Miami Holidays

Miami holidays hit different: Art Deco hotels on one side, the Atlantic on the other, and sunshine that barely takes a day off all year. It's part beach holiday, part city break, and all of it set to a Latin American soundtrack.

✨ Highlights of your Holidays to Miami

• South Beach South Beach is the postcard shot, a wide white-sand strip with Ocean Drive's pastel Art Deco buildings as the backdrop and the ocean behind them.

• Nightlife and food Miami's food scene runs on Cuban coffee, Peruvian ceviche, Haitian griot and just about every Latin American kitchen you can name. Little Havana is the starting point, but Wynwood and Brickell have their own thing going on. After dark, South Beach and Brickell keep the bars open late.

• The Everglades The Everglades National Park is under an hour's drive from most Miami hotels. Airboat tours through the sawgrass are the classic move, and you are almost guaranteed to spot alligators.

• Art Deco architecture The Art Deco Historic District on Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue is the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. Roughly 800 pastel-coloured buildings from the 1920s to 1940s line the streets, and the best way to see them is a self-guided walk (free) or a guided tour from the Art Deco Welcome Center.

• Shopping From the designer boutiques of the Design District and Bal Harbour Shops to the vintage stores of Wynwood and the outlets at Dolphin Mall, Miami covers every price bracket.

Good to Know - Miami Holidays 2026

• ☀️ Weather Miami is warm all year. Expect 25C in winter and 32C in summer, with a wet season from June to October that brings short, heavy afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain.

• 💶 Money A sit-down meal runs £12 / €14, a craft beer is £6 / €7, and a coffee is £4 / €5. Tipping is standard in the US: 18-20% at restaurants, £1 / €1 per drink at bars, and £1-2 / €1-2 per bag for hotel porters.

• 🌊 Fun fact Miami is the only major US city founded by a woman. Julia Tuttle convinced Henry Flagler to extend his railway south by sending him orange blossoms during the Great Freeze of 1894, proving Miami's frost-free climate while the rest of Florida's crops were ruined.

• 🎬 Miami has stood in for everywhere from 1980s drug-trafficking territory in Scarface to the playground of Bad Boys, Moonlight, The Birdcage and Will Smith's Miami video, the Art Deco backdrop is in more films than most actors

Miami is perfect for you if...

• You want a Florida beach holiday with late-night bars and a genuine city buzz when you are done sunbathing

• You have been promising yourself an Everglades trip for years and want a base where the national park is a day trip, not the whole holiday

• You are the kind of family that wants a pool, a beach and a theme park within reach (Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando are about three and a half hours up the road)

• You like your food with a Latin American accent

• You want guaranteed winter sun without a language barrier

What are the best beaches in Miami?

Beach holidays in Miami offer something for everyone, from sun-worshipper to adrenaline-junkie, with over 20 miles of Atlantic coast to explore. Take a look at these top beaches in Miami:

• South Beach The headline act. A wide, flat stretch of white sand running from South Pointe Park up to around 23rd Street, backed by the Art Deco buildings of Ocean Drive. The southern end (below 5th Street) is quieter and more local; the mid-section around 10th to 14th is the busiest, with lifeguard towers, volleyball nets and people-watching that borders on competitive sport.

• Crandon Park Beach Over on Key Biscayne, Crandon Park is the family pick. Calm, shallow water, a sandbar you can wade to, and a proper park with covered picnic areas and a nature centre behind it. Less scene, more space. Parking is around £5 / €6 per car.

• Haulover Beach North of Bal Harbour, Haulover is the locals' beach. The southern end is a good all-rounder with golden sand and decent surf. The northern section is a clothing-optional beach (one of the few legal ones in Florida). Lifeguards on duty year-round.

• Lummus Park Beach Technically part of South Beach, but the Lummus Park section (roughly 5th to 15th Street) has its own personality. The park itself runs between the sand and Ocean Drive, with a paved path for cycling or jogging, palm trees, and free outdoor gym equipment. It is the bit you have seen in every Miami photo.

• Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park At the southern tip of Key Biscayne, this state park beach is quieter than anything on Miami Beach. The Cape Florida Lighthouse (built 1825) is the landmark, and the snorkelling along the seawall is surprisingly good. Entry is around £5 / €6 per vehicle.

🏨 Where to Stay on your Miami Holidays

Miami's hotels range from Art Deco boutiques on South Beach to modern towers in Brickell and family-friendly resorts further up the coast. The collection leans into the beach and the city in roughly equal measure, with something at every price point. See all Miami hotels or browse our top picks below...

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best family hotels in Miami?

• Fontainebleau Miami Beach The landmark Mid-Beach resort. Multiple pools (including a kids' splash area), direct beach access, a dozen restaurants and bars, and enough space that families never feel like they are in the way. It has been on the Miami skyline since 1954 and runs like a self-contained holiday within a holiday.

• DoubleTree Resort & Spa by Hilton Ocean Point North Miami Beach, right on the sand with its own stretch of shoreline. Two pools (one just for kids), a spa for the adults, and suites with kitchenettes that save money on breakfasts. Close enough to South Beach for a day trip, far enough to feel like a proper resort.

• Holiday Inn Miami Beach Beachfront on Collins Avenue, with a pool, tiki bar and straightforward rooms. It does what families need: sand on the doorstep, reliable service, and a price point that leaves budget for the Everglades trip and Zoo Miami. A solid mid-range pick.

💑 What are the best hotels in Miami for couples?

• W South Beach Collins Avenue at 21st Street, with a design-led look, a rooftop pool, and direct beach access. The rooms face the ocean, the bar scene is good without being overwhelming, and the location puts you within walking distance of the Art Deco District and Lincoln Road. Rated 4.5 out of 5 across thousands of reviews.

• Pestana South Beach Art Deco A restored Art Deco building a few blocks from the sand, with a heated outdoor pool and a wine-tasting programme that gives it a boutique feel. The building has personality, the rooms are well kept, and it sits on the quieter side of South Beach without losing the atmosphere.

• Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove Away from the beach in leafy Coconut Grove, Mr. C is the couples pick for people who want to explore the city rather than stay poolside. Italian-run, waterfront terrace, and the calm of the Grove at night. A different side of Miami.

✨ What are the best luxury hotels in Miami?

• St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort North of Miami Beach in Bal Harbour, this is the top-end flagship. Butler service, a 14,000 sq ft spa, direct beach access, and Bal Harbour Shops next door for when the beach gets too relaxing. The kind of hotel where nothing is rushed.

• 1 Hotel South Beach Eco-luxury done properly. Reclaimed wood, living green walls, a rooftop pool, and a beachfront location at the north end of South Beach. The restaurants (Habitat, rooftop Watr) are destination-worthy in their own right. Rated 4.7 out of 5 with over ten thousand reviews. A Seedlings programme keeps younger guests occupied while parents use the spa.

• Faena Hotel Miami Beach If St. Regis is understated luxury, Faena is the opposite: bold, artistic, theatrical. Gilded columns, Damien Hirst installations in the lobby, and a cabaret theatre that feels like 1920s Buenos Aires. Both work, depending on whether you want your luxury quiet or loud.

🎉 What are the best hotels in Miami for groups?

• Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel Right on the sand at 17th Street, with a sociable pool deck, a lobby bar that draws a crowd, and rooms that work for groups who want to be in the middle of South Beach without the stiffness of a five-star. Rated 4.5 out of 5, and the location puts bars, restaurants and the beach within walking distance.

• Riu Plaza Miami Beach One of the larger hotels in the Art Deco District, with a pool terrace and an on-site restaurant. The size means group bookings are straightforward, and the South Beach location covers nightlife, restaurants and the sand in every direction.

