Miami is young by American standards—incorporated in 1896—yet it pulses with layered stories: Tequesta roots, a 20th-century boom, and waves of Caribbean and Latin American migration that shaped its voice, cuisine, and music. Today’s Miami is a mosaic: Art Deco pastels in South Beach, street art explosions in Wynwood, guayabera-lined Calle Ocho, and sleek towers in Brickell.

For travelers, the city is generous. Beaches are free, the Metromover downtown is free, and many neighborhoods are best explored on foot. The food scene hums from ventanitas pouring Cuban cafecito to modern diners and food halls that stretch your dollar with flavor and flair.

Practical notes: summer is humid and stormy; winter is balmy and busy. Hydrate, use reef-safe sunscreen, and check hurricane season advisories if visiting August–October. Expect standard US tipping (15–20% for table service), casual dress by day, and smart-casual at night.

Miami

The name “Miami” likely traces to the Indigenous Mayaimi people around Lake Okeechobee, and the city’s soul is still defined by water—Biscayne Bay, the Atlantic, and the “River of Grass” Everglades. Between sunrise swims and sunset sails, slot in murals, gardens, and legendary Cuban sandwiches.

• Top sights: Art Deco Historic District, Wynwood Walls, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Venetian Pool.
• Food highlights: Cuban classics (Versailles, Sanguich de Miami), Haitian griot, Peruvian ceviche, and Miami Beach staples like La Sandwicherie and Time Out Market Miami.
• Local tips: Use the free Miami Beach Trolley and the free Metromover in Downtown/Brickell. Citi Bike Miami day passes are an affordable way to cruise the boardwalks.

Where to stay (budget to splurge): Browse apartments and condos on VRBO Miami or compare hotels on Hotels.com Miami. Great picks: Freehand Miami (stylish, social, and wallet-friendly with the beloved Broken Shaker bar), Loews Miami Beach Hotel (family-friendly on the sand), The Setai, Miami Beach (serene Art Deco icon), Four Seasons Hotel Miami (Brickell skyline views), and The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami (quiet island feel).

Getting to Miami: Fly into MIA (most convenient) or FLL (often cheaper). Search deals on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com flights. From MIA, Metrorail to Brickell/Downtown is about 20–35 minutes (~$2–3), the Miami Beach 150 Airport Express bus is budget-friendly, and rideshares to South Beach typically run ~25–40 minutes depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, Art Deco Glow, and Ocean Air

Afternoon: Land and settle into your hotel or VRBO. Shake off the flight with an easy stroll along Lummus Park and the Miami Beach Boardwalk—sand on one side, candy-colored Art Deco hotels on the other. Grab a late lunch at La Sandwicherie (fresh baguette sandwiches, add their famous vinaigrette) or Under the Mango Tree (smoothies and açaí bowls).

Evening: Join a self-guided walk through the Art Deco Historic District on Ocean Drive. Look for porthole windows, neon, and terrazzo floors—1930s glam preserved in pastels. Dinner on a budget: Puerto Sagua (classic Cuban plates), Time Out Market Miami (many stalls; good for groups), or Taquiza (nixtamalized blue-corn tacos). Nightcap at Sweet Liberty (award-winning cocktails, frequent happy-hour deals) or a sunset wander to South Pointe Park pier.

Day 2: Beach Morning + Biscayne Bay Cruise

Morning: Early swim and coffee at Panther Coffee in Sunset Harbour. Rent Citi Bikes to roll the boardwalk north toward Mid-Beach. Brunch at Big Pink (hearty, diner-style portions) or 11th Street Diner (retro car-diner serving all-day breakfast).

Afternoon: See Miami from the water on the Biscayne Bay Millionaire's Row Sightseeing Boat Tour (usually 90 minutes; great skyline and celebrity home views without breaking the bank).

Board near Bayside Marketplace; plan extra time for check-in and a bayfront stroll.

Evening: Head back to South Beach for an affordable dinner: La Leggenda (excellent Neapolitan pies) or Huahua’s Taqueria. For music without cover, try the lobby bar at The Betsy or casual live sets at Lagniappe in Midtown (bring-your-own-cheese vibe; pick a bottle and sit in the garden).

Day 3: Wynwood Walls, Design District Finds, and Night Music

Morning: Breakfast at Zak the Baker (grab babka or the shakshuka) and coffee at Panther Coffee Wynwood. Explore Wynwood Walls—rotating murals by international artists; the adjacent blocks are an open-air gallery.

Afternoon: Lunch at Coyo Taco (al pastor and guacamole are winners) or 1-800-Lucky (Asian food hall with poke, ramen, and bao). Hop to the Miami Design District to window-shop galleries and public art; the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) offers free admission—great for budget travelers.

Evening: Back to Midtown/Wynwood for dinner on the cheap: Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop (Cuban sandwiches and batidos) or Doya (split a few meze to keep costs down). Chill at Lagniappe’s backyard for live music, or sip a craft beer at Veza Sur.

