The load-bearing basics for a first Miami visit: how to get in from MIA, ride the free Metromover, handle hotel taxes, beat the heat, and book the few things that sell out.
This is what to know before you go to Miami: getting in from Miami International Airport, the free Metromover and transit fares, hotel taxes, heat and safety, and the few tickets worth booking ahead. For visa, currency, plugs, inter-city travel, and national holidays, see the United States country guide.
Miami-Dade adds a 3% Convention Development Tax and a 2% Tourist Development Tax to most hotel stays in the City of Miami, before any resort fee the hotel adds.SourceMiami-Dade County
The Metromover is free, and Metrobus and Metrorail charge a $2.25 regular base fare; a one-day transit pass costs $5.65.SourceMiami-Dade County
The MIA Mover is a free train between the airport terminal and the Metrorail/Rental Car Center station.SourceMiami International Airport
Miami-Dade's non-emergency information line is 311, or 305.468.5900 from outside the county.SourceMiami-Dade County
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10.SourceNOAA
The Miami Beach Express bus runs every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 11:40 p.m. between the airport station and South Beach, at $2.25 each way.SourceMiami International Airport
When to go
When is the best time to visit Miami?
Spring
Months
March to May
Weather
Normal highs climb from the low 80s in March to the upper 80s by late May, while normal lows rise from the mid 60s to the mid 70s.SourceNational Weather Service Miami
Crowds
Spring break packs South Beach in March and early April; May settles into a warm, drier shoulder before the summer storms.
Summer
Months
June to August
Weather
Normal highs hold near 90°F through June, July, and August, and normal lows stay in the upper 70s; afternoon thunderstorms are common.SourceNational Weather Service Miami
Crowds
Fewer visitors than winter, and hotel rates drop, but the heat and humidity push most walking to early morning or late afternoon.
Autumn
Months
September to November
Weather
Normal highs ease from the upper 80s in September to the low 80s by late November, while humidity lingers and hurricane season runs through November 30.SourceNational Weather Service Miami·NOAA
Crowds
A shoulder season with lower hotel prices, but September is the peak of hurricane activity, so check forecasts and trip insurance.
Winter
Months
December to February
Weather
Normal highs in December through February run in the upper 70s and normal lows sit in the low 60s; this is Miami's driest, least humid stretch.SourceNational Weather Service Miami
Crowds
The busiest and most expensive stretch: snowbirds arrive, and Art Basel in early December makes Miami Beach especially tight.
When to visit Miami, by season
Season
Months
Weather
Crowds
Spring
March to May
Normal highs climb from the low 80s in March to the upper 80s by late May, while normal lows rise from the mid 60s to the mid 70s.SourceNational Weather Service Miami
Spring break packs South Beach in March and early April; May settles into a warm, drier shoulder before the summer storms.
Summer
June to August
Normal highs hold near 90°F through June, July, and August, and normal lows stay in the upper 70s; afternoon thunderstorms are common.SourceNational Weather Service Miami
Fewer visitors than winter, and hotel rates drop, but the heat and humidity push most walking to early morning or late afternoon.
Autumn
September to November
Normal highs ease from the upper 80s in September to the low 80s by late November, while humidity lingers and hurricane season runs through November 30.SourceNational Weather Service Miami·NOAA
A shoulder season with lower hotel prices, but September is the peak of hurricane activity, so check forecasts and trip insurance.
Winter
December to February
Normal highs in December through February run in the upper 70s and normal lows sit in the low 60s; this is Miami's driest, least humid stretch.SourceNational Weather Service Miami
The busiest and most expensive stretch: snowbirds arrive, and Art Basel in early December makes Miami Beach especially tight.
The practical guide
Everything to sort before you go
Getting in from the airport
Miami's main gateway is Miami International Airport (MIA), about nine miles west of downtown. Take the free MIA Mover from the terminal to the Miami Intermodal Center, then board the Metrorail Orange Line into downtown or Brickell. For South Beach, the Miami Beach Express bus runs directly from the airport station, while taxis and ride-shares are faster if you have bags. Cruise passengers can reach PortMiami by pre-arranged transfer, taxi or ride-share, or a City of Miami Trolley connection from the intermodal center.
