Miami packs beaches, Cuban culture, art, nightlife and some of Florida's best hotels into one metro area. Here's where to start, with a few late-night spots locals actually use.

Where to stay

The St. Regis Bal Harbour. An oceanfront resort in Bal Harbour, north of Miami Beach, across the street from the Bal Harbour Shops. It's known for its service, spa and large ocean-view rooms.

Acqualina Resort & Residences. A beachfront resort in Sunny Isles Beach, at the north end of the barrier island. It's a good choice if you want a quieter stretch of sand and a full-service resort with family programs.

For a South Beach base, the hotels along Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive put you within walking distance of the beach, Art Deco architecture and nightlife.

Things to do

South Beach. Wide Atlantic beaches, the Art Deco Historic District and the restaurants and bars along Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Lincoln Road.

Little Havana. Walk Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street) for Cuban coffee from a ventanita, dominoes at Máximo Gómez Park and live music in the evenings. At El Titan de Bronze, a family-owned factory on Calle Ocho since the 1990s, you can watch cigars being rolled by hand. Check its hours before you go.

Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. In Museum Park downtown, with a planetarium and a multi-level aquarium. The Pérez Art Museum Miami is next door.

Biscayne Bay's islands. The residential islands off the MacArthur Causeway, including Star Island, are best seen from the water on a boat tour. Fisher Island, a private club community, is reached only by ferry, boat or air.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. In Key Largo, roughly an hour or more south of Miami by car, depending on traffic. It's known as the first undersea park in the United States, with snorkeling, diving and glass-bottom boat tours over the reef. See Florida State Parks for tours and conditions.

Drinks

Broken Shaker. A garden-and-poolside cocktail bar at the Freehand Miami hotel in Mid-Beach, at 2727 Indian Creek Drive. It started as a pop-up in 2012 and became one of Miami's best-known cocktail bars. It isn't open every night, so check current hours before you go.

Late-night food

Big Pink. A retro diner at 157 Collins Avenue in South Beach with a huge comfort-food menu, open late, especially on weekends.

Mary's Cafe & Coin Laundry. A 24-hour Cuban café attached to a laundromat on SW 27th Avenue near Coconut Grove, known for its pan con bistec.

Late-night hours in Miami change often, so check before you head out.

Flying privately to Miami

Private flights into the Miami area commonly use:

• Miami-Opa Locka Executive (OPF): a major business aviation airport north of the city
• Miami Executive (TMB): in Kendall, convenient for South Miami and the Keys
• Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE): a good fit for Fort Lauderdale and the northern beaches
• Miami International (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International (FLL), which also have private terminals

Your advisor will suggest the closest suitable airport for where you're staying. From elsewhere in Florida, a turboprop or light jet usually suits the trip; from the Northeast, a midsize jet or larger. Our advisors can also arrange ground transportation. Learn how on-demand charter works, or contact our team to plan a trip.