20 free and fun things to do in Miami right now

Every third Thursday of the month from 6–9pm, the City of Miami Beach hosts a free Culture Crawl in partnership with the area’s leading institutions, including the Wolfsonian–FIU, the Bass, Oolite Arts, Miami Beach Botanical Garden and more. Hoof it or hop on a free trolley (the white ones) and choose your adventure, from site-specific art installations and live musical performances to backstage tours and poetry readings. (Check online for the latest map and offerings.)

Ain’t no Sunday like a gospel Sunday, and Adrienne Arsht Center has been opening its doors to rejoicers since 2008. Free Gospel Sundays is a community program that pairs gospel heavy hitters with local performers and choruses for a free concert roughly twice a season. Not to miss is GospelFest in April, a three-stage, a three-stage extravaganza that takes place at the Little Haiti Cultural Center.

A sprawling urban park below the Miami Metrorail, The Underline is transforming the city with winding bike paths, native gardens, public artworks, an outdoor gym and more – all free and open to the public. Meet your neighbors at one of their many community events like “speed friending” (think speed dating, but platonic), Zumba class, guided tours and sports clinics for kids. 

Laidback Wynwood watering hole Gramps keeps programming fresh and eclectic every day of the week, and on Thursdays, the spotlight turns to some of Miami’s fiercest drag performers. While the performances are free, don’t forget to tip your queens. Resident DJs Hottpants and Zehno keep the party grooving while host Karla Croqueta brings the laughs at this fabulous weekly show.

This lush three-acre garden is tucked away on a historic canal, offering some much-needed tranquility amid Miami Beach hustle and bustle. With free admission six days a week, you and your well-behaved pup can wander through flowering trees, meditate in a Japanese Zen garden, and marvel at over 1,200 species of orchids. They're always hosting events at the garden, so check their calendar to find out what's happening this month. 

While it’s nice to support the arts, it’s also nice to get free access to world-class exhibitions every once in a while. Downtown’s iconic contemporary art museum waives admission on the second Saturday of each month and gives visitors access to art making activities from 11am to 3pm, guided tours and guest performances throughout the day. After browsing the collections inside, head to the PAMM’s back steps to enjoy the breeze and breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay.

These bad boys are popping up all over the city lately, with local vendors slinging everything from vintage Playboys to hand-made ceramics and furry coats for the two times a year Miami dips below 60°. Shop sustainable at Little River Flea, go crate digging at Walter’s Mercado, or peruse Magic City Flea for some thrifted treasures.

Sorry boys, Saturdays are for the girls! Throngs of women take over neighborhood streets every weekend for Girls on the Walk, the “hot girl walk” TikTok trend made manifest in the 305. Women arrive at either 9 or 10am in their cutest workout wear, shoulder bags, trendy sneakers and hair clips to walk a few miles before sitting down together for coffee or brunch. May of these free walks are also sponsored by brands and local restaurants, meaning you could snag some free goodies too. Stay up-to-date by following Girls on the Walk on Instagram.

ICA is the Miami Design District’s hip contemporary art space, where every inch is free to explore five days a week. Take a seat in the sculpture garden, explore mind-bending works by international artists, and keep your eyes peeled for rotating exhibits and family-friendly workshops hosted year-round at this modern museum.

On the third Friday of every month, Little Havana welcomes you to Viernes Culturales, a block party where you can experience the neighborhood the way it is meant to be enjoyed: alive and moving! From 12am–11pm, Calle Ocho is bursting with live music, local vendors and plenty of incredible Cuban food between 13th and 17th Avenues. Take advantage of the free walking tour with Dr. Paul George, bar hop from Ball & Chain to Bar Nancy, or just find a bench, grab a cafecito and enjoy the show.

On the last Friday of each month, this organized ride led by the Miami Bike Scene gives novices and experienced riders the opportunity to explore different parts of town on wheels. Routes change monthly but typically begin in Downtown Miami on Fridays at 6:30pm, and rides range from 10 to 20 miles, taking you through Coral Gables, Little Havana, Coconut Grove and more. Participants must bring their own bikes, and helmets and lights are recommended.

