How to Get to Miami

Short answer: Miami International is the easier airport when fares are close, and a taxi or rideshare from there reaches South Beach or Brickell. Without a car, stay in South Beach or Downtown, and use trolleys, the free Metromover and rideshare for the rest.

Miami International Airport (MIA)

About eight miles west of Downtown and 30 to 45 minutes from South Beach by road, depending on traffic.

• Taxi. Taxis charge a set zone fare to Miami Beach and Downtown. Check the current rate at the rank.
• Rideshare. Pick-ups are from marked areas on the arrivals level.
• Metrorail. The free MIA Mover train links the terminals to the Miami Intermodal Center, where the Metrorail Orange Line runs to Downtown and Brickell. Useful for city hotels, less so for the beach.
• Bus. Route 150, the Miami Beach Airport Express, runs from the MIA Metrorail station across the Julia Tuttle Causeway to Mid-Beach, then down Collins and Washington Avenues to South Beach. It's slow with luggage but costs a fraction of a taxi. Check the schedule on the Miami-Dade transit site.

Fort Lauderdale (FLL)

About 30 miles north, and often cheaper, especially for budget airlines. A taxi or rideshare to Miami takes around 45 minutes, much longer at rush hour. Tri-Rail commuter trains also run to Miami, but you first take a free shuttle bus from the terminals to the airport station in Dania Beach, so it suits light luggage and a tight budget.

By train

Brightline, a fast private train, runs from MiamiCentral station in Downtown to Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Orlando International Airport. The full trip to Orlando takes about three and a half hours, with comfortable seats and free wifi. Amtrak trains from New York arrive at a station well outside the centre.

Getting around

• Miami Beach trolley. Free routes run up and down the island and around South Beach.
• Metromover. A free elevated automated train looping around Downtown and Brickell.
• Metrorail and buses. Tap a contactless card to pay. There's a daily fare cap.
• Bikes. Citi Bike has stations across Miami Beach, and the paved Beachwalk behind the dunes makes an easy, car-free ride (e-bikes aren't allowed on it).
• Rideshare. The simplest way to cross the causeways, especially at night.

Driving

Hire a car for the Everglades and the Keys, but not for South Beach, where parking is scarce and hotel valet fees are high. Expect heavy traffic on the causeways and Interstate 95. Our day trips guide covers the drives, and our where to stay guide shows which areas work without a car.