3 Days in Miami Itinerary: An Amazing Florida Getaway

Planning a trip to Miami? Whether it's your first time or your 10th time, this 3 days in Miami itinerary will ensure you have an amazing getaway. Miami is such an excellent city break destination for the culture, food, architecture and of course, the beach.

Miami doesn't need to be an expensive vacation either. Many of the activities in this Miami 3 day itinerary are free or low cost, and you can check out my blog post about all the best free things to do in Miami if you'd like to supplement these travel plans with more fun attractions.

I've broken down this Miami itinerary to three different areas in and around the city. On day one, we'll be exploring Miami Beach and making our home base there for the trip.

For day two, it's time to venture out to two Miami neighborhoods, Wynwood and Little Havana. And on the third day in Miami, let's get out of the city to Everglades National Park and end the day in Coconut Grove.

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3 Days in Miami Itinerary: Day 1

It's day one in Miami and we're spending it in Miami Beach. While we'll spend most of the day in South Beach, I'll note that we will spend the night at a hotel in Mid Beach. If you're looking for a relaxing beach day (or beach afternoon), Mid Beach is perfect for that.

The beach is exactly the same, but it's less busy and crowded than South Beach. If you frequent the beach near your hotel, it's convenient to go back to the hotel when you need to do so. It's also possible to split your time hopping between the beach and the pool.

South Beach and Lummus Park

Miami's beaches have the perfect combination of powdery white sand and vibrant turquoise waters. For the best beach in the center of the action, check out Lummus Park (aka South Beach). It's a lengthy stretch of beach along Ocean Drive from 6th to 14th Street. It's beside many delectable restaurants and the Art Deco District.

Choose to spend the morning at South Beach and Lummus Park for a beach day. Alternatively, go for a walk here to see the brightly painted lifeguard stands. Since I prefer a quieter beach, I did the latter and then headed back to my hotel in Mid Beach for a beach afternoon.

Art Deco District

Miami is home to some wonderfully preserved low-rise buildings from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. The Art Deco District is where this architectural style reigns supreme. After a few hours at the beach, take a stroll up Ocean Drive to marvel at these awesome retro structures. You'll also find some great Art Deco buildings on Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue.

Miami's Art Deco District is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. Wander around and take photos of pastel buildings, neon lights, and you might even spot a classic car or two on the way. Don't forget to bring your camera.

Seeing the unique Art Deco District is one of the best free things to do in Miami. For a low cost tour suggestion, check out this Art Deco Bike Tour.

Lincoln Road

Lincoln Road is a shopping area that takes up a few city blocks. This section of road is mostly for pedestrians only, without any traffic. There are lots of great finds at stylish clothing stores and independent book shops.

The Lincoln Road Mall has lots of opportunities for shopping, both indoors and outdoors. There's also a farmer's market at Lincoln Road every Sunday. It happens between 9:00am and 6:30pm between Washington Avenue and Meridian Avenue. You'll find fruits, veggies, flowers, plants, bread, jams, and other fresh products.

Espanola Way

Espanola Way is another sweet little bohemian spot in South Beach. It's a pedestrian only street that once served as an artists' colony, modeled after Mediterranean villages in Spain and France. With roots going back to the 1920s, Espanola Way was revitalized in 2017 as a place to gather with friends and family.

There are tons of restaurants, cafes and cocktail bars along this little stretch that stay open well into the night. There are also boutique and specialty shops with collectables and unique wares. Enjoy a Saturday morning yoga class here or go salsa dancing in the streets by nightfall.

Beach and Pool Time (Mid Beach)

Back at the hotel, which I've listed at the bottom of this blog post, it's time for relaxation. Alternate your time between the beach and the pool, whichever you fancy at the moment. The sand and waters of Mid Beach are exactly the same as you'd find further down in South Beach with far less crowds.

Soak up the sunshine and listen to the sounds of seabirds and crashing waves. This is one main reason to visit Miami, and you should spend at least an afternoon of your 3 days in Miami laying on the beach.

3 Days in Miami Itinerary: Day 2

For day two in Miami, we are going to visit two vibrant neighborhoods: Wynwood and Little Havana. Wynwood is absolutely brilliant for art lovers as nearly every wall and building is covered with colorful street art and murals.

Little Havana is the place to be for authentic Cuban food, history and traditions, and live entertainment. From delicious foodie stops to Instagrammable photo opportunities, spending a half day in Little Havana is perfect for any Miami trip.

Wynwood and Wynwood Walls

Walking around the Wynwood neighborhood and Wynwood Walls is one of my favorite things to do in Miami. What was once a barren industrial site has been transformed into a work of art in flux. It's a large public space where concrete walls are painted by various artists from around the world.

Whether you're inside the official Wynwood Walls art space or wandering around the neighborhood, it's continually changing with new works of art being painted over the old ones. That's the beauty of public art. Every time you visit, it will be a little bit different.

