, all you can eat brunch on Sundays for only $35, and they serve Mexican classics with a twist. For an extra $25, you can add bottomless bubbles. They have a taco cart, omelette station, raw bar, guacamole cart, a mezcal station, and more!
- TWENTY SEVEN: One of our favorite places to grab dinner in Miami Beach! There’s an option on the menu for everyone: from seafood to American classics with a twist. Plus, the ambiance and service were top-notch.
- Habitat: A super Instagrammable restaurant inside the 1 Hotel that serves farm-to-table cuisine and incredible cocktails. They have a great selection of healthy meals on the menu, but you can also indulge in their premier selection of steaks and pasta.
- Miami ‘N’ Ice: For a sweet treat, head to Miami ‘N’ Ice for delicious rolled ice cream and creative pairings.
Have you visited Miami before? If so, what would you recommend as things to do in Miami in the spring? Let me know in a comment below!
P.S., if you need more travel inspiration, make sure to view my other travel guides here!
Photos by Tom McGovern
