Tanned people roll past our inner eye on roller skates á la the 80s, behind them sports enthusiasts train in front of the backdrop of a seemingly endless white sandy beach. The palm leaves softly blow above our heads, while the loud roar of a luxury car from Ocean Drive reaches our ears ...

Miami beckons with beautiful sandy beaches and turquoise blue tides. © Joel de Vriend 

Welcome to Miami

Miami is much more than Baywatch, beach parties and a sports oasis. Walking through the city, you pass modern streets with contemporary buildings, the graffiti art of the Wynwood Walls, only to find yourself in the Art Deco district the next moment. And just a short drive away, you'll find yourself in the midst of beautiful nature, whether in the mangrove forests of the Everglades or on the gorgeous Key West Islands.

Key Facts:

Best time to visit: November to March
Flight duration: from Vienna to Miami from 13 hours with a variable stopover in Europe
Weather: subtropical climate, always between 25 and 30 degrees
Size: 440,000 inhabitants, metropolitan area: 61. million inhabitants.
Entry requirements: only with complete vaccination with negative, still valid COVID-19 test

A place of longing between natural idyll and urban living space: Miami. © Paul Renato

Where to sleep in Miami

Acqualina Resort Sunny Isles

Located on Florida's Riviera, the tranquil Sunny Isles Beach, the luxurious 5 star resort Acqualina. Directly on the soft white beach chic red sun loungers are lined up, the way into the resort leads past the spacious pool and into the Mediterranean opulence in the hotel. Golden chandeliers and elegant marble, fine wood and delicate fabrics invite you to feel good in a luxurious ambience at Acqualina. Especially great: the 1,850-square-meter Acqualina Spa.

Acqualina Resort & Spa
17875 Collins Ave, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160, USA
Tel.: +1 305-918-8000
Web: acqualinaresort.com
Price from € 650,-/night for 2 persons

The Setai Miami Beach

The Setai in Miami's picturesque Art Deco district offers direct beach access and three infinity pools. In the stylish suites in Asian Chic, you can relax and reflect on your exciting vacation day. Those who also want to recover physically can attend yoga and tai chi classes or the new luxurious Valmont Spa.
thesetaihotels.com 

More Miami Hotel Tips:
Faena Hotel Miami Beach
1 Hotel South Beach

What to do: Nature meets city flair

South Beach

What to do: Beach, Sports, Party

Baywatch says hello: Ocean Drive and the snow-white sand of SoBe's Miami Beach stretch out in front of the impressive facades of the Art Deco buildings. Trendsetters, sports enthusiasts, party animals and sun-seekers all gather here. 

Good to know: The Art Deco Historic District in the heart of South Beach is the largest cohesive neighborhood of 1920s buildings in the world. The beautiful colorful, pastel buildings are landmarked and are popular backdrops for photo shoots. 

Ocean Drive

What to do: bike tour, scooter riding, photo shoots, walks

Located directly on South Beach, travelers will find lively Ocean Drive with its bustling promenade. Here, skateboarders practice their tricks, while dog owners walk by with their border collies and rich people rev the engines of their Maseratis. It's best to ride your bike or scooter to South Pointe Park; that's pure Miami feeling.

Ocean Drive, between palm trees and big city. © Mark S

Everglades

What to do: take a boat tour, walk along paths

Just behind Miami, the Everglades National Park stretches inland: a wildly beautiful tropical marsh that is home to numerous species of animals, from alligators and birds to dolphins and manatees. Various providers, such as the Everglades Day Safari, offer day trips by airboat through the grasslands and mangrove forests.

Good to know: If you explore the mangrove forests on foot, you should always stay on the marked paths and keep your eyes open. It is better to encounter an alligator or the very rare panther from a safe distance!

In the Everglades, numerous animals live between the river and the mangroves. © Morgane Perraud

Key West

What to do: Relax on the beach

Miami has built a bridge to Key West: in just five hours' drive, you can reach the island chain. A subtropical retreat where, armed with a straw hat and cool drink, you can secure a lounger on the golden sandy beach and then float in the pleasantly warm, turquoise water.

Good to know: Don't feel like driving for five hours? No problem: Numerous buses head for Key West every day - so just sit back, enjoy the ride and let yourself be enchanted by the ocean panorama.

