Miami Apps for Travel

Apps can be extremely useful tools while you’re planning a vacation and once you’re on the ground in your destination. From the minute you touch down at Miami International Airport, apps can help with small tasks like paying for metered parking or picking the tastiest place to enjoy a burger or a Cuban sandwich at a nearby restaurant. Modern travelers depends on the help of a few trusty apps to get the most out of their trip.

Of course, you can start with Google and the mapping app of your choice, but there are a few local apps that you’ll need along the way. Take a moment before your trip and familiarize yourself with these handy mobile apps.

Miami International Airport: MIA

Download the iPhone app
Download the Android app

Traveling can be stressful. Take a bit of the stress away when you download Miami International Airport’s app in advance to help you navigate this large and busy international travel hub. The app can help with anything from detailed directions to restaurant and shopping recommendations, as well as walking time estimates so you can enjoy the many shops and restaurants on the premises and still leave enough time to get to your gate. You can also track your flight, receive updates on your baggage carousel and chat with M.I.A., the chatbot assistant available to help answer any other questions. Perhaps the best feature of all is the Mobile Passport Control available to U.S. and Canadian citizen visitors who are clearing customs.

Cost: Free

Parking Apps

Miami Beach Parking App

Download the iPhone app
Download the Android app

There are two parking apps you should download if you plan on driving and parking in Miami. In some areas you can only pay for parking through the app. In others, you can use it as a convenient way to skip digging in your bag for spare change to pay the parking meter. PayByPhone is used widely across Miami. The signs to park are prominently displayed on posts near parking spots with clear instructions, but if you’ve already downloaded the app, you’ll be a step ahead of the game.  The City of Miami Beach uses the Miami Beach Parking App, which has the added perk of showing you available spots in lots and garages in real time.

Cost: Free

Miami-Dade Transit Tracker

Download iPhone app
Download the Android app

With the Miami-Dade Transit Tracker app, you can plan a trip, select favorite stops, estimate arrival times and trace attractions within walking distance of each stop. It’s also useful for knowing which stops have escalators, elevators and other amenities. Use it to plan your travel on the Metrorail, Metrobus and Metromover, whether you’re exploring the Brickell and Downtown Miami area, shopping at Dadeland Mall or using it to get to or from the airport. You’ll never stress about traveling on public transportation again when you know where your train is and when it’s arriving at your stop in real time.

Cost: Free

City of Miami Trolley

Download the iPhone app
Download the Android app

The City of Miami Trolley links the areas between Coconut Grove and Little Haiti. With plenty to see and do everywhere in between, you can spend a day using the air-conditioned trolley as your primary mode of transit with the help of the app. This free service makes stops roughly every 15 to 20 minutes at each pick-up point. Use the app to confirm that the route you’re trying to hop aboard is being serviced, to track the trolleys in real time and to plan your route.

Cost: Free

Ride Freebee

Download the iPhone app
Download the Android app

Freebee slowly rolled out a presence in many areas of Miami and flipped transportation habits around for the better. This free service in Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, Brickell, Pinecrest, Doral and parts of  Miami Beach is an on-demand electric shuttle service within these neighborhoods to minimize short car trips and make getting around easy. Download the app and call a Freebee that will come directly to your destination to get you. While you’re on the lookout for the small electric vehicle with a few rows of seating, browse the app for local deals and specials offered exclusively to Freebee users.

Cost: Free

Miami Map and Walks

Download the iPhone app
Download the Android app

So often, we walk right by history without even knowing it. Thanks to this app, you can decode a bit of the history of Miami, whether you’re on a dedicated history walk or just walking a few blocks to get to your next destination. The app includes themed walking tours in history-rich areas like Coconut Grove and South Beach, as well as modern areas like Wynwood and the Design District. Select a particular region and trace your steps from one landmark to the next. Each location features images and historical facts. The app allows you to add your own image to each location as you move from one spot to the next. The map also highlights exactly where you are for easy navigation.

Cost: Free

Localeur

Download the iPhone app

Localeur has been guiding visitors in the right direction to do as the locals do for a few years. They’ve partnered with plugged-in Miami residents who share their recommendations for a truly local experience by eating and exploring. Whether it’s the recommended places to share a pizza or top independent boutiques, all of the recommendations feature locally owned venues for an only-in-Miami experience.

Cost: Free

Miami Beach Information

Download the iPhone app
Download the Android app

The Miami Beach information app zooms in on the oceanfront destination and allows you to get the scoop on the Art Deco District, Lincoln Road and, of course, the beach. It also introduces users to the best attractions, museums and hotels across the island. If you get hungry on Miami Beach, check this app first for exclusive deals and ideas for where to go nearby. The robust business directory is helpful for anyone deciding where to eat, stay, spend an afternoon or go out for the evening. Find events, deals, things to do and even directions from your exact location to your next Miami Beach experience.

Cost: Free

Wynwood Tour Guide

Download the iPhone app

The Wynwood Arts District offers a seemingly endless swirl of graffiti and murals across a neighborhood filled with galleries, shops, restaurants and more. The neighborhood has a hip factor replete with locally owned coffee shops and restaurants. The Wynwood Tour Guide app is useful not only for navigating Wynwood, but also for spotting must-see works of art. This is particularly useful because Wynwood is thought of as a giant outdoor museum, but the art can be hard to identify without the typical explanations you’d see alongside a display in a typical museum.

Cost: Free