The 21 best Miami attractions to explore right now, including tourist hotspots

Spanning over 1.5 million acres of vital wetland, the Everglades is the largest subtropical habitat in the country. There are many ways to explore this National Park, but a boat tour is top of the list for a fun journey. Check out the local fauna on one of the daily, 90-minute tours, or DIY the experience with a canoe or kayak rental. 

Time Out tip: Want to get knees-deep into Everglades knowledge? Try an Everglades immersion walk, where you'll slog through a Cypress Dome learning about alligators, birds and other critters along the way. 

This outdoor street art park launched during Art Basel in 2009 and has since become an anchoring institution of the wildly popular arts district. Featuring nearly 50 murals that rotate annually, some of the world’s most acclaimed artists have contributed over the years, including Shepard Fairey, Ryan McGuinness, Kenny Scharf, DEIH, KOBRA, Martin Whatson and Queen Andrea. On display this year is a retired subway car, which will be great for tricking your friends into thinking you're actually in The Big Apple. 

Time Out tip: Find a curated collection of artsy gifts, coffee table books, prints and more created by the artists on display at the Wynwood Walls Shop. 

There’s observing art, and then there’s being entirely consumed by it. This is the case at Superblue Miami, which sees you walking through the imaginations and whims of some of the world’s most innovative artists. More than just a place to nourish your Instagram feed, Superblue elevates the experiential museum with meaningful themes and ideas projected from floor to ceiling, using state of the art technology to make everything around you interactive. 

Timeout Tip: If you’ve ever wanted to know what flying on a foggy day feels like, suit up and dive into Teamlab’s ‘Massless Clouds,’ an additional experience within the museum. 

Built by Chicago magnate James Deering as his winter estate, this sprawling waterfront mansion is the idyllic backdrop of numerous (expensive) weddings and quinceañera photoshoots. When it’s not being used for celebrations, the palatial estate and its manicured gardens are ripe for exploring. Check it out on weekends when Vizcaya hosts full moon parties, outdoor yoga classes and other community events.

Time Out tip: Use your Miami-Dade Library card to check out free passes for up to four people. 

From reptiles and amphibians to primates, the cageless zoo is home to hundreds of species. Kids will love the carousel rides and splash zones (especially during the hot summer months) while parents look forward to pedaling around the park in Safari Cycle bikes, which fit up to five family members.

Time Out tip: Book a VIP tour for a guided experience in a golf cart. One of the zoo's knowledgeable staff members will zip you around and give you in an inside scoop on all its residents.

Famed for its strong coffee, delicious food, music and cigars, Little Havana remains one of Miami’s busiest and most iconic destinations. Calle Ocho is the historic neighborhood’s charming main corridor, where you’ll find numerous Cuban restaurants, cocktail bars and cultural landmarks, including Domino Park. Grab a scoop of Abuela Maria ice cream from Azucar and enjoy it in the public square where viejitos still gather to play, or sip mojitos and learn to salsa dance at Ball & Chain.

Time Out tip: Stop by during the third Friday of the month for Viernes Culturales, the free monthly festival in Little Havana's cultural district.

A small but charming oasis in bustling Miami Beach, the botanical garden offers nearly three acres of lush greenery showcasing native flora and fauna alongside a Japanese garden, rare orchids and calming water features. Kill some time in between stops or snap a quick Instagram with a pineapple in the edible garden, or visit the gardens during one of their cool events. 

Time Out tip: Get your OM on with AM soundbaths and vinyasa yoga hosted every Sunday morning. 

It’s young, but South Florida does have a past and a lively one at that. Tracing the history of the region, from early Indians to rafting Cubans, HistoryMiami succeeds in educating while entertaining. The exhibits on the wreckers of Key West and Henry Flagler both merit an extended look, as does the section on photographer Ralph Middleton Munroe.

Located right next to Miami Beach Botanical Garden, this free, outdoor memorial was erected in 1984 to honor those lost during the holocaust. You can't miss the striking sculpture of Love and Anguish by Kenneth Treister in real life. The 40-foot-tall hand outstretched toward the sky is a powerful and necessary sight to behold up close. 

Time Out tip: Spend some time exploring the grounds at sunset. The light reflecting against the pond and thousands of names etched into the memorial wall is a remarkable sight. 

Imagine yourself strolling through a European promenade, popping in and out cafés or sitting down to an al fresco meal. Now picture all of this happening in South Beach along Española Way, a true pedestrian-only strip dripping in charm and Mediterranean flare. Want to escape the hustle? Meander through the Esmé Hotel's magical passeos and grab a cocktail at their vibey rooftop. 

Time Out tip: Hungry? Head towards the Drexel Avenue block for dinner at The Drexel, Tropezon or longtime local favorite A La Folie. 

With nearly all of its surface underwater, Biscayne National Park is truly one of a kind. Explore it via glass-bottomed boat tours, canoes or—better yet—snorkeling or scuba diving. The ecosystem is spectacular, think mangrove forests and dazzling coral reefs filled with brilliantly colored fish, sea turtles and other marine life. 

Time Out tip: Biscayne National Park Institute offers full-day guided eco-adventures departing from Miami’s Historic Coconut Grove, making the jaunt south even faster.

