SD › Miami › Tours
Updated: December 1, 2021
By Santorini Dave
Our Favorites
Quick Links
- Best Food Tours: Little Havana • Design District
- Best Sightseeing Tour: Miami to the Max & Everglades
- Best Walking Tour: Little Havana
- Best Everglades Tour: Full Day Everglades
- Best Family Tour: Zoological Wildlife Foundation
- Best Art Tour: Wynwood Graffiti Golf Cart
- Best Architecture Tour: Official Art Deco
- Best Boat Tours: Sunset Cruise • Millionaire’s Row
- Best Air Tours: Miami and Beaches Seaplane Tour
- Best Day Trip: Key West
- Best Night Tour: Sip, Savor, & Salsa • Open-Bus Night Tour
Best Tours in Miami
1. Miami to the Max & Everglades Combo – Downtown
- Duration: 7.5 hours
- Fun and informative option that’s ideal for those with limited time: a driving, walking, and boating tour combination visiting Miami’s top spots (the Art Deco District in Miami Beach, Wynwood, Little Havana) and then heading to the Everglades for an airboat tour and wildlife show.
- Meeting Point: A shuttle is offered from Downtown Miami and Miami Beach hotels. Other guests can meet at Bubba Gump Restaurant Bus Parking.
- Tour Highlights: South Beach bus tour, Art Deco District, Little Havana, and Wynwood walking tours; lunch stop in Little Havana; Everglades air boat tour, alligator show.
- Included: Luggage storage, luxury shuttle transport, park admission, airboat ride, alligator show, unlimited bottled water, souvenir guidebook and illustrated maps, sunscreen, dining guide.
- Not Included: Gratuity.
- Food included? No. There is a lunch stop in Little Havana, and recommendations are given, but guests are responsible for purchasing their own food.
- Good for kids? Yes. Discount tickets are available for kids, plus there’s a 10% discount for family groups.
- Tour Operator: Miami Tour Company
2. Official Art Deco Walking Tour – South Beach
- Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Learn the history of the city through its art and design in this informative introduction to Art Deco and other important design styles found within the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District.
- Meeting Point: Art Deco Welcome Center
- Tour Highlights: Iconic hotels, restaurants, and other commercial structures that are important to Art Deco, Miami Modern (MiMo), Mediterranean Revival architecture.
- Included: Certified guide credentialed through the Miamu Design Preservation League Tour Guide Academy, admission to the Art Deco Museum and Gift Shop, headsets for the duration of the tour.
- Not Included: Gratuities
- Tour proceeds benefit the MDPL’s non-profit mission of promoting, preserving, and protecting the Miami Beach Art Deco Historic District.
- Food included? No
- Good for kids? Yes
- Tour Operator: Miami Design Preservation League
3. Little Havana Food Tour – Little Havana
- Duration: 2.5 hours.
- Great walking tour of a vibrant and fascinating district, learning about its rich history and sampling delicious food along the way: empenadas, mojitos, cubano sandwiches, churros, Cuban coffee, ice cream, and guarapo juice.
- Meeting Point: Tower Theater
- Tour Highlights: Excellent food from famous and family-run establishments, cigar factory visit, open-air market, Domino Park
- Included: Food (enough to equal a full meal), drink (including mojito or non-alcoholic beferage), guided tour of cigar factory, Domino park, Damas De Blanco, The Cuban Memorial Blvd.
- Not Included: Gratuities, parking.
- Food included? You bet.
- Public tours can cater to vegetarians or those with no beef, pork, fish/shellfish and chicken diets. Private tours can cater to all food restrictions, including vegan, gluten-free, and severe food allergies.
- Good for kids? Yes!
- Tour Operator: Miami Culinary Tours
- Alternative booking though Get Your Guide
4. Cast Away the Day Sunset Cruise – Downtown
- Duration: 2 hours
- Relax and enjoy gorgeous views while sipping on complimentary champagne on a sunset cruise through Biscayne Bay or South Beach on a luxury catamaran.
- Meeting Point: Bayside Marina
- Tour Highlights: Beautiful sunset views, complimentary champagne toast, Calypso background music.
- Included: Boat cruise, complimentary beverage.
- Not Included: Food, gratuities.
- Food included? No
- Good for kids? There is no age limit, but this excursion attracts an older, couples’ crowd.
