20+ Free Things to Do in Miami

Miami
Miami | © warrend98 / Pixabay
Karina Castrillo

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.

Ride the Metromover

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.

Metromover

Surf in South Beach

Surfer on beach

Take a selfie by the murals in Wynwood

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.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb54sJElexx/?hl=en&taken-by=wynwoodphoto

Free yoga

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.

Yoga

Farmers markets at Pinecrest Gardens

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.

Watch a movie at SoundScape in Miami Beach

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.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbHc-MqgPh0/?taken-at=249790065484481

Miami Design District events

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.

Palm Court in Miami Design District

Art Deco Tour

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).

Art Deco architecture in Miami

Tour of Biltmore Hotel

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.

Tacos at Wood Tavern

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.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZgzoQfh7RS/?taken-by=woodtavern

Wynwood Artwalk

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.

Courtesy of Wynwood Walls

Tour the Adrienne Arsht Center

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.

Aerial view Adrienne Arsht Center

Books & Books Events

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.

Play Dominoes in Little Havana

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.

Gentlemen playing dominoes at Maximo Gomez Park

Matheson Hammock Park

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.

Visit a museum

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.

Institute of Contemporary Art

Nature Trails in the Everglades

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.

American alligator in Everglades

Live Jazz at MoCA

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.

Nerd Nite at Gramps

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.

Ride the Trolley

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.

Trolley in Downtown Miami

Critical Mass

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.

Critical Mass crowd

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