• Greenview South Beach An Art Deco original on Espanola Way, the pedestrianised strip with restaurants and bars that feels like a European side street. Character rooms, good communal spaces, and a location that is already in the middle of the evening action.

💰 What are the best value hotels in Miami?

• Comfort Inn Downtown Brickell In Brickell, Miami's financial district, this is the value base for people who want city access over beach access. Clean rooms, free breakfast, and the Metrorail right there for getting to the beach without a car. Brickell's bars and restaurants are on the doorstep.

• Chesterfield Hotel & Suites On Collins Avenue in the middle of South Beach, which is a hard location to beat at this price point. The rooms are compact but the pool courtyard is a bonus, and you are steps from the sand.

• Extended Stay America Coral Gables Further from the beach in Coral Gables, but the kitchenettes in every room cut food costs significantly on a longer stay. Good pick for families or groups watching the budget who have a hire car.

👉 All hotels in Miami

🌍 Where to Stay in Miami

Miami is a city of distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own personality. Here's the lay of the land by demo.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Where should families stay on a Miami holiday?

• Miami Beach is the default family base, and for good reason. The beach is wide, the water is calm, and Mid-Beach (around 30th to 60th Street) gives you sand and space without the South Beach party scene. North Miami Beach and Sunny Isles Beach are quieter still, with larger resort-style hotels that suit families who want pools, kids' clubs and direct beach access.

• Coral Gables works if you have a hire car and want to spend as much time exploring as you do on the beach. The neighbourhood is leafy, safe, and significantly cheaper than anything on the water. Miracle Mile has restaurants and shops, and Venetian Pool (a spring-fed public pool built in a coral rock quarry) is a hit with kids.

💑 Where should couples stay on a Miami holiday?

• South Beach The South of Fifth (SoFi) end is the quiet, upscale part, below 5th Street. The restaurants are better, the crowds are thinner, and South Pointe Park has sunset views across Government Cut that compete with anything further up the beach. This is where Miami's couples tend to eat, drink and stay.

• Coconut Grove is the off-beach couples pick. Waterfront restaurants, a bohemian feel, and a pace that is noticeably slower than Miami Beach. The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is here, and Brickell's bars are a short ride away.

🎉 Where should groups stay on a Miami holiday?

• South Beach The stretch from Ocean Drive to Collins Avenue is where groups should be. The bars, clubs and restaurants run until late, you can walk everywhere, and the energy is built for a group holiday. Stay between 5th and 15th Street for the best concentration of nightlife.

• Brickell works for groups who want a city-nightlife base rather than a beach one. Rooftop bars, good restaurants, and a slightly more grown-up feel than South Beach. The Metromover is free and connects you to Downtown Miami and Bayside Marketplace.

🗣️ Local Lingo

Miami is officially bilingual. English and Spanish run side by side across the city, and in neighbourhoods like Little Havana and Hialeah, Spanish is the first language. You will get by perfectly well with English everywhere, but a few Spanish phrases will go down well.

• Hola oh-lah Hello

• Gracias grah-see-ahs Thank you

• Por favor por fah-vor Please

• Cuanto cuesta? kwan-toh kwes-tah How much does it cost?

• La cuenta, por favor lah kwen-tah por fah-vor The bill, please

• Dale dah-leh Go ahead / let's do it (this is pure Miami slang, borrowed from Cuban Spanish, and you will hear it constantly)

• Cafecito kah-feh-see-toh A small, strong, sweet Cuban coffee. Not just a drink but a social ritual. You order one at a ventanita (walk-up window) and stand around chatting while you drink it.

• Croqueta kroh-keh-tah A fried ham croquette. Miami's unofficial snack. You will find them at every Cuban bakery and most bars.

All-inclusive holidays in Miami

Miami is not the first destination most people think of for all-inclusive, but that is actually part of the appeal. Where Caribbean all-inclusives keep you inside the resort fence for the whole trip, Miami's all-inclusive hotels will still give you meals and drinks but are also in the middle of a city with its own restaurant scene, nightlife and day trips on the doorstep. You get the convenience of not worrying about the bill at breakfast, lunch and dinner, with the freedom to wander off-plan whenever you feel like it.

