I am ashamed to admit that the only things I knew about Miami, Florida, prior to going there myself, were gleaned from Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, during that incredibly short-lived and painful phase where keeping up with the Kardashian family was high on my list of priorities. I mean, yes, I still follow them on social media and know all the intimate inner-workings of their existences, but that is neither here nor there.
Miami is a massive travel hub, as so many people traveling to South America, Central America, or the Caribbean stop in Miami first. Every single time I’ve traveled to anywhere south of the United States, I have always had a Miami layover. Without fail. The airport sees about 3.5 million people passing through monthly, which sounds like a lot but I’m not pretending to be an airport traffic expert.
Miami has always appeared to be one of the most vibrant places in America. Looking at photos, it seems almost impossible for the ocean to be that blue, or for the buildings to be that bright, or for the personalities to be that loud and colorful. When my mom and I were planning a trip to Costa Rica together, our first mother-daughter international trip together, and knew a layover in Miami was inevitable, we decided to extend the layover and venture into the Magic City to FINALLY see what all the hullabaloo was about.
If a layover in Miami is inevitable, why not make it fun?
A layover shorter than five hours may prove difficult if you’re planning on leaving the airport, due to the time needed to journey into the city and the lengthy security lines once you return. If you can extend it, or find yourself with an unintentionally long time until your next flight, then take note of some easy, fun, and cheap things to do during a Miami layover, all of which I highly recommend.
Storing your Bags
My mom and I made the dire mistake of bringing our carryon backpacks with us into the city. A heavy backpack against your sweaty, swampy back all day while the harsh rays of the Florida sun bake you alive is the definition of misery. The Miami airport does offer a baggage storage service, in the baggage checkroom in Central Terminal E. A carryon bag will cost anywhere from $6 to $9 a day for storage, depending on its size, which is well worth the freedom to frolic the streets unhindered.
Leaving the Airport and Getting around Miami
Miami is called the “Magic City” because it grew from 1,000 residents just before the start of the 20th century to 5.5 million residents 110 years later. That growth was due to heavy migration from other parts of the country, as well as a lot of immigration from Hispanic countries south of the United States, but sure, let’s just say it was magic. You know what was a little less magic? The development of the fugging public transportation system, which unfortunately didn’t maintain the same pace of growth as Miami’s population. It isn’t horrible, but it certainly is not up to par with some other major US cities, especially when it comes to efficiency.
One of the cheapest options is the Miami Beach Airport Express, which runs every 30 minutes between 6 am and 11:40 pm from the airport’s metrorail station to Miami Beach. Tickets are $2.25 each way.
If you choose to forego Miami Beach and opt to just head into downtown Miami, you can hop aboard the metrorail orange line for $2.25 each way, which will drop you in the middle of downtown. Then you can use the free Metromover to get to some major destinations.
If all else fails, Uber and Lyft are always an option. This is the option my mom and I went with, because we were crunched for time and didn’t want to deal. And when you’re exploring a city during a long layover, time is precious.
Miami Beach
Ocean Drive and the Art Deco District
I think the Art Deco District is one of my favorite districts in any American city ever. I’m not even exaggerating, though I tend to exaggerate about everything. Miami Beach is home to 800 buildings featuring art deco architecture, which was a style that was popularized in the 1920s and 1930s. All the buildings are super retro, and are painted with colorful pastel colors. I LOVE COLORS. You could spend half the day just wandering up and down Ocean Drive and photographing these unique buildings, which in my opinion would be a perfectly acceptable use of your entire layover.
Lincoln Road Mall
The Lincoln Road Mall considers itself a “mile long, pedestrian-only promenade.” The word promenade is fancy as hell so you just know this place is going to be fancy. It is located a couple blocks from the beach and has over 200 designer boutiques, retail stores, a variety of fine restaurants, and galleries. If you have more than a few bucks, it is a great place to shop and eat during your layover (we steered clear though, because we are budget travelers).