- Tour Operator: Spirit Yacht Charters
5. ZWF Wildlife Presentation – South Miami/Kendall
- Duration: 2 hours
- Super fun guided zoo tour including interactive wildlife presentations; guided tours are the only way to access this unique wildlife conservation center.
- Meeting Point: Zoological Wildlife Foundation
- Tour Highlights: Hands-on, up-close-and-personal interaction with reptiles, small mammals, birds of prey, primates, and feline cubs.
- Included: Expert guide, animal interactions.
- 1-hour tours, 3-hour tours, photo opportunities, and species-specific encounters and experiences with lion cubs, primates, big cats, kangaroos, owls, sloths, and more are also offered. If you’re in for a splurge, there’s an amazing 5-hour VIP animal experience that includes a catered lunch.
- Food included? No
- Good for kids? Yes! Note that children under 17 years old must be accompanied by a paying parent or legal guardian at all times.
- Tour Operator: Zoological Wildlife Foundation
6. Ultimate Miami & Beaches Seaplane Tour – Biscayne Bay
- Duration: 1 hour
- Exhilerating birds-eye tour of the key sights of Miami and Key Biscayne, as well as the opportunity to see exotic marine life like stingrays, dolphins, manatees, and sharks.
- Meeting Point: Biscayne Bay by the Venetian Causeway Bridge
- Tour Highlights: Miami beaches and key sights, Key Biscayne lighthouse, Stiltsville, Matheson Hammock, Coconut Grove, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.
- Included: 1-hour seaplane tour, experienced pilot.
- Not Included: Gratuities
- Food included? No
- Good for kids? Yes
- Tour Operator: Miami Seaplane Tours
- Alternative booking though Get Your Guide
7. Wynwood Graffiti Golf Cart Tour – Wynwood
- Duration: 1 hour
- Expert guided buggy tour of the Wynwood art district; visit over 50 of Wynwood’s best murals across 20 blocks – stopping at several for close-up views and photo-ops.
- Meeting Point: 301 NW 26th Street, Wynwood
- Tour Highlights: Art murals by Shepard Fairey, Retna, DFace, Interesni Kaski, and more; insider information about Wynwood’s best restaurants, breweries, and galleries.
- Included: Expert driver/guide, art mural & neighborhood tour
- Food included? No
- Good for kids? Yes; especially in combination with the Wynwood Grafitti Experience – see some art, then make some to take home.
- Tour Operator: Wynwood Art Walk
- Alternative booking though Get Your Guide
8. Little Havana Cultural Tour – Little Havana
- Duration: 2 hours
- Excellent guided walking tour that includes Food, Music, Dancing, and a local guide with strong ties to the Little Havana Community.
- Meeting Point: Calle Ocho in Little Havana
- Tour Highlights: Cuba Ocho Performing Arts Center and Museum, Guantanamera Cigar Lounge, El Presidente Super Market, Domino Park, Tower Theater, Bay of Pigs Memorial.
- Included: Excellent local, Cuban guide; visiting musuems, art galleries, performing arts center, Cuban restaurants & Bakeries, local businesses, cigar-rolling presentation, and more; admission to all venues.
- Not Included: Gratuities, parking, transportation.
- Food included? Yes. Food and drinks are included in the tour at no extra cost.
- Good for kids? Yes
- Tour Operator: South Beach Welcome Center
- Alternative booking though Get Your Guide
9. Sip, Savor, & Salsa – South Beach
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Not a tour per se, but a fun evening of oceanfront salsa/bachata lessons, followed by dancing at one of Miami’s top nightclubs, accompanied by a live band – and open til 4am.
- Meeting Point: Mango’s Tropical Cafe
- Tour Highlights: Great instructors, tasty drinks and light bites, post-lesson nightclub access.
- Included: 40 minutes each of bachata and salsa music, lessons, & dancing with snack & mojito break in-between; nightclub entrance fee; cabaret show and live band.
- Not Included: Dinner (a full menu is available, pay on comsumption), parking, transportation.
- Food included? Light bites and a mojito are offered to each guest between dance lessons.
- Good for kids? No
- Tour Operator: Salsa Mia
10. Panoramic Open-Bus Night Tour – South Beach
- Duration: 2 hours
- Experience this vibrant city by night on this great small-group bus tour through Miami, Miami Beach and Wynwood.
- Meeting Point: South Beach
- Tour Highlights: Art Deco district, downtown skyscrapers, Wynwood Art District (the tour briefly stops here, so guests can roam and explore), Wynwood.
