Miami, Florida
The capital of Latin America that happens to be in Florida
Miami is a young city — incorporated in 1896 by a citrus grower and a railroad — that became the meeting point of the Americas. Spanish is the first language of the street, the water is the reason for everything, and the whole place is a bet against the sea.
Julia Tuttle persuaded Henry Flagler to extend his railroad south to her orange groves on Biscayne Bay in 1896, and the city was incorporated that year with a few hundred people. A land boom in the 1920s built Coral Gables and the first Art Deco hotels; the Cuban Revolution of 1959 sent the first great wave of exiles, and Miami became, within a generation, the business and cultural capital of the Spanish-speaking Americas — Cuban first, then Colombian, Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, Haitian, Argentine, Brazilian. Around seventy percent of the county speaks Spanish at home.
Miami and Miami Beach are separate cities across the bay, and the distinction matters. The Beach is the Art Deco district, Ocean Drive, the sand and the clubs — the postcard. Miami proper is downtown's towers, Brickell's banks, Little Havana's cafecito windows, Wynwood's murals, the Design District's luxury, Coconut Grove's old bohemia under the banyans, and Coral Gables' Mediterranean-revival planned town. Most residents live in the sprawling county beyond — Hialeah, Kendall, Doral — and drive to everything.
The city runs on the water and the weather. Winter, from November to April, is the season: dry, warm and full — Art Basel in December, the boat show, the tennis, the spring-break crowds. Summer is a humid, thunderous, mosquito-thick six months that residents endure, and hurricane season runs June through November with the real risk in August and September. The food is the Americas on one plate: Cuban, Peruvian, Venezuelan, Haitian, Argentine, alongside the stone crab and the ceviche.
The elephant is the sea level. Miami sits a few feet above the water on porous limestone, floods on sunny days at king tides, and is spending billions on pumps and raised roads in a race everyone understands it may not win. Alongside that: a real-estate market driven by international money, a cost of living that has soared, and a growing finance and tech presence since the 2020s. It is glamorous, loud, unequal and utterly alive, and it faces south, not north.
Where People Live
South Beach (Miami Beach)
The Art Deco district along Ocean Drive and Collins, the sand, Lincoln Road's promenade and the clubs. The famous Miami; a separate city across the causeway.
Little Havana
Calle Ocho — the cafecito windows, the domino park, the cigar rollers and the Cuban restaurants. The exile heart of the city and its most authentic street.
Wynwood & the Design District
The warehouse district turned open-air mural gallery, breweries and bars; the Design District's luxury boutiques and the Institute of Contemporary Art beyond. Art Basel's home turf.
Brickell & Downtown
The bank towers of 'Wall Street South', the condo canyons, the bayfront park and the Pérez Art Museum. Dense, new and where the money works.
Coconut Grove
The oldest neighbourhood — bohemian once, leafy always — under the banyans by the bay, with Vizcaya's Italianate villa and the sailing clubs.
Coral Gables
The 1920s planned 'City Beautiful' — Mediterranean revival, the Biltmore hotel, the Venetian Pool, Miracle Mile, and the University of Miami. Genteel and separate.
Little Haiti & the Upper East Side
The Haitian cultural centre and the MiMo (Miami Modern) motels along Biscayne Boulevard — the next neighbourhoods to change, and worth seeing before they do.
