Miami Itinerary – 3 Days in Miami for First Timers

By Katie Sagal
Published: July 18, 2024
Beach

Spending a long weekend in Miami and aren’t sure what to do with your time? Check out this popular 3 Days in Miami Itinerary for ideas on what to do and where to go.

This 3 day itinerary includes:

  • Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Sightseeing Tour
  • Little Havana (free!)
  • Everglades Tour from Miami
  • Key West Day Trip
  • Duck Tours South Beach
  • Art Deco Walking Tour
  • Miami Seaquarium

Only have a few days in Miami? We’ve also put together a 1 day and 2-day itinerary to help you with your planning. On the flip side, if you have more vacation time, we recommend you spend some additional time down in Key West - this Florida Keys road trip itinerary is a fun way to explore Miami and everything in between Key West.

DAY 1 Stop #1: Big Bus Miami Sightseeing Tour

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This hop-on, hop-off tour is an ideal introduction to the city of Miami itself. Big Bus Miami will take you throughout the city and the surrounding neighborhoods, hitting all the major highlights and hotspots. Some included sights on your tour include the Vizcaya Museum, the Freedom Tower, and much much more.

Remember to pick up your ticket in advance at the Big Bus Miami Central Station. You can choose to hop on or off at any of the stops along the way, or, stay on for the full length of the tour (which will take about 3 hours).

Stop #2: Little Havana (free!)

Something you should not miss on your Miami vacation is the chance to explore on of the city's most famous neighborhoods – Little Havana. It's the locus of a whole bunch of cultural, social, and culinary traditions with a primarily Cuban influence (although many other Hispanic cultures are also represented here).

You'll find frequent festivals and special events (so check an event calendar before your visit). Cultural Fridays are a recurring one that should be easy to check out. Or, if you just want to get a taste for the area – literally – hit up one of their authentic restaurants.

Stop #3: Everglades Tour

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This Everglades Alligator Farm & Airboat Tour is the perfect way to see and experience the fantastic natural world of the Florida Everglades. It’s a half-day-long excursion that exposes you to the wild and wonderful throughout the swamplands.

Take an airboat ride, marvel at the Wildlife Nature Show, stroll the Jungle Walkway, and more at this enchanting attraction. Don’t forget your camera to capture some photos of the iconic Florida alligator (from a safe distance, of course)! This tour lasts approximately 5 hours.

DAY 2 Stop #1: Key West Day Tour

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Today is your day for total relaxation and fun. Take a Key West Day Trip and do nothing but lounge and enjoy the sunshine and waves. Or, you can opt to shop, dine, and otherwise explore Key West itself. Some optional activities you can do while in Key West include paying a visit to the Hemingway house, hopping aboard an eco-kayaking adventure, or setting sail on a dolphin-watching cruise.

Whatever suits your fancy, you’ve got all day in Key West to enjoy it. Be sure to time your trip so that you see the setting sun in Mallory Square – you'll get some of the most beautiful photos you'll ever take. This tour will take the entire day, beginning early in the morning.

DAY 3 Stop #1: Duck Tours South Beach

Take your last day in Miami to spend a little more time in South Beach. The Duck Tours South Beach will give you a broad overview of the highlights and hotspots of South Beach and beyond, providing some really stellar photo opportunities.

Some highlights of your tour will include the Art Deco District, Fisher Island, Millionaire’s Row, and Star Island, among many others. Plus, your tour guide is a professionally trained actor and comic who is sure to delight passengers the entire time. This tour lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Stop #2: Art Deco Walking Tours

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Another excellent perspective on South Beach comes with a stroll through its famous historic Art Deco district. Featuring the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the entire world (you read that right), this neighborhood is a must-see for architecture nuts and history buffs.

This tour will take approximately 90 minutes, and is conducted on foot. We recommend comfy shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and sunblock.

Stop #3: Miami Seaquarium

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Located on lovely Virginia Key, the Miami Seaquarium is the premier destination for all things marine life in Miami. Filled with exciting animal shows, educational exhibits, and informative presentations, an afternoon at the Seaquarium will delight the whole family.

This institution is also dedicated to wildlife conservation and rescue, so many of the creatures that call the Seaquarium home have actually been rescued and rehabilitated from the wild.

Be sure to pay a visit to the manatees, who represent the single largest population of rescued marine creatures at the park. We recommend reserving about 2 hours for this attraction.
Save on Attraction Admission

This 3 days in Miami itinerary is designed to combine the best of beachy, relaxing attractions with entertainment and education. Our suggested list of things to do will also help you really get a feel for the area, and allow you to leave knowing you’ve made the most of your limited time.

Pick up a 3-day pass for Miami by Go City® and save big on combined admission prices vs paying at the gate.

Remember, this 3-day itinerary is just one of many ways to experience Miami. Go City® gives you the flexibility to create your own itinerary, so you can choose from dozens of top attractions and create a vacation tailored to your interests.

