Top 10 Unique Things To Do In South Beach Miami That Aren't The Beach

Are you visiting South Beach Miami but not interested in sitting on the beach all day, every day?

As a non-beach person I came up with some unique things to do in Miami instead of going to the beach!

And there are surprisingly a lot of things to do in South Beach that aren’t beach related, here are my top 10!

P.S. visiting Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, or Fort Lauderdale Florida? Check out my non-beach activities in the area!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

What To Do in South Beach Miami (If You Don't Like the Beach!) #secretthingstodomiami #thingstodosouthbeach #southbeachflorida #whattodomiami

Top Things To Do In South Beach Miami

1. Shop Along Lincoln Road

Lincoln Road is one of my favourite outdoor shopping streets. It reminds me a lot of the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica but better.

Lincoln Road in South Beach Florida has restaurants you can stop at for lunch, ice cream, candy, and clothing stores galore. I love it because it has a Madewell, which we don’t have in Canada (yet!).

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2. Stroll Along Collins Avenue (AKA Florida State Road A1A)

Florida State Road A1A, also known as Collins Avenue is the main avenue you’ll want to walk down in South Beach Miami.

Collins Avenue is where you’ll find the entrances to all the fancy hotels in South Beach Miami. Similar to Las Vegas Strip, the hotels are the attraction, they’re just extravagant!

You’ll want to walk inside each hotel along Collins Avenue, admiring the beautiful architecture and decor. While you’re here, grab a bite to eat at one of the fancy hotel restaurants, and debate which hotel was your favourite! Who knows, maybe next time you’re in the area you’ll splurge to stay one night in it!

Aside from hotels, you can also stumble upon different statues and monuments along Collins Avenue. If you manage to make it to Collins Park, there are bunch of art pieces to discover outside, and even more contemporary art exhibits inside The Bass Museum (see the current exhibits here).

3. Walk/Bike Along The Boardwalk In South Beach

Behind all the fancy hotels on Collins Avenue is the South Beach boardwalk.

The boardwalk takes you the entire way down the beach. It’s both pedestrian and bike-friendly. So you can walk, or bike, down the boardwalk enjoying views of the beach without ever having to step foot on the sand!

Biking is definitely a faster mode of transportation to see more of the boardwalk, but you’ll most likely have to rent one.

There are a few places to rent a bike in South Beach Florida. Your hotel might even offer bike rentals with your stay. Bike rentals were included in our stay at the AC Hotel by Marriott (see rates and availability on Booking.com).

You can also rent bikes in advance through Viator. They provide you with everything you need for a day of biking including a helmet, bike lock, and even a water bottle to stay hydrated! Or if you’re interested in a guided tour of South Beach Miami, book this guided biking tour on Viator.

4. Tour The Art Deco District (& Versace’s Mansion)

On Ocean Drive, next to Lummus Park is the art deco district of South Beach Miami.

You won’t find any more high rises here; instead, it’s all about pastel coloured, 20’s style boutique hotels. I’ll admit, it’s a welcomed change from the giant fancy hotels on Collins Avenue.

Just as you can walk inside the hotels on Collins Avenue, you can also walk inside the hotels on Ocean Drive. It’s incredible to see how different the are – inside and out! To get a full appreciation for the Art Deco architecture and influence in South Beach Miami, book a guided walking tour on Viator.

One of the beautiful art deco buildings is actually Versace’s Mansion, the infamous home of late fashion icon Gianni Versace. I say infamous because it’s on these stairs that he was shot dead in 1997…

Today though, the Versace Mansion is home to a restaurant and hotel. You can see the outside for free but to get a look inside you’ll have to either eat at the restaurant or stay at the hotel. Apparently the inside is absolutely magnificent, but the food isn’t great…

5. Take In Some Rooftop Views Of South Beach Miami

The beach is great if you’re enjoying it from afar…

And the best way to do that is from a rooftop terrace! Relax and just take in those beach views from above.

There aren’t too many rooftop options in South Beach but it’s worth tracking one down, and I did just that for you!

Our hotel (AC Hotel Marriott) had a rooftop pool with a view of South Beach so we got in our fix there, book the AC Hotel Marriott on Booking.com.

But if you aren’t staying at a hotel with a view, you can also go to Watr at the 1 Rooftop for sushi, cocktails, and a view of course.

P.S. Looking For A Place To Stay In South Beach Miami?

