FREE THINGS TO DO IN MIAMI

  • 1. Bayside Marketplace – Enjoy a drink along the water (or on it), snagging a seat at one of Bayside Marketplace’s big-name restaurants or setting off on a sunset cruise touring Biscayne Bay’s islands.
  • 2. Visit South Beach – The famed South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach glitters with nightlife — even after the sun comes up. Though it’s known for attracting the rich, famous, and youthful, it has become recognized around the world as a vacation destination everyone can enjoy, from celebrities to families of all ages. Lounge on the beach, see South Beach’s historic Art Deco architecture, and experience fine oceanside dining. Shop at the Lincoln Shopping District, an eight-block-long mall featuring Art Deco architecture with more than 200 shops and restaurants on either side of the street, or at historic Española Way. By day, get outdoors and hop on a Citi Bike or head to beachfront Haulover Park for fishing, tennis, and golf. Families with children will love Flamingo Park’s water playground, swimming pools, and walking trails. When the sun goes down, check out the legendary South Beach nightlife, from dance clubs to dive bars, and for a club experience during the day, go to Mango’s Tropical Cafe, which evokes 1930s Cuba with Latin food, music, and dancing.
  • 3. Go to Seminole Hard Rock and Casino – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is the flagship casino resort of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. This world-renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination unveiled a $1.5 billion expansion on Oct. 24, 2019. Offerings include 638 upscale guestrooms in the first-ever Guitar Hotel, 168 luxury guestrooms and unique swim-up suites in the adjacent Oasis Tower at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, and 465 newly redesigned guestrooms in Hard Rock Hotel for a combined room count of 1,271 throughout the resort. Additional amenities include the lush, “Bora Bora” style lagoon with private cabanas and butler service; a 42,000 square-foot Rock Spa® & Salon; a 13.5-acre recreational water experience for swimming, kayaking and paddle-boarding; 19 dining outlets and 20 bars and lounges; an expansive gaming floor with 3,100 slots, 195 table games and a 45-table poker room; 120,000 square feet of premier meeting and convention space including a 38,000 square-foot, carpeted exhibition hall; and The Shoppes at The Guitar Hotel, a 26,000 square-foot retail promenade. The highly anticipated Hard Rock Live entertainment venue with a 7,000-person capacity, will showcase A-list entertainers, comedy acts, Broadway performances, sporting events and live broadcast productions. The integrated resort is located on 87 acres of the Hollywood Seminole Reservation along State Road 7 (U.S. Highway 441), and is 10 minutes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Miami and Miami International Airport.
  • 4. Explore Downtown Miami and Brickell – Brickell is the city’s financial center, where glittering business towers and luxury condos tower over Biscayne Bay. Rooftop bars and surf ‘n’ turf grills cater to the banking and business crowd, while the art galleries and fashionable boutiques in the Brickell City Centre attract chic locals. The Brickell Avenue Bridge spans the Miami River and has views of the waterfront Miami Circle park and archaeological site.
  • 5. Lummus Park – It doesn’t get more “Miami Beach” than Lummus Park, a ten-block South Beach stretch bisected by the winding Beach Walk and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and iconic Ocean Drive on the other. The action at this urban oasis stretching along Ocean Drive from 5th Street to 14th Place starts early as runners, walkers and cyclists gather to catch the sunrise while they log their morning miles. If you’re not feeling quite so energetic, don’t worry. Just cross over to the beach and climb the steps of one of the lifeguard towers for bird’s-eye views of the beach and uninterrupted sunrise selfies. As the sun rises and Miami Beach wakes up, so does Lummus Park, coming to life with early risers in search of morning coffee. Families call early dibs on the park’s playgrounds, one for little ones (ages 2-5) and the other for bigger kids, up to age 12. Active types meet on the sand for heart-pumping volleyball games before it gets too hot. There’s plenty to do here when you visit. Rent a chaise and umbrella on the nearby beach (or just bring your towel; the park has changing facilities) and settle in for a few hours of sunbathing, swimming and people watching. Rent a bike or skates and enjoy refreshing breezes as you navigate the beachfront path. For the fitness-minded, Lummus Park features two outdoor gym areas. On “Muscle Beach” at 9th Street, you can perfect your L-Sits, muscle ups and handstand push-ups on an assortment of bars and rings, as well as MyEquilibria’s sculptural Leopard Tree and Beast structures, which serve as multi-workout stations and public art. The park also offers drop-in fitness classes and bootcamps.
  • 6. Art Deco Historic District – An area of Miami Beach noted for its concentration of over 800 Art Deco buildings all within one square mile.
  • 7. Explore Cuban Culture at Little Havana – Little Havana is home to Cuban exiles and immigrants from central and south America. This is the reason why it was named after the capital city in Cuba. It is recognized as the center of social, cultural, and political activity in Miami and is also known for festivals like the Three Kings Parade and the Calle Ocho Festival. The home for Cuban exiles also features some amazing landmarks like the Latin Walk of fame and the SW 8th Street. Street life, restaurants, and music characterize Little Havana.