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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Miami in February

Exciting and buzzing with life, Miami is one of the most popular visitor destinations in the United States – and with good reason. With daily high temperatures ranging around the mid-70s, February is a fantastic time to visit. This is perfect weather for strolls on the beach, a visit to the zoo, or exploring the city’s coolest neighborhoods. With so much to see, do and experience, you’ll be spoiled for choice. If you aren’t quite sure where to start, don’t worry – we’ve done all the research for you. Have a read through our comprehensive list of the best things to do in Miami in spring. No matter how you choose to spend your time in the Magic City, we’re sure you’ll have a blast! See the Sites One to definitely add to the top of the travel bucket list is witnessing the majesty of nature close up. With its fantastic tropical climate and undeniably beautiful greenery, Miami presents some of the best zoological gardens in America. Blending the beautiful backdrop of Miami with incredible exotic creatures, Jungle Island delivers the best of both worlds and more. This place has been delighting animal lovers from near and far since 1936, making it our top recommendation for those looking to see some of the natural world’s most impressive specimens. The site has over 3, 000 animals to show, and over 100 exhibits to be enjoyed. Formerly known as ‘’Parrot Jungle’’, you can expect to see a lot of interesting birds in more varieties than you ever thought existed. This place is also home to Miami’s only private beach, which functions as a kids’ waterpark. The park features obstacle courses, riptide rapids, slides, and a climbing wall to keep the little ones occupied – as if the colorful animals weren’t enough! A thoroughly captivating and magical experience for those of all ages, this one should rank way up high on the itinerary. Whilst travelling, one of the best ways to appreciate the area is by visiting a public garden. Our top pick of Miami’s best green spaces has got to be Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden for its unique collection of exotic flora. This historic garden is home to some beautiful plants and rare specimens which have been carefully cultivated since the mid-1900s. Spanning over 83 acres of land, this must-see attraction offers a fully immersive rainforest experience for you and your loved ones. Walking through the site, you’ll be able to enjoy thousands of types of plants you wouldn’t normally get to see. In addition, the site is home to the largest palm collection in America, as well as the biggest collection of tropical bamboo in the world. Walking through the site, you’ll also be able to view a lot of interesting wildlife which thrives there, including fish, birds, lizards and crocodiles. Perhaps most captivating, though, is the garden’s small butterfly emporium, with countless species to be enjoyed. No doubt one of the most serene spaces in the city, this place works to showcase the true beauty and wonder of the natural world in all its glory. We recommend setting aside a whole day for this if you’re looking to cover the whole space. Learn Something New The best vacation memories aren’t accordingly made when you’re just kicking back. For those who are looking to incorporate education into their travel experience, we recommend checking out the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum. Both inspiring and fun, this place works well to explain a wide range of topics for a broad audience. The institute houses both a planetarium and an aquarium – so there’s a little something for everybody here. Go back in time to explore the wonders of the natural world. Learn about the amazing story of evolution from start to finish. Or hear about the development and future of scientific discovery. No matter where your interests may lie, you’re sure to find something to pique your interest. Some of the best trips include a day at the museum. If you’re looking for art and culture in Miami, look no further than the Pérez Art Museum. Situated just downtown, the institute has long served as the perfect spot for creative and intellectual thought. The gallery’s ongoing core collection draws inspiration from the city’s rich cultural diversity, while you’ll find many rotating exhibits focusing on important social topics. In total, the museum has over 2, 000 pieces, covering a wide range of styles. In its unique and impressive repository, you'll find everything from avant-garde and surrealist paintings to modern and contemporary sculptures. Famous artists featured here include Frank Stella, Dan Flavin, and Christo and Jeanne-Claude. For anybody wanting to squeeze in a little bit of education on their travels, we couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day. Try Something Different Whether or not you consider yourself a spiritual person, there’s something quite special about visiting sacred sites on your trip. Standing out as the oldest visitor attraction in the city by a long shot, the Ancient Spanish Monastery is not only a mesmerizingly beautiful place to spend the day but well-recognized for its fascinating and storied past. Construction for this unique site began in 1133 AD, near northern Spain. For nearly 700 years following the initial construction, the monastery was run by Cistercian monks. It wasn’t until the 1920s that the monastery first landed on American soil, after being deconstructed brick by brick. By the mid-twentieth century, two entrepreneurs had decided to buy the stones to put back together, one by one, with the intention of building a tourist attraction – the Ancient Spanish Monastery as it is now known. The attraction has been branded as ‘’the biggest jigsaw puzzle in history’’ by Time Magazine, and we can certainly see why! Though the site’s past is pretty far-fetched, the monastery retains much of its architectural excellence. Upon entrance, you’ll be able to appreciate its hand-carved columns, sweeping arches, and beautiful shrines. No doubt one of the most unbelievable attractions in the city, this place is definitely worth a visit. We love Miami. Forever fun and bursting with cool things to do, the city lures those from near and far and its beautiful weather and beachy vibes. To find out how to save money on your trip, check out our Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive Pass. For more details, make sure to connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. With Go City, you can see more, for less.
Sarah Harris

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