Miami Beach, which is about 5 miles east of the City of Miami, is truly one of the world’s great cities to relax during the day and party at night. Nearly left for dead a few decades ago, Miami Beach, and particularly its South Beach district, has been revived into an international nightlife capital with great beaches and plenty to keep visitors busy.
| Population | 90,000 |
| Area | 5,500,000 |
| Timezone | UTC-5 |
| Currency | US dollar |
| Airports | Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) |
In general Miami Beach is more expensive than most other cities in the United States, and it’s more expensive than the City of Miami as well, but budget travelers can actually have an easy time of things if they plan well. Between all the new and refurbished hotels there are places that have yet to be updated, so you get a great location at a reasonable price. The attractions can also be pricey, but our review of the Go Miami Card reveals that it can save you money, especially if they are offering a discount at the moment.
Miami Beach hotels are in peak season during the winter holiday periods as well as the Easter holiday weeks starting in late March, but the overall high season lasts from November through April. Quality of hotels in South Beach varies greatly, so if you only intend to sleep in the room you can get great deals at lesser hotels with great locations. During summer and even autumn you can get great deals as well, especially at the high-end hotels.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 42.00 - 75.00 |
| 90.00 - 120.00 |
| 95.00 - 225.00 |
| 135.00 - 300.00 |
| 275.00 - 540.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 21.00 - 35.00 |
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass Museum of Art | This is Miami Beach's only serious art museum. | adults seniors children under 13 | 15.00 8.00 0.00 |
The top restaurants along Ocean Drive are all quite expensive, but walking a block or two to Collins or Washington will get you to some places that have more modest prices, including some good Cuban places.
And those who plan to sit on the beach during the day can get by on a backpacker’s budget as long as they watch expenses once the sun goes down.
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | Hotels along the beach will be expensive, but 1 or 2 blocks in has some affordable places. | 6.00 - 10.00 |
| Budget lunch | There isn't much good fast food in South Beach, so you'll usually have to find a cafe. | 8.00 - 13.00 |
| Budget dinner | Even some of the Ocean Drive places are worth these prices in the evening. | 13.00 - 22.00 |
| Beer (pint) | Look for happy hour specials or you'll end up paying a lot for drinks. | 6.00 - 9.00 |
| Cocktails (glass) | Mixed drinks can really be expensive in the trendy Miami Beach places, and worse in the clubs. | 11.00 - 20.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to Miami Beach | 32.00 - 43.00 |
| Shuttle van from airport to Miami Beach | 11.00 - 22.00 |
| Public bus from airport to Miami Beach | 2.00 - 2.00 |
| 3km taxi ride in Miami | 18.00 - 25.00 |
| Bus ride in Miami area | 2.00 |
| Bike rental in Miami Beach (per hour) | 8.00 - 11.00 |
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 73 | 63 | 2.4 |
| February | 73 | 63 | 2.1 |
| March | 75 | 66 | 2.2 |
| April | 79 | 70 | 2.8 |
| May | 82 | 74 | 4.9 |
| June | 86 | 77 | 6.9 |
| July | 87 | 78 | 3.6 |
| August | 87 | 78 | 5.4 |
| September | 86 | 78 | 6.3 |
| October | 83 | 75 | 4.5 |
| November | 78 | 70 | 3.3 |
| December | 75 | 65 | 2.0 |
The Miami area is known for its great weather, but that’s really only during winter and spring, at the height of the tourist season. During that period days are warm and nights are mild, with enough humidity to remind you that you are near the tropics. But during summer the heat can be stifling, and afternoon rain storms are common. Autumn is similar to spring, except with far fewer visitors.
| 21 Mar | 7:24am | 7:33pm |
| 21 Jun | 6:30am | 8:15pm |
| 21 Sep | 7:09am | 7:18pm |
| 21 Dec | 7:03am | 5:35pm |