BEST NON-FREE THINGS TO DO IN MIAMI

  • 1. Jungle Island – Jungle Island is one of the prime entertainment and tourist destinations in the city of Miami. The place was formerly known as the Parrot Jungle. This contemporary theme park has been in existence for more than eight decades and comprises of more than 300 vibrant birds, rare twin orangutans and the only trained Cassowary in the world. The Island is also known for its rick tropical landscape. At the Jungle Island, visitors get to enjoy viewing the animals, playing paintball, airsoft, and nerf games. See tickets.
  • 2. Miami Zoo – Miami Zoo is the oldest and the largest zoological garden in Florida. It is also the only sub-tropical zoo in the continental United States. Miami Zoo is home to a wide range of animals from different parts of the world, including Asia, Australia, and Africa. The animals feature a mix of species, which is rare for zoos in the United States. The lush and tropical open-air landscape makes it suitable for the different species of animals. It also makes it a safe place for endangered wildlife.
  • 3. Miami Seaquarium – This is a 38-acre tropical paradise characterized by its spectacular view of the skyline. The Miami Seaquarium is also known as the place where dolphins walk on water, and extraordinary whales fly through the air. It is home to some of the most amazing sea lions that both parents and kids of all ages enjoy seeing. The marine-life entertainment park features eight different species of marine animal shows hosted at different times of the day. At the Miami Seaquarium, there is a Dolphin Harbor, where visitors can enjoy hands-on experience with the mammals.
  • 4. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens – The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was formerly known as the Villa Vizcaya. James Deering, a famous businessman formerly owned the property. It is currently owned by the Miami Wade Country and is open to the public. The museum and gardens consists of 50 acres where the villa and gardens, as well as the remaining of the native forest, lies. The garden section is made up of Italian Renaissance gardens with a native woodland landscape and a historic village outbuilding compound. The landmark is constructed in an open-air courtyard and has undergone a series of reconstructions.
  • 5. Airboat Ride in Everglades National Park – This is an American National Park that hosts twenty percent of the original Everglades in Florida. It is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States and of any kind in the East of the Mississippi River. After Death Valley and Yellowstone, it is the third-largest national park in the contiguous US. The national treasure is home to some incredible geographic features, a network of wetlands and forests. The national park covers slightly more than 1.5 acres throughout Dade, Monroe, and Collier counties in Florida.
  • 6. Take the Big Bus Miami Open Top Hop-On-Off Tour – By taking the bus tour, you can explore some of the most popular sites in Miami. The tour will take you through some of the top attractions in Wynwood, Coconut Grove, Little Havana, and South Beach. It allows you to enjoy the flexibility of exploring the city at a pace that you can control. The big bus tour features live on-board commentary and also allows you to enjoy the unparalleled views from an open-top double-decker style bus. You can also opt to take a double-decker bus night tour which takes you through South Beach and downtown Miami and see the city lit up at night.
  • 7. Enjoy Miami Combo Tour; City Sightseeing, Biscayne Bay Cruise & Everglades Airboat Ride – Escape to the wilderness of the Florida Everglades and see Miami by bus and boat on this guided, full-day, city sightseeing adventure. This exciting full-day combo package includes a coach tour around downtown Miami and beyond, a boat ride on the Everglades, plus a cruise on the crystal clear waters of Biscayne Bay. See the sun-splashed Miami skyline, Miami Beach and much more. Then enjoy a narrated airboat ride through the unique ecosystem of the Florida Everglades. Take in the scenery and look for Florida’s abundant wildlife, especially alligators.
  • 8. Get a Taste of South Beach Food Tour – Experience the vibrant culture and diverse cuisine of the bustling South Beach neighborhood of Miami on this guided small-group food tour. Led by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable local foodie guide, various cuisines at some of the most popular restaurants in South Beach. Learn about the history, culture, and architecture of the trendy, quirky Art Deco District and find out why it’s one of the most popular hot spots in the world. Food tastings and beverages included. Sample a wide variety of foods from around the world. Learn about South Beach’s culture, architecture and history. Fun for the entire family. Small-group tour ensures a personalized experience.
  • 9. Try the Seaplane Tour of Miami – See Miami in a whole new way on an exhilarating seaplane tour! Delight in lovely aerial views as you glide over Miami’s stunning coastal hotspots like Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove, Star Island and South Beach. Enjoy colorful storytelling from your experienced pilot and check out white-sand beaches, unbelievable mansions and Miami’s signature Art Deco architecture from above. Take off and land on the water of Key Biscayne. Admire incredible aerial views of downtown Miami’s mansions, beaches and skyscrapers. Fly past sites such as Coconut Grove, Star Island, and South Beach. Enjoy narration from your friendly, experienced pilot.
  • 10. Official Miami Millionaires Sightseeing Cruise – Step aboard a fun sightseeing cruise in Miami, showcasing beautiful views of Biscayne Bay and the homes of the rich and famous. Enjoy panoramic views of Miami’s skyline, the vibrant Port of Miami, secluded Fisher Island, and the sun-kissed shores of Miami Beach, all with bilingual commentary. Witness the opulence of Miami Beach mansions and create lasting memories. Check-in at the Bayride Ticket Kiosk behind Victoria’s Secret at Bayside Marketplace. Each group receives a complimentary photo as a souvenir.

RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS NEAR THE CRUISE PORT

BARS NEAR THE CRUISE PORT