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There is so much to see and do in Miami – and so many ways to experience it, whether that’s on the water, in the sky, on foot or by bus. If you’ve come to admire the gorgeous celebrity mansions, party on South Beach, wander among the murals of Wynwood or eat your way through Little Havana, there’s a guided tour to suit your interests. Using both traveler opinion and expert input, U.S. News rounded up 18 of the best tours in Miami.
Cycle Party – Wynwood Insta Tour
See the amazing art and murals the Wynwood neighborhood is famous for while riding a pedal-powered vehicle with up to 14 other participants and your pilot/guide. On the 90-minute guided tour, you’ll learn about the centurylong history of the area while enjoying music and viewing vibrant art. Reviewers applaud guides for being both fun and educational. They also say the art is amazing. Tickets for the excursion start at $39 per person and tours depart once or twice daily. You can also book the bike for a private tour for around $400. Children must be 16 to be in a pedaling seat, but all ages may participate (there are five seats with no pedals on the vehicle). The company also offers tours of Coconut Grove, as well as bar crawls and brewery tours in Wynwood.
Everglades Nature Tours – Semi-Private 1-Hour Airboat Tour
Discover the southeastern section of Everglades National Park on an airboat ride with Everglades Nature Tours. The one-hour tour includes a history of the Everglades, as well as information about its ecosystem and plenty of wildlife spotting. Reviewers say guides are well-informed, and that they particularly enjoy the small-group aspect of the tour. Tickets cost $50 per person ages 6 and older, and tours depart multiple times daily. The company also offers swamp buggy, van and walking tours of the Everglades.
Big Bus Miami’s Classic one-day tour offers two routes: the red loop drives through South Beach and Ocean Drive, while the blue loop explores Miami’s downtown and Little Havana. Other key stops on the tours include the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Brickell City Centre and Bayfront Park. Buses, which are equipped with live English-speaking guides or prerecorded commentary in six languages, frequent stops every 20 minutes. You can complete the entire red loop in about two hours and the blue loop in around 45 minutes, if you choose not to hop off. Some reviewers appreciate the hop-on, hop-off nature of the tour and say they learn a lot about the city. Others complain the buses run infrequently and think travelers could find more cost-efficient methods of traveling around Miami. Tickets start $45 for adults or $36 for kids ages 3 to 12, if purchased online. Big Bus also operates a night tour of Miami.
Miami Tour Company – Miami to the Max! Half-Day City Tour
If you’re short on time in Miami and are itching to see the city’s top attractions, this four-hour tour may be just what you’re looking for. The half-day excursion includes walking tours of Little Havana, Ocean Drive and Wynwood with transportation on a luxury bus equipped with Wi-Fi access, personal phone chargers and bottled water. Reviewers describe the tour as fun and fantastic and say the expert guides are engaging. Tickets start at $50 for adults, $35 for children ages 3 to 17 and are free for kids 2 and younger. Miami Tour Company also offers boat tours of Miami, Everglades National Park and Key West.
Thriller Miami Speedboat Adventures – Thriller Miami Tour
Reviewers say this exciting tour not only offers a fun ride, but also great views and interesting information about the city. During the 45-minute speedboat tour, passengers will whiz by Flagler Monument Island, Star Island and the Venetian Islands, among other highlights. Provided there are safe ocean conditions, the captain will zip through the waves at speeds up to 40 mph. Tours depart about every hour between 11 a.m. and sunset daily, and tickets start at $36 for adults and $23 for kids ages 3 to 11. Children younger than 3 are not permitted to join the tour. The company also offers tours aboard the Thriller Miami Hurricane, a more extreme version of the Thriller speedboat ride complete with 180-degree spins.
