Top 15 FREE Things To Do In Miami In 2024
Looking For The Top Free Things To Do In Miami In 2024? Look No Further!
Welcome to “Top 15 Free Things To Do In Miami,” a practical guide to exploring the city without spending a dime.
Miami, known for its sun-soaked shores, diverse neighborhoods, and cultural richness, offers a range of cost-free activities.
In this post, we’ll delve into the free experiences that capture the essence of Miami’s charm, from its beaches to its art-filled streets.
So, slip on your walking shoes and join us on a budget-friendly journey through beautiful Miami.
I have had the opportunity to visit Miami and will share with you all the tips and tricks and answer all of your questions.
There is a map of Miami at the end which shows the location of all the things I have mentioned.
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Free Things To Do In Miami
We recently took a trip to Miami and I must say that as beautiful as Miami is, it is not the cheapest (duh)!
In a city as expensive as this, finding a few free attractions to do is always exciting.
So let’s jump into it!
🦄 If you need inspiration on what to pack for your Miami trip, check out this blog post: Packing for Miami: For A Week With A Carry-on Only
1. Little Havana
Little Havana is the vibrant Cuban neighborhood of Miami City.
The main street to see is called Calle Ocho (8th street), between 13th and 17th.
There you will find a lot of Cuban restaurants, cafes, cigar shops, and interesting art everywhere.
Keep in mind that Little Havana is not located downtown, it is west of it as it is its own neighborhood.
There is no Metro Station close by, which is why we used the Miami Hop-on-hop-off Big Bus.
👉 To book your ticket, click here: Hop-on-hop-off Big Bus
What is so special about Little Havana?
Some of the special things to see in Little Havana are the painted rooster statues – there are at least 12 of them and they are all different.
You might end up seeing real roosters walking around so make sure you take a picture with both.
The Calle Ocho Walk of Fame features stars on the sidewalk of different Latin singers and telenovela actors such as Selia Cruz, Thalia, Julio Iglesias, etc.
The famous Domino Park is a park where older residents of Little Havana play Dominos. You will recognize it by the large crowd of people observing the games.
The House of Costumes (La Casa De Los Trucos) is a costume store that has been around for over 47 years. Even if you don’t need a costume, you can check it out from the outside as you walk around.
The Ball & Chain is the iconic nightclub from back in the day, which is now a live-music restaurant where you can find Cuban food and cocktails.
As you walk around, play a tribute to the Bay of Pigs Monument which is surrounded by a small park where you can take a moment to rest.
Another historical landmark to check out is the MDC’s Tower Theater Miami which is one of the oldest landmarks in Miami.
Is Little Havana worth visiting?
Yes, I do think it is worth seeing especially if you have never visited Cuba and especially if you grab some food or coffee while there.
On the third Friday of the month, in the evening from 7 pm to 11 pm, you can attend a free event called Viernes Cultural (Cultural Friday).
There you can enjoy a lot of music, dancing, food, and drinks all inspired by Cuban culture.
👉 If you decide you would rather do a tour of Little Havana, I recommend this one: Little Havana Food and Walking Tour in Miami
2. Little Haiti
Little Haiti is a neighborhood in Miami where a lot of Haitian and Caribbean immigrants have established themselves.
It used to be called Lemon City for a long time.
Little Haiti is a mix of Afro-Caribbean culture and North American community.
It offers a diverse variety of food, colorful murals, music, handmade products, etc.
Do you need to book in advance to visit Little Haiti?
No, you do not need to book anything in advance if you are going alone.
However, if you want to do an organized tour, you will have to book in advance.
👉 To book a Little Haiti tour in advance, click here: La Perle De Miami: Little Haiti Tour
What’s the best way to see Little Haiti?
You can walk around on your own, take your time and enjoy.
However, keep vigilant and stick to the main area as Little Haiti is not the safest area in the city. If you are a female solo traveler, you might want to skip this one or go on a tour.
A free event you can attend is Sounds of Little Haiti. It is a fun and family-friendly activity where you can immerse yourself in Haitian culture.
At the Sounds of Little Haiti, you will find traditional music, food, art, etc. It happens every third Friday of the month between 6 pm and 10 pm.
3. Bayside Marketplace
The Bayside Marketplace is a large, open-concept shopping center that is located in downtown Miami, beside the marina.
It is one of the things to do for free in Miami.
Do you have to pay to get into Bayside Marketplace?
No, you do not need to pay to get into Bayside Marketplace, however, you will need to pay for parking.
Part of Bayside Market consists of small pavilions with goods from different countries as well as souvenirs, knick-knacks, jewelry, art, etc.
The other half is more like a typical mall where you will find large chains such as Express, Victoria’s Secret, etc.
