How to spend 72 hours in Miami

Miami: a place I could visit over and over again. I’ve been on two separate occasions and loved both equally. The first was on the back of a trip to New York, and the other was the start of my South American adventure. 

On both occasions, I stayed in Miami Beach and would recommend for anyone to do the same. It’s close to the action, but most importantly, it’s closest to the beach. There are a several options for places to stay, from budget(ish) to extremely high-end. I’ve stayed in an Airbnb overlooking the Venetian Islands, the COMO Metropolitan and at Hotel Gaythering. All three were close to bars and restaurants, transport links and beaches.

Day 1 – Getting acquainted with Miami

DAY

Miami and Miami Beach are relatively easy to navigate. Cabs and Ubers are in abundance, and the bus network is simple and cheap. To get your bearings in Miami however, I’d recommend hopping on a bike. Citibikes are aplenty across the island and give you the opportunity to see the city at your own pace. I cycled all the way down to South Pointe, and then across the 195 to Wynwood. There are stations from which you can pick up a bike, use it for as long as you wish, and then dock it back into whichever station is most convenient. It’s easy to use, cheap and a good way to enjoy some of that Miami heat. But please, take a bottle of water. Miami gets hot.

Pro tip: Take a break at KUSH in Wynwood for a beer and a snack – their food is incredibly tasty and a little easier on the purse strings compared to most eateries in Miami Beach.

After a short break, cycle over to Wynwood to explore its incredible street art. Wynwood Walls is an outdoor museum showcasing large-scale works by some of the world’s best-known street artists and is incredible. There are a many craft breweries surrounding the area, so a refreshing drink is never too far away either.

NIGHT

After navigating the city, it’s time to discover its food and drink scene. Call me stupid, but I didn’t expect the cuisine in Miami to be this good. On your first evening, I recommend heading over to Little Havana for some Cuban inspiration. Timeout recommends Sanguich de Miami for the best Cuban sandwich, though I’d argue that most places in Little Havana will provide the Cubano goodness. My evening in Little Havana ended with us perched at a table with a guy and his abuela (who spoke no English), sipping on Cuba Libre’s and playing dominoes.

Day 2 – Everglades National Park

DAY

In my opinion, a trip to Miami would be incomplete without visiting the Everglades. Although not in Miami itself, there are several tour operators available originating in Miami. Many will pick you up at your hotel or a central pick-up spot and drive you to the Everglades National Park. We booked our tour through Viator for approximately £35 (~$45). Though updated prices (August 2025) are coming in closer to £60. This included transfers to and from Miami, and a 45-minute boat tour through the everglades with a guide. The whole experience was surreal – I’m not sure how many more times in my life I’ll be within touching distance of an alligator. The guide was hugely informative and made the experience extra special with his stories. And the Everglades are naturally fascinating.

A trip here takes most of the day, so enjoy the surroundings and peace and quiet away from the busy city before returning.

NIGHT

The world-famous Ocean Drive. Always full of life. It’s easy to see why this is such a focal point for visitors to Miami. Expect to pay the premium here, but don’t miss out on the huge number of bars and restaurants offering the true Miami Beach experience. On both occasions I visited Miami, there were huge worldwide football tournaments taking place, so we spent a considerable amount of time in Finnegan’s Way – an Irish bar with huge screens and reasonable drinks. Don’t be afraid to head back a few blocks to both Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue – many of the bars here are less busy and a little cheaper. One of the best nights out we had was on the West-side of the island at a speakeasy called Foxhole. Open til 5am, it gets lively in here. Highly recommend.

Day 3 – Miami’s Beaches

DAY

You can’t visit Miami and not spend a day on its famous beaches. There are a huge number of beaches to choose from, though most notably is probably Lummus Park Beach. This is the beach you will have seen in the movies. With its famous lifeguarding huts, it took everything in me to not try and recreate the Baywatch opening scene. The huts make for a great photo opportunity if you’re not feeling so brave/stupid. South Pointe Park Pier is a beautiful 17-acre park on the very tip of Miami Beach which has great views of the coastline. If you don’t mind going a little further, Surfside is a beautiful residential beach with a small beach town vibe. There’s even a picnic area here, so you can save some cash by bringing your own food.

If the beach isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other things to do in Miami and Miami Beach. Head to Lincoln Road to shop and people watch, take a leisurely stroll down the Hollywood Beach boardwalk, or take a tour with the Miami Tour Company for a witty and informative afternoon.

NIGHT

There are two restaurants which are stand-out experiences for me in Miami. One is in Wynwood (Alter) and one is on South Beach (Byblos). Since the time of writing, I’m sad to see that Alter has now closed. But dependant on where you’d like to spend your final evening, there are plenty of great restaurants in Miami.

I’d still like to share my experience of Alter, as it’s one which I still regularly recall. Alter was based in an unassuming, warehouse property in the centre of Miami’s Wynwood neighbourhood. Alter offered a 5, 7 and ‘full chef’s experience’ menu. I opted for the 7 courses with wine pairing, and it was absolutely out-of-this-world incredible. From the food and flavours to the service and the pacing of each course, it was quite literally faultless. 

Byblos was less fancy, but still worth a mention. Serving Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, Byblos is located centrally on Collins Avenue. We shared several plates from the dinner menu, from artichoke and kibbeh to black truffle pide and Atlantic salmon. Nothing was too much bother for the staff, and the wine we had to accompany the food was incredible. It’s a little more reasonable here than the tasting menu at Alter, though it still felt like a special occasion with impeccable service and surroundings.

Summary

Miami is somewhere you do eventually have to leave. For the sake of your pursestrings, if nothing else. It is also one of the few places on this earth I wish to return to time and time again. I thought I’d hate it. I thought it would scream tacky. But I was genuinely surprised at the deep culture and passion pulsing through its veins. Its strong LGBT+ community is something else to note – this is a place proud of its people, and it shows. Miami, you’ll forever have a place in my heart.