Best Tours and Day Trips from Miami

Exploring Miami is synonymous with enjoyment: the weather is sunny and great, the food is delicious, and its Art Deco neighbourhoods and Cuban influence make this city a traveller's dream destination. Miami is much more than its nightclubs and Miami Beach's VIP resorts: let's discover the city and its surroundings!

When you think of Miami, do you think of a boardwalk with catwalk models on roller skates, in an Art Deco setting, with terraces and bars serving cocktails and playing loud music?

Then you're thinking of Ocean Drive, one of the most popular areas of Miami that you can tour by Segway on this tour of Ocean Drive. You'll see all the sights of the neighbourhood, as well as soak up its unmistakable atmosphere.

• Duration: 30 minutes
• Why I like it: It's a great way to get a taste of Miami Beach, as it's quick and accompanied by a guide who will give you an introduction to the area so you can explore it on your own afterwards.

This tour takes you around Miami Beach to discover the city's Art Deco gems, specifically located in the Art Deco Historic District.

Chic and timeless in equal parts, the aesthetics of the buildings in this area of Miami are a fantasy spiced with a touch of tackiness that is, quite bluntly, a delight for the eyes. Especially at night, a stroll through this district is like being magically transported to the Miami of Scarface or the fictional Vice City.

You can also visit the Art Deco museum, dedicated to exploring the history of these picturesque buildings and how their aesthetic was born out of an attempt to overcome the Great Depression of the 1920s.

• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Why I like this tour: Because it gives you an in-depth look at the history behind this unique area of Miami, which would otherwise be reduced to a stroll or a cocktail on the terraces.

What you will see

If you don't want to be limited to Miami's most iconic street, this tour will take you all over Miami Beach. Accompanied by a local guide, you'll cycle through South Miami Beach and discover, in addition to Ocean Drive, other points of interest such as Lummus Park Beach, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue, two of Miami's most important shopping streets, or the Casuarina House, Versace's mansion.

• Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Why I like this tour: Because it allows you to cover greater distances in less time thanks to the bike. Besides, Miami is the perfect city for cycling because of its climate and its areas adapted to skates and bicycles.

What you will see

Miami Beach is just one part of the city and on this tour you will discover all that Miami has to offer. On a full day tour of Miami and boat ride, you'll see the must-see sights that anyone who travels to this Florida city must explore, and you'll get to know Miami's most charming neighbourhoods.

Plus, as if that wasn't enough, this experience includes a boat ride on Biscayne Bay, south of Miami Beach, which you can enjoy with a Cuban coffee and WiFi on board.

• Duration: 8 hours
• Why I like this tour: Because it is, without a doubt, the most complete tour and includes the boat ride, which allows you to enjoy both experiences for a lower price.

What you will see

This full-day experience combines two of Florida's most popular places, the vibrant city of Miami and the Everglades, a wetlands reserve home to alligators, turtles, panthers, and many other animal species.

At the start of the tour, you'll take a tour of South Beach by bus, from where you'll see Ocean Drive and the surrounding area. Then you'll board a boat with WiFi on board and take a stroll along Biscayne Beach, viewing the marine wildlife of Florida's coastline. In the afternoon, you'll head to the Everglades and explore the swampy waters in search of native wildlife.

• Duration: 9 hours
• Why I like this tour: Because it's the best option if you want to visit the Everglades natural park without having to rent a car or worry about how to get there.

What you will see

Alex's Traveller Tip

Whatever tour you take, take a stroll through Little Havana. It's one of Miami's most characterful neighbourhoods and you'd be hard pressed to find its atmosphere in any other city in the US.

Bicycles are too boring for you? Segway rides don't really tickle your fancy? Bus tours make you sleepy? Well, then you're a restless ass and there's only one tour that will completely satisfy your adrenaline hunger, and that's the seaplane tour of Miami.

The flight lasts half an hour and from the seaplane you'll see Miami from above and its impressive Art Deco, which can be quite an experience to do when you arrive in the city, or to say goodbye to the city just before you head home.

• Duration: 30 minutes
• Why I like this tour: Because it allows you to enjoy the best views of Miami and its beaches with the most VIP experience in Miami.

What you will see

Little Havana is the Cuban quarter of Miami, whose epicentre is Calle Ocho, where you will find restaurants serving authentic Cuban cuisine, artisan cigar workshops and cafés where you can sample the best coffee in the city.

In short, this is a very picturesque neighbourhood that you should not miss, and even better if it is on this tour of Little Havana where you will discover the most charming streets in the company of a guide who will give you all the historical context to better appreciate this Cuban community in the heart of Miami.

What you will see

On this tour, a bus picks you up in Miami Beach and takes you on a guided tour of Key West and back from Miami. You can explore the small island town on your own, famous for its pastel-hued cottages, Ernest Hemingway's house, warm atmosphere and stunning beaches.

In total, you'll have 6 hours to explore the town at your leisure, or if you prefer, you can do activities such as a snorkelling tour, or a Key West tram tour. Just so you know, it takes about 3.5 hours to get to Key West by road from Miami. Be sure to research what activities you can do in Key West if you don't feel like exploring the city on your own.

• Duration: 18 hours
• Why I like this tour: Because it allows you to visit a beautiful beach town and spend a day away from the hustle and bustle of Miami.

The guides

On all tours you will be accompanied by a local guide who will narrate the tour in English, so that you can make the most of your trip with stories, anecdotes and traveller tips about everything you see.

What to bring

Unless otherwise specified, the tours are on foot and therefore I recommend that you wear comfortable shoes to enjoy the activity to the fullest.

How the booking works

Once you have booked your tour, you will receive a confirmation email. In most cases, just show this email to your guide at the meeting point on the day and time of the tour, but just in case, please read the details in the email carefully as you may need to print out a voucher or similar.

About food

One last thing to bear in mind is that most tours will end around lunch or dinner time. To avoid falling into tourist traps or not finding a place to eat, my recommendation is to check out the restaurants in the area in advance and even book a table.

If you prefer to visit the city in a more comfortable way, I recommend you to take a look at the Miami Hop On Hop Off bus tours. They allow you to sit back and relax while you see the sights of the city and take in the places that catch your eye and visit them on your own later. Find out more about tour buses in Miami in this post on Miami Hop on Hop off Bus Tours.

And if the city is not enough for you, how about a cruise to the Bahamas or Biscayne Bay? It's the perfect experience to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and spend some time enjoying the coolness of the sea. If the idea of a cruise appeals to you, take a look at this article about the Bahamas. Cruise Tickets in Miami.