Must-see attractions
South Beach (SoBe), Miami Beach
Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Eat & drink
Fabel Miami
Restaurant — 50 NW 23rd St #110, Miami, FL 33127
Fisher Island Club
Restaurant
Papi Steak Miami
Restaurant — 736 1st Street Miami Beach, Fl 33139
Contessa Ristorante, Boston
Restaurant
E11EVEN
Restaurant — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_HieWfgmW0
KOMODO Miami
Restaurant — 801 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
Restaurants & places to go
LIV Nightclub at Fontainbleau Miami
miami nightclubs · <p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Table reservations please contact 305.674.4680 or VIP@LIVnightclub.com. For tickets, click… · livnightclub.com
Prestige Luxury Rentals
. 15+ years in business 📠MIA | ORL | ATL Call or Email us for a quote â†˜ï¸ · prestigeluxuryrentals.com
DAER South Florida
nightclubs, night clubs, dayclubs, day clubs, · . #DAERNightclub 🌙 Friday & Saturday #DAERDayclub 🌞 Saturday & Sunday #RooftopLive 🎤Friday & Saturday… · hardrocknightlife.com
Tootsie's Cabaret
stripclubs, strippers, strip clubs, gentlemens club, adult nightclubs · . Voted America's #1 adult nightclub. 75,000 sq ft of entertainment & fun! · tootsiescabaret.com
Lamborghini Miami
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Largest Volume Authorized Lamborghini Sales and Service Department in the U.S.A <img class="Emoji… · lamborghinimiami.com
Realcomm
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">@ The Intersection of Technology, Innovation, and Real Estate Operations.</p>. · realcomm.com
Espresso Cubano
coffee shops, coffee espresso coffees · . I can say we have the best coffee in Coral Gables,Come check it out & let us know what you think! We have a lot of… · espresso-cubano.com
LoMelo's Meat Market
Wagyu beef retailers, butcher shops, meat markets, beef markets · 9810 S Dixie Hwy, Kendall, FL 33156 · lomelos.com
DAER Nightclub Dayclub
miami dayclubs, nightclubs · <p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Three different entertainment venues – nightclub, poolside day club and…
Pink Pony Miami
miami stripclubs · pinkponymiami.com
The Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
villas, weddings, Villa Vizcaya, James Deering · 3251 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33129 · vizcaya.org
Aston Martin Residences Miami
apartments, apartment residences · astonmartinresidences.com
Freehold Miami
pizza restaurants, pizzas · freeholdmiami.com
Gitano Miami
restaurants · gitano.com
Pura Vida - Miami
cafes, restaurants · puravidamiami.com
Rácket | Wynwood Bar + Lounge
Miami nightclubs, upscale bars · 150 NW 24th St, Miami, FL 33127 · racketwynwood.com
Gold Rush Cabaret
miami stripclubs
Mandrake
sushi restaurants
Ocean Drive Exotic Cars
exotic cars, car rentals
Velvet Miami
miami stripclubs
Airports
Miami International Airport (MIA) 6.1 mi to the centre
Miami, FL, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 43 airlines (American Airlines, US Airways, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines…) · direct flights to 135 destinations incl. Atlanta, London, Paris, Mexico City, Barcelona… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 43 airlines, 135 direct destinations
- American Airlines AA (737-800, 757, 767-300, ERJ-145, ERD, 777…) · 120 routes: Antigua, Asuncion, Atlanta, Baltimore, Barcelona, Basse Terre, Belize City, Belo Horizonte, Berlin*, Bermuda, Birmingham*, Bogota, Boston, Brasilia, Bridgetown, Buenos Aires, Cali, Cancun, Caracas, Charleston*, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati*, Cleveland*, Columbus*, Cozumel, Curitiba, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Duesseldorf*, Fort-de-france, Freeport*, Gainesville*, Georgetown, Great Exuma*, Greensboro*, Guatemala City, Guayaquil, Hewandorra … +80 more
- US Airways US (737-800, 757, ERJ-145, 767-300, A320, ERD…) · 115 routes: Antigua, Asuncion, Atlanta*, Baltimore, Barcelona, Barranquilla, Basse Terre, Belize City*, Belo Horizonte, Bermuda, Birmingham, Bogota, Boston, Brasilia, Bridgetown, Cali, Cancun, Cartagena, Charleston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Cozumel, Curitiba, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Fort-de-france, Freeport, Gainesville, Georgetown, Great Exuma, Greensboro, Guatemala City, Hewandorra*, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville … +75 more