Inside the Marketplace as well as outside along the marina there are all sorts of restaurants and bars (including Hard Rock Cafe).
There are places where you can grab a bite and ones where you can sit down and have a full meal.
The only thing we bought from Bayside Marketplace was a few souvenirs.
From here you can also access the Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel (paid) located at the end of the Marketplace (beside the water).
Another thing to check out while you are here is Bayfront Park.
Which was closed when we visited due to concert preparations but we did see it from the Ferris wheel.
Also, check out the Torch of Friendship monument which is dedicated to all Latin immigrants that came to America.
While walking around, keep an eye on the ground where you will see the Miami Walk of Fame.
Which is a bunch of blue stars on the sidewalk with the names of celebrities who were born in Miami.
A short walk away is the Freedom Tower which used to be an immigration facility and the office of a newspaper back in the day. It is now a museum.
Beside it is the FTX Arena, home to the Miami Heat basketball team.
4. Design District
Next, let’s talk about the Design District of Miami. If you like unique art, then you will like this place.
What is the Miami Designer District?
Miami Designer District is a creative neighborhood that is known for its unique fashion, innovative art and design as well as interesting architecture.
It is located northeast of downtown (Midtown). The Designer District is known for its high-end shopping, luxury restaurants and food options.
What’s the best way to see Miami Design District?
Exploring on foot is probably the best way to explore the Design District, however, you can also find some hidden gems when joining a paid tour.
👉 Check out this one: Miami Design District hidden gems walking tour
Is Miami Design District worth visiting?
It is worth visiting the Miami Design District if you like abstract art and design, luxury shopping, and dining. Some of the stores you will find are Fendi, Hermes, Marc Jacobs, etc.
Do you have to pay to go to Miami Design District?
No, you do not need to pay to enter the area. However, you will need to spend money if you want to buy anything from the shops or dine in the area. Keep in mind that parking is not free.
Free Things To Do In Miami Beach
There are also a lot of fun free things to do in Miami Beach (the island) so let’s check those out:
5. Beach and Lifeguard Towers
It might seem obvious but one of the best free things to do in Miami Beach is, you guessed it – the beach.
Miami Beach is roughly divided between South Beach (the party area), Middle Beach (which has a lot of hotels), and North Beach (quieter/residential).
However, all of them are essentially one long strip of beach that is located on the east side of the island.
Is South Beach Miami free?
Yes, South Beach is free! You can access the beach from pretty much anywhere and all the beaches are free to the public. Even the ones that are in front of the hotels!
The only thing you would have to pay for is if you want to use one of the lounge chairs or the beach umbrella and you are not a guest at that hotel.
It is also free to walk anywhere on the boardwalk which follows the length of the entire beach.
Another free attraction is the Lifeguard Towers which are located all over the beach strip.
There are a total of 36 of them and they are all designed differently – styles and colors.
I was kind of obsessed with them and tried to take a picture of as many of them as I could.
There are actual lifeguards inside of them so they do have a purpose.
After 5 p.m. the lifeguards leave the beach so you can take some pretty cool pictures in front of the colorful Lifeguard Towers.
6. Ocean Drive and the Versace Mansion
You cannot go to Miami Beach and not check out Ocean Drive.
What is Miami Ocean Drive famous for?
Ocean Drive is the famous Miami Beach street, that has all the Art Deco buildings.
A lot of them are hotels that are only a few floors high and are colorful. Most of the hotels on Ocean Drive have a restaurant or a bar in the lobby.
On one side of Ocean Drive, you will see those hotels and restaurants and on the other hand side, you will be walking parallel to the beach.
It does make for a nice stroll up and down Ocean Drive.
You don’t have to spend any money exploring it unless you want to stop at one of the many restaurants or bars and grab a snack or a drink.
Keep in mind that most of them are pretty pricey.
Another thing to check out is the luxury cars that people drive up and down the street, honking and trying to get the attention of pedestrians (especially girls).
The area also becomes lively at night – a lot of the restaurants have live music or shows.
We ate dinner and watched a drag queen show one of the nights at a place called Palace.
The buildings and the palm trees are decorated with lights and everything looks festive.
I would recommend going during the day as well as at night as you do get different vibes.
👉 A unique way to check out Ocean Drive and South Beach is through this tour: South Beach: Segway Tour
Keep in mind that any time you go it will be busy and loud as this is the main area where people hang out.
What else is there to see on Ocean Drive?
At Ocean Dr. and 18th Street, you will see the Versace Mansion which is now a luxury hotel.
At 10th Street, you can take a picture with the South Beach Clock Tower which shows the date and time of your visit.
