Free Things to do in Miami Florida

Continuing the series of posts dedicated to budget travel in the United States, Samantha from the blog Intentional Detours shares her tips for the best free things to do in Miami, showing that you can visit Miami on a budget and still make the most of the city!

Let’s face it… Miami is far from cheap. The Magic City is known for its picture-perfect weather, beaches, and a whole lot of glitz and glam. But that doesn’t mean you need to be rolling in dough to enjoy this sub-tropical paradise!

After living in Miami for 5 years as a college student, I know a thing or two about enjoying the city on a budget. Affordable accommodation and restaurants do exist, and surprisingly, there’s a ton of amazing activities to do that do not cost a single cent. So, without further ado… here are the top 10 best free things to do in Miami that will make you fall in love with the city!

Know Before You Go to Miami

How to Have an Epic (and Cheap) MiamiTrip

I love finding free things to do wherever I travel, and you can have an amazing time without spending any money at all. Many people think a trip to Miami has to be expensive to be good fun but that’s just not true! In fact, it is easy to visit Miami on a budget if you take advantage of all the free things to do in Miami.

However, some incredible experiences in Miami might be worth paying for if you have the budget to do it. Perhaps by compromising and saving money on some things, you can afford to splurge a little on a unique experience in Miami that you really want to do!

The Best Free Things to Do in Miami Florida

Lounge Amongst the Palm Trees on Key Biscayne

While most automatically associate Miami with South Beach, there are numerous other places to choose from in the metropolis, including my personal favorite: Key Biscayne.

A small island, Key Biscayne is situated just south of Miami’s main downtown area and offers relaxing and beautiful beach vibes far away from the noise of the city.

There are several beaches along the “key” but for me, the best option would be Crandon Park. The massive park has hundreds of palm trees, white sand, and tons of space for those outdoor lovers who prefer to enjoy the water alongside nature.

When you’re driving onto Key Biscayne, you’ll also notice a handful of parking lots on your right side as you head over the iconic bridge. These beaches might not be as secluded as Crandon Park, but are perfect places to see the sunset over the water! 

Visit Museum Park

One of the best free things to do in Miami is to visit the beautiful Museum Park. This “urban beach” as I like to call it is located in downtown Miami and overlooks Biscayne Bay. The park is a perfect free place to relax and enjoy the city’s sunshine.

What’s more, is every second Saturday of each month, the Perez Art Museum (which is on the park’s grounds) offers free admission! Perez has a wide variety of unique and modern art, it’s a must-see if you happen to be in the city on the right day.

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Explore Wynwood

Wynwood is Miami’s arts district, and it’s famous for its iconic Wynwood Walls, which is essentially an outdoor street-art museum. The murals change frequently and are always impressive no matter what they depict.  It’s one of the most colourful places in the world, with street art everywhere you look!

Aside from the walls, Wynwood has a whole is one of the cutest neighborhoods in Miami and is a perfect place in the city for travel photography as there’s always something going on there. On weekends and holidays, flea markets and other pop-up events are commonplace and the best part is: it’s all free!

Soak up the sun on South Beach

South Beach is undoubtedly the MOST well-known beach in Miami and was the first place I visited when I moved there in 2014. With water mimicking the colors you’d expect to see in the Caribbean, white sand and tons of options for people watching, it’s no surprise that South Beach is one of the best free activities in Miami.

South Beach sits along Ocean Drive, and the most “popping” places to set up your beach day are between 1st- 16th streets. Keep in mind that South Beach tends to be packed on weekends, so try to visit on a weekday if you can!

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Go on a self-guided Art Deco tour

Miami is known for its iconic Art Deco buildings, and the best way to see them also happens to be free. South Beach is the place to go for this, as it has dozens of examples of this unique style of architecture.

Some of the buildings to look out for include: Miami Beach’s post office, The Carlyle, the Cardozo, the Marlin Hotel, The Webster (a 1939 hotel) and more! The best way to explore is to simply get lost amongst Miami Beach’s main drags: Ocean Drive, Collins Ave, and Washington Ave. 

Seek Solitude at North Shore Open Space Park

While South Beach is perfect for those who want the quintessential Miami experience, it’s is far from the city’s only beach. North Shore Open Space Park is the perfect dose of greenery if you’re looking for more of a traditional beach experience, sans the backdrop of hotels.

Aside from its less-crowded sands, North Shore is a park as well with trails for running and cycling, as well as numerous community grills! 

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Check out Little Havana

Miami is teeming with Cuban influence, and in many ways visiting the city can feel like leaving the US altogether. The place to get a taste of what really makes Miami, Miami. Little Havana is a vibrant neighborhood that can be enjoyed for free.

The neighborhood’s main street, Calle Ocho is the best place to start your walking tour. This neighborhood is also a perfect place to try a sample of Cuban coffee, something Miami is known for.

Visit Matheson Hammock Beach Park

In the leafy suburb of Coral Gables, you can find one of Miami’s most beautiful parks. The park has a man-made beach that’s simply magical at sunset, numerous running/walking trails, and picnic points amongst massive trees.

