Best hotels in Miami: where to stay by area

Miami is sun, beaches and Art Deco, but also art, skyscrapers and Latin cuisine, and the area where you sleep completely changes the trip: iconic South Beach, calmer Mid-Beach, modern Brickell, artistic Wynwood, elegant Coconut Grove. The beach strip is walkable, but for the rest you often need a car or Uber. Here are the best areas to stay, the prices to reckon with and, at the end, a selection of real hotels with live rates.

Where to stay in Miami, area by area

South Beach

The Art Deco district along Ocean Drive, with the beach, the venues and Lincoln Road. It is the right call for a first-timer who wants beach, nightlife and monuments on foot, at the highest prices.

• The Art Deco Historic District along Ocean Drive
• The South Beach sand
• The pedestrian Lincoln Road
• The picturesque Espanola Way

For beach and nightlife, look for hotels in South Beach.

Mid-Beach and North Beach

The quieter resort strip along Collins Avenue, with calmer beaches and the Faena District. It is the choice for families and anyone after relaxation, resorts and the sea without the South Beach chaos.

• The Faena District and its design hotels
• The calmer beaches of Collins Avenue
• The North Beach Bandshell
• Resorts, pools and the seafront

For relaxation and families, see hotels in Mid-Beach.

Downtown and Brickell

The bayfront skyline with the financial Brickell, rooftops and museums. It is the choice for anyone who loves the modern city, nightlife and staying near the towers, with the free Metromover.

• The Brickell district with rooftop bars and restaurants
• The Perez Art Museum on the bay
• The Bayside Marketplace
• The free Metromover around downtown

For the skyline and nightlife, look for hotels in Brickell.

Wynwood and the Design District

Creative Miami: the murals of the Wynwood Walls, the galleries, the breweries and the luxury shopping of the Design District. It is the choice for anyone who loves art, street art and a hip atmosphere.

• The Wynwood Walls and the street art of Wynwood
• Galleries, breweries and cafes
• The luxury shopping of the Design District
• Bars, bistros and fashionable spots

For art and style, see hotels in Wynwood.

Coconut Grove and Coral Gables

Green, elegant Miami: the bayfront of Coconut Grove and refined, Mediterranean-style Coral Gables. It is the choice for anyone after calm, tree-lined avenues and a refined base away from the chaos.

• The villa and gardens of Vizcaya
• The bay and cafes of Coconut Grove
• The Miracle Mile of Coral Gables
• The historic Venetian Pool

For calm and elegance, look for hotels in Coral Gables.

What it costs

Indicative figures: the US uses the dollar (USD, around 1.08 to a euro) and in Miami prices climb steeply in winter.

• A double room in a mid-range 3-4 star: roughly 180-400 USD a night (about 165-370 euros), plus taxes and resort fees.
• A dinner for two: about 80-160 USD (about 75-150 euros); a coffee 4-6 USD, a cocktail 15-20 USD; you tip 18-20 percent.
• Transport: for getting around you often need a car or Uber; the Metromover downtown is free and South Beach is walkable.
• Tourist tax: Miami hotels add a combined lodging tax of around 14-16 percent of the rate (Florida state tax plus Miami-Dade county tourist taxes and, on Miami Beach, the 4 percent resort tax), and many hotels also charge a separate mandatory resort fee (often 25-50 USD a night). These are usually not in the headline rate: verify the total at booking.

For a real sense before you choose, compare current prices in Miami.

Getting there and around

The main airport is Miami International (MIA), about 13 km west, linked by the Metrorail or by Uber; for cheaper flights there is Fort Lauderdale (FLL), further north. In town a car or Uber is usually needed; the Metromover links downtown and Brickell for free.

South Beach is walkable, but for Wynwood, the Gables or the Everglades you need transport. With a good location, the beach and the venues are a stroll away.

When to go

Miami is subtropical, with a climate very different from the European seasons.

• December-April: warm, dry and sunny, high season and peak prices; Art Basel in early December, spring break in March.
• May and October-November: warm with fewer crowds, good value.
• June-September: hot and humid with afternoon storms and the hurricane season; lower prices.

Good to know

Which area is best on a first visit? South Beach for the Art Deco, the beach and the nightlife, or Brickell for a modern city base.

Do I need a car in Miami? Often yes: South Beach is walkable, but for Wynwood, the Gables and day trips a car or Uber is needed; the Metromover covers downtown for free.

How much are the taxes? About 14-16 percent lodging tax plus a separate mandatory resort fee (often 25-50 USD a night): always check the total.

Are the Art Deco tours worth it? Yes, a walk through the historic district of Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, beautiful lit up at night.

How much do you tip? At restaurants 18-20 percent; it is expected and often not included.

How many days do I need? Three or four nights for the beach, Wynwood and a trip to the Everglades or the Keys.

The best hotels in Miami

Below is a selection of real hotels in Miami among the highest rated by guests, with live rates to compare right now. Choose the area first, then compare prices and book at the right moment.