Coral Gables is known as “The City Beautiful,” and for good reason. Master-planned by visionary developer George Merrick in the 1920s, it’s home to Mediterranean Revival architecture, wide avenues with plazas lined with lush tree canopies, and plenty of dining, shopping and cultural attractions. Getting to and around this idyllic neighborhood in Greater Miami & Miami Beach is easy with our handy guide.

How to Travel from Miami International Airport to Coral Gables

Once your flight lands at Miami International Airport (MIA), hop aboard the MIA Mover en route to the Miami Intermodal Center, a transportation hub where you’ll find car rentals, intercity and commuter rails, and buses. From here, hop aboard the Metrorail’s Orange line, which travels south to stops at Douglas Road and University in Coral Gables. At Douglas Road, you can connect to Coral Gables’ free trolley service to continue on your way. From MIA, you can also take the Route 37 Metrobus, which stops at SW 37th Avenue & Coral Way in Coral Gables. These public transit options should take from about 45 minutes to an hour. Take advantage of the GO Miami-Dade Transit app app to plan your route and monitor Miami’s public transportation system in real time.

If you rent a car, Coral Gables is a straight drive south on FL-953 (SW 42nd Avenue) for about five miles (a 20-minute drive).

Exterior of Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts — The Arsht Center can easily be reached via Metrorail and Metromover

Getting To Downtown Miami Made Easy

It’s easy to get to and from Downtown Miami via Metrorail in about 30 minutes. From the Douglas Road or University stations in Coral Gables, take the Orange or Green line north and get off at the Brickell, Government Center or Historic Overtown/Lyric Theater stops. From there, hop on the Metromover, a free automated train that loops around popular Downtown Miami attractions, including the Kaseya Center (where the Miami HEAT play), Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.

If you’re driving from Coral Gables to Downtown Miami, you have a couple of route options. One is to head north on US-1 to I-95 North and get off at exit 2A (SE 1st Avenue). Or you could take Le Jeune Road north to FL-836 East (the Dolphin Expressway), get on I-95 South and get off at exit 2C (Miami Avenue). The trip is about seven miles. Another option is more direct and will give you a dash of culture since it goes right through the heart of Little Havana. Just drive east on SW 8th Street (Calle Ocho) until you reach the Brickell and Downtown Miami area.

Couple shopping at Merrick Park. — Take the Coral Gables Trolley to Shops at Merrick Park

Explore Coral Gables with the Free Trolley Service

Coral Gables’ free trolley service has two routes: the North/South Ponce de Leon Boulevard route and the Grand Avenue loop. It’s a convenient way to discover areas of interest throughout the city, including Miracle Mile and Downtown Coral Gables, Shops at Merrick Park, the Coral Gables Museum and so much more. It also conveniently connects to area hotels, including the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables and the Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables. The trolley runs Monday through Saturday from about 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m., and you can track it in real time.

Hop Around Coral Gables with Freebee Rides

Would you believe you can also be chauffeured around Coral Gables for free in a Tesla? Well, that’s exactly the service Freebee provides throughout downtown Coral Gables (and other parts of Miami) with a mission to get people around in a fun, safe way. All you have to do is request an on-demand ride with their app or try your luck hailing one while you’re out and about in Coral Gables.

Now that you know how to get to Coral Gables, use our guide to plan the perfect visit.

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