From October through May, the façade of the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center doubles as a movie screen, while adjacent Soundscape Park, a 2.5-acre public space, serves as its alfresco theater. Watch everything from New World Symphony concerts to Jurassic Park on a 7,000-square-foot projection wall under the stars. All screenings are free (schedules available here and here). Don’t forget your blankets, chairs, drinks and snacks!

We all know about the Coconut Grove Farmers Market, but did you know that nearly every neighborhood in Miami has its own? From Coral Gables to the Upper East Side, and the Beach to Aventura, no section of town goes without aisles of farm freshness. One you may not have thought of is Vizcaya’s Farmers Market, and for an extra $5 you could take a historic tour of Vizcaya Village.

Whether you’re a slow ballad belter or a raging rock star, Miami’s got a free karaoke night for you. On Thursdays, pair your performance with a brick-oven pizza at DOM’S in Brickell, or venture to Se7en Seas in the Gables for a true local karaoke scene three days a week. Over Under in Downtown adds an artsy, hipster flair to its weekly Wednesday event with $3 shots, apathetic bartenders and a strict “No Morrissey” policy. 

Don’t be the person standing by the wall while the rest of your friends are tearing up the dance floor. Led by a rotating team of pros, the gratis salsa, bachata and merengue lessons kick off at 9pm on most nights of the week at Little Havana hotspot Ball & Chain. The lesson is fairly short; they’ll run through the basics and maybe teach you an easy routine. Arrive early to fuel up on two-for-one mojitos during Happy Hour from 4 to 7pm.

An unlikely bastion of live jazz music, Miami is home to several free performances depending on the night of the week. On Tuesdays, head to The Corner, a dimly-lit Downtown refuge where you’ll find an assortment of affordable craft brews and wine bottles. Enjoy jazz piano over delicious dinner by a Michelin-starred chef at The Gibson Room, head over to Medium Cool for jazz every Wednesday to Sunday, or stumble into El Salon at the Esmé for Cuban jazz on Thursday nights Locally loved wine patio Lagniappe offers jazz in their tiny wine market every night and Neme on Coral Way always has a band taking the stage. 

Double your dose of culture on the last Friday of the month when the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami hosts free outdoor jazz concerts. A beloved rain or shine event since 1999, Jazz at MOCA features different artists and musical styles each week, with recent acts by Cuban jazz-pianist Pepito Montes and local saxophonist Claudens Louis. Admission to the museum on jazz night is by donation (7–10pm).

Miami might be a young city, but it’s got an unbelievable history. Take things back for free on the second Saturday of each month at HistoryMiami! From 11am to 4pm, enjoy themed kid-friendly activities and access to all of the museum’s exhibitions, like Tropical Dreams, which explores South Florida’s history from prehistoric times to the present day. The museum also offers free Sensory Days for a fun, inclusive outing the whole family can join.

You could practice yoga every day of the week without ever enrolling in a studio. On Saturdays, head to Legion Park for a gentle Hatha class or pop into Club Space at 4:20pm for a surreal sequence. On Sundays, get bendy with acroyoga at South Pointe Park or pair your mindful practice with a bit of retail therapy at Lincoln Road’s weekly practice. FP Movement in Coconut Grove offers free yoga and mat classes every month at CocoWalk, while the ever-popular 3rd Street Yoga has been offering daily sunrise and sunset yoga since 1998… and we’re just scratching the surface here!

Even if you aren’t an avid locomotive or Thomas the Tank Engine fan, there’s a certain magic to the Gold Coast Railroad Museum that’ll make you nostalgic for steam-powered times, and on the first Saturday of every month access to this “station” is free of charge. There are themed cars to explore, Thomas the Tank Engine tables to play on and model exhibits and rare collection pieces to admire, including “Ferdinand Magellan,” the private railroad car built for President Franklin Roosevelt.