Sit back and enjoy the best of Miami Beach. Find everything you need for a wonderful vacation at a top notch beach destination. Hear the word Miami and the first thing that may come to mind is the beach. Miami beach has mile after mile of sparkling waters, golden sands, tanned tourists, celebrity-studded hotels, and nonstop nightlife. You can look at the glamorous images, or you can come see for yourself! Miami Beach, from South Beach to North Beach, is a legendary resort destination, setting high standards for hospitality, but always renewing and renovating to catch the latest waves of visitor expectations. Miami Beach offers a variety that goes far beyond sun and sand, to include world-famous nightlife and world-renowned art galleries, first-class hotels and second-to-none dining, designer shopping and a unique architectural style that makes it one of the world’s most visually distinctive regions. Visit the beaches of Miami here.
Weather – When to Visit Miami Beach
The warm season lasts from May 29 to September 29 with an average daily high temperature above 88°F. The hottest day of the year is August 7, with an average high of 91°F and low of 75°F. The cold season lasts from December 5 to February 24 with an average daily high temperature below 79°F. The coldest day of the year is January 18, with an average low of 57°F and high of 76°F.Airports
Best Miami Beach Area Beaches
21st to 45th Street Beach
21st to 45th Street Beach has clean, soft sand and translucent azure water and a great fishing pier. But you won’t find the snack shops, concession stands, or lifeguards here. This beach has jog-worthy sand, calm water, and luxurious oceanfront hotels and beach clubs. This beach also features a long section of the Miami Beach boardwalk, a perfect place to take a walk or just people-watch.
Lummus Park
A picture-perfect strand, Lummus Park is located in Miami’s South Beach neighborhood, within the city’s vibrant Art Deco District. People-watching is as popular a pastime at this fun and beautiful locale as swimming, sunbathing, and body boarding.
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Bal Harbour Beach
Bal Harbour is a small stretch of strand backed by the most luxurious beachfront hotels. The beach is about three miles north of North Beach, is as luxurious as you’d expect from such an exclusive neighborhood. Plus, it boasts the softest, whitest sand. You’ll also find plenty of exquisite shops here.
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South Beach
South Beach is the most famous beach offering miles of soft sand, a happening boardwalk, and plenty of things to do (like swim, shop, sunbathe, dine, and play volleyball). Its easy to see why South Beach is so popular.
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Crandon Park
Crandon Park has over 800 acres. This is a quiet, laid-back, and photo-worthy gem. The turquoise waters are translucent, calm, and shallow, making them a perfect spot for families to splash about. There are plenty of things to do on this Miami beach – it’s also home to a winding, picturesque boardwalk.
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Best Miami Beach Restaurants
Joe’s Stone Crab $31 – 60
Though Joe’s boasts a full selection of fresh seafood and steaks with full-time fish and meat butchers tasked with cutting the perfect piece of flesh, it’s the stone crabs that people fly across the globe for. The claws, served with the restaurant’s signature mustard sauce, are the reason why people keep going back. Telephone: 305-673-0365 Web: Joe’s Stone Crab
Stubborn Seed Above $61
The 70-seat restaurant features industrial lines interspersed with graffiti, allowing focus to be drawn to the food. A menu features items under the categories of “Raw/Snacks” and entrées of “Meats/Fish.” If you have time, opt for a $95 tasting menu that provides nine courses with luxury embellishments that are rotated based on seasonality. Telephone: 786-322-5211 Web: Stubborn Seed
Macchialina $31 – 60
Macchialina is an energetic, casual Italian taverna featuring the bold, seasonally inspired cooking of Chef Michael Pirolo. The recipe is simple, clean flavors, fresh ingredients & rustic accents. The 70-seat establishment emits a warm, inviting and hip ambiance that feels as if it has been plucked from the streets of New York City. Telephone: 305-534-2124 Web: Macchialina
Planta $31 – 60
The menu is extensive and on the culinary cutting edge, offering impressively creative dishes such as ahi watermelon nigiri, melt-in-your-mouth cauliflower tots, an omnivore-inspired meat lover’s pizza, and a Planta burger. Telephone: 305-397-8513 Web: Planta
The Bazaar by Jose Andres Above $61
