By: Shayne Benowitz
Art Basel Miami Beach is coming back! Taking place in December at the Miami Beach Convention Center, this prestigious international art fair will once again bring the best artists and art galleries from across the globe to Miami. Originally debuting 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. The 2021 edition Art Basel Miami Beach will be open to the public from December 2 – 4, 2021.
Today, Art Basel Miami Beach and Miami Art Week not only make up the largest art fair in North America, but together, they create one of the busiest weeks in Miami’s social calendar. With over 80,000 art collectors, aficionados and celebrities expected to attend this year’s festivities – not to mention more than 250 galleries from 36 countries on display, you’ll 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 is typically available at the Miami Beach Convention Center, where Art Basel Miami Beach is held and where the popular Design Miami/ fair is just steps away. Visitors will also find a 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.
Free Art Week Shuttle
Throughout Miami Art Week, The City of Miami Beach typically offers a free shuttle to and from select art shows and tents. More details on shuttle stops and routes will be available soon.
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.
Below are a few stops of interest during Miami Art Week:
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)
Design Miami/, Northwest corner of Meridian Avenue and 19th Street:
- 19th Street and Meridian Avenue (South Beach Loop B and Middle Beach Loop)
Ink Miami Art Fair, 1849 James Avenue:
- 18th Street and Collins Avenue (Middle Beach Loop)
Aqua Art Miami, 1530 Collins Avenue:
- 15th Street and Washington Avenue (South Beach Loops A, B and via 11 Street Stops)
The Bass, 2100 Collins Avenue:
- 21st Street and Collins Avenue (South Beach Loops A and B, Middle Beach Loop 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)
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)
The Miami Beach trolleys run seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. at approximately 30-minute average service frequency along each route. Follow the trolley in real time by downloading the free Miami Beach eGov app.
Metromover, Metrorail and Metrobus
Miami-Dade Transit offers locals and visitors to Miami three options for public transportation: the Metromover, Metrorail and Metrobus.
The Metromover is a free elevated train system that runs above 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 Brightline and Tri-Rail, which take passengers to Broward County and West Palm Beach. The Metrorail runs from 5 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.
Metrobus stations are also throughout Miami providing 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 faster 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 US-1, 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 about 6 a.m. to midnight, 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, in all Metrorail stations and on select Metrorail cars.
Ticket prices for the Metromover, Metrorail and Metrobus vary. Download The Miami-Dade Transit Tracker app to track your ride and help plan your trip.
CitiBike Program
For those who prefer bicycles, CitiBike stations are 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 $4.95 for 30 minutes and monthly memberships are available with unlimited 30-minute ($15 per month) or 60-minute rides ($25 per month). For more details about pricing, visit the CitiBike website.
Download the FREE CitiBike app or see the CitiBike station map 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.
Brightline
After an extended hiatus, Brightline has resumed its high-speed rail service connecting Downtown Miami to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. When it comes to Miami Art Week, Brightline offers an easy, efficient and sophisticated method of transportation to access all of the art fairs, events and parties in Miami this December. Ride time to Miami is 30 minutes from Fort Lauderdale and 60 minutes from West Palm Beach. Rates vary.
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 have launched special services, like UberBoat, which offers riders a water ferry to and from Miami Beach and Downtown Miami. Passengers should expect surge pricing and heavy traffic at peak times during Miami Art Week.
There are also a number of taxi companies in Miami, including:
Pricing will vary.
Miami Beach Parking Garages And Public Lots
There are various public and private parking garages and lots throughout Miami Beach, including:
- 5th Street Garage – 5th Street and Alton Road
- 7th Street Garage – 7th Street and Collins Avenue
- 12th Street Garage – 12th Street and Drexel Avenue
- 13th Street Garage – 13th Street and Collins Avenue
- Pennsylvania Avenue Garage – Lincoln Lane N and Pennsylvania 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
- 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. 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.