72 hours in Miami for free!

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Trip Overview

Country visited: United States
City visited: Miami, Fl, United States
Month traveled: February
Cost: $
Traveled with: Friends
Total length of trip: 3 days

Miami, FL, United States

Arrived by airplane

Stayed 3 days

78 hours in Miami for free

People visit Miami for tropical beaches, an electric urban vibe and world class art. The good news is you can experience all of this without even spending a dollar. If you follow our pattern of spending half a day on a beach and half a day at a museum/gallery or on a tour, this exicting city can be done on a budegt. Over your 3 days, try the following activites:

Beaches:

Miami has miles of picture perfect beaches with clear, turquoise seas and soft white sand and most are free. Don’t miss the iconic South Beach centered around Lummus Park. This is the buzzing beach of neon coloured lifeguard huts and an instagram favourite. Unless you want to party, we suggest the quieter section of 21st to 45th Beach further north. Other favourite beaches include: the sporty beach at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park where you can kayak, windsurf and cycle overlooked by the historic lighthouse; Crandon Park Beach, also on Key Biscayne, for the views and bbqs; and Sunny Isles Beach – this 2 mile strip of stunning beach is now seen as cool due the recent condo boom and influx of younger residents.
Tip – if you like a lounger and plan on more than one beach day, it’s cheaper to buy one from a nearby Walgreens.

Art Deco:

Miami is famous for Art Deco and the best way to see these pastel coloured masterpieces is by visiting South Beach on foot. A walk along Collins and Ocean Drive takes in most of the iconic hotels – don’t miss: the Park Central, The Carlyle, The Webster, Essex House, The Tides, The Cadillac, The Clevelander and The Marlin. Other must see buildings include the Post Office on Washington and the Beach Patrol HQ on Ocean Drive. Tip – download the free walking tour from National Geographic.

Art galleries:

Miami is home to a world class art scene and hosts Art Basel every year. There are many free museums and private galleries and some of the big hitters are free. Our favourites include: the Institute of Contemporary Art in the Design District which is always free; the phenomenal Perez Art Museum, PAMM, has free admission on the second Saturday of every month; and The Bass, a compact Art Deco gem with a cool permanent collection and high profile exhibitions, has regular free days – see their website for dates.

Wynwood Walls:

If urban graffiti art is your vibe, check out this open air art gallery. The Wynwood Walls is in essence an outdoor museum featuring the world’s greatest street and graffiti artists. The eclectic art isn’t confined to the gallery. It spills onto the surrounding blocks which are packed with hip boutiques and cafes. Tip- you could easily spend a day exploring the area and our favourite pitstop is Coyo Taco on 2nd Ave.

The Biltmore Hotel:

We don’t normally recommend a hotel visit, but the Biltmore is iconic. Check out a free tour on a Sunday afternoon and prepare to marvel. The extravagant Coral Gables estate has played host to celebrities and dignitaries since it opened in the heydays of the 30’s. Tip – if you’re impressed by the Biltmore’s massive pool, take a dip in the nearby Venetian Pool. It’s not free, but it will give you the Biltmore experience on a budget.

Finally, for general travel tips on visiting the USA click here.