Your palate will never experience a dull moment — from liquid nitrogen caipirinhas (that drink like adult sorbets and rouse oohs and ahhs throughout the under-the-sea-like white dining room) and the onion soup with foie gras cappuccino to the airbreadcubano ($12), chock-full of Swiss foam and topped with house-made pickles and Ibérico pork meat that literally explodes in your mouth. Telephone: 305-455-2999 Web: The Bazaar by Jose Andres
Best Miami Nightlife
Rusty Pelican
Popular with tourists and a fun spot to take out of town guests, the Rusty Pelican is one of Miami’s landmark lounges located on Key Biscayne and offering dramatic views of the Downtown Miami skyline. Stop in at sunset to enjoy the best of the bar area, serving drinks until 11pm weeknights and 1am on weekends. Perfect for a pre-dinner toast or a romantic nightcap, the Pelican Bar also offers happy hour discounts weeknights from 4-7pm. Telephone: 305-361-3818 Web: Rusty Pelican
River Yacht Club
Enjoy food, drinks, music and fun as the sun sets and the city’s top DJs spin for a well-dressed crowd. If you’ve got the income for a Van Dutch yacht, you can make your entrance via the dock area with all eyes on your pricey boat. Otherwise, be content to relax under a tropical gazebo sipping cool drinks and sizing up the crowd. Telephone: 305-200-5716 Web: River Yacht Club
Smith & Wollensky
Smith & Wollensky is a popular steakhouse with a waterfront bar offering stellar views of massive cruise ships slowly steaming out to sea. Folks in the know gather around 4pm to toast the afternoon with a round of drinks and a cool ocean breeze. Enjoy classic cocktails, a well-curated wine list and tasty bar bites in good company seven days a week. Telephone: 305-673-2800 Web: Smith & Wollensky
Nikki Beach Club
Nikki Beach Club provides private beachfront access at the southernmost part of Ocean Drive. With full bar and dining service both indoors and alfresco, the club is an ideal spot to spend a lazy weekend afternoon surrounded by some dazzling beach bodies. Telephone: 305-538-1111 Web: Nikki Beach Club
Ricky’s South Beach
Ricky’s South Beach is a downmarket bar, restaurant and live music venue adjoining Bodega Taqueria on 16th Street just west of Alton Road. Part of the Menin Hospitality collection’s new ventures in the area, Ricky’s offers nostalgic arcade games, a carnival-inspired menu by Chef Bernie Matz, and a broad selection of beer, whiskey and craft cocktails. Telephone: 305-704-3602 Web: Ricky’s South Beach
Thanks for another great beach travel guide. It looks like there are so many attractive places to go and relax that only you need is a thick wallet in your pocket.
Most of all I am intrigued about Miami Deep Sea Fishing Charter Therapy IV and Miami Pirate Duck Tours. It looks exciting.
You would enjoy for sure. Miami Beach has a lot to offer for all ages. Yes, Miami Beach is probably one of the more spendy areas of Florida, but well worth it!
This was a very informative guide. I have traveled to quite a few places, and my next destination is to the one and only MIAMI! I had originally planned to go in June, in hopes of beating the heat of July and August; however, I think now– you have persuaded me to go at closer to October. I think it won’t be too hot then (and presumably, still warm enough to enjoy the beach).
The guide of restaurants to visit was a great addition and more than helpful… I have a friend who visited Osteria del Teatro last year and raved about how fabulous the menu is. So guess what’s first on my places to visit?!
As always, great guide for us travel enthusiasts!
I think you will have a fantastic time! Every place recommended is great, you just might have to try each place 🙂
Ever since I went on my first cruise back in September, I have admired the atmosphere that Miami had. We spent a day in town before we boarded for our cruise, and I was in love with the city and the vast cultural experiences that it offered. So much so until I would like to move there.
I did not get a chance to visit the beaches though. Where would you recommend that I start? I know that South Beach is very popular of course.
I would start at South Beach and work my way up! And I am moving there in a couple of months….can’t wait.
Your page is crammed with awesome info to make the most out of a trip in Florida and that’s not just for beach lovers and sunbathers. I am not the kind who will sit around all afternoon in the hope of perfecting my tan.
I spent the past 3 weeks enjoying the beach, the waves and the sun in Bondi beach, Sydney. There is a lot to do there to, but if i’d found a page like this one about Bondi it would have been a great help.I like the “things to do part” part.
