Dream Miami? We’ve got top flights, accommodation and activity tips

Miami is located at the southeastern tip of the U.S. state of Florida. The famous white beaches of Miami Beach and the yacht-filled waters of Biscayne Bay are perfect for a relaxing getaway. The upscale South Beach area impresses with stylish Art Deco buildings and some of North America’s trendiest clubs. They say this place is great for stargazing, although this time you’ll have to look for them in the clubs and not in the sky. Whether it’s the historic buildings in Coral Gables or the great shopping malls in Coconut Grove, there’s something for everyone in this city. Miami, just 531 kilometres from Cuba as the crow flies, pulsates with a dynamic Cuban atmosphere. The cigar and coffee shops on Calle Ocho in Little Havana and the ubiquitous black beans clearly demonstrate why this city is also called the “Capital of Latin America.”

From where? With whom? When? Tips for flights to Miami

• From where? Some of the biggest international airports in Europe offer direct flights to Miami include London Heathrow (LHR), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Madrid Barajas (MAD).
• With whom? Miami International Airport (MIA) is served by many domestic and international airlines. Direct flights from London Heathrow Airport: British Airways, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Delta Airlines. From Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: Air France, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines. From Frankfurt Airport: Lufthansa, United Airlines. From: Madrid-Barajas Airport: Iberia Airlines, American Airlines, Air Europa or Finnair.
• When? Miami has a tropical monsoon climate, alternating hot and humid summers with short warm winters. The hottest month is July at 28°C and the coolest is January at 20°C. The rainiest month is October with an average rainfall of up to 234 mm. The ideal season is January to May, when the sun is mostly shining and temperatures hover around a pleasant 20 °C (or more). If you want to visit Miami in summer or autumn, take an umbrella just in case. From June to November, there’s a lingering risk of hurricanes.

Accommodation in Miami: find a hotel or Airbnb on the beach

You’ll find a really wide range of accommodation in Miami. Prices vary, but usually range from €50 per night for two, but it really depends on the season. During high season, prices tend to be naturally higher. If you’re booking a hotel, be sure to watch out for resort fees, which can range from $8 to $25 per night and may include services such as the use of umbrellas and towels. So before booking a hotel, make sure that the hotel you choose doesn’t charge any additional fees.

Check prices and book your hotel through Pelikan. Find accommodation tips on this handy map:

What you need to enter Miami

• When travelling to the US, you no longer need to apply for a visa at a US embassy, you just need a biometric passport and an ESTA. Only those travelling to the US for more than 90 days or going to the US for work, study or exchange need to apply for a visa. Also, all those who have not been approved for ESTA. Here is a complete guide on how to get an ESTA (US visa) authorisation.
• Valid passport for at least 6 months after your return
• Only fully vaccinated persons (applies to everyone over 18 years of age) with vaccinations more than 14 days old may enter the US. The US accepts all vaccines except the Sputnik vaccine.

What to do, see and experience in Miami?

1. Life-giving sand

Of course, when you think of Miami, you envision the beaches, the colorful summer drinks, the nightlife, and yes, you remember it well, even scenes from Baywatch likely come to mind. What’s less well known, however, is that this famous sand was brought here from the Bahamas and other Caribbean islands. Because it is regularly eroded by ocean waves, the state of Florida recently purchased an $11,500,000 replacement. So getting a tanned, sexy body on Miami Beach is truly luxurious, and it’s something you should do at least once in your life.

2. Lost in the mosaic

The Miami look is not just about glass buildings and modern architecture. If Art Deco style wasn’t so familiar to you before, you’ll love it here. In Miami Beach alone, you’ll find approximately 800 historic buildings from the Art Deco movement. Miami’s South Beach isn’t even referred to as just America’s Riviera, but also as an “Art Deco playground”. So in addition to relaxing and having fun, you’ll also get a bit of an art experience here.

3. Better than plastic surgery

Coconut Grove was once a colony of hippies, but today it’s more of a centre for active lounging. On the terrace of a bar or café, watching the passers-by is guaranteed to take you back to your student days. So it’s fair to say that a trip to Miami has a rejuvenating effect too.

4. Evening is the new morning

You won’t see many of the city’s wonders during the day, as a large part of the population and tourists start their lives after the moon rises, giving the city a unique vibe at night. If you’re expecting only discos with wild lights and electronic music, you’re mistaken. Everyone can find their own style of music, whether it’s latino, indie, alternative rock, it doesn’t matter. The main thing is to keep moving and not stop until morning.

5. In the footsteps of Gianni

Of course, today it can be said that every metropolis harbours people with a unique, even bizarre style. But Miami has its own evidence of this: the world-famous designer, Gianni Versace, owned his divine villa in Miami, which is now a hotel. So if you don’t know what to do with $900, you can do something you’re guaranteed to never forget and sleep in Mr. Versace’s former room. If you don’t have that $900, you won’t pay anything for a selfie in front of the villa.

Yes, there are cool museums in Miami, and we’ve already written about the architecture in this article, but let’s face it: no one flies to Florida to experience an educational stay, including taking notes and listening to hour-long lectures. This place is made for relaxation, especially South Beach and Miami Beach. The Ocean Drive shoreline also offers businesses for those who really enjoy breakfast in the morning, there’s Biscayne Bay for sailboat fans, and those who get too tired for the nightly disco can escape the noise to Bayfront Park.

7. #305cafecito

Have you met up with this hashtag? It comes from Miami residents and has accompanied photos of coffees since 2012. Back then, the first time such a photo appeared on Twitter, it linked the current time to the area code 3-0-5. Today, 3:05 p.m. is the official “cafecito” time in the city.

Weather in Miami

Miami has a tropical monsoon climate, alternating hot and humid summers with short warm winters. The hottest month is July at 28 °C and the coldest is January at 20 °C. The rainiest month is October with an average rainfall of up to 234 mm. The ideal season is January to May, when the sun is mostly shining and temperatures hover around a pleasant 20 °C (or more). If you want to visit Miami in summer or autumn, take an umbrella just in case. From June to November, there’s a lingering risk of hurricanes.

Transportation in Miami

Car

Most locals prefer to drive, and although there are several lane roads in the city, Miami is plagued by heavy traffic congestion on a daily basis. Renting a car here is relatively cheap compared to accommodation and services. If you’re planning on renting a car, be sure to download the Sun Pass mobile app (available for both android and apple) to pay tolls and allow for paid parking. Generally, when booking a rental car, prices vary the most by season and weekend. The most expensive rentals here are during spring, summer holidays and also the Christmas holidays when it is high season. Conversely, expect the lowest prices from September to November.

Public transport

In Miami, buses and the subway will get you to all the major attractions, although you’ll need to allow for longer intervals (usually 20 minutes for buses) and almost no information on timetables. There are several modes of public transport in Miami – buses and metro. You can buy all types of tickets from a ticket machine at each metro station. You can only buy a single ticket from the bus driver for $2.25.