Where Art Deco meets ocean breeze, and every sunset feels like it belongs in a music video 🌴 Miami holidays offer something for everyone - delicious cuisine, toasty temperatures, huge sandy stretches and plenty to do.
✨ Highlights of your Holidays to Miami
🏖️ Over 20 miles of Atlantic coastline, from the buzzy South Beach party stretch to quieter family-friendly sands further north
🎨 A world-class art and architecture scene, the Art Deco Historic District, Wynwood Walls street art, and the Pérez Art Museum
🎺 Little Havana's Calle Ocho strip, with Cuban coffee, cigar shops, domino parks, live salsa and arguably the best Cuban food outside Havana itself
🌴 Year-round sunshine with average temperatures rarely dipping below 20°C even in winter
🐊 The Everglades and the Florida Keys on your doorstep, airboat rides through the swamps and the Overseas Highway road trip both within a day's reach
📌 Good to Know
☀️ Weather is reliably warm year-round, with summer (May to September) hot and humid at 30-31°C and winter (December to February) much more pleasant at 21-25°C, the latter being peak season for UK visitors
💵 Expect London-level prices for food and drink (a casual lunch is $20-30 a head, a beer is $8-10, a club cocktail can hit $25), plus 18-20% tipping on top, the upside is the all-mighty pound currently goes a fair way against the dollar
🎬 Miami has stood in for everywhere from 1980s drug-trafficking territory in Scarface to the playground of Bad Boys, Moonlight, The Birdcage and Will Smith's Miami video, the Art Deco backdrop is in more films than most actors
What are the best beaches in Miami?
Beach holidays in Miami offer something for everyone, from sun-worshipper to adrenaline-junkie, with over 20 miles of Atlantic coast to explore. Take a look at these top beaches in Miami:
South Beach – the most famous hotspot in Miami - a white-sand paradise bordered by Ocean Drive, which is a hub for restaurants and bars
Mid Beach and North Beach – for a low-key vibe and a quieter beach spot, these sands are more secluded and away from the main bustle
Haulover Beach – feel free at Florida’s oldest nudist beach, also a prime spot for swimming
Bill Baggs Cape Florida Beach – popular with families, this beach is renowned for its shallow waters and calm vibe
Matheson Hammock Park Beach – a favourite for those travelling with young children, this beach offers a manmade pool
Hobie Island Beach Park – a welcoming beach spot for your four-legged friend
🏨 Where to Stay on your Miami Holidays
Miami's hotel scene is properly varied: glossy Art Deco icons on Ocean Drive, big-resort beachfronts on Miami Beach, sleek high-rises in Brickell, boutique stays in South Beach, and family-friendly mega-hotels with multiple pools. Most hotels charge a separate "resort fee" on top of the room rate so factor that into your budget. Have a look at our picks below or browse all our Miami hotels for the full range.
👨👩👧 Best for Families
🏨 Fontainebleau Miami Beach – A Miami Beach institution with over ten swimming pools, a spa, multiple restaurants and an oceanfront location with proper scale for families. The kids' pool complex alone is worth the booking. Resort fee applies.
🏨 1 Hotel South Beach – Five-star beachfront with two outdoor pools, a kids' programme, a spa for the parents, and properly elegant rooms with yoga mats and rain showers. Works beautifully for families who want luxury without sacrificing the family-friendly side.
🏨 Riu Plaza Miami Beach – A solid Riu beachfront with everything you need for a family week in one place, on the iconic Miami Beach strip with easy access to all the South Beach attractions.
🏨 The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach – Landmark five-star designed by Morris Lapidus in 1953 with an ocean-view pool, the DiLido Beach Club, a relaxing spa and an original art collection. The Classic Rooms accommodate two double beds for families.
💕 Best for Couples
🏨 The Colony Hotel Ocean Drive – One of the most photographed Art Deco hotels on South Beach, built in 1939 and restored to chic boutique-hotel form with 48 rooms. Steps from the beach, Ocean Drive bars and the former Versace Mansion. Pure Miami atmosphere.
🏨 Delano – Five-star minimalist-chic on the South Beach beachfront with a rooftop spa (Ciel), Japanese sushi bar, and the famous Delano Beach Club for poolside cocktails. Properly stylish couples' pick.
🏨 Pestana South Beach Art Deco Hotel – Stylish four-star a 350m walk from the beach, with a heated outdoor pool, Pestana Suites with separate living rooms, and a properly Art Deco vibe at a friendlier price than the five-star icons.
🏨 East Miami – For couples who want the urban side of Miami: a sleek Brickell tower with skyline and Biscayne Bay views, a rooftop bar (Sugar), the celebrated Quinto La Huella restaurant, and direct elevator access to the Brickell City Centre shopping mall.
✨ Luxury
🏨 The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach – The flagship five-star with a 1953 Morris Lapidus heritage, full spa, oceanfront pool and the kind of service that earns the price tag.
