4 Days in Miami

Miami has long been a hotspot, but with so many people moving there in recent years, it has exploded. Visiting this vibrant city in south Florida is on many people’s lists and if it’s on yours, let me help! While I live in central Florida, my brother lives in south Florida, so I have been to Miami many times!

I was most recently in Miami a month ago and I was shocked by the crowds and growth! So I’ll review the top spots, what’s worth it and what isn’t and I’ll also offer some insight to areas around Miami that would help make it a memorable trip for you!

Before you dive in, I want to be transparent: this article includes affiliate links. This simply means that if you click on the link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. Rest assured, the article includes my genuine advice and it won’t cost you anything extra. Your support is greatly appreciated. Happy reading!

Day 1 | Explore Miami’s Famous Beaches & Art Deco District

Let’s start your 4 days in Miami at its most iconic spot, Miami’s South Beach! You have choices of how to spend your day even in Miami Beach! Dine at a world class restaurant, do a bike tour, walk and shop, or simply relax on the beach!

Relaxing on the Beach

Living in central Florida, I try to avoid crowds, so relaxing on a crowded beach isn’t my thing. Thankfully, Miami Beach has plenty of other things to do! However, if a lively beach is your thing, then you’ll have some great options!

If you want to truly unwind, plan some time at a spa before or after your beach time!

Art Deco

My favorite thing I’ve done in Miami Beach is the art deco tour! Now I happen to love the art deco, so that is probably why I loved the tour! It gave a lot of context to Miami’s early days and I loved taking in all the various art deco designs!

I did the original art deco tour, but you can do it from a segway or in true Miami fashion with a cocktail!

Ocean Drive and Shopping

Ocean Drive has some of the best art deco in Miami as well as some world class restaurants. If you’re on a budget, they have some more standard fare as well, so don’t worry!

If you’re in the mood for some shopping, there’s a great mall called Lincoln Center! They have everything from Sephora to Nike and Macy’s to Marshalls, so head over to Lincoln Road if shopping sounds good for part of your 4 days in Miami itinerary.

Parks & Gardens

For the most iconic Miami experience, check out Lummus Park. You’ll get the beach, views of the art deco, shade from palm trees and green grass!

If you like gardens, Miami Beach Botanical Garden is for you! Admission is free to walk around these beautiful and lush grounds! Perfect for a quiet morning or a cool day!

Another good option for a stroll is South Pointe Park Pier. You can walk and admire the ocean, appreciate the people fishing and maybe even get a glimpse of the cruise ships passing by.

Restaurants

While in Miami Beach, don’t neglect the food scene! Here are some considerations, but this is not an exhaustive list! The options seem endless, so if you’re a foodie be sure to enjoy a meal in Miami Beach!

• Macchialina | Italian
• Stubborn Seed | Fine Dining with Top Chef winner
• Joe’s Stone Crab | A Miami institution since 1913
• Pao by Paul Qui | Modern Asian Fare
• Pane e Vino | Italian

Day 2 | Cultural & Nature Experiences

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

I visited Vizcaya Museum and Gardens not that long ago and loved it! The grounds and estate are absolutely beautiful. Go in the morning or on a cool day, so you can really enjoy the gardens. Plus it’s on the water which really adds to the beauty!

The current ticket price to visit is $25. While it’s not a free experience, you can easily spend two to three hours exploring and taking photos of this beautiful property.

Little Havana

I’ve been to Little Havana twice and I absolutely recommend it as a stop during your 4 days in Miami. My first time was to do the Little Havana Food and Walking Tour, which I loved! The second I just walked around and visited, but I have to say the food tour made my time there so much richer! If you can afford it, I absolutely recommend the food tour!

However, if you just want to go and wander around, that is also an option! Versailles is a famous Cuban restaurant in Miami, and it’s okay. The food was decent, but the atmosphere is more diner than Cuban. On the Little Havana Food and Walking Tour, we stopped at Habana Vieja and it was excellent! I loved the vibe overall, the Cuban sandwich was delicious and the live band out front added to the whole experience!