The all-inclusive options here skew towards the larger beach resorts rather than the boutique end. That means pools, sun loungers, buffet spreads and (usually) a beach bar. If your main goal is to arrive, unpack once and not think about money for a week, it works. If you also want to go out, explore Little Havana, hit the Wynwood Walls, or take an Everglades airboat trip, you can do that too and still get back in time for lunch, or dinner.

Some Miami all-inclusive packages include premium drinks and speciality restaurants; others cover the basics with top-ups for the fancier options. Either way, you are looking at real savings over restaurant prices in South Beach every day.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best all-inclusive hotels in Miami for families?

• DoubleTree Resort & Spa by Hilton Ocean Point The all-inclusive package here covers meals for the whole family across the resort's restaurants, plus drinks by the pool. Two pools (one for kids), direct beach access, and suites with kitchenettes if you want to supplement with snacks. The North Miami Beach location means space and quiet that South Beach cannot match.

• Clinton South Beach A South Beach option with all-inclusive meal plans available. The boutique feel is a different proposition from the larger resort setup, and the Washington Avenue location puts restaurants within walking distance for the nights you want to eat out.

💑 What are the best all-inclusive hotels in Miami for couples?

• Faena Hotel Miami Beach The all-inclusive here is the premium version: speciality restaurants, cocktail bars, and beach service all covered. The theatrical setting and Mid-Beach location make it the romantic pick, and having meals included means you can spend the splurge on the spa instead.

• Hilton Bentley Miami Beach All-suite, all-inclusive, and at the quiet end of South Beach. Meals, drinks and the rooftop pool are all in the package. South of Fifth is the couples' end of the beach, and having meals covered makes the otherwise premium location more manageable on the budget.

🎉 What are the best all-inclusive hotels in Miami for groups?

• Sherry Frontenac All-inclusive keeps group costs predictable, which is half the battle when you are splitting bills six ways. The Mid-Beach location and sociable pool area work for groups who want a base to come back to between South Beach nights out.

• DoubleTree Resort & Spa by Hilton Ocean Point The all-inclusive package, the multiple pool areas, and the suite options with kitchenettes make this the group-friendly resort pick. Big enough that a group of eight will not feel like they are on top of each other.

Cheap holidays to Miami

Miami has a glitzy reputation, but it's a surprisingly kind city to a careful budget. The beaches that make the postcards (South Beach included) are completely free, wandering the Art Deco district costs nothing, and downtown's Metromover is that rarest of things, a free ride with a skyline view. Eat where the locals eat and the prices drop fast: a ventanita coffee window in Little Havana does a cafecito and a pastelito for pocket change, and the Cuban lunch counters beat the beachfront strips on flavour and price.

On the hotel side, the value picks do real work: Comfort Inn Downtown Brickell and Chesterfield Hotel & Suites keep you central for less, and Extended Stay America Coral Gables adds a kitchen, which quietly halves a week's eating-out bill. When you compare hotels, remember to add the nightly resort fee of £14-£24 / €16-€28 that many Miami hotels charge at check-in, and remember to check parking charges if you're hiring a car, so you're not getting any nasty surprises at checkout.

If you want to travel at a popular time, then book early. Especially for winter sun and school-holiday dates, when Miami's warm-all-year appeal makes it one of the first long-haul pages to fill, and keep an eye on low-deposit deals so the upfront cost stays small.

Finally, saving money doesn't mean you can't also have fun. Happy hours run generous along Ocean Drive and in Brickell's bars, and a sunset from South Pointe Park is the best free show in Florida.

Holidays to Miami – Travel Guide 2026 / 2027

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on a Miami family holiday?

• Miami Seaquarium A marine park on Virginia Key with dolphin shows, sea lion encounters, a penguin exhibit, and a splash zone for younger kids. Allow half a day.

