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Downtown Miami

Miami

The mainland city centre on Biscayne Bay, with Bayfront Park, the Pérez Art Museum, the Frost Science museum and the Kaseya Center arena.

Best for Business · Budget

Transport
5/5
Sights
4/5
Value
4/5
Quiet
2/5
Food
3/5

Typical mid-range hotel ~$230/night · 5 min to Downtown Miami

See hotels in Downtown Miami

Downtown Miami on the map

Why stay here

  • Metrorail, Metromover and Brightline on the doorstep
  • Museums and Bayfront Park
  • Close to the cruise port

Who should stay here

  • Cruise passengers
  • Business travellers
  • Concert and sports fans

Not ideal if…

  • You want the beach
  • You want lively streets at night
  • You'd rather avoid quiet, rough blocks after dark

What it's like

Downtown faces the bay across from the cruise port, with Bayfront Park and Bayside Marketplace on the water and Museum Park's Pérez Art Museum and Frost Science museum just north. The Kaseya Center hosts the Heat and big concerts, and the new Miami Worldcenter has added shops and hotels. Brightline trains to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando leave from MiamiCentral.

It's the best-connected base, handy for cruises and for reaching Wynwood and Brickell. Some blocks west of Biscayne Boulevard feel empty and rough at night, and it's not where you'll want to spend beach days.

Best streets and sub-areas

  • Biscayne Boulevard

    Bayfront avenue of hotels, parks and the arena.

  • Miami Worldcenter

    New district of shops, restaurants and hotels.

  • Flagler Street

    Historic main street, being revived.

Getting around

Nearest stations
Government Center for Metrorail to the airport, the free Metromover loop, MiamiCentral for Brightline, and buses to Miami Beach.
To Downtown Miami
About 5 minutes
From Miami International Airport (MIA)
About 20 minutes: Metrorail Orange Line direct from MIA to Government Center, or about 15 minutes by taxi.

Nearby attractions

  • Pérez Art Museum Miami

    Modern and contemporary art in a bayfront building with hanging gardens.

  • Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

    Science museum with an aquarium and planetarium.

  • Bayfront Park

    Waterfront park with concerts and festivals.

  • Bayside Marketplace

    Shops, bars and boat tours of Biscayne Bay.

Where to eat and drink

  • Bayside Marketplace

    Touristy but fun waterfront bars.

  • Miami Worldcenter

    New restaurants and bars near the arena.

  • Hotel rooftops

    Bay and skyline views.

Where to stay in Downtown Miami

A few hotels we'd book in this area, at different budgets.

Luxury pick

InterContinental Miami

Why we like it: Bayfront tower next to Bayfront Park.

Typical luxury rate in Downtown Miami: ~$450/night

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Boutique pick

Kimpton EPIC Hotel

Why we like it: Hotel at the mouth of the Miami River with a big pool deck.

Typical mid-range rate in Downtown Miami: ~$230/night

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Best value

citizenM Miami Worldcenter

Why we like it: Compact, modern rooms near the arena and Metromover.

Typical mid-range rate in Downtown Miami: ~$230/night

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Hotels in Downtown MiamiMid-range from ~$230/night

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