Want to visit Miami with the least amount of money?
Then follow this Top 15 free tours, museums and activities to do in Miami that we created for you to enjoy without breaking the bank.
Table des matières
Discover the walls of Wynwood
Wynwood, located a handful of minutes from downtown Miami, near Midtown and the famous Design District, is a colorful and artistic popular neighborhood. Over the past 10 years, this neighborhood has shed its sultry past to become an Eldorado for aspiring painters, graffiti artists, ingenues and innovative young people.
The Wynwood walls are the perfect example of this metamorphosis. What was once a collection of aging warehouses is now an open-air museum thanks to the work of entrepreneur Tony Goldman, a true patron of the arts. Artists from around the world are invited to leave their prints on the walls. The result was an eclectic and colorful mix of art in all its forms. The walls are updated regularly, so you probably won’t see the same graffiti and murals twice.
If you’re here, on the second Saturday of the month, you’ll be able to attend a great art event called the Wynwood Art Walk. The whole neighborhood seems to transform into a street fiesta and a nightly arts festival.
Otherwise, you can come Monday through Friday, it’s open to the public. But check out their website.
During the visit, if you’re feeling peckish, there are two restaurants right next to the walls, Joey’s and Wynwood Kitchen & Bar.
Take in a free concert at Bayside Marketplace
If you’re in the mood for a stroll through downtown Miami, be sure to visit Bayside Marketplace. It’s an open-air shopping center on the waterfront
During the day, it’s a great place to stroll, shop or eat. On the second floor, you’ll find the fast food restaurants, and from there you’ll have a breathtaking view of the Marina
In the evening, you can enjoy a live concert on the marina’s stage. All types of artists, from reggae to Latin pop to rock, perform on stage, according to a pre-arranged schedule. The entire show is free.
Be sure to check out the Bayside Marketplace website for an idea of the schedule and program.(www.baysidemarketplace.com/)
Enjoy tacos at Wood Tavern
Wood Tavern in Wynwood is the perfect address if you’re looking for good food, and you’re sure to find it. And did you know that it’s even better when it’s free? I’m sure you won’t believe your eyes, but it’s true. All you have to do is head over on Tuesdays from 6-9pm for their free taco happy hour. If you miss the free hours, the tacos are only $1, which certainly won’t break your budget, plus the fun is guaranteed. As always, check out their website: http: //woodtavern.com/
Take a free Art Deco tour of South Beach
A guided walking tour of South Beach’s Ocean Drive (well known for its Art Deco hotels) will cost you about $20, but why not do it on your own for free?
Free Tours By Foot offers printable guides that you can download, as well as maps and an itinerary, and it’s up to you to choose the one that best suits your pace and aspirations.
You wonder what you can do. I might suggest you start your adventure in Miami’s iconic Art Deco district that stretches along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue. You can wander through its streets, even the smallest ones that are a bit out of the way, which contain countless Art Deco buildings, sometimes unsuspected.
I recommend you to visit South Pointe Park where you can spend a pleasant day. The park has walking trails that are perfect for families, a children’s playground and a water park for toddlers. It has endless places where you can picnic while watching the ships go by. How much will you pay for all this? I’ll save the best for last: the visit of the park won’t cost you a penny, it’s completely free!
In any case, visit the Free Tours by Foot website to book your free tour and you’ll receive everything by email. https://freetoursbyfoot.com/miami-art-deco-district/
Little Havana
I firmly believe that your trip will have an unfinished taste if you inadvertently forget to visit Little Havana. Let’s face it, it’s a must-see destination.
This vibrant neighborhood in the south of downtown abounds in art galleries, unique boutiques and lively restaurants and bars.
Strolling through Little Havana on Calle Ocho is like walking through a cultural museum. Indulge in authentic Cuban cafes or freshly squeezed fruit juice stands.
If you want a real immersion in Hispanic culture, I recommend going to Maximo Gomez Park, called Domino Park by the locals. There you will see locals gathering, sipping cortado, smoking cigars and playing dominoes and chess outdoors. You can even join in if you want to and if you know how to play dominoes. If not, it’s not hard to learn.
Calle Ocho is the central and commercial artery of Little Havana, the one you should walk along if you want to get an idea of the life of this neighborhood. However, I strongly recommend you not to linger there in the evening.
The street is home to many restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy the remarkable and rather special Cuban cuisine and top it all off with a Cuban coffee, that rather strong beverage, offered in tiny cups and usually quite sweet to take away the bitterness.
If your visit to Miami coincides with the last Friday of every month, you’re in for a treat! From 7pm to 11pm, Calle Ocho comes alive during the Viernes Cultural festival, literally “Cultural Friday” during which locals take to the streets to show the true meaning of Cuban culture. The festivities feature local musicians and open-air art exhibits. Admission is free.
If you want more information I suggest you visit their website: http: //viernesculturales.org/mainvc/
Also worth visiting is the Little Havana Paseo de las Estrellas (Walk of the Stars) which is just around the corner from Domino Park East. It is reminiscent of Hollywood, but the stars are awarded to Latin American actors, writers, artists and musicians. Salsa singer Celia Cruz is prominently featured.
