Miami is almost always synonymous with beach life and glamour, as it is a favorite vacation spot for famous celebrities. Often associated with luxury and partying, this is also a city that takes pride in its art scene and diverse culture.
Walk along with a neighborhood where there’s art at every turn, or along the streets of Little Havana for a taste of Latin America. How about watching the city onboard the Metrocmover?
Those are just some of the free things to do in Miami, and there’s more in this list for you to enjoy on your visit to this vibrant Florida city.
10 Free Things To Do in Miami, FL
1. Art Deco District
Miami’s South Beach area is an Art Deco wonderland that also prides itself as having the world’s largest collection of Art Deco architecture. The pastel-colored buildings were all built between 1923 and 1943, which also helped save South Beach from total decline back in the day.
The area used to be notorious for its high crime rate and vacant buildings. Today, South Beach is among Florida’s tourist hot spots, with the Art Deco district adding to its charm. Download a map and stroll along the streets to admire the colorful structures.
The Art Deco District is one of the most interesting and free places to see in Miami and anyone will enjoy walking among these distinctly designed buildings, an attraction that’s unique to this vibrant city.
2. Little Havana
Little Havana is one of the best free attractions in Miami, and no visit to the city is complete without wandering through this fascinating neighborhood. Situated in the south of downtown Miami, this lively area is lined with quaint art galleries, quirky shops as well as bars and restaurants.
There’s plenty of things to do and see here, that activities and events don’t seem to stop. Explored the area and soak in the culture. Maximo Gomez Park is where you’ll find men playing dominoes outdoors, smoking cigars and loudly discussing politics.
Be on the lookout for a street mural that features the Summit of the Americas in 1993, or walk along Calle Ocho is and watch the busy markets and stalls lining the streets.
Walk further and you’ll come across Little Havana’s own version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame — the Paseo de las Estrellas or Walk of the Stars. The names you’ll see here are that of Latin American actors, musicians, and other entertainment luminaries. Every month, they have Viernes Culturales or Cultural Fridays, where this place has a free concert and art exhibits.
3. Metromover
The iconic Metromover is a must when you’re in Miami, especially if you want to admire the Miami skyline or go from one downtown area to another. The good news is that it’s free, and a ride on this mover is definitely among the best free things to do in Miami.
Built-in 1986, the Miami Metromover is an electrically powered rail transports around 40,000 passengers every day. It’s great to help especially for tourists who want to explore downtown Miami but don’t want to walk under the sun all the time.
The Metromover covers 4.4 miles and 20 different stations that start from the south’s Financial District to the north9’s Edgewater border. On the way and from your comfortable seat inside the Metromover, you’ll see some of Miami’s attractions such as the Miami-Dade College, the Bayside Marketplace, and the American Airlines Arena.
4. South Beach
You can’t be in Miami without a visit to the beach, and as one of the most visited places in the United States. It’s great to know that one of its most popular beaches is free and it’s must be included on your itinerary to Miami.
No entrance fees, no need to be a hotel guest — just go there with a bag of beach gear, your cute swimsuit under your choice beachwear and find a place in the sand. Miami has 24/7 summer weather, and the beaches comprise a good part of the city.
Apart from the beach itself, this area also boasts of some of the best places to see in Miami such as the pretty South Pointe Park, the serene Miami Beach Botanical Garden, and the intriguing Art Deco building Casa Casuarina, which used to be the home of iconic fashion designer Gianni Versace.
There are also museums in South Beach that have free admission on certain days so check out the schedule and immerse yourself in this area’s rich history and culture.
5. Casa Bacardi
A fascinating free tour whether you’re a rum drinker or not, Casa Bacardi is surely among the best free places to see in Miami. This home to the globally known rum brand offers free tours to visitors 21 and above.
Here, you’ll get to know the history and heritage of Bacardi rum which started in Santiago De Cuba in 1862.
The free tour also allows you to see how their rum is produced, the stories behind their advertising campaigns as well as taste samples at the end of the tour.
6. The Biltmore Hotel Spa & Golf Club
Regarded as one of the most beautiful hotels as well as among the best gold clubs in the world, the luxurious Biltmore offers a chance for tourists to experience it up close.
Of course, m, the hotel, golf club, spa, and other amenities are not free, but you can tour the massive grounds and even the hotel itself for free every Sunday afternoon. Most days of the weeks, the grounds are open to the public if you want a stroll around the beautifully landscaped and well-maintained hotel grounds.
Established in 1926, the Biltmore is a true classic, having hosted Old Hollywood stars like Judy Garland, Ginger Rogers as well as Al Capone.
7. Wynwood
Miami may be known all over as for the beaches, or the glamorous and posh neighborhoods, but there’s a lot in it that shows the city values the arts as well. One of the best free things to see when in Miami is the stunning street and wall art in the Wynwood neighborhood.
This area has literally transformed itself from its notorious reputation for drug dealing and crime to a haven for art lovers. Stroll the colorful streets and the fantastic murals, created by artists from all over the world.
This former industrial area is now a massive outdoor art museum, thanks to developer Tony Goldman. There’s colorful, eclectic, sparkling art everywhere you look, done in different sizes, styles and mediums.
Visiting Wynwood and admiring the art is absolutely free for everyone, and a definite must-see if you’re in Miami.
8. Museum of Art and Design
There’s the Art Deco District in the South Beach Area and the fantastic murals at Wynwood, and the only other thing you have to do to complete your artsy Miami tour is a visit to a museum. In this case, it’s a free one called MOAD or the Miami Dade College Museum of Art and Design.
This is where artworks from both upcoming and established artists and designers are put on exhibit, and they come from the college’s eight campuses. Spend a few hours here and immerse yourself in a variety of art pieces that represent local and other cultures, as well as interesting historical allusions and references.
On the first floor of MOAD is a permanent exhibit that features artifacts from Cuban refugees that came to the US back in the1960s. Admission to the MOAD is free and definitely one of the mist see free attractions in Miami.
9. The Miami Beach Botanical Gardens
After hours of the MOAD, there’s another place nearby that could very well pass for a work of art. From the museum, just walk across the pretty Venetian bridge that leads to the Miami Beach Botanical Garden.
This is basically 2.6 acres of lush green space, a botanical garden filled with a variety of native Florida plants and trees, as well as a lovely Japanese garden.
The place is free to visit from 9 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon, a definite must in Miami if you want to just relax and be surrounded by nature right in the city.
10. The Pier at South Pointe Park
This area that’s now one of the best Miami attractions used to have police horse stables. Called the South Pointe Park ad it’s the southernmost part of the waterfront area.
It was donated by the US Federal Government to Miami Beach and has undergone a series of renovations to transform it into a beautiful park and pier that’s also a tourist hotspot.
This area, despite being relatively busy is still quite laidback and quiet, making it a perfect place to wind down after a day of exploring Miami. Free and open to the public, it has areas for picnics, or just watching the water traffic or simply enjoying the pristine beach.
There’s also a new pier that stretches to 450 feet, and an amazing place for an afternoon stroll because it offers views of the Miami skyline, the South Beach and the Atlantic.