Art Deco Tours – Art Deco Cocktail Tour
Learn about Miami’s art deco boom as you stroll along Ocean Avenue with a cocktail in hand on this three-hour tour. Along the way, you’ll stop at art deco hotel lobbies, bars and rooftops while guides share stories of Miami’s history and explain the rise of this distinct architectural style. You’ll also sample several different cocktails. Reviewers praise the guides and say the tour is informative and interesting. Tours are offered Wednesday through Sunday and start at 4 or 5 p.m., depending on the month. Tickets cost approximately $65 for participants 21 and older. Discounts are available for underage participants and those not imbibing. Art Deco Tours also offers nonalcoholic, art deco-themed walking tours and walking tours of Little Havana.
Explore Miami through your tastebuds during a food tour.(Courtesy of Miami Culinary Tours)
Miami Culinary Tours – Little Havana Food & Cultural Tour
Discover the food of Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood on this 2 1/2-hour excursion from Miami Culinary Tours. You’ll sample Cuban cuisine at several local eateries, including the famous Ball & Chain, listen to the chefs’ stories, and make stops at a cigar factory and the Cubaocho Museum & Performing Arts Center. Reviewers say the food is delicious and that guides are entertaining and well-prepared. Tours, which are limited to 14 participants, depart daily at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tickets start at $58 for adults and $38 for children ages 7 to 13. Kids who won’t be eating on the tour may attend free. The company also offers food tours of South Beach, Wynwood and the Design District.
Bike and Roll Miami – Art Deco Segway Tour
Glide down Ocean Drive past attractions like South Pointe Park, the Versace mansion, the Holocaust Memorial and more on this 2 1/2-hour Segway tour. After a brief introduction and safety lesson, your guide will offer commentary on the city’s famous art deco architecture and Miami’s origins. Reviewers say it is a great ride and note that they feel safe riding the Segways. Tickets cost $69 for adults and $59 for students ages 13 to 21. Children 11 and younger are not allowed on the tour. Tours run at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. Bike and Roll Miami also operates Segway tours of South Beach and Miami at sunrise or sunset. Travelers can also choose to take one of the company’s bike tours of the city.
Two tours in one, this entertaining 90-minute sightseeing excursion takes participants on both land and sea. Tours begin on the streets of Miami Beach through the Art Deco Historic District before the amphibious bus splashes into the Biscayne Bay for views of Fisher Island, Millionaire’s Row and more. During the tour, guides trained in acting and comedy share jokes, games and music. Reviewers say the tour is fun, and the guides are witty and entertaining. Tours depart daily at 11 a.m. and 1, 3 and 5 p.m. If booked online, tickets cost approximately $35 for adults, $25 for senior citizens ages 65 and older, $20 for children ages 4 to 12 and $5 for children 3 and younger.
The River of Grass Adventures – 1.5 Hour Semi Private Airboat Tours
Get out into nature during your visit to Miami with this airboat tour of the Everglades. The company’s comfortable boats (complete with padded seats) take you into the “River of Grass” to search for wildlife like alligators, birds and otters. Reviewers say the captain is well-versed in Everglades flora and fauna and describe the tour as a great adventure. The 1 1/2-hour semi-private tour, which is limited to eight people, runs daily from sunrise to sunset. Tickets cost approximately $85 per adult and about $45 for children ages 5 to 12. The tour is not recommended for children younger than 5. The company also offers longer airboat rides, private tours and sunset tours.
Wynwood Art Walk – Wynwood Golf Cart Buggy Tour
Hop on a golf cart to discover the famous murals and street art the Wynwood neighborhood is famous for on this hourlong tour. You’ll leisurely motor past more than 50 murals with multiple stops for selfies and up-close photos. Reviewers say guides are insightful and take participants to murals they otherwise might miss. Tickets start at $39 per person, and tours run multiple times daily. The company offers other tours of Wynwood, including walking art tours and brewery tours.