Metromover for a different way to get around without paying
The Metromover is a free, driverless aerial train that connects several of Miami’s downtown hotels. But, don’t confuse it with the Metrorail, which is a paid mode of transportation.
I think the best way to navigate downtown Miami is on the iconic Metromover. Established in 1986, this free electric transportation gets 40,000 passengers around daily. It’s also an efficient way for tourists to stay out of the heat. However, I would advise you not to take it during rush hour.
Visit a free museum in Miami
Free museum day is a popular event in many major cities, and Miami is no exception. As a huge museum lover, I couldn’t recommend taking this opportunity to explore one of Miami’s many museums on this day, such as the Miami Children’s Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) or the Bass Museum of Art.
The Miami Children’s Museum offers free admission every third Friday of the month from 4 to 8 p.m., while MOCA offers free admission to the galleries on the last Friday of each month from 7 to 10 p.m. Bass Museum of Art is free on the last Sunday of each month and Wednesdays of the month from 6-9pm.
I find this a great opportunity to enjoy the exhibits and learn something new with your children.
Explore Everglades National Park
The Everglades covers a huge area of over 20,000 square miles. This park contains swamps that go on and on. It is simply breathtaking.
The Everglades is home to hundreds of different animal species, including the West Indian manatee, the leatherback turtle, and the famous American alligator.
If you decide to drive directly to the park, you’ll pay $25 for vehicle entry, no matter how many you drive. But, why not do it for free? I’ll reveal the trick to you.
The city of Homestead, which is about an hour’s drive from Miami, offered the opportunity to visit the park entirely for free. All you have to do is hop on their streetcar for free for a guided tour that starts in historic downtown Homestead and ends at Everglades National Park!
Another option, but it’s a long shot. It’s all about being in Miami at the right time. The city offers 10 different days throughout the year where admission is free!
If you are looking for unique, sensational moments, you can visit the park by hydrofoil, a real adventure where you will rub shoulders with, and almost touch, the dreaded alligators. But unfortunately it’s not free: $24.99 for adults and $19.99 for children.
Visit Redland Market Village
The truth is, you can get a real change of scenery when you visit Redland, because you’re off the beaten path, away from Miami’s most famous attractions. Redland is a kind of euphoric farmland filled with unusual activities and rare sites. But, I think you will like this change, this change of scenery.
It’s true that you won’t be able to explore all of Miami’s natural wonders in one day, but I suggest you go to the family-owned flea market: the Redland Market Village. You can spend a whole day of fun with your family buying fresh fruits and vegetables, saving money, watching live entertainment. There’s even a kids’ area and a pet store inside the village.
At the open-air flea market at Redland Market Village in Homestead, there are new and used items, jewelry, clothing, and cosmetics and beauty products. But I advise you to haggle well, because the whole idea of the flea market is to haggle.
Redland Market Village opens Thursday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Take a salsa lesson at Ball & Chain
Maybe you’ve been dreaming of this for a long time. And you’re right. Now the opportunity is here and you just have to take it. Ball & Chain is a popular bar and one of the most popular live music venues in Little Havana. Here, too, you can learn to salsa. Every Thursday night at 9pm, they offer free salsa classes for everyone. Try to get there early as the classes tend to be crowded.
If dancing is not your thing, this bar is still worth a visit. Ball & Chain has been around since the 1930s and has always had impeccable service, great food and drinks and an incredible atmosphere.
Visit the Bear Cut Nature Preserve
I bet the idea that there is a nature trail in Miami hasn’t even crossed your mind. Why would you make that bet? Because I was like you, I didn’t even think about it! Because it’s the fabulous postcard landscape that’s ingrained in me. And, fortunately, it exists. Just 11.3 km outside of downtown, you will find Bear Cut Nature Preserve. You can hike or bike on a trail that stretches for 3,000 miles along the waterfront and shaded by tropical trees, and ends with a gorgeous backdrop of downtown Miami. A word of advice though: pack snacks, insect repellent, sunscreen, a towel to mop up your sweat and appropriate footwear.
Relaxing on the beach
I’ll end with something you’ll surely love: lounging on one of Mimai’s heavenly beaches, the ones you often see in several cult movies and that have always fascinated you.
It might surprise you, but you should know that Miami is known for its beautiful free beaches. The beach stretches the entire length of the city, but it all depends on your preferences and desires. You may find some beaches better than others.
Most public beaches are open from dawn to dusk, but make sure there are lifeguards on duty during your swim and that you are swimming in a safe area.
There is no shortage of beaches, but I want to tell you about South Beach. It is a mythical beach. It is sublime by the quality of the blue and warm water that it offers during a good period of the year.
At night it is the party on the beach in the famous discotheques Ocean Drive just in front. This is also where you will have the opportunity to frequently see the big celebrities strutting their stuff.
Feel free to stroll along the beach and admire the famous Art Deco architecture of the various differently painted aid stations, and what’s for sure is that you won’t risk getting lost on your way back from your walk. In the morning, if you are still up after a hectic night, you can watch the sumptuous sunrise over the water.
Finally, I will tell you that visiting Miami without going to South Beach is inconceivable.
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