Things to see in Miami
Attractions
Miami Beach
A cluster of tiny coastal towns located on a slender sandy island, Miami Beach is the place to go for top-class watersports, among them windsurfing, jet-skiing, sailing and parasailing. The best beaches start at Lincoln Road Mall and extend northwards to 87th Street. The historic boardwalk is also home to pretty Art Deco lifeguard stations. Haulover Beach, located on the north side, is clothing-optional so if you like to sunbath in the nude, this is the place to be.
Address: Miami Beach, Off the Julia Tuttle Causeway, Miami,Telephone:
Opening times:
Daily 24 hours.
Website: http://www.miamibeachfl.govAdmission Fees:
No
Disabled Access: NoUNESCO: No
Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove is one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods and has been continuously inhabited since 1873. Settled by a multicultural group of Bahamians and New Englanders, it is now a trendy district with a bustling village atmosphere, full of colourful galleries, theatres, nightclubs, fine restaurants, hip sidewalk cafés and shops.
Address: Coconut Grove, Off the South Dixie Highway, Miami,Telephone: +1 305 461 5506
Opening times:
Daily 24 hours.
Website: http://www.coconutgrove.comAdmission Fees:
No
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Little Havana
After Fidel Castro took power of Cuba in 1959, refugees fleeing the country settled just west of downtown Miami in a neighbourhood now known as Little Havana. Today, this colourful district has a distinctly Latin atmosphere with signs in Spanish, Cuban coffee bars and restaurants, small cigar factories and street-side food stalls.
Address: Little Havana, Around South West 22nd Avenue, Miami,Telephone:
Opening times:
Daily 24 hours.
Website:Admission Fees:
No
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
This excellent contemporary art gallery, which looks out across Biscayne Bay, owes much to Jorge Pérez, the property tycoon whose name hangs above the door. He has bequeathed much of his collection to PAMM, which is made up of 20th- and 21st-century photography, prints, sculptures and paintings. Visiting exhibitions change regularly.
Address: , 1103 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, 33132Telephone: +1 305 375 3000
Opening times:
Fri-Tue 1000-1800, Thu 1000-2100.
Website: http://www.pamm.orgAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
HistoryMiami Museum
A must for anyone interested in getting an insight into Florida’s past, this museum has a small but impressive collection of hands-on displays, archive material, historical objects and multimedia presentations. Covering some 10,000 years, it stretches from Seminole Indian artefacts to an aviation collection. It also hosts regular temporary exhibitions.
Address: Downtown, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, 33130Telephone: +1 305 375 1492
Opening times:
Tue-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1700.
Website: http://www.historymiami.orgAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Wolfsonian Museum
Affiliated with Florida International University, the Wolfsonian is a quirky collection of 180,000 objects amassed by an eccentric world-traveller. One-of-a-kind exhibits address several 19th- and 20th-century political themes, but the most interesting displays show propaganda and the art used to persuade, nationalise and rally citizens.
Address: Miami Beach, 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami, 33139Telephone: +1 305 531 1001.
Opening times:
Mon-Tue 1000-1800, Thu 1000-1800, Fri 1000-2100, Sat 1000-1800, Sun 1200-1800.
Website: http://www.wolfsonian.orgAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami is a state-of-the-art cage less zoo, with more than 310 species of animals roaming the 116-hectare (290-acre) grounds, separated by moats from spectators. Wildlife shows, a petting zoo, tram tours, monorail, gift shops, food courts and a playground provide fun for all the family.
Address: SW 152nd Street, 1 Zoo Boulevard, Richmond Heights, 33177Telephone: +1 305 251 0400.
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 1000-1700, Sat-Sun 0930-1730.
Website: http://www.zoomiami.orgAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Design District
This creative neighbourhood is home to over 100 galleries and studios, as well as spectacular public art displays including the Fly's Eye Dome, a geodesic dome designed by architect and systems theorist Buckminster Fuller and the much anticipated Institute of Contemporary Art.
Address: , 140 North East 39th Street, Miami, 33137Telephone: +1 305 722 7100
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 1100-2000, Sun 1200-1800. Restaurant hours may vary.
Website: http://www.miamidesigndistrict.netAdmission Fees: Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
This magnificent 34-hectare (83-acre) botanical garden, landscaped by William Lyman Phillips, contains an extensive collection of rare tropical plants, a vast conservatory, 14 lakes and lily ponds, and even a rainforest exhibit that is set between a waterfall and stream. A variety of educational programmes and narrated tram tours are available.
Address: Coral Gables, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami, 33156Telephone: +1 305 667 1651
Opening times:
Mon-Sun 0930-1630.
Website: http://www.fairchildgarden.orgAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya is a beautiful Italian Renaissance-style palace set in 17 hectares (43 acres) of picturesque formal gardens. Built as a winter residence for Chicago industrialist James Deering between 1914 and 1922, the mansion is neo-classical by design, and its 70 rooms are filled with antique furnishings spanning the 15th to 19th centuries. Tours are available.
Address: Coconut Grove, 3251 South Miami Avenue, Miami, 33129Telephone: +1 305 250 9133.
Opening times:
Wed-Mon 0930-1630.
Website: http://www.vizcayamuseum.orgAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Coral Gables
Local developer George Merrick created this elegant, Mediterranean-style residential district during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. Situated approximately 10 km (6 miles) southwest of downtown Miami, Coral Gables is known for its art galleries and also boasts the exclusive Miracle Mile shopping street, numerous golf courses and spectacular Art Deco architecture.
Address: Coral Gables, Off Coral Way, Miami,Telephone: +1 305 446 6800
Opening times:
Daily 24 hours.
Website: http://www.coralgables.comAdmission Fees:
No
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
Address: Brickell Key, 701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2700, Miami, 33131Telephone: +1 305 539 3000.
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0830-1800.
Website: http://www.miamiandbeaches.comTourist passes
The Go Miami All-Inclusive pass (www.gocity.com/miami) grants admission to over 27 attractions, activities and tours. It is available as a one, two, three, four or five-day pass.
With the Go Miami Explorer pass three, four or five attractions can be visited within 30 days.