Miami: beach, sun and vibrant city life

Miami at a glance

When is the best time to visit Miami?

November to April is the dry season in Miami: temperatures of 24 to 30 degrees Celsius, blue skies and little rain. December and January are the busiest and most expensive, with hotel rooms up to 60% pricier than in the low season.

November and February through April are the sweet spots: pleasant weather, beach conditions and still reasonable hotel prices. May through October is the rainy and hurricane season, with high humidity and afternoon thunderstorms. Hotels are 40 to 60% cheaper, but book travel insurance that covers hurricane cancellations.

Best neighborhoods in Miami

• South Beach (SoBe) The icon: Art Deco architecture along Ocean Drive, golden beach, 24/7 nightlife. More expensive, but unmissable on a first visit to Miami.
• Wynwood Miami's creative heart: over 100 galleries, the world-famous Wynwood Walls (free), hipster cafes and craft breweries. Perfect for a full day of wandering.
• Brickell Miami's financial and culinary hub. Excellent metro connections, more affordable hotels than South Beach, and a great rooftop bar scene.
• Little Havana Authentic Cuban Miami: the smell of coffee and cigars, Maximo Gomez Park (Domino Park), live music on Calle Ocho. Free atmosphere, affordable food.
• Coconut Grove Bohemian and green, right on Biscayne Bay. Home to the beautiful Vizcaya Museum. Quiet but easily accessible by Metrorail.
• Design District Eighteen blocks of luxury flagship stores, contemporary art galleries and Michelin-starred restaurants. Free public art installations, ideal for a city stroll.

Top 5 attractions in Miami

• Wynwood Walls 80,000 square feet of murals by international artists on NW 2nd Avenue. Entry is free; the Wynwood Walls Shop is paid. The absolute highlight of the city.
• Vizcaya Museum & Gardens A 1916 Italian Renaissance bayfront estate surrounded by lush gardens on Biscayne Bay. Admission approx. $25 per person. One of the most beautiful spots in Florida.
• Art Deco Historic District A self-guided walk along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue in South Beach. Over 800 protected Art Deco buildings from the 1930s. Completely free to admire; a guided tour from the Miami Design Preservation League costs approx. $25.
• Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) Contemporary art in a spectacular building on Biscayne Bay with hanging gardens and skyline views. Admission approx. $20; free on the first Thursday of the month from 10am to 9pm.
• Little Havana and Calle Ocho Walk along SW 8th Street for Cuban coffee (cafe cubano, approx. $1.50), fresh cigars and locals playing dominoes at Maximo Gomez Park. Free entry, food is very affordable.

Flights and transport from the Netherlands to Miami

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flies nonstop from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Miami International Airport (MIA) approx. 3 to 4 times per week. Flight time approx. 10 hours; the return flight takes approx. 8 hours 45 minutes thanks to the jet stream.

Early-bird prices start from approx. €900 return per person; in peak season (December through March) expect €1,100 to 1,400. Book 8 to 12 weeks in advance and fly on Tuesday or Wednesday for the sharpest fares. From Eindhoven, take the train to Schiphol (approx. 1 hour 15 min.) and then fly direct with KLM to Miami.

Once in Miami, the Metromover is the most convenient option for Downtown and Brickell: a free people mover that runs every 3 to 5 minutes around the clock. The Metrorail costs $2.25 per ride and connects the airport to Downtown Miami Station in approx. 15 minutes.

Uber and Lyft are widely available for trips to South Beach or Wynwood. Renting a car is only worthwhile for day trips to the Everglades (approx. 45 min.) or the Florida Keys; note that the expressways require a SunPass or a cash toll plaza.

Insider tip: the Barnacle and Domino Park

Major travel sites send visitors en masse to South Beach and the Art Deco walk. What they rarely mention is Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove: Miami's oldest surviving house (1891), set amid tropical mangrove forest directly on the bay.

Admission is approx. $2. On full moon evenings the park hosts free concerts on the lawn with views of Biscayne Bay: authentic Florida, zero tourists. Combine it with a visit to Maximo Gomez Park (Domino Park) in Little Havana, where local seniors play dominoes daily under tiled pavilions. Nothing strange about watching; it gives you a glimpse of a Miami that most travelers never see.

How much does a trip to Miami cost?

A KLM return flight from Amsterdam costs approx. €900 to 1,400 per person depending on the season and booking time. Budget hotels start from approx. $80 per night outside South Beach. Mid-range hotels: approx. $130 to 200 outside peak season, approx. $200 to 320 in December through March. Watch out for resort fees of approx. $35 to 60 per night often hidden in the room rate. Food: a Cuban sandwich approx. $10, casual restaurant approx. $25 to 40 per person before the customary 18 to 20% tip. Daily budget for food and activities: approx. €50 to 80 on a shoestring, approx. €100 to 150 mid-range.