Thank you Pierre and yes, I did review Bondi beach, and plan on a vacation guide for there as well.
This is an awesome travel guide! I’ve got family in Miami and they recommend many of the same destinations that are in this guide. Miami is definitely the top travel destination in Florida, and I’ve personally been there to visit the Disney theme park. Again, a lot of the places you recommended are things I’ve heard locals recommend at well, so it’s cool to see that this is a guide you can trust!
Thank you Patrick and I am glad you found the information spot on and useful!
When you think of going to Florida Miami is definitely the top pick. I was in Miami once for about an hour. Landed there to catch a cruise ship so you might say I really did not see any of the great things that you have described on this site.
I would love to someday take a vacation to Miami. I can see my husband and I enjoying the beaches and would love to take the Miami Pirate Duck Tour.
Also the restaurants that you showcased sound delightfully delicious.
The only thing that does concern me is how high is the crime rate. I think years ago it was pretty high but I do believe that has changed for the better. Is that right?
Yes, Miami is better now as far as crime is concerned. And along the beach, it is definitely better. Thank you for reading Maureen.
Leahrae,
Great website very detailed and appears that all the necessary information you need to book a trip are covered.
There’s one except, over the past two years there has been Security Issues in and around some of the Caribbean Islands . This is definitely an item I for one will be looking for when I do book a trip.
Regards,
Gary
I would recommend that most definitely. I think that is why travel within the U.S. has increased. Thank you for visiting Gary!
I love Miami!!!, I want to go on Holidays with my wife and kids, do you know places to hang out with kids, I know there is a zoo right? can you give some info about that.
Last time we went to Ocean Drive to eat some seafood, but they are so many, is there any nice restaurant can you recommend me?
I will definitely try the shops you suggest in your site,
Thanks
Marcelo
Yes, the restaurants I listed are the best ones to go to. Yes, go to the Zoo Miami. Their website is http://www.zoommiami.org. Another good choice with kids is Jungle Island. Jungle Island is an interactive zoological park in Miami Florida where you can meet and interact with some of nature’s most amazing creatures. Thanks for reading!
My husband and I have wanted to visit Miami forever, I’m so glad I came across your site. Thank you for all of the very useful information! Is there a restaurant where you are almost sure to run into a celebrity?
Ok, the restaurant Zuma, Dirt, Komodo Miami, STK Miami Beach, El Tucan and the Wall Lounge are all places you will see celebrities. Thanks for visiting Misty!
Your site has me glued to the screen. This is some really good information. I have always thought of a vacation in Miami. Your information is really easy to follow and narrows down my decisions. The Priceline estimator is a great touch to the site, I can easily know how much I need and budget for the holiday. Thanks again!
I am so glad it was helpful. Thank you Joseph for visiting Miami Beach Travel Guide.
This is another highly targeted niche that’s very interesting to middle class and above type of audiences. The article itself is very comprehensive as it gives complete guidance for those who are interested to go to Miami beaches. From the airport, weather, car rentals, restaurants, bars and activities, you couldn’t ask for more.
Thank you and I am glad. Exactly what I was shooting for 🙂 Hopefully you can make it there one day, and I would be glad to help with your travel plans to Miami Beach!
nice post 🙂 i really need a vacation after a hard working summer and Miami beach look nice:)
I live in a wonderful place, Rhodes, Greece but no time at all in the summer to enjoy it . you know… touristic jobs:))
Did you think to write about the beaches here?Greece was nr 1 in Europe touristic destination this year:)
your post was great, with the detail I need and i relly enjoyed it 🙂
Cristina
Thanks Cristina and yes I did write about the beaches in Greece because they are wonderful! The link is http://www.beachtraveldestinations/best-beaches-of-Greece 🙂 Glad you enjoyed and you are lucky to live there!
Really nice site. I like how it’s like a one-stop for travel and town info. You made everything short and sweet, and a lot of it! I will probably try Amsterdam, but I’m not sure. I’ve been to Fort Lauderdale. You know, it would be great if locals everywhere would do what you did, because why would you go to Expedia, when you could have one page with all the stuff you’re looking for on one page? Best o luck!
Thank you so much Eddie! I am glad you like it. More of a beach niche, which Expedia doesn’t do I don’t think anyway. Thanks for visiting Beach Travel Destinations.