- Included: Air-conditioned open-air bus (covered seats are available), expert guide with live commentary.
- Not Included: Gratuity
- Food included? No
- Good for kids? Yes
- Tour Operator: Open Miami
- Alternative booking though Get Your Guide
11. Design District Food & Art Tour – Design District
- Duration: 2.5 hours.
- Great walking food tour; sample local and international favorites in this cool, modern neighborhood that’s often overlooked by tourists.
- Meeting Point: MIA Market Food Hall
- Tour Highlights: Sampling Cuban, Peruvian, Japanese, Vietnamese (and more!) cuisine; learning about the unique art, architecture, and history of the Miami Design District (Fly’s Eye Dome by Buckminster Fuller, Palm Court, “The Jungle,” etc.)
- Included: Guided walking tour, generous food samples equal to a full meal,
- Not Included: Gratuities, parking.
- Food included? Yes!
- Good for kids? Yes, there is a discounted admission for kids.
- Public tours can cater to vegetarians or those with no beef, pork, fish/shellfish and chicken diets. Private tours can cater to all food restrictions, including vegan, gluten-free, and severe food allergies.
- Tour Operator: Miami Culinary Tours
12. Millionaire’s Row Sightseeing Cruise – Downtown
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Enjoy great views of Biscayne Bay, Fisher Island, Miami Beach, and more from a comfortable air-conditioned/open-air yacht; and gawk at the celebrity homes on Millionaire’s Row.
- Meeting Point: Bayside Marina
- Tour Highlights: Waterside vacation homes of Will Smith, Shakira, Ricky Martin, Julio Iglesias, Alicia Keys, Carmen Electra, and more.
- Included: 90-minute bilingually-narratated tour.
- Not Included: Gratuities.
- Food included? No. Soft drinks, cocktails, & light snacks are available for purchase on board.
- Good for kids? Somewhat. They may not know the celebrities, but everyone loves a boat trip.
- Tour Operator: Island Queen Cruises
- Alternative booking though Get Your Guide
13. Full Day Everglades Adventure – Hotel pick-up
- Duration: 10 hours
- All the best of Everglades National Park in one jam-packed day that includes 2 air boat tours, a wildlife drive through Big Cypress National Preserve, hiking, and lunch.
- Meeting Point: Hotel pick-up provided in Miami.
- Tour Highlights: Wildlife viewing in Everglades National Park, 2 airboat rides to different areas of the park, visit to a historic Native American village and trading post.
- Included: Pickup and drop-off service, naturalist guide, 2 air-boat rides, national park fees, entrance fees to trading post and museums, lunch, snacks, bottled water, sunscreen, insect repellant, binoculars, ponchos, Everglades Park keepsake map.
- Not Included: Gratuities.
- Food included? Yes. An excellent local lunch and snacks are provided. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options are available.
- Good for kids? Yes. The minimum age on a public tour is 5, but this requirement can be waived for private tours.
- Tour Operator: Wild Lime Adventures
- Alternative booking though Get Your Guide
14. Key West 1-Day Trip from Miami – Hotel pick-up
- Duration: 15 hours
- Take a comfortable luxury coach trip down the Overseas Highway to Key West, where guests have 6 hours to explore on their own – or join one of many amazing add-on excursions.
- Meeting Point: Free hotel pick-up and drop-off in Miami Beach, Downtown, Miami Airport, and Homestead.
- Tour Highlights: Travel through the Florida Keys on the Overseas Highway and the 7-Mile Bridge; add-on options in Key West include snorkeling, parasailing, glass bottom boat, jetski, Hemingway House, Truman Little White House, Mel Fisher Museum, Coast Guard Museum, Audubon House, and Shipwreck Museum.
- Included: Hotel pick-up & return, luxury coach ride (with on-board bathroom), luggage storage, Key West audiobook guide (iPhone & Android).
- Not Included: Food, gratuities.
- Food included? No
- Good for kids? If they’re willing to sit through a 4-hour bus trip there and back, yes.
- Tour Operator: Miami Tour Company
About Santorini Dave
I'm Santorini Dave. I started this site in 2011 with a short article on tips for visiting Santorini with kids. We're now a small team of writers and researchers dedicated to providing the best travel content on the internet. We focus on Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece, offering recommendations for top hotels, neighborhoods, and family-friendly hotels worldwide. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.