Day 4: Little Havana Culture + Food Tour

Morning: Start on Calle Ocho with a pastelito and cortadito from a ventanita (try guava and cheese). Watch the regulars play dominoes at Máximo Gómez Park and peek into cigar rollers’ shops for an old-world craft demo.

Afternoon: Dive deeper with the Little Havana Food and Walking Tour in Miami—a tasty, story-filled walk through Cuban Miami, usually including empanadas, guarapo (fresh sugarcane juice), and music history.

It’s a smart way to combine lunch and culture on a budget.

Evening: Stay for live salsa at Ball & Chain (check the stage schedule). If you want a quieter sit-down meal, El Exquisito offers classic Cuban entrées that won’t stretch the wallet; finish with inventive scoops at Azucar Ice Cream (try “Abuela Maria”).

Day 5: Everglades Airboat Adventure + Brickell Night

Morning: Get out into the “River of Grass” on the Everglades Airboat Safari Adventure with Transportation—roundtrip from Miami and a thrilling glide through sawgrass while you learn about gators and birdlife.

It’s one of the best-value nature experiences near the city.

Afternoon: Back in town, refuel at El Palacio de los Jugos (roast pork, yuca, tropical juices). If energy remains, wander Museum Park by the bay; PAMM’s sculpture garden is great even if you skip the ticket. Free Metromover loops make it easy to hop around Brickell and Downtown.

Evening: Brickell after-dark on a budget: Blackbird Ordinary (happy-hour deals and DJs) or Tobacco Road by Kush (throwback Miami bar grub). Cheap, tasty dinner options include Bodega Taqueria (Brickell) or Sergio’s for Cuban comfort food.

Day 6: Coconut Grove, Vizcaya, and Key Biscayne Beaches

Morning: Coffee at Panther Coffee Coconut Grove, then stroll shady streets to Peacock Park and the marina. Tour Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, a 1910s Italianate estate with bay views and ornate gardens—Miami’s Gilded Age fantasy.

Afternoon: Lunch in the Grove at Chug’s Diner (Cuban-American plates; the frita burger is a hit). Then head across the Rickenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne for sand time at Crandon Park or Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (small entrance fee; lighthouse views at sunset).

Evening: For a splurge-worthy view, plan an early dinner at Rusty Pelican (downtown skyline over the water). Budget alternative: pack a picnic from Publix and eat on the beach as the sun fades.

Day 7: Full-Day Key West Excursion

Trade skyscrapers for conch houses on the Miami to Key West Day Trip with Activity Options.

Expect an early pickup and ~3.5–4 hours each way over 42 bridges, including the famed Seven Mile Bridge. In Old Town, stroll Duval Street, snap the Southernmost Point, tour the Hemingway Home, or add snorkeling. Grab Cuban Coffee Queen for caffeine and Kermit’s Key Lime Pie for dessert before the sunset bus home.

Day 8: Coral Gables Greens + Venetian Pool

Morning: Breakfast at Threefold Cafe (great eggs and toast) near the University area, then head to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden for palms, butterflies, and rainforest walks (plan 1.5–2 hours).

Afternoon: Cool off at the historic Venetian Pool, a 1920s coral rock oasis filled with spring water (capacity-controlled; go earlier on weekends). Lunch nearby at MKT Kitchen (rotisserie and salads) or grab an arepa at a local spot along Miracle Mile.

Evening: Browse independent books and occasional author talks around Miracle Mile. Dinner at Bulla Gastrobar (share tapas to keep the bill friendly) or La Palma for Cuban staples. Gelato for dessert as you window-shop Mediterranean Revival storefronts.

Day 9: Last Swim, Lincoln Road, and Departure

Morning: Catch a final sunrise at South Pointe Park, then brunch at News Cafe (historic, unfussy) or Big Pink if you missed it earlier. Walk Lincoln Road for souvenirs and people-watching; the Miami Beach Trolley makes neighborhood hops free and easy.

Afternoon: Pack up and head to the airport. If flying late, stash bags with your hotel and steal one more dip. Check Trip.com or Kiwi.com for any last-minute flight changes or seat upgrades.

Budget tips throughout: Free Metromover (Downtown/Brickell) and free trolleys (Miami Beach and many neighborhoods) save cash. Aim for weekday lunch specials, food halls (Time Out Market Miami), and Cuban cafeterias (fast, filling, affordable). Bring a refillable water bottle, and plan beach picnics—sunset dinners on the sand are priceless and free.

In nine days, you’ll sample Miami’s full spectrum: sunrise swims, Art Deco fantasies, Little Havana rhythms, Wynwood murals, Everglades wilds, and a road trip over the sea to Key West. With savvy transport and smart dining, it’s an easy city to love on a budget, and even easier to return to for seconds.