20+ Free Things to Do in Miami

The Magic City may be infamous for its lavish lifestyle, but it’s still brimming with activities that don’t require using your rent money. Here’s the low down to the city’s best free things to do so that you can enjoy the 305 on the cheap.

For a different view of the city, snake through Miami’s Downtown and Brickell area. The Metromover is air-conditioned and automatic and makes several stops at important points of interest such as the Pérez Art Museum Miami, Bayfront Park, and the Adrienne Arsht Center.

Miami Beach may not be known as a surfing destination, but during the fall and winter months of hurricane season, surfers can enjoy good tides along South Pointe. And if you don’t surf, you can just lay there and feel #blessed for the sunshine in the depths of winter.

The graffiti art sprayed on every store and garage façade in Wynwood provides the perfect backdrop for a selfie. A good picture equals likes on Instagram, and for some, this is the whole point of traveling in the first place.

Om to the fresh breeze of the bay with free yoga sessions at Bayfront Park every Saturday at 9 am. Eva Arroyo leads the classes, and all participants must bring their own yoga mats.

Head to the suburbs of Pinecrest for a little shopping trip at their Farmers Market every Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm. The market includes a smoothie kiosk, organic produce, and Latin food sold by local vendors.

Catch an indie flick on the 7,000-square-foot projection wall along the New World Center in Miami Beach. Viewers can bring their blankets and popcorn while they lounge on the SoundScape park lawn and watch front-row entertainment in the great outdoors.

Listen to a live performance by the Miami Symphony Orchestra at the Palm Court in the Miami Design District on certain Friday nights at 6 pm. MDD often hosts free events every week, and they vary from family-friendly activities to live performances. Check their calendar here to catch the next event.

You don’t need a guide to get a tour of the Art Deco District in South Beach. Just stroll along to see the Essex House, Raleigh Hotel, The Webster, Colony Theatre, and the McAlpin, to name a few. (Just make sure you brush up on the details on Wikipedia first).

Every Sunday, the Dade Heritage Trust offers a one-hour tour of the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. Explore the grounds of the national landmark to take in the Spanish revival architecture and hear stories of the hotel’s haunted past.

Taco Tuesdays call for a visit to Wood Tavern, where their tender tortilla and beef or chicken tacos are free and delicious every Tuesday from 6–9 pm. Just make sure to leave a tip.

What officially began as an educative evening for visitors to tour the art galleries and murals of Wynwood is now a massive block party filled with food trucks and live music. Sure, you can still pause to appreciate the paintings and installations, but people really come to have fun and party. Wynwood Artwalk takes place every second Saturday of the month.

Stop before lunch for a tour at the Adrienne Arsht Center every Monday and Saturday at noon. Guests will get to learn about the architecture and beauty of the two adjunct theatres that make up the center—the Ziff Ballet Opera House and James L. Knight Center.

The independent bookstore Books & Books offers various events every week at all of their locations in Miami. Visit for a meet-and-greet with distinguished authors, lectures and writers’ workshops, as well as family-friendly activities—all are listed on their calendar.

Head to Little Havana to brush up on your Spanish and play a game of dominoes at the Maximo Gomez Park (otherwise known as Domino Park). It’s the unofficial hangout spot for old Cuban folk.

Just along Old Cutler, this hidden gem offers sweeping vistas of the Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay as well as trails for cycling and a small man-made mini beach. Bring your own bike and paddle through its scenic greenery.

Get some culture flowing with a tour of the modern art at the Pérez Art Museum Miami or Institute of Contemporary Art. PAMM offers free admission every second Saturday and first Thursday of the month, while the ICA is free year-round.

Explore the wonders of the swamplands of the Everglades on a bike while having close-up encounters with the various species of birds and vegetation in the area. Just make sure you don’t feed the alligators.

The Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami offers free outdoor concerts every last Friday of the month from 7–10 pm. There is no better way to enjoy the evening than with jazz under the stars.

Are you feeling a little pretentious? Go for an evening of lectures and trivia designed solely for intellectuals at Nerd Nite at Gramps. Gramps’ bar and outdoor lounge area in Wynwood is a chill spot to mingle with other like-minded nerds and sip some beer while learning something new.

Miami’s trolley takes you from Coral Gables to Brickell Key to Downtown and all around. Hop on for free and get off when you see something you like.

So there’s a lot of biking going on in Miami, but it’s free and fun; therefore, it made this list. Head out for a night of cycling with friends during Critical Mass, which happens every last Friday of the month. You can see a different side of Miami all while meeting new people and getting those legs in shape for that trip to the beach.