📷 If you want to see more images from Ocean Drive, check out this IG post
7. Lincoln Road
If you want to do more shopping, then you can do so at Lincoln Road
What is Lincoln Road known for?
Lincoln Road is a famous pedestrian street that has a bunch of high-end retail stores such as Zara, Sephora, etc.
There are also a lot of restaurants and coffee shops.
Is Lincoln Road considered South Beach?
Yes, Lincoln Road is located right in the heart of South Beach.
We walked from our Airbnb to Lincoln Road in 5 minutes and walked up and down it a few times.
We weren’t looking to buy anything so we stopped at a few stores to look around.
Lincoln Road is a few blocks long but it makes for a wonderful stroll.
One of the interesting things to point out is the HnM store which is located inside the Lincoln Theater which makes the facade pretty interesting.
If you are in the area and are looking for coffee, go to a place called Cortadito and get a nice iced coffee.
We did Lincoln Road, the Holocaust Memorial & Botanical Gardens in one day as they were close to each other.
Turn north on Meridian Ave., you will pass Cortadito on the left side of the street, and then continue to the other two attractions (follow Meridian Ave. to the end).
8. Holocaust Memorial
The Holocaust Memorial is a stunning testament to the Holocaust victims during World War II.
Why is there a Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach?
The reason why there is a Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach is the fact that South Florida has one of the highest populations of Holocaust survivors in all of the United States.
It is a beautiful monument with water in the front and a protruding arm from the center that is made out of the bodies of victims climbing up it.
It is a moving memorial, that provokes a lot of thought and emotion.
The shape is circular and you can access the middle of the memorial and go beside the protruding arm.
There you will see other statues that are trying to get to the arm and all of them are in distressful poses.
On a wall at the back, you will see the names of some of the victims. There is solemn music playing as you walk around and take it all in.
I highly recommend seeing the Holocaust Memorial as it is beautifully done.
However, I would say visit it if you have a lot of time as it is a little bit out of the way.
So it is not a must on a first trip but it is worth seeing and it is one of the free things to do in Miami Beach.
9. Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens are located right behind the Holocaust Memorial.
They are not that big, it will probably take you no more than half an hour to explore them.
Also, the gardens are one of the fun free things to do in Miami Beach and provide a nice escape from the busy South Beach scene.
There are a lot of plants and trees that are local to the area. You will also find a lot of beautiful butterflies that call the Botanical Gardens their home.
In the center, you will see a large pond with a small fountain. There is a small Japanese garden as well.
Also, there are a bunch of benches scattered around the whole area where you can sit and enjoy nature.
Our favorite sight was seeing a banana tree with bananas hanging from it as well as a couple of turtles basking on a rock in the pond.
There is also a shop where you can get some unique gifts and if you need a washroom break there are free bathrooms on-site as well (besides the shop).
As I mentioned earlier, I would suggest doing Lincoln Road, the Holocaust Memorial, and the Botanical Gardens in one day.
10. South Pointe Park/Lighthouse/Pier
Moving on, to the southern part of Miami Beach.
The lovely park called South Pointe Park has a boardwalk, from where you can enjoy the views of the bay and Fisher Island.
Fisher Island is the only island in the area that does not have any bridges connected to it. It is surrounded by water – you can only get to it by boat.
On it, there are some pretty expensive buildings, which you can see from the park.
What time does South Pointe Park open?
You can enjoy South Pointe Park from sunrise to 10 pm every day.
Also, it is one of the things to do in Miami for free.
At the west end of the park, you will find the South Pointe Park Lighthouse, which looks like a Jenga tower.
However, you cannot go inside the lighthouse but it is a cool sight.
On the east end of the park, you will find the pier, which extends into the water.
From there you can take nice photos of the surrounding water and the beach.
We did all the above things in the morning and then spent the rest of the afternoon laying on the beach.
11. Trolley Trip
The Trolley is one of the free things to do in Miami Beach and it offers rides to tourists and locals.
Does the Miami Trolley go to South Beach?
The City of Miami trolley does not go to Miami Beach or South Beach. The two trolley systems (the mainland and the island) do not intercept.
You will have to use a bus to go between the two.
Four separate routes connect all parts of the island.
What we did is we took the trolley and went all the way up to North Beach. We spent a full day exploring the less popular area of Miami Beach.
So by taking the trolley, you can pretty much go anywhere around the island for free.
The trolleys also look cute and come around quite often.
Here is a map of the trolley routes, so you can explore not only South Beach but the rest of the island which is also beautiful.
Also, you can take the trolley one way towards North Beach, and get off wherever you choose.
Then walk back towards South Beach on the boardwalk which runs parallel to the beach, or bike as well (FYI renting the bikes is not free but walking is lol.)
Free Things To Do In Miami With Kids
There are a lot of things for children to do in Miami. Some of them are listed below.