For a more enriching experience in Little Havana, I recommend the
Little Havana Food and Walking Tour!

Wynwood Walls

Wynwood has grown leaps and bounds in recent years! I’ve been numerous times and saw the Wynwood Walls when it was free to see them. Then saw them again, when you had to pay due to crowd control after 2020. A couple months ago, I visited the area again and was amazed by the growth.

There are so many different types of restaurants now. Some swanky, some bohemian style, some modern and there is even a food court style area with pickle-ball courts! You’ll find various shops as well, and even if you don’t want to pay for the Wynwood Walls, there are murals all over the Wynwood area. This is a popular spot and for good reason, so consider spending some time here during your 4 days in Miami.

General admission to the Walls is $12 for adults and the official tour is $20, which would give added insight and color to the experience.

Book the Wynwood Walls “Inside the Walls” Official Tour on Viator | $20

Design District

It’s been a while since I was last in the Design District, but I love this area in terms of atmosphere. However, it doesn’t offer much. There are some restaurants and shops, but it’s not as good for shopping as Brickell or Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road.

Since it’s not too far from Wynwood, you could potentially add this to your day, but unless they’ve added a lot more shops or you eat in this area, you won’t spend much time here.

Day 3 | Key Biscayne & Coconut Grove

Key Biscayne

Key Biscayne has been on my list, but I have yet to make it. I’d love to explore the area including Crandon Park and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.

If you want to visit the state park, I suggest doing that first thing if you visit on the weekend. It can get very busy or even full on the weekends. There’s a lighthouse and some trails in the small state park, but it looks beautiful! As of now, it costs $4 to visit.

Crandon Park is another option in Key Biscayne. This park can also get packed on the weekends, so keep that in mind. The cost is $7 during the week and $10 on the weekends. You can walk or bike the trails, or simply relax on the beach!

While I haven’t been to Key Biscayne, I have gone jet skiing in Biscayne Bay! It’s perfect as it’s a larger area with plenty of room for fun on the jet ski!

Coconut Grove

My first time in Coconut Grove was several years ago and Ioved it! It feels very different from Miami Beach, at least to me. It is one of Miami’s oldest neighborhoods, offering a mix of lush streets, art galleries, boutiques, trendy restaurants, and waterfront parks.

I was in the area a couple months ago and the crowds were NYC level! There was a line outside the door of a small coffee shop, and every restaurant was at capacity. It was a weekend, so I suggest going during the week if possible.

Enjoy the shops at CocoWalk or have a nice meal along Commodore Plaza. Of course, a nice dinner is also an option in Coconut Grove!

Coral Gables

Not far from Coconut Grove, you’ll find Coral Gables. It’s more upscale, formal, and historic, with Mediterranean Revival architecture. Visit Miracle Mile, an elegant shopping district, for a stroll or enjoy some excellent dining!

I haven’t spent much time in Coral Gables, but I have driven through and can confirm it’s a beautiful area! A few places to consider for this area include Venetian Pool, Biltmore Hotel, or Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

Day 4 | Day Trip Options

Florida Everglades

The Florida Everglades are near Miami, but still a bit of a drive. If you want to visit the national park, you are better off renting a car and driving. However, if you are happy to experience an airboat in the Florida everglades, but not technically inside the National Park, then an Everglades tour with a pickup option is the way to go!

Everglades Tour from Miami with Transportation

If you rent a car and want to visit the Everglades National Park, the closest area to Miami is Shark Valley Visitor Center. It will take anywhere from one to two hours depending on traffic. Should you decide this route, be sure to have water, a hat and sunscreen especially if you decide to walk the trails.

As with all national parks, the cost is $35 per vehicle or you can purchase an annual pass for all national parks in the country for $80. There is a tram tour, which will cost extra. If you plan to visit November through April, it’s recommended to make reservations!

If you want to check this national park off your list, then it’s a perfect option as a day trip during your 4 days in Miami!

Florida Keys

Another day trip option for your 4 days in Miami is a visit to the Florida Keys! Key Largo is the closest of the Florida Keys to Miami and will take about an hour and ten minutes without traffic. Of course, no traffic is unlikely these days so expect closer to two hours on average.