Key West is just a bridge ride away. © Christopher East

Fashion Fever: Shopping

What to do: Shopping, food and urban flair

In the huge outlet shopping malls in Miami you can really find everything: from haute couture to everyday fashion. Aventura Mall or Lincoln Road Mall, the open-air shopping center on Miami Beach, offer a good cross-sum of different brands. If you want to look for beach fashion, make a stop at the Bikini Village . And high fashion is available, as the name suggests, at the Design District.

Party in the USA

What to do: Nightlife at its best in clubs, bars and festivals

The absolute party hotspot is South Beach, where you can dance the night away until 5 a.m., get to know the exciting club scene and sip cocktails on the beach under the stars. Midtown and Wynwood, with its great bars and live music, are young and trendy. 

Miami knows how to party - here at Ultra Music Miami. © Reynier Carl

Downtown: Little Havana

What to do: Food, shopping, walking and enjoying Cuban flair

Downtown Miami is home to Little Havana, Miami's Cuban neighborhood. Unlike China Town, however, there are no flat tourist traps here; instead, you'll encounter authentic Cuban everyday life: whimsical bridal fashions, gentlemen playing dominoes as well as rousing rhythms, nice cafés, boutiques and stores make Little Havana a place where you can let yourself drift. 

Wynwood Walls

What to do: admire graffiti art in the Art District

Looking for a photo motif? The Wynwood Walls stretch over several buildings and impress with great graffiti art of all kinds.

The Wynwood Walls captivate with graffiti art. © Sieuwert Otterloo

Key Biscayne

What to do: museum visits; sun, beach and sea

Again the way leads over a bridge, this time to Key Biscayne. On the way there, you make a quick detour to the Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium, where you can see great exhibitions about the Everglades. A little further, over the bridge, you end up at the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park recreation area. There, hiking trails wind through exotic vegetation and along gorgeous sandy beaches, with the Cape Florida Lighthouse glowing in the distance.

Island idyll at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State National Park. © Shutterstock

Where to eat in Miami

Losing yourself in Miami's multifaceted culinary scene is probably one of the best experiences in Florida's capital: whether in a casual diner or in a five-star luxury restaurant is up to you. Creole specialties are on the menus, as is the finest American diner cuisine, whether classic or reinterpreted. But it's the Asian restaurants in particular that have stood out as special foodie spots in recent years and are absolutely worth a visit. No matter where the palate ultimately leads - you will certainly not be disappointed in Miami. 

A Miami classic: crab cakes. © Alexandra Tran

ZUMA MIAMI

ZUMA in the heart of Downtown is without a doubt one of the city's best addresses for modern yet authentic Japanese Izakaya dining. Here you can enjoy both the ocean view on the terrace and the delicacies from the sushi counter and the Robata Grill.
zumarestaurant.com

Mr Chow Miami

Classic Chinese dishes from Beijing - in which textures, scents, flavors and colors are harmoniously coordinated - are served at Mr. Chow, as are new creations of his own. A must-try: the Peking duck à la Mr. Chow.
mrchow.com

Off Site

Microbrewery meets Americana: Located in the Little River industrial area, Off Site serves American classics with a modern twist, as well as Cuban sandwiches. Highlights include the huge hot dogs, the "Super Good Chicken Sandwich," and the wide selection of beers, from IPA to lager. 
offsite.miami 

Mimi's

Mimi's in the Edgewater neighborhood is dedicated to traditional American café classics: In the morning, you can indulge in the drippy egg sandwich and herb-infused salmon; in the evening, you can end the day with pan con tomate and farro miso toast.
mimismiami.com 

Phuc Yea

The name says it all: At Phuc Yea, Vietnamese cuisine draws inspiration from Creole flavors; fine spices and sophisticated sauces are the order of the day here. It tastes unique and pretty good.
phucyea.com 

Fried chicken at Phuc Yea - you should try it! © Ke Vin

Doya

Shared enjoyment: Doya enriches its Mediterranean cuisine with Middle Eastern flavors. Arranged on small mezze plates, guests will find a wide range of different delicacies here, from butter shrimp or pastrami hummus to lamb chops and branzino ceviche.
doyarestaurant.com