While Matheson Hammock might be a bit of a way away from other free things to do in Miami, it’s worth the trip – especially on weekdays when you’ll likely have any spot to yourself!

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Explore Downtown Miami with the Metromover

Another top free thing to do in Miami is to take advantage of its public transportation system. While the actual Metrorail usually charges a small fee, the metro-mover (which is what circles around the actual “city” part of Miami) is completely free!

Two of the top places to stop whilst riding the mover are Bayfront Park and Brickell City Centre. Bayfront Park is an open-air mall situated right alongside the water, and Brickell City Centre is a modern and trendy part of Miami that will feel the most like a typical big city. 

Bike or walk along the Old Cutler Trail

This trail is one of the most scenic in all of Miami. Beautiful homes, landscapes and greenery will await you on this 13.5-mile-long gem. The Old Cutler Trail stretches from the convergence of Old Cutler Road, Sunset Road, and Lejune in Coral Gables at its northern end to the junction of SW 87th Ave and Old Cutler Road at its southern end.

This epic route coasts through some of Miami’s most beautiful neighborhoods as well as the aforementioned Matheson Hammock Park and the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens too.

I hope you enjoyed this round up of the best free things to do in Miami. Though Miami is certainly not a poster child for cheap places to travel, I hope my recommendations prove that sometimes, even the most expensive of cities can be enjoyed on a backpacker budget!

Where to Stay in Miami

Hostels in Miami

Lucky for budget travelers, there are several hostels in Miami to pick from. If proximity to the beach is a priority, Viajero Miami and Generator Miami are both highly-rated hostels in Miami Beach. Both hostels are super stylish and have posh hotel vibes, offer female-only dorms, and have onsite bars and pools. Viajero has several private rooms at a fraction of the price of nearby beachfront hotels. 

Hotels in Miami

citizenM Miami Worldcenter, a four star hotel in downtown Miami with modern, stylish furnishings, an onsite restaurant, and a location of your dreams. It’s close to American Airlines Arena and Miami International Airport, with easy access to Miami Beach. >>>CHECK PRICES 

Roami at Habitat Brickell is a Condo Hotel offering apartment-style suites with 2-5 bedrooms (some even have balconies!) at very affordable prices. Enjoy the outdoor swimming pool, a full kitchen, and proximity to downtown from just south of the Miami River. >>>CHECK AVAILABILITY

FIND A HOTEL IN MIAMI

If you prefer to stay in an apartment, then Booking also has some amazing vacation apartments in Miami. There are also various options for Airbnbs too, take a look at some of the rental homes available here.

About the Author

Samantha is a full-time backpacker originally from the US who spends most of her time exploring South Asia. She loves slow travel and exploring cities through food, especially when it comes to experiencing the culinary magic that exists within the best restaurants in Lahore, her favorite city. She runs the travel blog Intentional Detours where she shares tips, guides and tales to help others make it to these offbeat places too. You can follow her adventures on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Miami Travel Tips

Now we’ve shared our favourite free activities in Miami, check out these top tips for planning your Miami vacation:

Getting There

• Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights to your destination.
• Public buses are the cheapest ways to get to your accommodation from the airport, but a shared shuttle transfer is quicker and cheaper than a taxi - you can pre-book those on GetYourGuide or Viator
• Try Omio for booking trains and Busbud for buses including Greyhound and Flixbus.

Where to Stay

• For hotels, I use Booking.com to check reviews and find the best deals on hotels and apartments wherever I'm travelling to.  Hotels.com is another good site.
• If you're on a tight budget, use Hostelworld to find the best hostels all over the world

Hire a Car

• Get a quote for car hire with Discover Cars who compare car rental deals from many companies so that you can choose which is best for your trip.

Book Tours and Activities

• I use GetYourGuide or Viator to book everything from skip-the-line entry tickets to food tours as I can compare options from several companies and choose the best one for me
• If you're staying in a hostel, check out their tours and activities which are usually free or very cheap - and a great way to meet people!  

Get Travel Insurance

• Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel.  I never leave home without travel insurance, so consider getting insurance for your trip to cover things like adventure sports and activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, stolen items, trip cancellation and more.  
• Get a quote for your trip from True Traveller if you're based in the UK, or World Nomads or SafetyWing which both offer travel insurance for backpackers and long-term travellers.  Alternatively, use a comparison site like Travel Insurance Master to find the best cover for you.

Check Your Travel Documents

• Don't forget to check the validity of your passport and any other documents for your trip.  Use iVisa to check if you need a visa to visit your destination, and get up to date official travel advice from your government, for example on the Department of State website in the US or the UK government website.

Get Cheap Currency

• When travelling abroad, using a travel bank account like Wise means you get great deals on foreign currency - including a fee-free transfer of up to £500 when you use this link to sign up. 

Top Money Saving Tip for Backpackers

• Work exchanges are a great way to travel for longer and extend your trip as you can save a ton of money on accommodation.  Get an extra $10 discount on Worldpackers here or learn more about work exchanges.

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