11 Best Free Things to Do in Miami

The beautiful beaches are among Miami’s main draws. The island city of Miami Beach features most of the beautiful, sandy coastal stretches. From Downtown Miami, Miami Beach is just across the blue waters of Biscayne Bay. South Pointe, Surfside, Lummus and Haulover are among the most famous and are home to great spots such as South Pointe Park and Nikki Beach Miami.

Lummus Park is great for families, with palm-lined promenades and direct beach access. Besides being free, all beaches are well-equipped with facilities and are close to dining spots and other attractions.

Easily get around Downtown Miami or enjoy a 4.4-mile, fully automated electric bus sightseeing ride, all for free. On Miami’s Metromover, you can take in views of Biscayne Bay, the city’s high-rise skylines and some of Brickell’s urban parks.

There are 3 routes, including a main one that runs from Museum Park station, between the Perez Art Museum and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science on Biscayne Boulevard. You don’t have to wait long for one either, with cars arriving an incredible every 90 seconds, or 3 minutes during off peak hours. It’s a fantastic way to really maximise your time in Miami.

Starting off at either end of this pedestrian walkway lets you take in Downtown Miami’s impressive urban landscapes from a different angle. Most importantly, you can enjoy it at your own leisurely pace and with plenty of riverside restaurants, shops and occasional festivals held along the riverbank. The Miami Riverwalk Festival, which usually comes around each November, features a host of live performances and cultural shows.

Wherever you look along the path, you’ll find spectacular scenery, from architecturally fascinating skyscrapers to the palm-tree studded bay. The Riverwalk can be especially magical in the evenings, with the reflections of high-rise buildings and city lights on the water’s surface.

For a scenic shopping and dining experience in Miami, head down to Biscayne Boulevard. The Bayside Marketplace is a great spot to gather with locals and visitors, with various independent shops and big-brand fashion outlets overlooking the yacht-filled marina in Biscayne Bay.

When you’re not in a shopping mood, there’s a good variety of dining options to sate your appetite, ranging from seafood to Latin, and with seating options indoors and out. Free entertainment is offered daily, with live bands and gigs performing on the Marina Stage.

A vibrant, European-styled mini-district, Miami Ironside is dedicated to delivering an unusual urban oasis with an emphasis on art and design. It’s a harmonious blend of nature and architecture with gardens brimming with rainbow eucalyptus, coconut palms and climbing jasmine. You can choose to stroll through the lemon grove, perch on a bench to watch the butterflies or enjoy lunch in the picturesque piazza.

After exploring the gardens, you’ll be delighted by exhibits in the Ironside Art Gallery, including the interactive and fascinating Quantum Jungle installation. If you’d like to see more art, check out the colourful and quirky paintings on sections of the Berlin Wall. You can even enjoy games nights at the Ironside Café every Monday.  

You can discover one of the most unique cultural scenes in Miami in this vibrant and lovely neighbourhood just west of Downtown Miami. Little Havana runs along most of the Calle Ocho strip. Along the route, you’ll find a host of Latin American art galleries and busy restaurants, some of which serve the best Cuban sandwiches in town.  

Don’t miss playing dominoes with the locals at Máximo Gómez Park before marvelling at the street art depicting Cuban heritage and portraits of popular icons. For entertainment, try the repertory cinema, Tower Theater, which is one of Miami’s historical and cultural landmarks and screens independent films regularly.

Miami’s rich collection of beautiful urban spaces are free for all to enjoy. They’re well-maintained and usually offer regular live gigs and interesting entertainment highlights. Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami is known for its free yoga classes, and its green and open spaces make for pleasant picnics and walks with beautiful bay views. Kids will love the aquatic themed playground with its pirate ship and cute water animal display.

In Miami Beach, Soundscape Park offers free cinema screenings and live projections of the New World Symphony as they perform inside the hall.

Start with the free Miami Dade College Museum of Art and Design, which hosts exhibitions of contemporary artworks by international and local artists at pop-up locations around Miami. The Wolfsonian-Florida International University is free on Fridays from 6pm to 9pm, and houses collection of paintings, furniture, industrial design posters and phonographs.

Take the kids to the Gold Coast Railway where they can join in exciting train-themed games and interactive exhibits on the first Saturday of every month. History lovers can visit the HistoryMiami Museum every second Saturday of the month to enjoy exhibits detailing Miami’s rich past, including its first native peoples and why the city is known for its signature Art Dec style.

Biking is big in Miami. Around 10 minutes’ drive southwest of Downtown Miami, Coconut Grove offers scenic outdoor spaces with lush trails for biking, walking or skating. You’ll find that this lush and verdant area is lined with chic coffee shops and boutiques, no surprise when it’s Miami’s oldest neighbourhood. 

Bike Coconut Grove is a local organisation that promotes cycling in the city and hosts free cycling tours throughout the month where you can enjoy the best sights the city has to offer. During some scheduled biking events, you can also ride up to the Barnacle Historic State Park, where you can enjoy free bike valets, as well as free cinema nights.

If you wish to introduce your kids to the wonderful world of performing arts, taking them to the Adrienne Arsht Center on Biscayne Boulevard can be a great idea. They regularly throw 'Family Fest' events, which are a series of free, indoor, family-friendly performances, featuring a great line-up ranging from award-winning musicians to some of South Florida’s best-known performing artists.

Though it’s free, you will still need to register for their 'First-Access Passes' so that they have a better idea of the number of attendees. Other fabulous free events include Free Gospel Sundays and pre-concert talks.

Behind Miami’s Art Deco glitz and luxurious lifestyle, you can explore local markets, where many of the fresh ingredients that make up the decadent cuisine are sourced. These markets can provide you with a unique sightseeing opportunity, with everything from organic produce to locally caught fish, as well as artisanal goods, on full display. Don’t miss Coconut Grove’s famous Saturday farmers’ market if you want honey or handmade soaps, and you must try their mouth-watering vegan ice cream.

Alternatively, you can drop by the Lincoln Road Antique and Collectables Market for rare treasures, or purchase freshly prepared fruit smoothies or artisan cheeses at the Vicayza Village’s farmers’ market, both on Sundays.