The MIA Mover is free and runs between the terminal and the Miami Intermodal Center/Rental Car Center; board it on level 3 between the Dolphin and Flamingo garages. SourceMiami International Airport
The Metrorail Orange Line runs from the airport station to downtown Miami and Brickell about every 15 minutes from roughly 5 a.m. to midnight; the base fare is $2.25. SourceMiami and Miami Beach·Miami-Dade County
The Miami Beach Express bus runs every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 11:40 p.m., seven days a week, between the airport Metrorail station and Miami Beach from 41st Street to South Pointe Drive; the fare is $2.25 each way. SourceMiami International Airport
PortMiami is about nine miles from MIA; taxis, ride-shares, pre-arranged cruise transfers, and City of Miami Trolley routes 1 (Flagami), 2 (Little Havana), and 3 (Coral Way) connect from the intermodal center. SourceMiami International Airport
Getting around
Miami's free Metromover is the easiest way to move through downtown and Brickell: a driverless elevated train that loops through both neighborhoods at no cost. Metrorail and Metrobus cover the wider county at the same $2.25 base fare. You can tap a contactless card or phone at Metrorail gates, but the gates do not take cash; use a vending machine to load an EASY Card or Ticket if you want to pay with cash.
Metrobus and Metrorail both charge a $2.25 regular fare and a $1.10 discount fare; the seven-day pass is $29.25. SourceMiami-Dade County
A one-day pass costs $5.65 and expires at 2 a.m. the following day. SourceMiami-Dade County
Metrorail runs from 5 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, and accepts contactless payment at fare gates. SourceMiami-Dade County
Bus-to-bus transfers are free within the first three hours when you pay with contactless or an EASY Card. SourceMiami-Dade County
Money and payments
Miami does not charge a separate city admissions tax, but hotel bills carry layered county tourist taxes. In the City of Miami, Miami-Dade adds a 3% Convention Development Tax and a 2% Tourist Development Tax to most stays, and hotels often pile a nightly resort fee on top. Miami Beach, Surfside, and Bal Harbour use a separate Municipal Resort Tax instead of some county taxes.
Miami-Dade collects a 3% Convention Development Tax on transient rentals countywide, except in Surfside and Bal Harbour. SourceMiami-Dade County
Miami-Dade collects a 2% Tourist Development Tax countywide, except in Surfside, Bal Harbour, and Miami Beach. SourceMiami-Dade County
Miami Beach, Surfside, and Bal Harbour are eligible to impose a separate Municipal Resort Tax. SourceState of Florida
Safety and common scams
Miami's visitor districts are generally safe, but treat South Beach and downtown after dark like any big-city nightlife zone. Keep your phone and wallet out of your back pocket, stay on lit, busy streets, and swim only where lifeguards are on duty; rip currents are a real risk on Atlantic-facing beaches. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, so check forecasts between June and November.
Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity around September 10. SourceNOAA
Miami-Dade's non-emergency information line is 311, or 305.468.5900 from outside the county; TTY/Florida Relay is 711. SourceMiami-Dade County
Health and emergencies
Miami's main health risk is the heat and sun, not the water. Highs sit near 90°F in summer with humidity that makes it feel hotter, and the sun is strong all year. Carry water, wear sunscreen, and schedule outdoor walks for early morning or late afternoon; most summer afternoons bring a quick thunderstorm.
Miami's normal highs hold near 90°F from June through August, with normal lows in the upper 70s. SourceNational Weather Service Miami
Miami is functionally bilingual. Spanish is widely spoken across the county, from Little Havana's cafes to hotel desks and customer service lines, and Miami-Dade publishes its transit fare guide in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. You can get by in English everywhere, but a few words of Spanish go a long way west of the airport and in Little Havana.
Miami-Dade's transit fare guide is published in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. SourceMiami-Dade County
Accessibility
Miami's transit system is largely step-free: most Metrorail stations have elevators and escalators, and Metrobus vehicles kneel for boarding. Riders with qualifying disabilities pay a discounted fare, and Miami-Dade's Special Transportation Service (STS) provides door-to-door shared rides for eligible people who cannot use fixed-route transit.
The discount fare for Metrobus and Metrorail is $1.10 for Medicare recipients and many people with disabilities who use a discount EASY Card. SourceMiami-Dade County
Miami-Dade's Special Transportation Service (STS) shared-ride fare is $3.50. SourceMiami-Dade County
Metrorail publishes elevator and escalator status so riders can check for outages before heading to a station. SourceMiami-Dade County
What to book ahead
Miami's few sell-out attractions are worth booking before you land. Venetian Pool caps daily admissions and stops selling tickets once capacity is reached, so buy before you go. Wynwood Walls keeps regular public hours but closes for private events, and Vizcaya sells day-of timed entry and is closed Tuesdays. ICA Miami is free, so you can walk in without a ticket.
Venetian Pool tickets cost $18 for adults and $12 for children ages 3 to 12; the pool recommends booking in advance and can cap admissions once capacity is reached. SourceCity of Coral Gables
Wynwood Walls is typically open from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with occasional closures for private events. SourceWynwood Walls
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is open Wednesday to Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed Tuesday; standard admission is sold on the day of visit. SourceVizcaya Museum and Gardens
