A magical week in Miami
Miami has something to offer everyone, so lets dive into how we spent a week there and what places I recommend going to.
Which area to stay in Miami?
We arrived late and because of insane jetlag flying from Norway we decided to take an easy night to get our bearings. We were staying in South Beach at the Essex Hotel, and we loved it. I would definitely recommend staying in this area when visiting Miami. I have been to Miami before, but I really have to say that having South Beach as a base elevated the experience. The reason is that Miami is HUGE, so it's hard to get around and get a really cozy feeling other places, whereas South Beach on the other hand is close to the beach, walk-able, there are plenty of restaurants, the area is super pretty and it really has everything you need. Plus its relatively easy to travel to other places in Miami from.
Exploring South Beach - what to do?
Even if you are staying in South Beach or not this is definitely a must visit on your trip to Miami. Since we stayed here we spent a lot of the time on the beach just soaking up the sun and relaxing. We spent a couple of days just exploring South Beach. I recommend sticking to one side of the beach per day if you are walking or alternatively rent a bike and explore quicker if you are in a rush. There are bikes and roller blades for rent everywhere. On the northern part I recommend checking out Espanola way for a super cozy vibe and lots of nice restaurants, the rainbow crosswalk and the Gucci house. The only way to come in and see is to either live there or reserve a table for dinner or see if its possible to pop in for a drink or two.
Generally just soak up the atmosphere along the boardwalk. No matter where on the beach you end up you will find the colorful houses for life guards. Everyone has different colors and trademarks, it is super cute!
On the southern part of the beach you will find the panorama view over Miami and the pier, which is beautiful and definitely a must visit. No matter where you end up walking you will love it. The area is so cozy, everything is built in the Art Deco style form the 20's which makes it super charming. It is also a super fun place to people watch! Check out Muscle beach or all the people driving around in their fancy Lamborghinis. And of course hit the beach. We spent half the day on the beach which was amazing. I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the water was even in February. There is not a lot of food or drinks options on the beach so make sure to bring something. And if your hotel does not have a collaboration with some beach chair vendors it was quite pricey. Where I checked it was 65 dollars for 2 chairs.
Explore more of Miami - What to do?
We opted to leave the car behind in South Beach. Instead we decided to do a Hop on Hop of bus, very touristy, but sometimes it works like a charm! I would recommend buying the two day ticket. We did not and felt like we had to stress to see all the things. Would definitely split it up if I were doing it again and wanted to see everything.
I would recommend stopping in the Wynwood area. This are is an outdoor street art gallery, with the Wynwood walls at the center. Take a walk around here, marvel at all the cool wall art, have an ice cream or some food at one of the local cafes and just relax in this vibrant part of Miami.
The design district was kind of cool too, but not as interesting as I hoped for. But if you love designer stores and window shopping, or if you really want to buy something fancy, this is the place for you.
Next up is Little Havana. Such a cool place! Its colorful, there is live music everywhere and amazing Mojitos! Its not a super huge area, but definitely worth a visit and set aside some time to walk along Calle Ocho (Eight Street), watch a game of dominoes at Maximo Gomez park and maybe grab a drink or two with some food at one of the authentic Cuban restaurants.
Hope you will enjoy your time in Miami, we definitely did!