Multicultural Heritage Neighborhood Tours
- September 06, 2024
Greater Miami & Miami Beach is a rich melting pot of cultures with heritage neighborhoods that tell a fascinating story of the destination’s history through its people. The best way to get a taste of these multicultural heritage neighborhoods is through the diverse Black history tours, Hispanic heritage tours, Haitian cultural tours, Jewish Miami Beach tours, culinary tours, walking tours, bus tours, custom tours, private tours and many more.

Big Bus Tours Miami: Experience The Best Of Miami
Big Bus Tours Miami is the ultimate hop-on, hop-off, narrated, open-top Miami bus tour with both a day tour (red loop) and night tour (blue loop). The day tour passes through Little Havana, where you can visit the Bay of Pigs Brigade 2506 Museum and Maximo Gomez (Domino) Park and sample the flavors, sights and sounds of Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street). Other highlights include explorations of Historic Overtown and the Holocaust Memorial in South Beach. The approximately two-hour red tours are available in five different languages (with an audio guide) and run every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing for plenty of flexibility to hop off and explore the heritage neighborhoods and sights along the way.

Miami Culinary Tours: Savor The Best of Cuban Cuisine
One of the best ways to discover a culture is through its cuisine, and a Miami Culinary Tour of Little Havana is an excellent primer on all things Cuban. This 2.5-hour walking tour traverses a half mile along Calle Ocho, where you’ll sample food at multiple restaurants, amounting to a full meal. Sink your teeth into guava pastelitos, picadillo-stuffed empanadas, tropical fruits, the ultimate Cubano sandwich and much more, all while learning about the historical, architectural and cultural contexts of the neighborhood and its people. Miami Culinary Tours also offers food and culture tours of Wynwood, South Beach and the Miami Design District plus private tour options.

HistoryMiami Museum Tours: Explore Miami's Rich History
The venerable HistoryMiami Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate in Downtown Miami, offers an extensive, ever-changing calendar of city tours throughout the year, many led by revered Miami historian Dr. Paul George. Plan ahead and join their Little Havana History & Culture Walk or Little Haiti Culture Walk. Private custom tours are also available by request.
Bobby’s Bike Hike Miami: Explore Culinary Delights & Cultural Gems
Bobby’s Bike Hike Miami offers a three-hour Little Havana Food & Culture Walking tour during which guests will be immersed in the neighborhood’s sights, sounds and, perhaps best of all, food. You’ll learn the history of Little Havana while visiting Domino Park, Calle Ocho’s Walk of Fame, the Bay of Pigs Memorial Park and an authentic Cuban cigar shop and also sample Cuban delicacies from some of the area’s most iconic eateries. Bobby’s also offers tours through Wynwood and South Beach and is available for private tours.

Key2MIA: Bringing Black Miami To Life
Key2MIA is a Black-owned tour and travel company committed to sharing with visitors the perspectives and contributions of Black Miami. In addition to curating customized itineraries for travelers, Key2MIA also offers a variety of tours with a focus on Miami’s Black history, heritage, food, culture and art spanning the vibrant neighborhoods of Historic Overtown and Little Havana. Its signature 1.5-hour Melanin Miami tour (a walking tour of Historic Overtown including soul food) is available on most Saturdays, while the two-hour Calle Ocho Experience (a walking tour of Little Havana with lunch, Cuban ice cream and coffee) is offered most Sundays.

Little Havana Tours: Experience The Heart of Cuban Culture
Little Havana Tours takes visitors on a deep dive into Cuban culture. Choose from a Little Havana Food Tour, Little Havana Walking Tour or the Cigar & Rum Experience. Led by a knowledgeable guide, these two-hour walking tours dive into the history of the Cuban diaspora, religious rituals, cigar-rolling culture and local art. You’ll experience salsa and bachata music and sample Cuban coffee, cuisine and even a mojito.

Miami Design Preservation League: Explore Miami Beach's Jewish History
The Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) offers a Jewish Miami Beach Tour (available by appointment). A knowledgeable local guide will recount the history of Jews in Miami Beach over the last century, with stories about influential people and institutions, while also exploring the area’s unique architecture. MDPL offers a variety of walking tours, including its signature Art Deco Walking Tour, departing daily at 10:30 a.m. from the Art Deco Welcome Center in South Beach.
Tours ‘R’ Us: Uncover Cultural Treasures
Run by tourism industry veteran George Neary, Tours ‘R’ Us offers visitors insightful explorations of Miami’s many cultural neighborhoods, from Little Bahamas to Historic Overtown, Little Havana, Little Haiti and beyond. These tours introduce travelers to some of the most beautiful hidden gems in the city, from iconic architecture to sites of historical significance. You’ll get an intimate look at Miami’s most fascinating heritage neighborhoods.

Ralph “Mr. Miami” de la Portilla: Your Personal Miami Ambassador
Ralph “Mr. Miami” de la Portilla is a private tour guide who invites visitors to consider him their personal concierge and ambassador in Miami. As a former apprentice to renowned Miami historian Dr. Paul George at HistoryMiami Museum, he possesses a deep knowledge of Miami, which he shares with guests on his bespoke historical and cultural tours. de la Portilla is an expert on Little Havana, and a tour with him might include sampling juicy roast suckling pig or meeting with cigar rollers. He’s also highly knowledgeable about South Beach’s Art Deco architecture and history.
Dunn Tours: Preserving Florida's Forgotten Black History
As professor emeritus at Florida International University, Dr. Marvin Dunn has dedicated his academic career to Florida’s oft-forgotten Black history. He’s published multiple books, including “Black Miami in the Twentieth Century,” and documentaries. The scholar also hosts bus tours to historic sites in African American history in Miami and across Florida.
Society Socials & Reunions: Preserving Miami's African American History
As founder of The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Dr. Dorothy Fields has devoted her life to preserving Miami’s African American history. In addition to her academic and archival work, she’s a community leader dedicated to connecting people with Miami’s Black community and heritage neighborhoods through her business, Society Socials & Reunions. Whether you’re planning a meeting, reunion or vacation in Miami, Dr. Fields can connect you with the perfect activities, attractions, walking tours, heritage festivals, restaurants and more.