• Zoo Miami The only tropical zoo in the continental US, with animals in open-air habitats rather than cages. The splash playground is a lifesaver on hot days. It is a big site (750 acres), so allow a full day.

• Wynwood Walls An outdoor street-art museum in the Wynwood Arts District. Free to walk past, small entry fee for the curated courtyard. Kids love the colours, and the surrounding streets have more murals on every block. Good for a morning combined with lunch at one of the Wynwood food halls.

• Everglades airboat tour The classic Miami day trip. Multiple operators run from points 30-50 minutes west of the city. You will see alligators, possibly manatees, and the sawgrass prairie stretching to the horizon. Most tours last one to two hours.

• Jungle Island An interactive zoological park on Watson Island between Miami Beach and Downtown. Lemur encounters, a Neotropical bird aviary, and a treetop ropes course. More hands-on than Zoo Miami, and smaller (half a day is enough).

💑 What are the best things to do for couples on a Miami holiday?

• Little Havana food walk Walk Calle Ocho (8th Street) with a cafecito in hand, stopping at Azucar Ice Cream, Ball & Chain (a 1935 music venue still going strong), and whichever domino-game crowd draws you in at Maximo Gomez Park. Self-guided is free; organised food tours run around £50 / €58 per person.

• Vizcaya Museum and Gardens A 1916 Italian Renaissance-style villa on Biscayne Bay, with formal gardens, grottos, and views across the water. One of the most photogenic spots in Miami.

• Sunset cruise on Biscayne Bay Multiple operators run evening cruises past Star Island, Fisher Island, and the Downtown skyline at golden hour. Most are 90 minutes, BYOB-friendly, and cost around £25 / €29 per person.

• Design District Miami's luxury shopping and gallery neighbourhood. Even if you are not buying, the architecture (buildings by Zaha Hadid, the Institute of Contemporary Art admission-free) and the people-watching are worth an afternoon. Good brunch spots too.

• South Pointe Park at sunset Free, no booking required, and the view from the tip of South Beach across Government Cut to Fisher Island is one of the best in the city. Bring a takeaway dinner from a nearby restaurant and eat on the grass.

🎉 What are the top things to do for groups on a Miami holiday?

• South Beach bar crawl Start at the rooftop bars around Collins Avenue (Juvia, Sugar at EAST Miami), work down to the clubs on Washington Avenue, and finish with late-night pizza on Espanola Way. Miami's nightlife does not get going until 11pm, so pace accordingly.

• Speedboat tour of Biscayne Bay More adrenaline than the sunset cruise. The tours blast past celebrity mansions on Star Island, Fisher Island and the Venetian Islands, with a running commentary on who lives where. Around £25 / €29 per person, 45 minutes.

• Kayaking or paddleboarding in Key Biscayne Rent boards or kayaks on Virginia Key or Crandon Park and explore the mangrove channels. Calmer than it sounds, good for groups of mixed fitness and suprisingly reasonable.

• Calle Ocho and Little Havana The group version of the couples food walk, but with more emphasis on the live music venues and the rum bars. Ball & Chain has live salsa most nights. El Patio Wynwood is another group-friendly spot with open-air dancing.

• Everglades airboat tour Works for groups as well as families. Several operators run group discounts, and the spectacle of twelve people screaming at their first alligator sighting makes for a holiday highlight.

🏝️ More Destinations

• Florida, the full state hub with every coastal resort, theme-park city and inland destination

• Fort Lauderdale, the canal-laced "Venice of America" 45 minutes north with beautiful beaches and the Las Olas Boulevard shopping strip

• Orlando, Florida's theme-park capital with Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld, four hours north of Miami

• Key West, the colourful, quirky end of the Florida Keys road trip, four hours south on the Overseas Highway

• Key Largo, the first of the Florida Keys, 1.5 hours south, brilliant snorkelling and diving territory