24 Hours in South Beach

If you only have 24 hours to spend in South Beach, it can be challenging to decide how to make the most of your time. We’ve crafted an itinerary with the perfect mix of relaxation, adventure, culture and nightlife to make your choices easy.

Morning: Art Deco & Beach Bliss

There’s no better place to get acquainted with South Beach than at the Art Deco Welcome Center, situated on famous Ocean Drive. While the Center offers a wealth of local information, it also presents the chance to embark on a guided walking tour to peep Miami Beach's Art Deco and MiMo architectural styles and learn more about its storied past.

The Welcome Center is right next to popular Lummus Park, a winding, 10-block path that slices between Ocean Drive and the beach. It’s where South Beach truly comes alive in the mornings with runners and joggers, locals playing volleyball or working out at the outdoor gym, and kids running free on the park’s playgrounds. If you’d rather explore the area by bike, rent a DecoBike for a scenic ride down Ocean Drive.

Since you’ve worked up an appetite, breakfast at a South Beach staple, Big Pink, is in order. At this retro diner awash in pink, expect a huge menu with literally hundreds of items to choose from. Get there early to avoid the long lines of people that congregate in front of the longtime favorite.

Once you’re properly satiated, it’s time to hit the beach. While you can rent loungers, umbrellas and even cabanas through Boucher Brothers for a relaxing day on the sand, the company also offers watersports rentals. Charge through the turquoise waters on a jet ski, coast on a kayak or paddle board, or fly in the sky on a parasailing adventure.

If you’d prefer to unfurl a towel on the beach, head to the southern tip of South Beach to mingle with the locals at South Pointe Park. Known for its sprawling waterfront green spaces, loads of palm trees meant for relaxing under with a good book, and a mini-water park for the kids, there’s a place for everyone. Stroll the South Pointe Pier for unmatched views of South Beach’s stunning shoreline, or check out what the anglers are catching. You’ll even see public art like the South Pointe Park Lighthouse, which stands 55 feet and offers a light show.

Afternoon: Culture, Shopping & More

Carve out an hour of your day to visit the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, which is also located in the South of Fifth neighborhood. The unique museum is packed with an ever-growing collection of items that showcase more than 250 years of Florida Jewish history, arts and culture.

After the cultural stop, it’s back to those beach vibes with a sceney lunch at Nikki Beach. At this toes-in-the-sand landmark, you can hang in dreamy daybeds and toast to the sun with bottles of bubbly and light fare.

Evening: Stone Crab in Style

In South Beach, you can never get enough of our beautiful blue waters. Take off on the Biscayne Xpress Miami Beach Water Taxi which offers rides back and forth between the Miami Beach Marina and Bayside Marketplace. Along the way, your boat captain will narrate the tour, pointing out landmarks and mega-mansions, and you may even spot dolphins.

Reigning on South Beach for more than a century, dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab always delivers an incredible experience. Put on the famous plastic bib and crack some stone crabs of all sizes, then top it all off with some Key lime pie. (Stone crab season runs from October to May.)

After Dark: Cocktails & Late-Night Bites

For chill vibes, tuck away at South Pointe Tavern in the quiet South of Fifth neighborhood, a local’s favorite for their spot-on cocktails and dimly lit bar. Another hidden gem is The Scape Goat, where they concoct some of the best cocktails in town (and often offer a history lesson on one cocktail in particular), and you can stay until closing at 3 a.m.