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Florida, United States

South Beach

Base yourself here for 2–3 days of beach mornings, Art Deco walks and late dinners; everything is walkable or a short bike ride. A slow Jan 1: Cuban breakfast, a swim, Art Deco Ocean Drive and sunset at the jetty. We have mapped 3 sights, 3 outdoor spots and 2 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan South Beach with friendsBrowse 11 places
South Beach, Florida, United States
Places
11

3 See · 3 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 2 Shop

Curated routes
2

Miami Beach Getaway, Miami New Year's Eve

Best season
Nov – Apr

also Dec 30 – Jan 1

Warmest month
August

30°C / 86°F avg high

Coolest month
January

23°C / 73°F avg high

Wettest month
June

about 191 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Miami, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in South Beach

11 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

3 sights worth building a day around across Art Deco District, South Beach and Collins Park.

  • Art Deco Welcome Center in South BeachPhoto: Rafael Ochoteco · Google
    See

    Art Deco Welcome Center

    Start point for the Miami Design Preservation League's guided Art Deco walking tours along Ocean Drive.

    Tip Morning tours beat the heat; book online a day ahead.

    • Art Deco District
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning
  • The Wolfsonian–FIU in South BeachPhoto: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    The Wolfsonian–FIU

    Design and propaganda museum in a 1927 storage building; a good air-conditioned break from the sun.

    Tip Check hours before going; it's closed some weekdays.

    • South Beach
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon
  • The Bass in South BeachPhoto: Phillip Pessar from Miami, USA · CC BY 2.0
    See

    The Bass

    Contemporary art museum in Collins Park, close to the beach.

    Tip Pair with a walk through Collins Park and the boardwalk.

    • Collins Park
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Afternoon

Outdoors

3 outdoor spots for fresh air across South Beach and South of Fifth. All 3 are free to visit.

  • Lummus Park Beach in South BeachPhoto: Daniel di Palma · CC BY-SA 2.5
    Outdoors

    Lummus Park Beach

    The classic South Beach stretch with lifeguard towers, a beach path and Ocean Drive behind you.

    Tip Rent chairs early on weekends; the boardwalk path is good for a sunrise jog.

    • South Beach
    • Free
    • 3 hr
    • Morning
  • South Pointe Park in South BeachPhoto: M McBey · CC BY 2.0
    Outdoors

    South Pointe Park

    Oceanfront park with a pier and lawns at the quieter southern tip, watching cruise ships leave Government Cut.

    Tip Come around 4–5pm to see ships sail out.

    • South of Fifth
    • Free
    • 75 min
    • Late afternoon
  • Lummus Park in South BeachPhoto: P. Hughes · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Outdoors

    Lummus Park

    Palm-lined park and wide public beach between Ocean Drive and the Atlantic, with the pastel lifeguard towers.

    Tip The water is usually in the mid-70s F on Jan 1, warm enough for a first swim of the year.

    • South Beach
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Midday

Eat

Where we would book a table in South Beach across South Beach and South of Fifth.

  • Puerto Sagua in South BeachPhoto: John Roy · Google
    Eat

    Puerto Sagua

    Old-school Cuban diner on Collins Ave serving ropa vieja, Cuban sandwiches and cafecito since 1962.

    Tip Grab a counter seat for a quick Cuban breakfast.

    • South Beach
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Breakfast or lunch
  • Joe's Stone Crab in South BeachPhoto: Cullen328 · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Eat

    Joe's Stone Crab

    Miami Beach institution since 1913, known for chilled stone crab claws with mustard sauce and key lime pie.

    Tip No reservations for most tables; go early or use Joe's Take Away next door. Stone crab season Oct–May.

    • South of Fifth
    • $$$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Oct–May, early dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in South Beach.

  • Mac's Club Deuce in South BeachPhoto: Mac's Club Deuce ♣️ · Google
    Drink

    Mac's Club Deuce

    Miami Beach's oldest bar (1926): cheap drinks, a pool table and neon, open late.

    Tip Cash-friendly dive; best after midnight.

    • South Beach
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Late night

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour.

  • Lincoln Road in South BeachPhoto: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Shop

    Lincoln Road

    Pedestrian mall of shops, sidewalk cafés and the Sunday farmers market.

    Tip Walk it in the evening when the heat drops.

    • South Beach
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Evening
  • Shop

    Espanola Way

    Pedestrian street of 1920s Mediterranean Revival buildings with cafes and restaurant terraces.

    Tip Good for a late lunch out of the sun.

    • South Beach
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Afternoon

How to fit South Beach into a trip

South Beach shows up on 2 of our curated routes, so you can work it into more than one kind of trip.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Weather by month, based on Miami

Our climate figures for South Beach come from Miami, about 6 km (4 mi) away. Average daily highs run from 23°C / 73°F in January to 30°C / 86°F in August. June is the wettest month, with about 191 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Miami. Miami weather (covers South Beach) →

Near South Beach

8 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.

South Beach questions, answered

How many days do you need in South Beach?

Our route notes suggest 2–3 days in South Beach. On our Miami Beach Getaway route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 11 places add up to roughly 17 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is South Beach best known for?

Base yourself here for 2–3 days of beach mornings, Art Deco walks and late dinners; everything is walkable or a short bike ride. Standouts on our list: Art Deco Welcome Center (Start point for the Miami Design Preservation League's guided Art Deco walking tours along Ocean Drive); The Wolfsonian–FIU (Design and propaganda museum in a 1927 storage building; a good air-conditioned break from the sun); The Bass (Contemporary art museum in Collins Park, close to the beach).

When is the best time to visit South Beach?

Our routes through South Beach are best Nov – Apr or Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Miami put the warmest highs in August (30°C / 86°F), the coolest in January (23°C / 73°F) and the most rain in June (about 191 mm).

What are the best things to do in South Beach?

Start with Art Deco Welcome Center, Lummus Park Beach, The Wolfsonian–FIU, South Pointe Park and The Bass. Our guide lists 11 places in all, from 3 sights, 3 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 2 shops.

Where should a group eat in South Beach?

Our picks: Puerto Sagua (South Beach); Joe's Stone Crab (South of Fifth). Grab a counter seat for a quick Cuban breakfast (Puerto Sagua).

What is near South Beach?

The closest destinations in our guides are Downtown Miami & Bayfront (about 5 km / 3 mi), Miami (about 6 km / 4 mi) and Key Largo (about 84 km / 52 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan South Beach with your crew

Open the Miami Beach Getaway route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 11 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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