🏨 W South Beach – Five-star Miami Beach beachfront with the W's signature design-led rooms, multiple restaurants and bars, and the buzzy WET pool deck. Properly high-life energy.
🏨 1 Hotel South Beach – Five-star sustainability-led design on the beachfront with two outdoor pools, a spa and elegant rooms that feel like a contemporary art piece. The standout for couples or families wanting eco-luxe.
👯 Best for Groups
🏨 Fontainebleau Miami Beach – Ten-plus pools, a nightclub on-site, multiple restaurants and bars, plus the scale to absorb a big group without anyone tripping over each other. The classic Miami Beach group-trip pick.
🏨 Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel – Beachfront South Beach with a relaxed laid-back vibe, a buzzing pool scene and a great central location for a group spreading out across Ocean Drive bars at night.
🏨 W South Beach – Big group-friendly five-star with multiple bars, restaurants and a properly social pool deck. Pricey but the kind of stay that anchors a celebration trip.
💰 Best Value
🏨 Holiday Inn Miami Beach – Comfortable, beachfront, with an outdoor pool and an on-site restaurant. Simple, reliable and properly priced for a long-haul beach week.
🏨 Miami Beach Resort – On Collins Avenue right on the beach with floor-to-ceiling Atlantic views, a fitness centre, spa and outdoor pool. Solid mid-range value with proper Miami Beach location.
🏨 Pestana South Beach Art Deco Hotel – Stylish four-star Art Deco with a heated pool a short walk from the beach. Strong value for couples or friends who want the South Beach scene without a five-star price tag.
🌍 Where to Stay in Miami
Miami is a city of distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own personality. Here's the lay of the land by demo.
👨👩👧 Families
Miami Beach is the family classic, with wide sandy beaches, plenty of resort hotels and easy access to South Beach attractions when older kids want the buzz. Key Biscayne is the calmer alternative, a barrier island just south with tropical-feeling beaches, nature trails and the Cape Florida Lighthouse. Sunny Isles Beach further north has resort-style high-rise hotels, beachfront pools and a slower pace.
💕 Couples
South Beach for the iconic Art Deco backdrop, beachfront cocktails and proper Ocean Drive energy. Coconut Grove for a leafier, bohemian alternative with tree-lined streets, indie boutiques and waterfront dining. Coral Gables for upmarket Spanish-style architecture, Miracle Mile dining and the historic Venetian Pool. Bal Harbour for full luxury with the designer shopping mall and pristine beaches.
👯 Groups
Brickell and Downtown Miami for sleek high-rise hotels, rooftop bars and proper city-buzz nightlife, ideal for groups who want urban energy over beach-bum chill. South Beach again for groups wanting beach by day and clubs by night, the Ocean Drive strip is built for it. Wynwood for an arty, hipster base with craft breweries, galleries and trendy cafés (no beach but loads of character).
🗣️ Local Lingo
English is the main language but Spanish is everywhere thanks to Miami's huge Cuban and Latin American population. A few handy phrases (and some Miami slang):
👋 Hola, Hello (Spanish)
🙏 Gracias, Thank you
☕ Un cafecito, por favor, A small Cuban coffee, please (the local rocket-fuel espresso)
🌴 Dale!, "Let's go!" / "Alright!", the all-purpose Miami Cuban expression of agreement, popularised by Pitbull
🍹 305, the area code that locals use as shorthand for "from Miami" ("305 till I die")
✈️ Holidays to Miami – Travel Guide 2026 / 2027
👨👩👧 Families
🐊 Book an Everglades airboat tour mid-week, alligator-spotting through the swamps is a properly memorable family day out and easy to arrange from any Miami hotel
🦒 Zoo Miami has over 3,000 animals in cage-free enclosures and is a step up from your typical city zoo, easy half-day with the kids
🏊 Venetian Pool in Coral Gables is a historic spring-fed swimming pool carved out of coral rock, brilliant for an alternative beach day
🚤 A boat tour around Biscayne Bay to see the celebrity homes on Star Island is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, the kids will pretend to spot Beyoncé
🍦 Lincoln Road in South Beach is the move for an evening stroll with gelato, a mile-long pedestrian strip with shops, restaurants and street performers
💕 Couples
🌅 A sunset cruise around Biscayne Bay is the classic romantic move, the city skyline lights up while the sun dips and you've got drinks on board
💆 The Standard Spa on Belle Isle has a properly serious wellness setup (hammam, hot tub gardens, treatments) and works as a half-day couples experience
🎨 Wander the Pérez Art Museum (PAMM) for modern art with bay views, then waterfront dinner afterwards in the Downtown Miami area
🍷 Book a candlelit dinner at one of the Ocean Drive oceanfront restaurants for the full South Beach romance package
🏛️ Take the Art Deco Historic District walking tour, hour-long guided walk past the pastel-coloured 1930s landmarks that put Miami Beach on the map
👯 Groups
📸 Wynwood Walls street art is the daytime group move, properly photogenic, a few craft breweries nearby for after, and plenty of edgy cafés for lunch
