Best Time to Visit Miami

Short answer: December to April is Miami's dry season, with sunny days in the mid 20s °C (the mid to high 70s °F) and low humidity. It's the most comfortable time to visit and the most expensive. For a balance, aim for late April, May or November.

Miami has two seasons, not four. The dry season runs from roughly December to April, with blue skies, cool evenings and calm seas, and it's when North Americans and Europeans escape their winters. Hotels are at their priciest from Christmas to March, especially around the big events. The wet season runs from roughly May to October. It's hot and humid, with temperatures in the low 30s °C (around 90°F), and short, heavy thunderstorms most afternoons. Mornings are often clear, and hotel rates fall.

Hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking from August to October. Most weeks pass without a storm, and forecasters give days of warning when one is coming, but a direct hit can close the city. If you travel then, buy insurance that covers storms and keep an eye on the National Hurricane Center.

Sargassum, a brown seaweed that drifts in from the Atlantic, can wash up on the beaches between spring and autumn, peaking in early summer. Some years are much worse than others. The city clears the main beaches, but it can smell. Check recent reports before a summer beach holiday.

Events that fill the hotels

• Spring break (March): crowds of students in South Beach. The city has imposed curfews and restrictions in recent years.
• Miami Music Week and Ultra (late March): electronic music takes over the city.
• The Miami Open (March): tennis at Hard Rock Stadium.
• The Miami Grand Prix (early May): Formula 1 around Hard Rock Stadium.
• Art Basel Miami Beach (early December): the city's biggest week, with art fairs, parties and the highest hotel prices of the year.

Check event dates before booking, as prices can double. Our what to wear guide covers packing for each season, and the day trips guide explains why the Everglades are best in the dry season.