Key West

Key West is the furthest of the Keys and will take three hours and ten minutes up to four and a half hours to drive! However, there is a tour that offers transport from Miami and will give you six hours in Key West. If you really don’t want to drive, this Miami to Key West Day Trip with Activity Options is worth considering for a taste of Key West.

Key Largo

If you don’t mind driving and enjoy snorkeling, my recommendation is a snorkel tour in Key Largo! One reason is the drive is half of what it is to Key West and while Key Largo doesn’t have a downtown area to explore like Key West, it is a great snorkeling spot! There’s a Christ of the Abyss statue in Key Largo and you can explore some of Florida’s barrier reef! Key Largo Two Reef Snorkel Tour is the one I did, and it was a great experience!

Cruisin Tikis Key Largo is a great option if snorkeling doesn’t interest you, but being on the water does! You will float in a Tiki hut as the sun sets. Bring your own beer and wear a swimsuit so you can take a dip as well!

Homestead

If you choose to drive to Kay Largo, I have some recommendations before or after in Homestead. I just visited Schnebly Redland’s Winery & Brewery a couple months ago and loved it! I’m not really into wine, but my friend and I booked a tasting.

Florida isn’t known for good wine, but this winery doesn’t make wine from grapes. Rather they make wine from various types of tropical fruit that can grow in south Florida! My friend and I both LOVED the coconut wine, but everything from lychee to pineapple to avocado was so fun to try!

I really enjoyed the experience, even though I’m not a big drinker of any alcohol. While at the tasting, a local couple suggested we visit Robert Is Here Fruit Stand, so we headed there after. The experience is the opposite end of the spectrum from the winery, but an experience nonetheless! There is a small zoo with goats and birds, which is the first thing we noticed. There is also a fruit stand as the name suggests, or you can order a milkshake!

Homestead is the country town of south Florida and is a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Miami. It’s worth stopping if you are driving to Key Largo. You can do the snorkel tour in the morning and then visit Homestead on the way back, or stop at the winery in the early afternoon before you drink some more on the Tiki hut during sunset.

If you have more time, Knaus Berry Farm sells cinnamon rolls that people line up for! My friend and I visited and enjoyed them. It’s worth a quick visit if you have time and you enjoy cinnamon rolls!

While I wouldn’t suggest Homestead as a priority during your 4 days in Miami, it’s worth considering if you drive to Key Largo.

Biscayne National Park

If you love ocean and nature, but you don’t want to drive to the Florida Keys, consider Biscayne National Park. I have only made it to the visitor center, but they offer some great tours!

The tours offered by Biscayne National Park will need to be booked through them. However, one well reviewed tour to consider of the bay is Sail Biscayne Bay: An Intimate Eco-Adventure. I considered doing this during one of my visits to south Florida, but ended up snorkeling in Key Largo. However, I’d definitely consider this on another trip.

How to Get Around

Since I live in central Florida, I always have a car because I drive down to Miami. While I can’t speak to the public transportation, you do have some good free options. Consider looking into Freebee or MetroMover because they service some popular areas of Miami for free! If you’re in Miami Beach area, look into the Trolley system.

For Miami in general, the easiest and best option will just be ride share apps like Uber and Lyft. Renting a car is also an option, but just know that parking can be difficult and also very costly. Once you’re in the neighborhoods you want to be, walking or biking will be perfect. Or utilizing the free public transport options.

The Big Bus Miami: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour is also an option! I’ve never utilized one in Miami, but it can be a great resource in a big city to hit all the major sights.

If you do want to venture out of Miami, renting a car or booking a tour are options. For ultimate freedom, the rental car is best, but if you have a specific place you want to visit and a tour is offered with pickup and dropoff, then that could be a great option during your 4 days in Miami.

Traffic: Miami has always had bad traffic, but it does seem to be bad throughout the day in more recent times. However, definitely try to avoid peak times of 7AM to 9AM and 4PM to 7PM.