In the neighborhood, there are lots of restaurants and cafes, and even Miami's first craft production brewery, Wynwood Brewing. If you love coffee and cafes, make sure to stop at Panther Coffee. It's definitely one of my favorite places in Miami. We've also stumbled upon small handmade markets, and it seems like there's always something fun happening.

Little Havana

Little Havana and its main street, Calle Ocho, are worthy of a wander. There are so many fantastic photo opportunities, history and culture to absorb, and a Cuban food scene.

To immerse yourself in the neighborhood and learn more about its history and culture, I suggest taking a Little Havana Walking Tour. On the tour, visit the oldest fruit market, a cigar shop and a historic bar. Sample freshly brewed Cuban coffee and listen to salsa music. Once you're finished the tour, walk around on your own with your new knowledge about the background of the area.

Viernes Culturales (Cultural Fridays) happens on the third Friday of every month on Calle Ocho, between 13th and 17th Avenues. It's a lively arts and cultural festival that takes place in Little Havana. This is fun for the whole family with art, music, dancing, and more!

3 Days in Miami Itinerary: Day 3

While I don't think that I'd be upset at the idea of spending another day at the beach, here are some more unique experiences to immerse yourself in the nature of the region. For the first half of the day, we get slightly outside of Miami to experience the stunning nature of the area.

Then, we head over to Coconut Grove, which is thought to be Miami's "Brooklyn" if it were NYC. Coconut Grove describes itself as "a little Bahamian and a little bohemian". The Grove is Miami's oldest neighborhood and welcomes visitors seeking an escape from city life.

Renting a Car in Miami

To reach the Everglades National Park, you will need to rent a car. Renting a car for our last day in Miami is a good idea. You can use it for the entire day to reach the national park and later in the day, Coconut Grove.

It will also be useful for getting to the airport the following day if you need to fly out of the Miami International Airport. Compare car rental prices to find the best rates with Discover Cars, our car rental booking agency of choice.

Kayaking at Everglades National Park

For the morning, let's go for a kayaking tour at Everglades National Park. This is a three hour paddling tour of the national park with the opportunity to kayak through the mangrove tunnels and cypress ponds. There's so much wildlife to observe, like bald eagles, osprey, and alligators in their natural habitats.

This kayaking tour includes a professional and knowledgeable guide, kayaking gear, a paddling orientation, and a fully guided tour. This is also the most eco-friendly and sustainable tour that I could find around Everglades National Park, so you can feel good about being kind to the environment and animals alike. Book your tour here.

If you decide to book an airboat tour of Everglades National Park instead of kayaking, please do your research. Many of these airboat tours are essentially roadside attractions that include alligator shows.

Most airboat operators have alligator shows where handlers "wrestle" alligators. They also pass baby alligators from person to person for selfies with the baby alligator's mouth taped shut. Alligators belong to live undisrupted in nature and do not belong in performances for tourists multiple times daily.

Baby alligators should not have direct contact with humans in this way. What kind of a life is that for them? I have found one company (though I haven't visited in person) that does not include any baby alligator encounters or alligator shows: Everglades River of Grass Adventures. I suggest booking a tour with this company over the others.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

We'll spend the rest of the day in Coconut Grove, first with a stop at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. It's a National Historic Landmark and museum space for history, nature and art. Discover the 34 rooms of the main house with original furnishings and decor.

Built in 1916, Vizcaya Village is a 12-acre estate with 11 architecturally significant buildings. It included barns, greenhouses, fields and staff quarters that attempted to make Vizcaya self-sufficient. It's currently undergoing restoration efforts as a nature center and cultural hub.

Vizcaya is also home to beautifully landscaped gardens. They're among the most elaborate in the United States, taking inspiration from 17th and 18th century gardens in France and Italy. Spot everything from old oak trees, endangered orchids, native shrubs and ponds with water lilies.

Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove is the oldest neighbourhood in Miami, situated on the Biscayne Bay waterfront. Aside from visiting Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, here are some things to do in Coconut Grove that I'm sure you'll love.

First, go for a walk on the boardwalk bridge at Peacock Park to admire views of the waterfront. CocoWalk is a luxury shopping area of The Grove that also has restaurants and a movie theater. Speaking of restaurants and bars, there are plenty in The Grove, so be sure to stay for dinner and into the evening for nightlife.

If you happen to be visiting on a Saturday, check out the Coconut Grove Farmer's Market for organic goods and vegan food. Then, to treat yourself to a special experience on your final night in Miami, take a private sunset sailing from Coconut Grove for one of the best places to watch the sunset in the city.

Where to Stay in Miami

Circa 39 Hotel is a stylish, boutique hotel located in Miami's Mid Beach on Collins Avenue. The location is wonderful for 3 days in Miami: it's directly across the street from the beach and it's not a far walk from all the action of South Beach. I prefer staying in Mid Beach because it's less crowded at the beach and the vibe is more calm.

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