The Beach
To answer my previous question: yes, the water really is that blue. And yes, the sand really is that white. I just wanted to find out for myself. There are little showers at the edge of the beach, so if you’re traveling in sandals, it is easy to feel the sand between your toes before continuing onto your next flight.
Miami Beach Botanical Gardens
Botanical gardens are always a good idea, especially if you are looking for a reprieve from the big city, or you want to be one with nature, or you just want a nice Instagram photo. Whatever your reasoning, the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens are calling your name, and entry is free (though they do suggest a small donation of a couple dollars per person, if you’re feeling generous!).
The Magic City
Wynwood Walls
Wynwood Walls: the epitome of artsy, vibrant Miami. It is a free, outdoor museum that showcases some of the best-known street artists IN THE WORLD. Street art is my favorite kind of art because it is so often bright, colorful, modern, and open to interpretation. The amount of detail human beings are able to put into their art, no matter the medium, is astounding. Also be sure to stop into some of the funky galleries located within the neighborhood as well.
Miami Design District
If you just didn’t get enough in the Wynwood neighborhood, there’s also the Miami Design District, which is known for its sleek, modern architecture, upscale boutiques, and celebrity chef restaurants. Just because you personally would never be able to afford living in Miami doesn’t mean that you can’t at least pretend to be high brow for a few hours.
Bayside Marketplace
If you are fortunate enough to be in Miami during the sunset, there is no more beautiful place to see it than at the Bayside Marketplace. There’s plenty of shopping to be had here (shopping is obviously a theme in Miami, so check yourself before you wreck your wallet), but if you want to grab a drink at one of the many affordable restaurants, sit, and watch the sky changing colors instead, that’s also a fantastic idea.
Quick Bites to Eat
Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop
Miami is known for its large Cuban population, and it is a substantial part of what gives the city its personality and culture. So you’d be fucking up badly if you decided to stay in Miami, no matter for how long, without experiencing that culture, at least a little bit. If you have time, a few hours soaking up the Cuban vibes in Little Havana is absolutely in order, but if you don’t, be sure to stop into Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop, which is a short walk from the Wynwood neighborhood. WOO BABY, this cuban sandwich is one of the best morsels I have ever put into my chubby little body (and this is coming from someone who hates mustard). The bread is perfectly flaky, the ham is fresh and flavorful, and the melted cheese is like a party in your mouth. Never having had a real Cuban sandwich, it is hard for me to speak to the authenticity of it, but from what I’ve heard from other patrons, it might as well have been straight out of Havana itself.
In an episode of Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, Khloe gets addicted to Cuban coffee and ends up going out at 2 am on her little Vespa to get a cup. Though I am sure that entire episode was staged in a weird attempt to get some laughs from the audience, I CAN see how one might get addicted to Cuban coffee. This little bitch is STRONG. I ordered a colada, which is meant to be shared among friends as you stand around chatting (apparently), but I just threw that delicious cup down all on my own and spent the rest of the day sweaty and jumping at every little noise. I’m pretty sure I started hearing all the colors. But it was worth it. You just can’t go to Miami without a true Cuban experience.
Gelato-Go South Beach
Considered the best gelato in Miami Beach, Gelato-Go is the only place you should be ducking into for a cold pick-me-up (if you’re walking along Ocean Drive, there WILL be tons of people outside of restaurants trying to convince you to come in for happy hour (even if it is 1 o’clock in the afternoon), but try to resist the temptation of a $10 frozen margarita and opt for ice cream instead. Though a little pricey (but what do you expect for a small ice cream shop located on Ocean Drive?), this gelato has incredibly exciting and intense flavors, a friendly staff who will let you sample as much as you like, and is a perfect place to stop after a long walk in the Miami heat.
Whether you’re going to be in Miami for five, ten, or eighteen hours, there are so many free options to give you a taste of the city and to get you out of the stale airport air. For us, it was just a way to extend our vacation by one extra day before we had to face the harsh reality of reality. We will absolutely be back, maybe for a little longer next time. I’ll be dreaming of the bright colors and the bright culture until I can return.
What is your favorite quick, easy, and cheap thing to do in Miami?