I stayed at the AC Hotel Marriot and love our stay there. It’s a modern hotel that was very clean and comfortable. Although it isn’t a beach front hotel, it is just a short walk across the street and they have a relaxing rooftop pool to enjoy. Other perks we enjoyed were free bike rentals with the hotel and continental breakfast buffet! See room rates & availability.

Here are some other alternatives I’ve heard about with great reviews and perks;

If I could afford it, I would have loved to have booked a room at The Miami Beach EDITION. My cousin had her wedding here, and you’ really get celebrity treatment from the moment you walk in. Did I mention they also have a nightclub and bowling alley in the hotel? See room rates and availability.

If you still want luxury without the insanely high bill, book a room at the Leows Miami Beach Hotel. It’s also in a prime location on Collins Avenue and has the beach access in back. See room rates & availability.

See more accommodations in South Beach Miami on Booking.com.

beach-from-afar-in-florida-south-beach-miami

6. Miami South Beach Activities: Shop At The Weekend Artisan Market

I love a good local market and South Beach Miami has one for you!

If you’re visiting on the weekend, you might stumble upon their weekly market in Lummus Park. It takes place every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. You’ll find everything from artwork and clothes, to refreshing drinks!

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7. Indoor Skating and Bowling Alley at The Edition

This is a true hidden gem in Miami… literally. Hidden in the basement of a hotel is a bowling and indoor skating rink.

If the weather isn’t holding up for the day, or you’re looking for a fun evening activity with the family, this is a great option.

Downstairs at the Edition hotel is a secret bar with its own bowling alley and skating rink.

It turns into a bar after 9:00 pm, but if you’re under 21 you can still go between 5:00 and 9:00 P.M.

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8. Unique Things To Do In Miami: Visit The Botanical Gardens

If you want to get as far away from the ocean as possible, the botanical gardens are in the exact opposite direction of the beach.

I didn’t have time to go myself, I was only able to drive by them and peek inside, but it looked pretty beautiful!

The Miami Beach Botanical Garden looks like a dream city escape to walk through and forget where you are! Oh and did I mention it’s free admission!?

9. Explore One Of The Many Museums On South Beach Miami

It might surprise you, but South Beach Miami is a huge art hub. They have several art galleries you can walk into, public art sculptures around the city, and a few museums to visit.

So if you don’t know what to do in South Beach Florida on a rainy day, these museums are the perfect place to go!

I already mentioned the Bass Museum at Collins Park for changing modern and ancient art exhibits.

Along Lincoln Avenue you’ll find the Museum of Illusions Miami for a bit of fun and photo opportunities!

Ocean Drive doesn’t disappoint either! As I mentioned, you have to walk inside the hotels along Ocean Drive, but you really won’t want to miss The Betsy with free and constantly changing photography galleries.

You can also check out the Wolfsonian Museum with even more art, and if you’re interested, the World Erotic Art Museum.

10. What To Do In South Beach Florida If You Have A Car

If you’re able to Uber or have access to a car, you have unlimited non-beach Miami South Beach activities at your fingertips!

There are even more museums you can go to, like the Miami History Museum and the Museum of Art and Design just a short drive away from South Beach.

But, what stands out to me, and are really worth a short drive are the Wynwood Walls and Bayside Marketplace…

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Wynwood Walls: Graffiti Haven

Wynwood Walls is an Instagramer’s dream, or really anyone who’s into art!

Wynwood Art district is a small neighbourhood filled with beautifully graffitied walls. Wynwood Walls is a section in the district with commissioned artwork that you have to check out.

fun-at-wynwood-walls- — *You can have a lot of fun at Wynwood Walls with the magnificent graffiti!*

The graffiti is also constantly being updated, so you can keep coming back every time you’re in South Beach Miami!

I will admit, it’s a bit sketchy to walk around the neighbourhood, but if you stay within the main blocks you won’t have an issue. Or if you’d rather stay on the safe side, book this guided art and food walking tour with a guide on Viator.

Go On A Boat Tour At Bayside Market

Bayside was actually recommendation from my hair stylist when I was in South Beach for a wedding. She said the main thing to do at Bayside was to go on a boat tour of the bay.

I didn’t have a chance to make it there, but it seems like there’s no shortage of things to do in the area, including food stalls and shopping!

You can also opt to go on this Viator tour that takes you to Wynwood, Little Havana, and a boat cruise through millionaire row at Bayside Marketplace.