Things to do in Miami Beach and South Beach, with the hours and prices checked
The best things to do in Miami Beach beyond the sand: Art Deco tours, two museums, free gardens and parks, plus the free trolley that links them.
In breve
- Free: The beach, South Pointe Park, the Holocaust Memorial, the Botanical Garden, the trolley.
- Best paid hour: The Wolfsonian, $12, on Washington Avenue; free for Florida residents.
- Best tour: MDPL's Art Deco walking tour, daily from 1001 Ocean Dr, $50 adults.
- Sunday: Lincoln Road farmers market, 9 am to 6 pm.
- Getting around: Free city trolley, 8 am to 11 pm daily, about every 20 minutes.
Spend the morning on the sand and the rest of the day on what most visitors skip: an Art Deco walk, the Wolfsonian or the Bass, the free memorial and garden, and sunset at South Pointe, all linked by the free trolley.
Pick by situation
| First time, half a day | Lummus Park beach, then the Art Deco walking tour from 1001 Ocean Dr |
| No budget at all | South Pointe Park, the Holocaust Memorial, the Botanical Garden, the trolley |
| Rainy afternoon | The Wolfsonian (Wed to Sun) or the Bass (Wed to Sun, noon to 5) |
| Friday night | The Wolfsonian is free from 6 to 9 pm, then dinner on Española Way |
| Sunday | Lincoln Road farmers market, then the Bass on the last Sunday, when it is free |
| Sunset | South Pointe Park and its pier, at the southern tip |
Start with the beach, but not only the beach
The sand is the reason most people come, and it is free: the public beach runs the length of the island, with lifeguard towers along South Beach. Lummus Park is the classic stretch along Ocean Drive. Behind the hotels, the beachwalk and boardwalk let you walk or run north along the dunes.
What makes Miami Beach worth more than a beach day is that the architecture, two good museums and several free sights are within a short ride of each other. The city's free trolley runs four loops, South Beach, Middle Beach, Collins Express and North Beach, from 8 am to 11 pm every day, with a bus roughly every 20 minutes on each route. Use it and you can leave the car, and the parking bill, at the hotel.
Miami Beach museums and tours: hours and prices
| What | Where | Hours | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Deco walking tour (MDPL) | Art Deco Welcome Center, 1001 Ocean Dr | Daily; about 2 hours and 1.5 miles | Adults 18 to 64 $50; 65+ $40; 13 to 17 $35; 12 and under free |
| The Wolfsonian-FIU | 1001 Washington Ave | Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun 10 am to 6 pm; Fri 10 am to 9 pm; closed Mon and Tue | Adults $12; seniors, students, ages 6 to 18 $8; Florida residents free; free Fridays 6 to 9 pm |
| The Bass | 2100 Collins Ave | Wed to Sun noon to 5 pm; closed Mon and Tue | $15; seniors, students, ages 7 to 18 $8; free last Sunday and third Thursdays 6 to 9 pm |
| Miami Beach Botanical Garden | 2000 Convention Center Dr | Tue to Sun 9 am to 5 pm | Free |
| Holocaust Memorial | 1933-1945 Meridian Ave | Daily from 10 am to sunset | Free |
The Bass is also free for Miami Beach and Surfside residents, members, and some other groups listed on its site. The Holocaust Memorial hours come from its visit page as returned by search, because the site refused our fetch.
mdpl.org, wolfsonian.org, thebass.org, mbgarden.org and holocaustmemorialmiamibeach.org, checked October 2026
The beach park along Ocean Drive: wide sand, the colored lifeguard towers, a playground and outdoor fitness equipment. The Art Deco Welcome Center, where MDPL's walking tours start, is at 1001 Ocean Dr, at the south end.
Do a swim here in the morning, then the two-hour deco walk before the afternoon heat.
Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
An outdoor memorial built around a giant bronze arm rising from the ground, at Meridian Avenue and Dade Boulevard. Entry is free and it opens daily at 10 am, closing at sunset, per its visit page.
It is a short walk from the Botanical Garden, so pair the two.
Collins Park
An open lawn at 21st Street that leads straight onto the sand, right beside the Bass. The Bass suggests the Collins Park garage at 340 23rd Street, one block north, and there are meters around the park.
This is the easiest place to combine art and a swim in one stop.
South Pointe Park
The park at the southern tip of Miami Beach, open sunrise to sunset every day, per the city. Cruise ships pass through Government Cut right beside the pier.
Come an hour before sunset and walk out on the pier.
Dove sono
Lincoln Road, Española Way and the trolley loop
Lincoln Road is the pedestrian shopping street in the middle of South Beach. On Sundays the farmers market sets up between Meridian and Washington, year-round, from 9 am to 6 pm, rain or shine. The Lincoln Road guide covers the shops and garages.
Española Way is the short Mediterranean-style pedestrian street with restaurants spilling outside, and a natural dinner stop after a free Friday evening at the Wolfsonian.
Prima di andare
- The Bass and the Wolfsonian are both closed Monday and Tuesday
- The Wolfsonian is free for Florida residents and for everyone on Friday from 6 to 9 pm
- Book the Art Deco walking tour ahead on mdpl.org in busy months
- The Botanical Garden is closed on Mondays
- Park once and use the free trolley, 8 am to 11 pm
- South Pointe Park closes at sunset
Domande frequenti
What is there to do in Miami Beach besides the beach?
Take the Art Deco walking tour from 1001 Ocean Dr, visit the Wolfsonian or the Bass, see the free Holocaust Memorial and Botanical Garden, walk Lincoln Road and Española Way, and watch the sunset at South Pointe Park.
What are free things to do in South Beach?
The beach, South Pointe Park, the Holocaust Memorial, the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, the Lincoln Road farmers market on Sundays and the city trolley are all free. The Wolfsonian is free on Fridays from 6 to 9 pm.
How much is the Art Deco walking tour?
MDPL lists $50 for adults 18 to 64, $40 for 65 and over, $35 for ages 13 to 17 and free for 12 and under. It runs daily, takes about two hours and covers about 1.5 miles.
Is there a free trolley in Miami Beach?
Yes. The city runs four free loops from 8 am to 11 pm every day, with a trolley about every 20 minutes on each route.
Which Miami Beach museums are open on Monday?
Neither the Bass nor the Wolfsonian; both are closed Monday and Tuesday. The Holocaust Memorial is open daily.
Altre guide
South Pointe Park: the pier, the playground, parking and when to goSouth Beach · Parks · South beach · 3 min di letturaLincoln Road, Miami Beach: the stores, the Sunday markets and where to parkSouth Beach · Shopping · South beach · 4 min di letturaThe free trolleys in Miami: Miami Beach, City of Miami and Coral Gables routes and hoursSouth Beach · Trolley · Free · 4 min di letturaTour prices from mdpl.org; museum hours and prices from wolfsonian.org and thebass.org; garden from mbgarden.org; memorial hours from holocaustmemorialmiamibeach.org via search; trolley from miamibeachfl.gov; South Pointe Park hours from miamibeachfl.gov via search; farmers market from lincolnroad.com via search; all checked October 2026.