🛥️ Rent a party boat for a day at the Nixon Sandbar, where locals and tourists park up, blast music and party in the shallows, this is genuinely a Miami-specific group experience
🌃 Hit South Beach for the night out, the Ocean Drive bars to start, then move to LIV at the Fontainebleau or E11even for the proper club experience
🏀 Catch a Miami Heat basketball game at the Kaseya Center if your group has a sports head, or LoanDepot Park for a Miami Marlins baseball match in the summer
🎺 Calle Ocho in Little Havana for a salsa night, Ball & Chain is the anchor venue with a courtyard stage and proper Cuban energy
🏝️ More Destinations
Florida, the full state hub with every coastal resort, theme-park city and inland destination
Fort Lauderdale, the canal-laced "Venice of America" 45 minutes north with beautiful beaches and the Las Olas Boulevard shopping strip
Orlando, Florida's theme-park capital with Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld, four hours north of Miami
Key West, the colourful, quirky end of the Florida Keys road trip, four hours south on the Overseas Highway
Key Largo, the first of the Florida Keys, 1.5 hours south, brilliant snorkelling and diving territory
Popular Miami hotels
More Miami hotelsWeather in Miami
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If you're looking to go on holiday in July or August then pack plenty of light clothing because Miami's weather will be hot; it has a tropical climate, so during these months you can expect an average temperature of around 31°; Celsius with about 10 hours of sun per day. Miami owes this temperature to its location on the Gulf stream, which ensures plenty of heat all year round.
Miami holidays from October to January ensure a temperature of around 25°; Celsius, which is still very warm. At this time rainfall levels will be around 2 centimetres per month, so if you like the sound of a warm and relatively dry winter then this'd be a great time to visit!
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FAQs
How long does it take to fly to Miami?
How long does it take to fly to Miami?
It takes about eight and a half hours to fly to Miami from the UK.
What’s the time difference between the UK and Miami?
What’s the time difference between the UK and Miami?
Miami is five hours behind the time in the UK.
What currency do they use in Miami?
What currency do they use in Miami?
The official currency of Miami is the US Dollar.
What language do they speak in Miami?
What language do they speak in Miami?
The official language of Miami is English, however, Spanish is also widely spoken.
Is Miami good for families?
Is Miami good for families?
Absolutely. Beyond the beaches, there's Miami Zoo, the Frost Museum of Science, Jungle Island and the Miami Children's Museum. Key Biscayne and Miami Beach both have calm, family-friendly shores with lifeguards.
What's the best area to stay in Miami?
What's the best area to stay in Miami?
Depends on your vibe. South Beach for nightlife and beach action. Brickell for urban buzz. Coconut Grove for leafy calm. Key Biscayne for a tropical escape. Check out our full guide to the Miami neighbourhoods in our main page above.
Do you need a car in Miami?
Do you need a car in Miami?
Not necessarily. South Beach and Downtown Miami are walkable, and there's the Metrorail, Metromover (free!) and trolley system. But if you want to explore the Everglades, the Keys or Fort Lauderdale, hiring a car makes life much easier.
Do I need a visa to visit Miami?
Do I need a visa to visit Miami?
UK & Ireland citizens can visit the US for up to 90 days without a visa under the Visa Waiver Programme, but you must apply for ESTA authorisation before you travel. Do this at least 72 hours before your flight.
What's the deal with tipping in Miami?
What's the deal with tipping in Miami?
Tipping is much heavier than UK norms and isn't optional. Restaurants expect 18-20% on the pre-tax bill (some restaurants now add a 20% service charge automatically, check the bill), bartenders expect $1-2 per drink, taxi drivers expect 15%, and housekeeping expects $2-5 per day left on the pillow. Budget for tipping on top of your meal costs, it makes a noticeable difference to staff wages.
Where's good for shopping in Miami?
Where's good for shopping in Miami?
Miami's got retail therapy properly sorted across every budget. Sawgrass Mills (40 minutes north) is the bargain pilgrimage, a mega outlet mall with over 350 stores including Nike, Gap, Ralph Lauren and Saks Off 5th, all at discount prices. For luxury, Bal Harbour Shops is Miami's answer to Rodeo Drive, dripping with Chanel, Prada and Gucci. Lincoln Road Mall in South Beach is a mile-long pedestrianised strip mixing high street (Zara, H&M) with quirky independents, brilliant for an evening browse. The Design District is where flagship Louis Vuitton, Dior and Fendi stores sit alongside galleries and public art. Bayside Marketplace on Biscayne Bay is more touristy but has live music, restaurants and yacht views. And Aventura Mall is one of the biggest in the US with Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and an impressive food hall, a solid rainy-day backup.
