The 6 Coolest Tours You Can Book in Miami
From learning how to graffiti with a Wynwood artist to cruising down Ocean Drive on a Segway, here are just some of our favorite Miami tours.
Wynwood Street Art Tour
Art Gallery, Brewery, Museum
Once known for its rusty warehouses and drab, windowless concrete buildings, Wynwood didn’t have a lot to offer when it came to tourist attractions. But, that all began to change when Goldman Properties – an urban development company dedicated to revitalizing forgotten neighborhoods – built the Wynwood Walls. Miami’s biggest collection of urban art, the Wynwood Walls display 80,000 square feet of graffiti murals by some of the world’s best street artists. On this hourlong tour of Wynwood’s Art District, you’ll be guided through the neighborhood by a local artist, whizzing from mural to mural on a golf cart and learning how art has transformed the neighborhood as well as the Miami artist community at large. But that’s not all – your guide will also point out some of Wynwood’s coolest hang-outs, from art galleries to bars and restaurants, before ending the tour at the Wynwood Walls. Entry to the Walls costs $20, but we recommend it, particularly with all the insight you’ll have already received from your local guide.
Little Haiti Graffiti Lesson
Art Gallery
If the Wynwood Walls art inspires you to try some spray painting of your own, this urban art class should be next on your list. The Little Haiti Grafitti Lesson – a workshop led by a Miami street artist in his Little Haiti studio – will have you spraying your very own graffiti masterpiece to take home as a souvenir. With a beer or glass of wine in hand, the artist will guide you through the basics of spray painting, from how to blend colors to illustrating your own designs using different fonts, lines and letters. This is also the perfect opportunity to get the lowdown on the Wynwood art scene from the perspective of a working Miami street artist, so get your questions ready! Included in the price are the easel, spray paints, a safety mask and a glass to decant your BYO beer.
Little Havana Cultural and Food Walking Tour
Art Gallery, Historical Landmark
Did you know that 52% of Miami’s population is of Cuban heritage? In the 1950s and ’60s (when Fidel Castro came to power), hundreds of thousands of Cubans immigrated to Miami. Since then, a strong Cuban community has flourished in the city, most notably in Miami’s Cuban culture hub: Little Havana. On this tour you’ll get to explore Little Havana’s rich Cuban heritage through a deep-dive into its food, arts and music scene. Your local guide will walk you through some of the neighborhood’s most iconic sights and attractions, including The Cuban Memorial Boulevard and Domino Park. Then there’s the food. You can’t delve into Cuban culture without talking about food, so you’ll wrap up the tour with a classic Cuban lunch. Expect coffee, fried plantains and, of course, a Cuban sandwich.
South Beach Art Deco Walking Tour
Architectural Landmark
This Art Deco tour lets you see all of South Beach’s most iconic sights in just two hours. With a knowledgeable guide on hand to talk you through South Beach’s art and cultural history, you’ll cruise down Ocean Drive, Collins and Washington Avenues to take in Miami’s most famous Art Deco buildings, including The Colony, The Carlyle and The Clevelander. You’ll also have time to spot other popular South Beach attractions like the Bass Museum of Art, the Holocaust Memorial, Versace Mansion and Lincoln Road Mall.
Stiltsville and Key Biscayne Sunset Cruise
Ruins, Historical Landmark
Left in ruins and difficult to reach, Stiltsville – a cluster of seven wooden stilt houses built above the turquoise waters of Biscayne National Park – was rarely listed on tour offerings. But, thanks to this tour it’s now far easier to visit this historic 1940s playground than it once was. As the catamaran glides through shallow waters and past colorful stilt homes, your guide will recount how Stiltsville was the location for some of the most outrageous parties in South Florida, most infamously those hosted by Crawfish Eddies and Bikini Club. Gangsters and bikini parties aside, the sunset views, which take in a gold-hued Cape Florida Lighthouse, Key Biscayne and the Miami skyline, are reason enough to board the ship. Extra bonus: tickets include a complimentary glass of fizz.
Miami Puzzling Adventure
Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark
If you’re up for a challenge, download the Miami Puzzling Adventure app and embark on a two-hour scavenger hunt through Miami. With your smartphone as your guide, you’ll be asked to answer questions and solve brain-teasing puzzles at various locations across the city. While your answers will be timed and evaluated at the end of the challenge, you’re encouraged to take your time at each location to enjoy the sights, taste some of the street food and maybe even grab a beer at one of the breweries along the way. You can go at it alone, or get together a group of up to 12 people (after that, you have to pay for an extra team). Please note you will need a US data plan on your phone to take part in this activity.