- United Airlines UA (A320, A319, 318, 737-800, Embraer 190, 330…) · 18 routes: Barranquilla*, Bogota*, Cali*, Cartagena*, Chicago*, Denver, Frankfurt*, Guatemala City*, Houston, Lima*, Lisbon*, Newark, Panama City, Rio Negro*, San Pedro Sula*, San Salvador*, Washington, Zurich*
- Delta Air Lines DL (A320, 737-800, MD-88, M90, 737-800, A319…) · 14 routes: Atlanta, Detroit, London*, Los Angeles, Merida, Mexico City, Minneapolis, Moscow, New York, New York, Paris*, Port-au-prince, Rome*, Santo Domingo*
- British Airways BA (737-800, 767-300, A330-300, A340-600, 747-400, 757…) · 10 routes: Atlanta*, Barcelona*, London, Madrid*, Mexico City*, Milano*, New Orleans*, Paris*, St. Thomas*, Willemstad*
- Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia AV (A320, A319, 318, Embraer 190, 330) · 9 routes: Barranquilla, Bogota, Cali, Cartagena, Guatemala City, Lima, Rio Negro, San Pedro Sula, San Salvador
- TAM Brazilian Airlines JJ (767-300, 757, 777, 737-800, 777-300) · 9 routes: Baltimore, Belem, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Manaus, Recife, Rio De Janeiro, Salvador, Sao Paulo
- LAN Airlines LA (767-300, 737-800, 757) · 8 routes: Bogota*, Cali*, Cancun, Caracas, Lima*, Punta Cana, Rio Negro*, Santiago
- Iberia Airlines IB (767-300, 737-800, A330-300, A340-600, 747-400, 777…) · 7 routes: Atlanta*, Barcelona*, London*, Madrid, Milano*, New Orleans*, Paris*
- Finnair AY (767-300, A330-300, A340-600, 747-400, 777) · 5 routes: Barcelona, London, Madrid, Milano*, Paris*
- Alitalia AZ (330, 737, 777-200, MD-88, M90, 777-300ER) · 4 routes: Atlanta*, Mexico City*, Paris*, Rome
- AeroMéxico AM (737, MD-88, M90, EMJ) · 3 routes: Atlanta*, Merida*, Mexico City
- Air France AF (A320, 757, MD-88, M90, 737-800, 777-300ER) · 3 routes: Atlanta*, Paris, Port-au-prince
- Alaska Airlines AS (757, 737-800, 767-300, 777, MD-88, M90…) · 3 routes: Atlanta*, Los Angeles*, San Francisco*
- WestJet WS (737-800) · 3 routes: Montreal*, New Orleans*, Toronto*
- Aerolane XL (767-300, 737-800, 757) · 2 routes: Guayaquil*, Quito
- Air Berlin AB (A330-200) · 2 routes: Berlin, Duesseldorf
- Air Canada AC (Embraer 190) · 2 routes: Guatemala City*, Toronto
- Bahamasair UP (737) · 2 routes: Basse Terre, Nassau
- Cayman Airways KX (737-300) · 2 routes: Cayman Brac, Georgetown
- Insel Air (7I/INC) (Priv) 7I (M83) · 2 routes: Oranjestad, Willemstad
- LAN Argentina 4M (767-300, 777) · 2 routes: Buenos Aires, Punta Cana
- Surinam Airways PY (737-300) · 2 routes: Georgetown, Oranjestad
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (A330-300, 747-400, 757, MD-88, M90, 737-800) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, London
- Aeroflot Russian Airlines SU (A330-200) · 1 route: Moscow
- Aerolineas Argentinas AR (330, 340) · 1 route: Buenos Aires
- Arkefly OR (767-300) · 1 route: Amsterdam
- Caribbean Airlines BW (737-800) · 1 route: Port-of-spain
- Chitaavia X7 (CNA) · 1 route: Naples
- Copa Airlines CM (737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Panama City
- Grupo TACA TA (A319, A320, Embraer 190) · 1 route: Managua
- Interjet (ABC Aerolineas) 4O (A320) · 1 route: Mexico City
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (757, MD-88, M90) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A380) · 1 route: Frankfurt
- Malaysia Airlines MH (777) · 1 route: London
- Myway Airlines 8I (M82) · 1 route: Oranjestad
- Santa Barbara Airlines S3 (757, 767) · 1 route: Caracas
- Sky Express G3 (737-800) · 1 route: Santo Domingo
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (A330-300) · 1 route: Zurich
- TAP Portugal TP (A330-200, A340-300) · 1 route: Lisbon
- Transaero Airlines UN (777) · 1 route: Moscow
- Virgin Australia VA (757, MD-88, M90, 737-800) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Volotea Costa Rica 9V (734) · 1 route: Barcelona
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) 22 mi to the centre
Fort Lauderdale, FL, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 25 airlines (Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines…) · direct flights to 97 destinations incl. Atlanta, Tampa, Bogota, Chicago, Denver… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 25 airlines, 97 direct destinations
