6 Things to Do in Your First Week in Miami Beach

Miami Beach is a popular Florida island, well-loved for the sandy shoreline and clear turquoise waters spanning across its seven miles. The entertainment is endless in this bustling destination, with a wide range of outdoor recreation, shopping, arts, and luxury leisure. When looking for things to do in Miami Beach, try out these six activities first.

The Beachwalk is a paved, oceanfront promenade that spans the entirety of Miami Beach, making it a convenient way to get across the island and bypass car traffic. Lined with tropical nature, this is a great way to get in touch with the environment or admire the sights unique to South Beach, Mid Beach, and North Beach. Visitors can also rent bikes from the CitiBike stands along the path to explore the whole walkway more efficiently.

Walking along the Beachwalk is one of the best ways to observe all that Miami Beach has for residents. Starting at South Pointe Park, visitors can spot restaurants like Smith & Wollensky, then pass through Lummus Park and the Art Deco District. When reaching Mid Beach, architectural feats like Eden Roc Miami Beach dot the way. The Beachwalk ends at North Beach Oceanside Park, with eight blocks of oceanfront views.

The many shopping streets on the island provide endless things to do in Miami Beach. Streets like Collins Avenue in South Beach feature a mix of brand stores and boutiques. Along the way, shoppers can stop at luxury hotels like the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, the 1 Hotel South Beach, and the W South Beach to see what their boutiques have to offer.

Another popular street to shop in South Beach is Lincoln Road. This open-air mall stretches ten blocks, with a mix of smaller shops and larger stores such as H&M, Anthropologie, and Zara. This mall also hosts the Lincoln Road Antique & Collectible Market on certain Sundays, which is a fun event to search for vintage wares and furniture.

Other spots to shop include Washington Avenue, with independent stores and boutiques offering Miami Beach fashion; Ocean Drive, which is the best place to dine or view art galleries right next to the shoreline; and Sunset Harbor Shops in Biscayne Bay, providing a mix of trendy boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and gyms. For a fantasyland experience, reserve a table to dine in Espanola Way.

The endless shoreline of Miami Beach makes it one of the best places to search for waterfront Miami Beach real estate, as the warm waters attract visitors year-round. In South Beach, visit South Pointe Park for outdoor recreation. The beach here is marked by colorful lifeguard towers and provides an opportunity to surf, paddle board, and play beach volleyball. Families with young children can stop by the splash pad, while South Pointe Pier provides fishing stations and views of the ocean horizon.

When in North Beach, visiting North Beach Oceanside Park is a must. This quieter, laid-back location has plenty of shorelines to relax on, while the pavilions provide shade for gatherings and celebrations. The paths winding through the parks offer great views to admire while walking or rollerblading. Visitors can also enjoy a beach day with their dog on a leash.

Faena District, located in Mid Beach, is an artistic neighborhood spanning four blocks. Visit the breathtaking Faena Hotel Miami Beach, with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin giving it the prestigious roots for the modern luxury it showcases today. The rest of the district is just as indulgent, with trendy restaurants, beautifully designed theaters and venues, and other equally luxurious residences. For an experimental shopping experience, The Bazaar provides four floors of artistic design framing the fashion of global designers.

Another fun spot to explore when searching for Miami Beach real estate is the Art Deco Historic District. As a part of the National Register of Historic Places, the dominant architecture and style of the buildings in the area represent its name. Visitors can admire the nearly 800 different buildings with distinctive colors, curves, and fountains that mark the Art Deco style.

Spend a morning at the Art Deco Museum and Welcome Center to learn all about the style, then test your knowledge on a walking tour with Miami Design Preservation League. Notable buildings in Miami Beach with an Art Deco style include hotels like the Colony Hotel and Beacon South Beach. Shoppers along Lincoln Road can spot some of the popular style’s design elements in the building, while Lummus Park provides a panoramic view of the skyline.

The arts have had a large impact on making Miami Beach what it is today, and the island’s enthusiasm for design and beauty has only strengthened through the years. Admire the world-class collection at the Wolfsonian at the Florida International University. Exhibits span a range of styles and backgrounds, from prints, paintings, and historical documents like posters, film clips, and more to form a history that pairs with each piece.

The music scene is just as captivating, with organizations like the New World Symphony. View a show from the best of the up-and-coming talent in the orchestral sphere within a sleek concert hall providing blank canvases for accompanying media to music. Orchestra concerts span a range of genres and influences across the globe, from Spanish arrangements to well-loved symphonies.

Miami Beach provides plenty of fun for any type of visitor. The diversity of shopping along several streets offers anything you might need, while the Beachwalk is a convenient pedestrian-only highway to spots like North and South Beach, as well as the art districts within the island. If you have questions about searching for homes in Miami Beach, contact one of the trusted agents on the APT Team to guide you through the process.