The Best Free Things To Do In Miami

With 825 miles of sandy coastline in the sunshine state of Florida, it’s almost a crime if you come to Miami and don’t go to the beach.

South Beach, aka SoBe, is a picture-perfect 4-mile strip of coastline and is one of the most famous beaches in the world, and it’s free. If you are new to South Beach and want to see all the action, it’s best to start on Ocean Drive near Lummus Park.

After the beach, take a stroll up Ocean Drive, a touristy strip full of electric neon lights and people watching. Grab a bite at one of these Best Cheap Meals in Miami and South Beach.

South Pointe Park is at the southernmost point of South Beach and offers up a more relaxed and quiet waterfront area compared to the more hectic Lummus Park on Ocean Drive.

Have a picnic at the park, watch the yachts and other watercraft enter and leave the Port of Miami and the marina. There’s even a playground which includes a water fountain.

Take a walk across the 450-foot long pier, it offers the best views of the city, the marina, and it’s one of the best places to watch the sunset.

South Beach is an Art Deco paradise. In fact, South Beach has the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world.

Most of these structures were built between 1934 and 1940. However, South Beach wasn’t always this glamorous. It once was riddled with high crime and vacant buildings.

It wasn’t until the late 1980s and 1990s when TV series Miami Vice revived the city and popularized the Art Deco district.

Take a walking tour of Miami Beach with SoBeach Tours. These are not free but they are one of the best tours in town.

Since they focus on small groups, they are able to take visitors to places where larger groups can’t access such as Art Deco hotel lobbies, rooftop terraces, bars, diners, museums, hidden garden cafés, and other gems scattered throughout Miami South Beach.

Choose from their Must See Miami Art Deco Walking Tour: Art Deco Gems & Jewels or the Best of South Beach Walking Tour: Top Sight & Hidden Gems.

Go shopping at the Lincoln Road Mall, a mile-long pedestrian lined street just a few blocks from the Art Deco District. It’s a grand shopping boulevard lined up with stores, boutiques, restaurants and cafes. It's one of the top and most visited attractions in Miami Beach.

There is nothing more iconic Miami than the neon lights of the Art Deco District at sunset. Stroll along the many bars and restaurants that line up famous Ocean Drive.

Check out our list of Miami's Ten Best Old School Restaurants.

What was once a neglected garment manufacturing district in the 1970s, Wynwood has now transformed into the main art district of Miami.

This outdoor museum, called the Wynwood Walls, showcases large-scale colorful murals created by some of the world’s most talented street and graffiti artists.

Aside from street art, Wynwood offers craft breweries, art galleries, boutiques and hipster cafes, many in old warehouses.

If you are looking for a tour, check out this free self-guided walking tour of Wynwood mural district, which guides you through each mural with a background on each of the works.

If you don’t feel like exploring Wynwood on your own, you can book a paid tour of the area with one of Miami’s Best Graffiti Guides.

Every second Saturday, Wynwood becomes one big block party. Thousands of visitors come for art, food, music and culture for the Wynwood Art Walk.

Starting at 6pm and extending throughout night, the party kicks off with live music, food trucks, market stalls and pop-ups.

There are also 400 businesses, including local galleries, studios and retail shops, that open their doors after hours to the public. You can find out more about the Wynwood Art Walk here.

The best way to navigate downtown Miami from a different vantage point is via the Metromover.

Created in 1986, this is Miami’s free mode of public transportation. Although it is a popular mode of transportation for locals, it’s also a great activity for tourists.

The 4.4 mile mover connects to 20 different stations, from the Financial District in the South to the border of Edgewater in the North.

You can get off at any station and explore downtown Miami. Check out the American Airlines Arena, the open-air Bayside Marketplace or take a free Downtown Miami Waterfront Walking Tour.

The Metromover does not travel into Miami Beach (South Beach) or Wynwood, and only stays in the greater downtown Miami area. Also, the Metromover is not to be confused with the Metrorail, which is a paid mode of transport.

Check out the Metromover map of stations for more details.

Walking into the neighborhood of Little Havana on Calle Ocho, you will find a cultural museum filled with authentic Cuban coffee shops, Cuban eateries, and fresh-squeezed fruit juice stands.

Head over to Maximo Gomez Park, also known as Domino Park, where you will see local gatherings drinking cortado, rolling cigars, and playing a number of domino and chess tables.

As you stroll down Calle Ocho, take note of the pink marble stars which is also known as the Calle Ocho Walk of Fame. This version of the Hollywood attraction highlights Latin American celebrities, with the most famous being the salsa singer Celia Cruz.

Explore Cuba's Little Havana with Tap Tap Tours. The only walking tour company led by architects and professionals in the fields of tourism and hospitality.

Travel around Miami Beach for free with the Miami Beach Free Trolley. Download the app to view maps, routes, connections and tracking information. Get it on Google Play or download it on the Apple Store. The free trolleys have different routes that go to South Beach, Mid Beach, as well as North Beach. There is also Collins Express route.

The citywide trolley service operates 15 hours a day, from 8 am to 11 pm, 7 days a week. The service frequency is approximately a 30-minute average along each route. All trolley vehicles are even bicycle friendly, with 2 racks available for storage.

It's a great way to explore the whole length of the island.