Best Things to Do in Miami — Beaches, Music & Nightlife

May 2026

South Beach and Wynwood are the headlines. The real Miami is broader, weirder, and more interesting — here's the full picture.

Beach Days

South Beach is the postcard but locals prefer Mid-Beach, North Beach, or driving up to Sunny Isles. Crandon Park on Key Biscayne is the family pick. For something different: Bill Baggs (the lighthouse beach) at the southern tip of Key Biscayne.

Music & Festivals

Ultra Music Festival (March) is the world's biggest electronic music event. Rolling Loud (Hard Rock Stadium, July) is hip-hop's flagship festival. Calle Ocho Festival (Little Havana) celebrates Latin culture every March. Miami's club scene (LIV, E11even, Story) is the most expensive and the most spectacular in America.

Wynwood Walls & Design District

Wynwood is now the city's biggest tourist neighborhood (which is to say, Disneyfied) but the walls are still worth a walk-through. The Design District has better galleries and shops. Both within 10 minutes of Downtown.

Heat & Dolphins

Miami Heat (Kaseya Center) for basketball. Miami Dolphins (Hard Rock Stadium) for football. Inter Miami (with Messi, until further notice) at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Marlins for baseball. UM Hurricanes for college football. Tickets bookable via NearEvent.

Cuban Food

Versailles in Little Havana is the institution. Sanguich for the city's best Cuban sandwich. La Carreta for the cubano. End every meal with cortadito or café Cubano (small but lethal).