By: Shayne Benowitz
The 2018 edition of Art Basel Miami Beach is scheduled for December 6 to 9 at the newly reimagined Miami Beach Convention Center. The week encompassing Art Basel is known as Miami Art Week when dozens of satellite fairs, events and parties pop up across Miami. As the largest contemporary art fair in North America, nearly 100,000 art collectors and aficionados descend on Miami for Art Basel, which means you’ll need a game plan when it comes to navigating traffic and parking. Read on for insider tips for getting around with ease during one of Miami’s busiest times of year.
Art Basel Parking at the Miami Beach Convention Center
Valet parking is available at the Miami Beach Convention Center during Art Basel Miami Beach 2018. You will also find a wide variety of parking lots, parking garages and street parking in the immediate vicinity, offering convenient access to both Art Basel and Design Miami/, as well as other Miami Beach satellite fairs.
Free Art Week Shuttle Powered by PULSE Miami Beach
The City of Miami Beach encourages visitors to move around town using Miami Beach’s free citywide trolleys and/or the Art Week shuttle service powered by PULSE Miami Beach. The City’s trolleys will run on their regular schedule, Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to midnight and on Sunday from 8 a.m. to midnight. The free Art Week shuttle service will operate from Thursday, December 6 to Saturday, December 8 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday, December 9 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., running at a frequency of approximately 20 minutes.
- Art Basel Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Convention Center
- Washington Avenue just south of 18 Street (southbound)
- Washington Avenue just north of 18 Street (northbound)
- PULSE Miami Beach
- Scope Art Fair, Superfine and Untitled Art Fair
- Ocean Drive between 9 and 10 streets
Miami Beach Free Trolley
The City of Miami Beach provides year-round free trolley service. Download the free Miami Beach eGov app to track the trolley and Art Week shuttle in real-time.
- Art Basel Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive
- 17 Street and Convention Center Drive (South Beach Loop and Middle Beach Loop)
- Southbound: Washington Avenue and 19 Street (South Beach Loop B)
- Northbound: Washington Avenue and 18 Street (South Beach Loop B)
- Aqua Art Miami, 1530 Collins Avenue
- 15 Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A and B)
- Audemars Piguet, Sandlot between 21 and 22 streets
- Collins Avenue between 21 and 22 streets (Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express)
- The Bass, 2100 Collins Avenue
- 21 Street and Collins Avenue (Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express)
- Design Miami, Northwest Corner of Meridian Avenue and 19 Street
- 19 Street and Meridian Avenue (Middle Beach Loop)
- Faena Festival, 3201 Collins Avenue – Beachfront between 32 and 36 streets
- 31, 33 and 35 streets and Collins Avenue (Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express)
- Ink Miami Art Fair, 1850 Collins Avenue
- 18 Street and Collins Avenue (Middle Beach Loop)
- PULSE Miami Beach, Indian Beach Park - 46 Street and Collins Avenue
- 4525 Collins Avenue (Collins Express)
- Scope Art Fair, Ocean Drive - Beachfront between 8 and 10 streets
- 9 Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A and B)
- Superfine! Miami Beach at the Art Deco Welcome Center, 1001 Ocean Drive
- 9 Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A and B)
- Untitled Art Fair, Ocean Drive - Beachfront between 11 and 12 streets
- 9 Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A and B)
- Urban Art Fair, 1510 Alton Road
- 15 Street and Alton Road (South Beach Loops A and B)
Metromover, Metrorail and Metrobus (offered year round)
Miami-Dade Transit operates the Metromover, Metrorail and Metrobus. The Metromover is a free single-car train system elevated above the streets in Downtown and Brickell. There are three major loops (Omni Loop, Brickell Loop and Inner Loop), as well as a Full Loop around the city. The trains run from 5 a.m. to midnight during the week and until 2 a.m. on weekends and are always free of charge.
Metrorail is another elevated train that runs from Downtown through South Miami with stops in Coral Gables and Kendall for a small fare. There’s also a route to the Miami International Airport (MIA).
Metrobus stations are located throughout Miami-Dade County, including Miami Beach, and intersect with various Metrorail stations for a small fare. Miami Beach Airport Flyer express bus (Route 150) runs between MIA and Miami Beach. Passengers board the bus at the MIA Metrobus Station with stops at various locations across Miami Beach.
CitiBike Program (offered year round)
There are CitiBike stations throughout Miami Beach, Wynwood, Downtown, Brickell and Coconut Grove. For a map with locations of each of the stations, visit CitBikeMiami.com or download the app.
Bike Share Membership: Ideal for residents. There’s a three-month minimum commitment and it includes unlimited 30 or 60-minute rides ($15 and $25 per month, respectively).
Shuttle Buses Between Art Miami, Aqua and Context (only offered seasonally)
Art Miami and Context Art Miami run a free shuttle bus connecting the downtown art fairs to the JW Marriott Marquis hotel downtown and sister fair Aqua Art Miami in South Beach.
Brightline
Brightline, the high-speed rail connecting downtown Miami with Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, launched this year. If you live in either area, this is an ideal means of transportation to access Miami Art Week 2018 without battling traffic and parking. Ride time from Fort Lauderdale is a half hour and from West Palm Beach it’s an hour. One-way fares range from $10 to $15.
Ride Sharing & Taxis
Both Uber and Lyft operate throughout Miami-Dade County. In years past, both companies have instituted special services during Miami Art Week. Uber once launched UberBoat ferrying riders across Biscayne Bay between Miami Beach and Miami. Lyft has offered special carpool services at designated points throughout Miami Beach in an effort to decrease traffic and fares. However, be prepared for surge pricing during peak times throughout Miami Art Week 2018.
There are a number of taxi companies in Miami:
- Miami-Dade Taxis (305) 551-1111
- Doral Taxi (305) 594-3333
- Miami Yellow Cab (305) 640-0000
- Red Limo (305) 225-5733
- USA Taxi (305) 388-8888
Parking Garages and Lots on Miami Beach:
- 7th Street garage – 7th Street and Collins Avenue
- 13th Street garage – 13th Street and Collins Avenue
- 12th Street garage – 12th Street and Drexel Avenue
- 6th Street & Meridian Avenue
- 6th Street & Collins Avenue
- 10th Street & Collins Avenue
- 13th Street & Collins Avenue