First 24 Hours in Miami, USA

Flights from the UK usually arrive at the central hub of Miami International (MIA), about 8km from the city centre. Flights from within the US, particularly budget carriers, generally land at the smaller Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, 40km north of downtown.

At MIA you’ll need to pass passport control, then US Immigration and Customs – you will be given a customs form to fill in on the plane, which will be stamped here. Queues can be lengthy.

The Miami Beach Airport Flyer bus will whisk you from Miami International to South Beach for $2.35 (£1.50). It runs every 30 minutes, 6am-11.40pm; journey time is about 30 minutes.

Taxi fees are fixed: the ride from the airport to South Beach costs $32 (£20); to downtown costs $22 (£14). A cheaper option is to pre-book a shared shuttle with SuperShuttle; a one-way trip costs from $15pp (£9.50).

Miami has four Greyhound bus terminals including one at the airport. Buses run daily from many US cities such as New York (30hrs) and New Orleans (22hrs); an NYC-Miami fare can cost as little as $89 (£57) one way. Amtrak trains run into Miami Train Station (8303 NW 37th Ave). Miami is the terminus of the east coast Palmetto service from NYC.

Start the morning with a stroll on South Beach – this iconic stretch of sand is where the health conscious come for an early run while last night’s revellers stumble home. Grab breakfast at The Front Porch Cafe.

Next, explore the Art Deco buildings. You can do this alone, but taking one of the guided walking tours from the Welcome Center will offer a better historical grounding.

Take a bus to Little Haiti and head for the Haitian Heritage Museum; call for opening hours. Learn about the city’s Haitian diaspora – the largest population of Haitians outside the country.

If you want more insight into Miami’s Latin American contingent, consider a trip to Little Havana, in particular SW 8 Street – locals call it Calle Ocho. Grab some Nicaraguan food from Guayacan, before calling at the Bay of Pigs Museum (1821 SW 9 St) to learn about the ill-fated 1961 invasion.

In the afternoon, cross the bridge to get over to Key Biscayne and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area for a meander among the mangroves and to visit the historic lighthouse.

As the sun sets, head back to South Beach for a slap-up Haitian meal – perhaps with a rum or two – at Tap-Tap.

Stay, for a day – but then head further afield. There’s plenty more to see around the city.

For starters, there are two national parks within easy striking distance: Biscayne and Everglades. The former is a sprawling reef system where you can join guided canoe and kayak tours. The latter is the USA’s largest subtropical wilderness, a vast network of mangrove forest and wetlands where you can enjoy one of the most classic Florida experiences: watching alligators slice through the water and birds wading in the shallows as you zip by in an airboat.

Further afield is laid-back Key West and the quirky communities of the Florida Keys. These islands are ideal for cycling – the 122km Overseas Heritage Trail links them all together.

Finally, from Miami you can always jump on a plane, head south and explore Cuba, Haiti and beyond.


Main image: Miami Beach, Florida (Shutterstock)