- Spirit Airlines NK (A319, A320, A321) · 42 routes: Aguadilla, Armenia, Atlanta, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Bogota, Boston, Cancun, Cartagena, Chicago, Cockburn Town, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Guatemala City, Kingston, Las Vegas, Latrobe, Lima, Los Angeles, Managua, Montego Bay, Myrtle Beach, New York, Niagara Falls, Oranjestad, Orlando, Panama City, Philipsburg, Plattsburgh, Port-au-prince, Punta Cana, Rio Negro, San Jose, San Juan, San Pedro Sula, San Salvador, Santiago, Santo Domingo, St. Thomas … +2 more
- JetBlue Airways B6 (A320, Embraer 190) · 28 routes: Austin, Bogota, Boston, Cancun, Kingston, Lima, Los Angeles, Montego Bay, Nassau, New York, New York, Newark, Newburgh, Port-au-prince, Port-of-spain, Providence, Punta Cana, Raleigh-durham, Richmond, Rio Negro, San Francisco, San Jose, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Washington, White Plains, Windsor Locks, Worcester
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 73C, 737-300, 737-800, 737-800) · 26 routes: Albany, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Columbus, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Islip, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh-durham, San Juan, St. Louis, Tampa, Windsor Locks
- United Airlines UA (Saab 340, A320, 737-800, 737-900, 757-200, 737-700…) · 17 routes: Alice Town*, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Freeport*, Governor's Harbor*, Great Exuma*, Houston, Key West*, Marsh Harbor*, Newark, North Eleuthera*, Orlando*, San Francisco, Tampa*, Treasure Cay*, Washington
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 717, 73C) · 10 routes: Atlanta, Austin*, Baltimore, Houston*, Milwaukee*, New Orleans*, Phoenix*, San Francisco*, San Juan*, Tampa*
- Silver Airways (3M) 3M (Saab 340) · 10 routes: Alice Town, Freeport, Governor's Harbor, Great Exuma, Key West, Marsh Harbor, North Eleuthera, Orlando, Tampa, Treasure Cay
- Delta Air Lines DL (MD-88, 737-800, 757, 737-800, 737-900, A319…) · 8 routes: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, New York, Raleigh-durham*, Toronto*
- US Airways US (A319, A320, 737-800, 734, A321) · 8 routes: Bogota, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Port-au-prince, Washington
- American Airlines AA (A319, A320, 737-800, 737, A321) · 7 routes: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Port-au-prince, Washington
- Allegiant Air G4 (MD-80) · 5 routes: Asheville, Greenville, Knoxville, Lexington KY, Plattsburgh
- Caribbean Airlines BW (737-800) · 3 routes: Kingston, Montego Bay, Port-of-spain
- Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (787-8) · 3 routes: Copenhagen*, Oslo*, Stockholm*
- Air Canada AC (A320) · 2 routes: Montreal, Toronto
- Air Transat TS (310, 737-800) · 2 routes: Montreal*, Toronto*
- Bahamasair UP (DH8, 737) · 2 routes: Freeport, Nassau
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A319, A320) · 2 routes: Denver, Trenton
- Virgin America VX (A320) · 2 routes: Los Angeles, San Francisco
- WestJet WS (737-700, 737-800) · 2 routes: Montreal, Toronto
- Air France AF (757, M90) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Alaska Airlines AS (737-800) · 1 route: Seattle
- Alitalia AZ (757) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia AV (A320) · 1 route: Bogota
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (757) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- SkyBahamas Airlines Q7 (Saab 340) · 1 route: Marsh Harbor
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (757, M90) · 1 route: Atlanta*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF) 11 mi to the centre
Miami, FL, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Miami Executive Airport (TMB) 16 mi to the centre
Miami, FL, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
North Perry Airport (HWO) 17 mi to the centre
Hollywood, FL, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Homestead Air Reserve Base (HST) 22 mi to the centre
Homestead, FL, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Getting there by ferry
CruiseTerminal E
Ferry terminal · 2.1 mi from the centre