True to its mission, this 250,000-square-foot museum connects people of all ages with science through a range of inspiring programming—some of which is even bilingual. Frost Science occupies four buildings—the Aquarium, the Frost Planetarium and the North and West Wings—and features year-round exhibits such as “Feathers to the Stars,” “Power of Science” and “MeLab,” an interactive exhibit that lets kids learn about health by using their own bodies to conduct experiments (think hands-on simulations). The “Aquarium” is a remarkable display across three levels, one of which includes the museum’s 500,000-gallon Gulf Stream aquarium that houses all sorts of sea creatures. While the planetarium is a 250-seat, air-conditioned respite with an 8K projection screen and state-of-the-art sound system, offering dazzling visual displays and virtual tours through outer space.

Up the road from Vizcaya, is brother Charles Deering’s waterfront estate. It’s far less flashy but a hit with nature lovers—mangroves, salt marshes and an Indian burial ground make up its 400-plus acres. Mark your calendars for the annual seafood festival (stone crabs!) and regular music programming, including their romantic Valentine's Day jazz night. 

Time Out tip: Deering offers monthly night hikes, featuring guided walks through the premises’ 444 acres and a group campfire with s’mores, as well as bird walks and moonlight kayak tours. There's something on the schedule for every type of naturalist.

This massive, immersive monument to our favorite frozen dessert spans two floors and more than 14,000 square feet of the fancy new Miami Worldcenter in Downtown. The fifth and newest MOIC location blends nostalgia and innovation to transport guests into a pastel-hued, sprinkle-coated wonderland designed for play, discovery and (what else?) selfies. Visitors of all ages will find 10 interactive, Miami-inspired installations, like the first-ever Cream Liner, a luxury airliner experience inspired by the ’60s and ’70s; The Hall of Freezers, a trippy exploratory room filled with dozens of mysterious refrigerator doors; and MOIC’s iconic sprinkle pool, which visitors of the 2017 pop-up in Miami Beach will remember. The whole journey last 60 to 90 minutes.

Located on Watson Island between South Beach and mainland Miami, Jungle Island is a sanctuary for birds, exotic animals and local wildlife. The lush, verdant facilities make for a unique zoo experience. Jungle Island has grown to include more than wildlife. Thrillseekers can visit Treetop Trekking Miami, an aerial zipline adventure park with suspended bridges, Tarzan swings and more. For animal lovers, the park offers new hands-on encounters and feeding experiences.

Time Out tip: Garden admission to Jungle Island is free with tickets to Treetop. 

The only public pool in the city worth its weight in chlorine, Venetian Pool, first designed in 1923 by Coral Gables mastermind George Merrick, remains a fanciful Mediterranean postcard with waterfalls, a grotto and plenty of room to swim. Go for a dip in the city’s only quarry. Open only during spring and summer, the 820,000-gallon pool remains cool thanks to the underground aquifer used to fill it with fresh water.

Time Out tip: Coral Gables residents score discounted admission to the pool. Make friends in the neighborhood and enjoy the facilities for more than half-off.

Kampong is home to nearly 600 trees and more than 200,000 varieties of plants and crops. It's home to the International Center for Tropical Botany at The Kampong, which is all about plant exploration and discovery. A portion of the grounds sustained considerable damage during Hurricane Irma in 2017 but valiant recovery efforts have all but completely restored the tropical oasis (including erecting its famous 50-ton baobab tree from Tanzania, which founder David Fairchild planted himself in 1928).

Time Out tip: Reservations are required to visit the nine-acre property. Self-guided tours are available but we suggest the guided option to really get a sense for the bountiful space.

Coral Castle is a bizarre but captivating outdoor sculpture garden that was apparently the work of just one man, Ed Leedskalnin, who channeled a broken heart into hulking blocks of coral. If you can’t make it to the Taj Mahal, Coral Castle is a worthy runner-up as far as grand gestures go. Visit on the first weekend of the month for psychic Saturday, featuring palm readers and fortune tellers.

Time Out tip: Every year during Valentine’s Day, the museum hosts a massive vow renewal ceremony should you want to reaffirm your love surrounded by thousands of your closest friends.

Pretty gardens are hard to come by in scorching-hot Miami, so we’re extra grateful for places like Fairchild, whose diligent groundskeepers and volunteers keep it looking fresh and verdant year-round. Plus, with 83-acres of rare plants and flowers, you’ll never get tired of exploring. Take a morning or afternoon stroll through these stunning surroundings and escape the South Beach bustle. Not one for greenery? Visit during the annual chocolate festival in January—a delicious event dedicated to all things cocoa.

Time Out tip: Spring for a membership and take advantage of after-hours programming. Deals change seasonally but often include perks to check out one of the garden’s exciting festivals.

What is South Beach without its perfectly symmetrical and pastel buildings, with their breezy verandas, windows with “eyebrows”, neon trimmings and terrazzo floors? With over 800 designated historic buildings between 5th and 23rd streets, architecture buffs have a lot of ground to cover when exploring the Art Deco District. 

Timeout Tip: The Miami Dade Preservation League holds daily tours, which is a great way to amp your appreciation for the neighborhood.

The Museum of Ice Cream, the Museum of Graffiti, the Museum of Plastic. If it exists in our modern world, there should probably be an entire “museum” dedicated to it—at least, that’s what the opening of the Museum of Illusions tells us. Located in Miami Beach on Lincoln Road, this latest cultural pillar offers guests oodles of opportunities to pose in front of more than 40 mind-boggling, floor-to-ceiling painted mural illusions. Dangle from a dramatic skyscraper ledge, snuggle up inside the palms of a celestial goddess, battle a Mortal Combat-style street fighter or hover above the ground like a Zen master—all to the envy of your social media following. Flash photography is not only allowed but encouraged at the Museum of Illusions, which also has popular locations in Los Angeles and San Francisco.