Where to Stay in Miami: A Neighbourhood Guide

Short answer: for a first beach holiday, stay in South Beach, ideally a few blocks from the busiest part of Ocean Drive. If you want a quieter resort, choose Mid-Beach. If you're more interested in the city, food and culture than the beach, stay in Brickell or Downtown.

Prices depend on the season and the event calendar. The dry season is the most expensive, and Art Basel week in December and spring break in March push rates up further. Check whether a nightly resort fee is added, as many Miami Beach hotels charge one on top of the room rate.

South Beach

The Art Deco hotels, the beach and the nightlife, all walkable. The blocks south of 5th Street (called SoFi) and north of Lincoln Road are calmer than the stretch of Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue in between, which can be noisy until late. Many of the historic hotels have small rooms, so check sizes.

Mid-Beach

From about 23rd to 63rd Street, with large resort hotels, including the famous Fontainebleau, directly on the sand. Quieter, more spacious and better for families. You'll take the trolley or a rideshare to South Beach.

North Beach and Surfside

Further up the island, quieter still, with smaller hotels and MiMo architecture along Collins Avenue. It suits a longer, slower stay more than a first trip built around South Beach nightlife.

Brickell and Downtown

Glass towers on Biscayne Bay, with rooftop bars, business hotels and the free Metromover. Handy for the airport, the Metrorail, Little Havana and Wynwood, but you'll need to cross the bay to the beach.

Coconut Grove and Coral Gables

Leafy, calmer areas south of Downtown, with boutique hotels, the historic Biltmore and a more residential feel. Best if you have a car.

If you're driving, add the nightly parking charge to the room rate before you compare hotels. Our getting there guide explains airport transfers for each area, and our South Beach guide covers the area most people stay in.