By: Shayne Benowitz
Art Basel Miami Beach is coming back! Taking place every December at the Miami Beach Convention Center, this leading art event will once again bring together the best artists and art galleries from across the globe. Originally debuting as a standalone event in 2002, Art Basel Miami Beach has since exploded in popularity, spurring the surrounding Miami Art Week: a star-studded week of satellite art fairs, events, pop-up parties and more all over the city. This year’s Art Basel Miami Beach will be open to the public from December 5th to December 8th, 2019.
Today, Art Basel Miami Beach and Miami Art Week not only make up the largest art event in North America, but together, create one of the busiest weeks to be out and about in South Florida. With over 100,000 art collectors, aficionados and celebrities expected to attend this year’s festivities—not to mention more than 260 galleries from 33 countries on display—you need a game plan to know exactly how to get there and where to park. Find insider tips on Miami Art Week transportation and parking below.
Parking at the Miami Beach Convention Center
Valet parking will be available at the Miami Beach Convention Center, which will once again play host to both Art Basel Miami Beach and Design Miami. Visitors will also find a wide variety of public parking lots, parking garages and street parking in the immediate area, offering easy access to those and other Miami Beach satellite fairs. (Read on for more information about those public parking options.)
Free Art Week Shuttle Powered by Pulse Miami Beach
Throughout Miami Art Week, The City of Miami Beach offers a free shuttle to and from select art shows and tents. This Art Week shuttle service is sponsored by one of the satellite art fairs, PULSE Miami Beach.
Here are the shuttle stops for the art fairs it caters to:
- Art Basel Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Convention Center
- Washington Avenue, just south of 18th Street (southbound)
- Washington Avenue, just north of 18th Street (northbound)
The Art Week Shuttle Service will run Thursday, December 5th to Saturday, December 7th, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sunday, December 8th, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. They will stop approximately every 20 minutes. Follow the Art Week shuttle in real-time by downloading the free Miami Beach eGov app.
Miami Beach Free Trolley
All year long, locals and visitors to Miami Beach can take advantage of the city’s FREE trolley service. There are four loops on this service: the Middle Beach Loop, North Beach Loop, Collins Express and South Beach Loop.
- Art Basel Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive
- 17th Street and Convention Center Drive (South Beach Loop B and Middle Beach Loop)
- Southbound: 19th Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loop B)
- Northbound: 18th Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loop B)
- Aqua Art Miami, 1530 Collins Avenue
- 15th Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A, B and via 11 Street Stops)
- Audemars Piguet, Sandlot between 21st and 22nd Streets
- 21st Street and Collins Avenue (South Beach Loops A and B, Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express)
- 22nd Street and Collins Avenue (Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express)
- The Bass, 2100 Collins Avenue
- 21st Street and Collins Avenue (South Beach Loops A and B, Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express)
- Design Miami, Northwest corner of Meridian Avenue and 19th Street
- 19th Street and Meridian Avenue (South Beach Loop B and Middle Beach Loop)
- Faena Festival, 3201 Collins Avenue – Beachfront between 32nd and 36th Streets
- 31st and 38th Streets and Collins Avenue (Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express)
- Ink Miami Art Fair, 1850 Collins Avenue
- 18th Street and Collins Avenue (Middle Beach Loop)
- PULSE Miami Beach, Indian Beach Park - 46th Street and Collins Avenue
- 43rd Street and Collins Avenue (Middle Beach and Collins Express)
- Scope Art Fair, Ocean Drive - Beachfront between 8th and 10th Streets
- 9th Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A, B and via 11 Street Stops)
- Superfine! Miami Beach at the Art Deco Welcome Center, 1001 Ocean Drive
- 9th Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A, B and via 11 Street Stops)
- Untitled Art Fair, Ocean Drive - Beachfront between 11th and 12th Streets
- 9th Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A, B and via 11 Street Stops)
Each loop stops at the following frequencies:
Middle Beach Loop and North Beach Loop: Approximately 15 Minutes
Collins Express: Approximately 17 Minutes
South Beach Loop A and South Beach Loop B: Approximately 20 Minutes
South Beach Loop via 11 Street Stops: Approximately 40 Minutes
The Miami Beach trolleys run Monday to Saturday, from 6 a.m. to Midnight, and on Sundays, from 8 a.m. to Midnight. Follow the trolley in real-time by downloading the free Miami Beach eGov app.
Metromover, Metrorail and Metrobus
The Miami-Dade Transit offers locals and visitors to Miami three options for public transportation: the Metromover, Metrorail and Metrobus.
The Metromover is a FREE, single-car train system that runs above all of the major streets, intersections and destinations in Downtown Miami and Brickell. It follows three major loops—Omni Loop, Brickell Loop and Inner Loop—as well as a Full Loop around the city. The Metromover runs from 5 a.m. to Midnight, seven days a week.