12. Miami Children’s Museum
Usually, the Miami Children’s Museum is paid, however, it is free on the third Friday of the month from 3-8 pm, which includes interactive activities, games, and crafts for kids.
The museum offers a variety of exhibits that are targeted toward children’s education and interactions with each other through different hands-on activities.
Miami Children’s Museum is located on Watson Island right beside MacArthur Causeway.
13. Soundscape Park Entertainment
You can watch children’s friendly movies or concerts for free at Soundscape Park.
Every Wednesday and Thursday, from October through May, you can catch a family movie in the park.
You also have the option to watch pre-recorded videos of different music events that have happened throughout the year inside The New World Symphony.
So instead of going inside the hall and paying to watch the concert, you can watch a recording for free in the park.
You can also enjoy a lot of the other activities mentioned in this post with kids as well.
In South Pointe Park (above) there is a large playground for kids as well as a few splash pad fountains. There is also a small cafe there where you can get drinks and snacks for the kids.
Free Things To Do In Miami At Night
The city comes to life at night with all the music and lights coming from every corner. People are walking around in their clubbing outfits and luxury cars are honking at everyone.
14. Miami Beach Nightclubs
If you are looking to party, head out to South Beach where you can find all sorts of entertainment including clubs and bars.
There are some that are free to enter. Some clubs let ladies enter free before a certain time of the night as well.
Follow the club on their IG as they announce any promotions on their stories.
Keep in mind that the popular clubs will not be free of course. Or if there is some sort of event or a famous DJ/singer performing you will definitely need tickets.
It is one of the fun free things to do in Miami!
What part of Miami has the best nightlife?
Most of the nightlife is located around Ocean Drive in South Beach.
If you are on the mainland, head out to the Wynwood area where you can find a lot of funky clubs and bars.
🦄 Looking for more fun things to do in Miami for adults: 20 Fun Things To Do In Miami For Adults
15. Watch The Sunset From The Beach
The best place to watch the sunset is from South Pointe Park (above).
Grab a blanket and some snacks and head to South Pointe Park for a more personal experience.
On your way back north, pass by Ocean Drive and check out all the Art Deco buildings that are all lit up at night.
Also, it is one of the great free things to do in Miami for couples.
Map Of The Top 15 FREE Things To Do In Miami
Best Places To Stay In Miami On A Budget
The most expensive hotels will be located in South Beach as that is the most popular part of Miami Beach.
Keep in mind that most hotels will be within walking distance of the beach so you do not need a hotel that is right on the beach strip.
Can save some money by going for one that is a block or two away from it.
If you want to go to a beach then you will need to be in Miami Beach as there is no beach in Miami City.
Here are two budget options one for Miami Beach and one for Miami City.
The President Hotel – Miami Beach
- The President Hotel is constructed in the Classic Art Deco style from the 1930s
- Centrally located – within walking distance to the beach, Ocean Drive, close to restaurants and shopping
- They offer free WiFi, public parking is available nearby costs US$45 per day
- Rooftop pool including loungers, umbrella, and towel that is accessible to all guests
👉 Here is a link to book your stay in The President Hotel – Miami Beach
Keep in mind that there are cheaper places to stay in Miami but anything lower might not get you the best experience.
There are also a bunch of hostels in Miami Beach that are cheaper but I rather pay a bit more and enjoy where I am staying.
YVE Hotel Miami – Miami City
- YVE Hotel Miami is located right in Downtown Miami City (beside Bayside Market)
- Easy access to everything on the mainland – will need to bus to Miami Beach
- Free wifi (in the room and rest of the hotel areas), gym, and pet-friendly
- Close to the cruise terminals (in case you are catching a crouse after checking out Miami)
👉 Here is a link to book your stay in YVE Hotel Miami
🦄 Some more related reads:
Is Key West Worth Visiting? Things To Do & Reasons To Visit
16 Best Resorts In Key West For Couples
11 Best Places To Visit In The USA In December
Conclusion: Top 15 FREE Things To Do In Miami
In conclusion, Miami proves that memorable experiences don’t always come with a price tag.
From the sun-drenched beaches to the culturally rich neighborhoods, this guide has uncovered a variety of activities that allow you to soak in the Magic City’s charm without opening your wallet.
Whether it’s a stroll along the beaches, immersing yourself in the city’s arts, or discovering hidden gems in its diverse communities, Miami offers a wealth of no-cost adventures.
So, the next time you find yourself in this dynamic city, remember that the best things in Miami are not always measured by cost but by the richness of the experiences waiting to be discovered.
Embrace the freedom of exploration and let Miami’s charm unfold before you, one budget-friendly adventure at a time.
