Miami attracts visitors from all over the world every year. Its natural beauty, vibrancy, weather, beaches, architecture, food scene, and art give both locals and tourists so much to do and enjoy. And while in recent years Miami has become a bit expensive, there are many things one can try for free.
Below is our list of recommendations. We have tried to keep it simple and help you plan your days in Miami by areas of interest.
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Enjoy these Miami museums for free
- Institute of Contemporary Arts – a fantastic museum and always free. Be sure to complete the online registration to avoid having to do it at the museum. We highly recommend the daily 1pm guided tour – excellent guides who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the museum’s exhibits.
- De la Cruz Collection – see the large Rosa and Carlos De la Cruz collection of paintings, sculptures, and installations on display in this free museum. You will have to register onsite to enter but it is a great venue to visit.
- Perez Art Museum – on the second Saturday of every month you can visit this excellent contemporary art museum free of charge. 20th and 21st century art is on display and there are often great temporary exhibitions.
- New World Center designed by Frank Gehry – take a docent-led tour of this magnificent venue, designed by world renowned architect and designer Frank Gehry. It is an architectural masterpiece and must-see for architecture lovers. View a virtual tour of the venue here.
- Miami Dade College Museum of Art and Design – free on Thursday evenings, this museum displays artworks by emerging artists across its campuses.
- Wolfsonian, Florida International University – this university museum is located in a beautiful Art Deco building. On display are early 20th century objects and design. Admission is free and it is a fun and thought-provoking museum.
See public art installations
The city of Miami has many public artworks by world renowned artists on display. Art is something woven into the fabric of Miami. Here are our favorite areas to view some excellent artworks.
- Miami Design District – quite possibly one of the best places in the USA to see public art installations. Among the works on display are Buckminster Fuller’s Eye Dome, the teal swings of GT2P named Conscious Actions, Virgil Abloh’s Dollar a Gallon and many more. Be sure to check the Events calendar here and discover what might be of interest during your visit.
- Wynwood Walls – this open-to-the-public street art museum is so much fun to explore. Large-scale art is on display in this huge urbanization project. Artists go through a detailed submission process in order to create artworks here. There is so much to see and ponder. A must stop for anyone interested in art who is visiting Miami.
- Art Outside – a public art exhibition initiated by the Bass Museum of Miami Beach. A number of art installations can be seen in Collins Park and around the Bass Museum.
- Art in Public Places – public art commissioned by the city of Miami Beach as part of a city initiative that started back in the mid 90s.
Watch a free concert or a movie
- New World Symphony Wallcast concerts – between October and early May, view live classical music and performances. Bring a picnic and sit under the sky for a beautiful experience. You can check the event schedule here.
- Jazz at MOCA – listen to live jazz on the last Friday of each month at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami.
- SoundScape Cinema Series – each Wednesday from October through May, watch a movie screening at SoundScape park in Miami Beach. You can find the 2023 schedule here.
Explore Miami’s architecture
Miami is known for its Art Deco architecture, but the city’s skyline continues to expand, and beautifully designed buildings are plentiful. If you are an architecture lover, the city offers much to see and admire.
Brickell
- Icon Brickell – a three-tower complex designed by the firm Arquitectonica, the complex and hotel have interiors by the renowned French designer Philippe Starck. See the 100 heads – some with eyes – supporting the three buildings that the Moai Statues of Easter Island. A truly unique and whimsical design that you can walk through and enjoy.
Midtown Miami
- 1000 Museum high-rise – walk to Maurice A. Ferré Park, turn back, and admire the design of the 1000 Museum high-rise by world renowned architect Zaha Hadid. An iconic building by one of the world’s best architects.
- The Jewel Box (2100 Biscayne Blvd, Miami) – see the unique design of the Jewel Box, a venue which hosts shows for young artists. The building was designed by Ignacio Carrera-Justiz. The glass works on each side depict the rum-making process and are based on designs by the German artist Johannes Dietz. A very unique structure. You can read more about it here.
- Perez Art Museum – visiting the museum is not free, except on the second Saturday of each month. However, you can explore the exterior and admire the hanging gardens and works of art displayed around it. Sit on the museum’s steps and enjoy the view of Miami Beach in the distance.
Miami Beach
- Art Deco Architecture – no trip to Miami is complete without exploring its Art Deco Architecture. An excellent but not free walking tour is offered by the Miami Design Preservation Society. A free alternative is a self-guided walking tour – see details here.
Visit some of Miami’s farmers’ markets
- Vizcaya Village Farmers Market – open on Sundays
- Redland Market Village – opened Thursday through Sundays
- Lincoln Road Farmers’ Market – open on Sundays
- Coconut Grove Farmers Market – open on Saturdays
Ride for free in Miami
- Miami Metro Mover – from 5am to midnight, you can ride the free metro mover to get around the central parts of the city. It is an above ground metro that will provide you with a way to get to some of the parks, museums, and areas of interest while also getting a great view of the city and bay.
- Miami Trolleys – ride the free trolleys to get around both Miami and Miami Beach. The trolleys are airconditioned and run from 8am to 11pm every day of the year. You can find more information and the extensive trolley routes here.
Take a free tour
- Miami Beach Culture Crawl – from October through May, on every 3rd Thursday of the month, you can partake in the Miami Beach Culture Crawl.
- Biltmore Hotel Tour – participate in a docent-led tour of the historic Biltmore hotel given by the Dade Heritage Trust. The tours are open to the public on every Sunday at 2pm.
Walk some of the beautiful parks
Miami has many parks that you can visit and enjoy for free. Some of our favorites include:
- South Pointe Park Pier – this park is a popular place to visit. We especially like it in the evenings as it gets lit up and you can see the city skyline from a distance. Another great time to come is on Sundays around 5pm when many big cruise ships leave port. You can get really close and admire these giant sea vessels.
- Museum Park (1075 Biscayne Blvd) – a great park outside of the Perez Art Museum and the Frost Museum of Science.
- Lummus Park (1130 Ocean Dr) – a nice beachfront park with workout areas and children’s playgrounds. Also, this park provides easy access to Miami Beach.
- Brickell Key Park (Brickell Key Dr) – a small but very scenic park in Brickell. Beautiful any time of the day but especially impressive at night as you can see the Miami skyline and the lights around Miami Bay.
Take a free yoga class
- Vizcaya Village – free Sunday yoga.
- Bayfront Park (301 Biscayne Blvd) – donations-accepted yoga classes. You can view the class schedule here.
- Soudscape Park – free yoga on Sunday mornings
- Poolside yoga at the AKA Brickell hotel – Saturdays and Sundays at 9am
- Yoga with The Underline – Saturdays at 9am at the Brickell Backyard Sound Stage
- Yoga by the South Pointe Totem – every Thursday at 10am
Additional active things to do
- Bike along the Old Cutler trail – a 13.5-mile bike ride along some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the Miami area. You can see a route map here.
- Walk or run on the Miami Beach Boardwalk – a beautiful 7 mile stretch from the southernmost point of Miami Beach to Surfside. You can see a map here.
- Walk, run, or bike the Brickell to Key Biscayne path.
- Spend some time enjoying Miami Beach, because we just cannot not mention the beach 😊.
In closing, Miami offers so much to see and do, and you can enjoy a variety of activities for free. We hope that our guide gives you some insights and inspirations for your next trip to Miami.
[All pictures taken by the Styled Traveler]
Additional resources and inspirations
Here are some links to additional resources you might find useful and inspirational for your trip to Miami:
by Drone Profs
by Wonderliv Travel
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