Fisher Island Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 3.2 mi from the centre
Fisher Island East Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 3.4 mi from the centre
Terminal Isle Ferry
Ferry terminal · 3.8 mi from the centre
Water Taxi Miami - Green route
Ferry route
Water Taxi Miami - Green
Ferry route
Water Taxi Miami - Yellow
Ferry route
Fisher Island Ferry
Ferry route
Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Bimini, Bahamas
Ferry route · Baleària Caribbean Fast Ferry
Local transit
Miami-Dade Transit
Metrorail, Metromover, bu · Metrorail, the free downtown Metromover and buses. · Fares: EASY card or contactless · Airport: Metrorail Orange Line from the airport station
Trains & rail
Brightline
Rail operator
Tri-Rail
Rail operator
Brightline → Orlando, Florida
Private intercity trains Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach–Orlando. · Orlando, Florida guide →
Amtrak
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Greyhound
Intercity coach
Jefferson Lines
Intercity coach
MegaBus
Intercity coach
Trailways
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Aero
Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Clay Lacy Aviation
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, light to ultra-long-range · Charter, management and FBOs at Van Nuys and Orange County; the original Hollywood jet operator.
Surf Air
Semi-private scheduled · Pilatus PC-12, King Air · Subscription and per-seat regional flights in California, Texas and Hawaii.
Airshare
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Phenom 300, Challenger 350 · Fractional and jet card programme centred on the US Midwest and East.
XO
Charter, shared flights · Light to large-cabin via partner fleet · Vista Global's on-demand charter and by-the-seat shared flights, app-based.
Tours & experiences
Little Havana Tours
Sightseeing
Living Here
Getting about
- Metrorail (two elevated lines), the free Metromover loop downtown and a bus network exist, but Miami is a driving city and most residents own a car. A car is the practical choice outside the Beach and downtown.
- Rideshare covers the nights out and the causeways; the free trolleys in Miami Beach and several neighbourhoods are handy. The Beach and Wynwood are walkable; the heat argues against it in summer.
- Miami International (MIA) is close to downtown and reached by Metrorail; Fort Lauderdale's airport, 30 miles north, is the low-cost alternative. Brightline's fast train runs to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando. The cruise port is the busiest in the world.
- Traffic on the causeways and I-95 is severe; plan around it, and never around a flooded street at high tide.
Health
- Jackson Memorial is the huge public hospital and trauma centre, attached to the University of Miami's medical school; Baptist Health and Mount Sinai (on the Beach) are the other large systems. Care is excellent.
- Dial 911. Pharmacies and urgent-care clinics are everywhere. Heat, humidity, sun and mosquitoes (Zika and dengue have appeared) are the seasonal hazards; hydrate and cover up.
- Insurance is essential. Hurricane preparedness — supplies, evacuation zones — is a real civic skill.
Work & study
- The University of Miami in Coral Gables and Florida International University (one of the largest in the country) are the major institutions; Miami Dade College educates a vast share of the county.
- International banking and trade (the Latin American headquarters of countless firms), tourism and cruises, real estate and construction, healthcare, and since 2020 a real influx of finance and tech firms from New York and California. Spanish is a genuine professional advantage.
- There is no state income tax, which is part of the draw; housing costs have surged to meet it.
Money & manners
- US dollars; cards everywhere. Tip 20%; on the Beach, check the bill, as some restaurants add gratuity automatically.
- Spanish is the language of daily life and English will always work; a little Spanish opens a lot. The pace is Latin — dinner is late, the clubs later, and punctuality is negotiable.
- Dress up for going out; the Beach is the one American city where a shirt and shoes may genuinely be required after dark. The sun is fierce all year.