By: Kara Franker & Shayne Benowitz
Miami Art Week parking, transportation and traffic hacks.
The 2017 edition of Art Basel Miami Beach is scheduled for December 7-10 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The week encompassing the fair is known as Miami Art Week when dozens of satellite fairs, events and parties descend on the entire city. As the largest contemporary art fair in North America, nearly 100,000 art collectors and aficionados descend on Miami for Art Basel, which means parking and traffic can be challenging. Here are some insider tips for getting around the city with ease during one of the busiest times of year.
Parking at the Convention Center
Valet parking is available at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Nearby, there’s also limited parking at the municipal parking lot on Convention Center Drive and on 17th Street, as well as street parking. This provides convenient access to both Art Basel and Design Miami/, as well as other Miami Beach fairs.
Free Art Week Shuttle Service (offered seasonally)
In an effort to make the numerous art fairs accessible, the cities of Miami and Miami Beach combine efforts to operate a free shuttle service connecting existing free transportation services to art shows from the beach to the mainland. This service is offered Wednesday through Sunday during Art Basel and Miami Art Week.
The East/West Loop connects the Midtown/Wynwood area with Miami Beach.
Midtown Miami/Wynwood stops:
- 29th Street & Midtown Boulevard
- 36th Street & Buena Vista Avenue
Miami Beach stops:
- 41st Street & Royal Palm Avenue
- Convention Center Drive & 17th Street (Miami Beach Convention Center)
The North/South Loop connects the Miami Beach Convention Center with fairs along Collins Avenue stretching to the North Beach Bandshell.
South Beach Stops:
- 10th Street & Washington Avenue
- Convention Center Drive & 17th Street (Northbound MBCC)
South Beach Stops:
- 10th Street & Washington Avenue
- Convention Center Drive & 17th Street (Northbound MBCC)
- 17th Street & Washington Avenue (Southbound MBCC)
- 18th Street & Purdy Avenue (Water Taxi Stop at Maurice Gibb Memorial Park)
Middle Beach Stops:
- 41st Street & Royal Palm Avenue
- 46th Street & Collins Avenue
North Beach Stops:
- 67th Street & Collins Avenue
- 72nd Street & Collins Avenue (Bandshell Park)
Note: route and services are subject to change without notice.
Water Taxi
While Water Taxi Miami operates year round, there is a special seasonal route offered during Art Week and Art Basel. Vessels depart from various locations across the mainland and arrive at the Purdy Boat Ramp at Maurice Gibb Memorial Park in South Beach every 90 minutes. One-way fares start at $15 per person. A free shuttle provides transportation to the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Metromover, Metrorail and Metrobus (offered year round)
Miami-Dade Transit operates the Metromover, Metrorail and Metrobus. The Metromover is a 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 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.
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.
Miami Beach Free Trolley (offered year round)
The City of Miami Beach provides free trolley service and offers riders four hours of free parking at certain parking garages (that’s if you request a voucher from the trolley driver). Trolleys run seven days a week from 8 a.m. until midnight. There’s also free Wi-Fi.
The Alton West Trolley Route goes in a circular route and hits 21 stops along Alton Road, 5th Street, West Avenue and Lincoln Road.
The North Beach Trolley Route makes numerous stops from 65th Street north to 88th Street and west to Normandy Isle. The North Beach loop connects with the following Miami-Dade Transit routes: 120, S, H, L, 117, 115 and 79.
You can expect trolleys to arrive every 10 to 15 minutes.
CitiBike Program (offered year round)
Hop on a bicycle and enjoy the year round beautiful weather. 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.
Citi Bike runs two rental programs in Miami:Hourly Rental: Great for visitors. Pricing starts at $4 for 30 minutes and goes up based on time increments. Ride for the duration of your rental period and then dock your bike at one of the stations when you’re done.
Bike Share Membership: Ideal for residents. There’s a three-month minimum commitment and it includes unlimited 30 or 60-minute rides ($15 per month for 30 minute rides and $25 per month for 60 minute rides).
Shuttle Buses Between Art Miami, Aqua and Context (only offered seasonally)
Art Miami runs a free shuttle bus with two routes that depart every 30 minutes from 5 to 10 p.m. on the VIP Preview night on Tuesday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. There’s also a Sunday shuttle that ends service at 6 p.m.
Route 1: runs between the JW Marriott Marquis in Downtown Miami to the Art Miami Pavilion in Midtown at 3010 NE 1st Avenue.
Route 2: runs loops from the Art Miami Pavilion in Wynwood to Aqua Art Miami on Miami Beach and to the Miami Beach Convention Center at 17th and Washington.
Ride Sharing & Taxis
Both Lyft and Uber operate throughout Miami-Dade County. In years past, Uber has even introduced UberBoat during Art Basel ferrying riders on boats across Biscayne Bay to Miami Beach and the mainland.
There are a number of traditional 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