How To Spend 48 Hours In Miami Beach

You’ve arrived in Miami Beach, the city of many diverse cultures, where the party rages all night and you can soak up the sun on the beach all day. There are many things to do in Miami Beach, and if you plan smartly you can maximize your stay with all of the awesome things that this city has to offer. Fine dining, luxury hotels, endless shopping boutiques, magnificent beaches, electric night clubs – these are just a few of the things you can plan for if you want your trip to be unforgettable. Here, The Culture Trip presents a guide on the best way (in our humble opinion) to spend 48 hours in Miami Beach.

Day 1

The moment you step out the doors of Miami International Airport, and into the warm and potentially humid Miami morning, head straight for your hotel to freshen up. Now, we aren’t here to plan every facet of your vacation – you have a plethora of fantastic options for your accommodation. If you want to stay at a retro-chic boutique hotel near the beach, we suggest checking out Sense Beach House, Fashion Boutique, or The Marlin. If a luxury hotel is more your style, then we can point you in a number of excellent directions, complete with beach access, cabanas, spas, fine dining restaurants and much more: hotels such as the 1 Hotel, Pelican, W, and The Setai.

Dinner was excellent and things are looking good so far. Right about now you are getting yourself into the party mood, or at least you should be. Miami Beach offers a wide variety of bars and clubs for all different crowds. Mango’s Tropical Cafe, Purdy Lounge and LIV are all solid options. It’s time to head to the hotel, put on your trendiest evening outfit and head out. Keep in mind that everything in Miami starts late and goes on all night, so don’t feel pressed for time if you’re leaving the hotel at 11 or 12pm. If we had to choose one club for the evening it would have to be LIV, where the bottle service is quick, the DJs are the best in Miami, and the atmosphere is electric.

Day 2

Last night was a success, and you danced for hours! After a good night’s rest, we think its time for a solid breakfast; you’re going to need the energy for a busy day. What’s it going to be? Shopping on Collins Avenue and maybe some beach volleyball more your style? The Front Porch Cafe serves some legendary granola pancakes, and take it from us: the fish dishes and omelettes at Oliver’s Bistro are the best around.

If you came to Miami to do a little shopping, then you have to pay a visit to Lincoln Road. This legendary street is pedestrian-friendly and offers plenty of luxury brand boutiques, great places to eat and fantastic opportunities for people-watching. Miami is a trend-setting city, so you might as well go to a store that sells trend-setting outfits and accessories. The Lincoln Road Mall is a good place to start, and so is BASE Superstore, a quirky store that focuses on selling lifestyles and creating individualized customer experiences instead of just selling merchandise.

An example of Miami Modernist architecture on Lincoln Road

You can’t leave here without having put on the swimsuit at least one time. Quick change at the hotel, maybe a cheeky bite to eat and then head straight to the beach. Whether you’re flying solo or you have a group of friends around, there’s an activity or adventure waiting for you around every corner. For a proper tour of Miami Beach, why not rent a bike and go for a casual ride down Ocean Drive? When you’ve worked up a nice sweat, cool off in the refreshing waters of the Atlantic or stop by one of the countless seaside bars for a refreshing beer. As evening sets in, it’s time for your last night here. Keep the good time rolling, we say! Head to the hugely popular Miami Beach favorite The Clevelander, for round two of your Miami Beach escape.

The Cleavlander Hotel and Bar, Ocean Drive

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.