MIAMI, FLORIDA
Miami is where Latin America meets the US, where beach culture is a lifestyle, where Spanish and English mix seamlessly, and where the party never stops. This is the most international city in America—65% of residents were born outside the US. It’s Cuban cafecitos and Colombian arepas, Art Deco buildings and glass condos, salsa dancing and EDM festivals. The energy is infectious, the weather is tropical, and everyone’s dressed to impress. This isn’t the US—this is Miami.
June/July Weather: HOT and HUMID. 85-95°F with 80%+ humidity and daily afternoon thunderstorms. It’s tropical. Dress light, drink water, embrace the sweat.
Fan-Friendly Spots
South Beach is THE scene. Ocean Drive has bars and restaurants with outdoor seating right on the beach. It’s expensive and touristy but undeniably fun. Watch the parade of people—models, bodybuilders, families, everyone’s here.
Wynwood is the artsy neighborhood with massive street murals, breweries, and warehouse parties. Wynwood Walls is an outdoor gallery (FREE) with incredible graffiti art. Bars here have outdoor space perfect for summer drinking.
Brickell is the financial district with rooftop bars offering stunning city/bay views. More upscale, less touristy than South Beach.
What to Actually Do
Little Havana is essential to Miami. Walk Calle Ocho (8th Street), watch old men play dominoes at Máximo Gómez Park, drink Cuban coffee at Versailles, smoke cigars, and eat Cuban food. It’s authentic and vibrant.
Vizcaya Museum is a 1916 Italian Renaissance villa on the water—stunning architecture and gardens. Give it 2 hours.
Everglades airboat tour (30 min drive) takes you through swamps to see alligators. It’s touristy but genuinely cool.
For beach time: South Beach is iconic but crowded. Try Mid-Beach or North Beach for more space.
Where Fans Eat & Drink
Miami’s food is Latin American fusion—Cuban, Colombian, Peruvian, Venezuelan, Argentine—all world-class.
Must-Try:
- Cuban sandwich: Pork, ham, cheese, pickles, mustard on Cuban bread, pressed. Versailles or Sanguich de Miami
- Croquetas: Fried ham croquettes, everywhere
- Arepa: Venezuelan corn cake, try at Arepera Guacuco
- Stone crab: In season Oct-May (you’ll miss it), but any fresh seafood is great
- Cafecito: Cuban espresso shot, strong and sweet ($1.50)
- Pastelitos: Guava and cheese pastry, at any Cuban bakery
Drinks: Mojitos (rum, mint, lime, soda), Cuba Libres (rum and Coke), fresh fruit batidos (smoothies).
For watching other matches: Batch Gastropub (Brickell), The Pub (Sunset Harbour), or any sports bar in Brickell/South Beach.
Where NOT to Go: Bayside Marketplace is a tourist trap mall. The Everglades “gator wrestling” shows are cheesy. Ocean Drive restaurants are overpriced—eat one block inland for better prices.
Getting Around Miami
The Metrorail (orange/green lines) connects the airport, downtown, and South Miami. $2.25/ride. Metromover is a FREE elevated train that loops through downtown. Use it to get around Brickell and downtown—it’s actually fun. Neither reaches South Beach or the stadium.
Uber/Lyft is essential. $15-30 for most trips. Traffic is heavy during rush hour and basically always on I-95. Rental cars are useful for exploring beyond downtown. $50-80/day. Parking is $15-40 everywhere.
From the Airport, Miami International (MIA) is 8 miles from downtown. Metrorail to downtown ($2.25, 15 min) or Uber ($15-30, 15-30 min).
Safety
Tourist areas like (South Beach, Wynwood, Brickell, Coral Gables) are well-policed and safe. When at the beach, rip currents are dangerous. Swim near lifeguard stands. If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to shore. South Beach and Wynwood stay busy all night. Just stay aware and stick to populated areas. Avoid Liberty City, Overtown, parts of Little Haiti at night. Beach vendors can be pushy. Some clubs have aggressive promoters. Read prices carefully. Check forecasts. If a hurricane is coming, evacuate or shelter in place.
Insider Knowledge
Spanish is Everywhere. 65% of Miami speaks Spanish at home. Many places speak Spanish first, English second. Learning basic Spanish helps. Order a “cafecito” (small shot) or “colada” (larger shot meant for sharing, comes with little cups). Drink it fast and strong. Ocean water is warm (80°F+). Some people prefer hotel pools. Miami is about looking good. People dress up even for the beach (designer swimwear, jewelry). Effort is expected. I-95 is always jammed. The Palmetto Expressway is always jammed. Build in extra time for everything. Things start late. A 9pm reservation might seat you at 9:30pm. Clubs don’t get busy until 1am.
Tipping: 18-20% at restaurants. Some places auto-add 18-20% for groups.
Sales Tax: 7% (not included in prices).