Neighborhood & Heritage Walking Tours

Greater Miami and Miami Beach owes much of its vibrancy to its many heritage neighborhoods showcasing a spectrum of cultures. From Black history to Cuban, Haitian and Bahamian heritage, tours of Miami’s multicultural neighborhoods offer a taste of local flavor and history. Here’s our guide.

Big Bus Tours Miami

If you enjoy sightseeing on your own terms, Big Bus Tours Miami is just the ticket. It offers hop-on, hop-off day and night tours accompanied by narration. The day tour, which runs about two hours and is available in five languages (including an audio guide), explores the Bay of Pigs Brigade 2506 Museum and Domino Park in Little Havana. Historic Overtown is another not-to-miss stop, as is the Holocaust Memorial in South Beach.

Miami Culinary Tours

If you’re a foodie, eating authentic Cuban food in Miami is a must. An easy way to taste all the best dishes is to book a tour with Miami Culinary Tours. Treat yourself to a 2.5-hour walking tour of Little Havana, where you’ll stroll iconic Calle Ocho for various tastes before kicking back for a sit-down meal. Along with the famed Cuban sandwich, try pastelitos, tropical fruits and empanadas. Soak up the history, culture and architecture. You can also eat your way through South Beach, the Miami Design District or Wynwood with Miami Culinary Tours, in a group or on a private tour.

Bobby’s Bike Hike Miami

Another way to explore Miami’s Cuban heritage is on the Little Havana Food & Culture Walking Tour with Bobby’s Bike Hike Miami. This three-hour tour is a multisensory journey, from Calle Ocho’s Walk of Fame to an authentic Cuban cigar shop to the area’s best iconic eateries. You can also explore neighborhoods like South Beach and Wynwood with Bobby’s, which curates private tours upon request.

Museum of Miami City Tours

The long-honored Museum of Miami is a Smithsonian Institution-affiliated museum in Downtown Miami. It offers rotating year-round city tours, many led by Paul George, a renowned Miami historian. While private custom tours can be curated upon request, the museum offers several regular historic walking tours around Miami, including a Little Haiti Culture Walk or the Little Havana History & Culture Walk.

Key2MIA

A Black-owned and -operated tour company, Key2MIA is dedicated to educating visitors on the cultures that shape the city. A hyperlocal tour showcasing Miami’s Black heritage, food, history, culture and art traverses neighborhoods like Historic Overtown or Little Havana. Melanin Miami offers a 1.5-hour cultural and culinary journey (think: soul food) through Historic Overtown most Saturdays. The Calle Ocho Experience is a two-hour walking tour through Little Havana and includes lunch, Cuban coffee and ice cream most Sundays.

Little Havana Tours

Another way to fully engage with Cuban culture is through two-hour Little Havana Tours. Choose between the Little Havana Walking Tour, the Cigar & Rum Experience or the Little Havana Food Tour. Immerse yourself in the history of the Cuban diaspora, cigar-rolling culture and local art. Sip an ever-popular mojito, listen to salsa and bachata music and fuel up with Cuban coffee.

Tours ‘R’ Us

Tourism industry veteran George Neary runs Tours ‘R’ Us, offering excursions focused on history, architecture, multicultural heritage and public art in neighborhoods including Little Havana, Historic Overtown, Little Haiti and Little Bahamas, which is located in Coconut Grove.

Ralph ‘Mr. Miami’ de la Portilla

A private tour guide who considers himself a personal concierge, Ralph “Mr. Miami” de la Portilla is a Miami ambassador and former apprentice to historian Paul George at the Museum of Miami. De la Portilla’s knowledge runs deep. He is known for his one-of-a-kind cultural and historical tours through the Havana Collection Experience, from Little Havana’s hands-on artisans (like meeting cigar rollers) and memorable eats (like roasted suckling pig).

Society Socials & Reunions

Dorothy Fields is the founder of the Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, and has dedicated her career to the preservation of Miami’s Black history. Join Fields on a tour through her company, Society Socials & Reunions, to explore significant historical sites and heritage neighborhoods. Beyond traditional tours, Fields is an expert in booking meetings, reunions and well-rounded Miami vacations, and can curate the ideal itinerary, from walking tours to heritage events to Black-owned restaurants around town.