The 25-mile Metrorail is a dual-track, elevated train that provides service to Miami International Airport (MIA) and destinations in Kendall, South Miami, Coral Gables, Downtown Miami, the Civic Center/Jackson Memorial Hospital area, Brownsville, Liberty City, Hialeah and Medley. Select stations also offer connections to other train systems, like Virgin Trains (previously called Brightline) and Tri-Rail, which can take passengers to Broward County and West Palm Beach. The Metrorail runs from 5 a.m. to Midnight, seven days a week.
Those looking for public transportation will also find Metrobus stations throughout the city. These buses provide service to and from Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, West Miami-Dade, Broward County, Homestead, Florida City and even the Middle Keys. They also intersect with various Metrorail stations, providing low-cost, easy transportation to and from South Florida’s most popular attractions and neighborhoods.
Similarly, special Metrobus routes like the 95 Express, the Miami Beach Airport Flyer and the South Miami-Dade TransitWay offer passengers quick service to select destinations. The 95 Express offers weekday rush-hour service to Downtown Miami, Miami’s Civic Center/Health District and Doral from convenient locations in Broward County and the Golden Glades Interchange. The South Miami-Dade TransitWay uses private lanes, lining US1, to take guests to and from areas like Cutler Ridge, Naranja and Florida City. The Miami Beach Airport Flyer is an express bus that runs between the Miami International Airport and Miami Beach (with multiple stops between 41st Street and South Pointe Drive). This airport shuttle runs every 30 minutes, from 6 a.m. to 11:40 p.m., seven days a week.
Accommodations are also made for those who choose to ride their bikes to and from Miami-Dade Transit stations. Bicycle racks can be found on the front of all buses, and in all Metrorail stations and select Metrorail cars.
Ticket prices for the Metromover, Metrorail and Metrobus vary and can be found here. Download The Miami-Dade Transit Tracker app to track your ride and help plan your trip.
CitiBike Program
For those who like to ride bicycles, public CitiBike stations can be found throughout Miami Beach, Wynwood, Downtown, Brickell and Coconut Grove. All bikes can be picked up and returned at any location in Miami-Dade County. Hourly rentals start at $4.50 for 30 minutes, or monthly memberships are available with unlimited 30-minute rides ($15 per month) or 60-minute rides ($25 per month). For more details about pricing, click here.
Download the FREE CitiBike app or click here to find the stations closest to you.
Shuttle Buses Between Art Miami, Aqua and Context
Once again, Art Miami, Context Art Miami and Aqua Art Miami will run a free shuttle bus to and from all three art fairs, the JW Marriott Marquis hotel and the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). This shuttle will run during fair hours only.
Virgin Train (formerly Brightline)
Virgin Train (formerly Brightline), a high-speed rail connecting downtown Miami with Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, has changed the way South Floridians travel. When it comes to Miami Art Week, Virgin Trains offer an easy, efficient and sophisticated method of transportation to access all of the art fairs, events and parties coming to Miami this December. Ride time to Miami is 30 minutes from Fort Lauderdale, and 60 minutes from West Palm Beach.
One-way fares start at $10. More pricing information can be found here.
Ride Sharing & Taxis
Ride sharing is very popular in Miami, with Uber and Lyft operating throughout South Florida. During Art Basel Miami Beach and Miami Art Week, these ride sharing apps usually launch special services, like UberBoat, which once offered riders a water ferry to and from Miami Beach and Downtown Miami. To ease traffic concerns, Lyft also often offers special carpool services to and from specific Miami Beach locations. While both companies have partnered with Art Basel Miami Beach and Miami Art Week in the past to offer discounted rides to and from specific art fairs and events, passengers should expect surge pricing.
There are also a number of taxi companies in Miami:
Pricing will vary.
Miami Beach Parking Garages And Public Lots
There are various public parking garages and lots throughout Miami Beach, including:
- 7th Street Garage – 7th Street and Collins Avenue
- 12th Street Garage – 12th Street and Drexel Avenue
- 13th Street Garage – 13th Street and Collins Avenue
- 16th Street Garage – 16th Street and Washington Avenue
- 17th Street Garage – 17th Street and Convention Center Drive
- 42nd Street Garage – W 42nd Street and Sheridan Avenue
- 5th Street Garage – 5th Street and Alton Road
- Pennsylvania Avenue Garage – Lincoln Lane N and Pennsylvania Avenue
- Sunset Harbor Garage – 1900 Bay Road
- Lot at 6th Street and Meridian Avenue
- Lot at 10th Street and Washington Avenue
- Lot at 13th Street and Collins Avenue
- Lot at 21st Street and Collins Avenue
Parking garage rates vary and can be found here. Download the ParkMobile app to access easy, affordable street and lot parking, or download the free Miami Beach Parking app to see what parking is available at all times in Miami Beach.
Read More:
Miami Beach In 3 Days
Ultimate Guide to Miami Art Week Satellite Fairs
Getting to Miami from Fort Lauderdale
What to Know About Driving in Miami