Miami Food Tours – SoBe Tour des Forks
Check out South Beach restaurants popular with locals on the three-hour SoBe Tour des Forks walking tour, which is limited to just 12 participants. Enjoy tastings at five different restaurants and cafes, sampling Cuban, Peruvian and Italian cuisine, while also learning about the area’s history, architecture and culture. Reviewers say the food is tasty, and the tour guides are both skilled and entertaining. Tickets cost $58 for adults, $35 for children ages 8 to 12 and $17.50 for kids 7 and younger. Tours depart at 11 a.m. daily, with an occasional tour at 4:30 p.m. The company also runs private tours.
Cruise by Fisher Island on a tour from Island Queen Cruises & Tours.(Courtesy of Island Queen Cruises & Tours)
Island Queen Cruises & Tours – Millionaire’s Row Sightseeing Cruise
Climb aboard the Island Queen yacht to admire the homes of the rich and famous as you cruise along the Biscayne Bay. You’ll also see Miami Beach, Fisher Island and the port of Miami along the 90-minute journey. The boat features two sections for viewing: an open-air top deck and a climate-controlled main cabin. Reviewers say the cruise is worth the price, informative and offers great views. Tickets for the cruise, which departs multiple times daily, cost $27 for adults, $19 for ages 4 to 12 and is free for children 3 and younger. The company also offers party cruises and fishing cruises, among other tours.
Miami Seaplane Tours – Ultimate Miami and Beaches Seaplane Tour
For a bird’s-eye view of Miami and its beaches, sign up for this hourlong seaplane flight. The tour takes passengers over the city, Key Biscayne, Stiltsville and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. The plane even flies low enough in some areas to give participants a view of sea life swimming in the ocean below. Reviewers say the pilot is engaging and the views are exceptional. Tickets cost approximately $235 per person; a minimum of two passengers is required. Planes take off hourly each day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The company also offers 30-minute seaplane tours of the Miami skyline and daytrips to Key West, among other options.
The Shark Valley Tram Tour takes visitors into the depths of the Shark Valley section of Everglades National Park to see and learn about its unique ecosystem. A highlight of the approximately two-hour guided tour is the opportunity to climb a 45-foot observation deck for 20-mile panoramic views. Reviewers say guides offer educational commentary and that lots of wildlife is spotted along the route. Others say the tour was sometimes less-than entertaining. Tours run multiple times daily and there are extra departures mid-December through April. Tickets cost approximately $25 for adults, $19 for seniors, $12.75 for children ages 3 to 12 and are free for children 2 and younger. The price does not include the entrance fee for Everglades National Park. The company also offers bike rentals for self-guided bike tours.
Miami Design Preservation League – Official Art Deco Walking Tour
Led by Miami Design Preservation League historians and architects, this walking tour offers an introduction to Miami’s various architectural styles, including art deco, Mediterranean Revival and Miami Modernist. During the approximately two-hour tour, guides lead the architecturally curious to hotels, restaurants and other businesses to admire the exterior and interior design. Reviewers highly recommend the tour and say it’s a must-do if you enjoy art and architecture. Travelers also routinely praise guides for their expertise. Tickets cost approximately $30 per person or $25 for seniors, veterans and students. Children 12 and younger tour for free. Tours depart daily (except for select holidays) at 10:30 a.m. with an additional tour at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. The preservation league also runs private tours discussing the history of Jewish and LGBTQ communities in Miami Beach, among other outings.
Speedboat Tours Miami – Semi-Private Tour
Zip through the Biscayne Bay past Star, Fisher and Palm islands on this 90-minute guided speedboat excursion. In addition to highlighting top attractions, guides point out the settings for movies and TV shows filmed in the area. Reviewers describe the excursion as fun and the best boat tour in Miami. Tours, which are limited to six participants, depart at noon and 2 p.m. daily. Ticket prices start at $119 for adults and $49 for children 12 and younger. Speedboat Tours Miami also offer private tours.
Airboat in Everglades – Semi Private Airboat Adventure
Keep your eyes peeled for alligators, turtles and birds on this hourlong airboat tour that takes you through 8 miles of the Everglades. Reviewers attest to seeing a variety of wildlife on the tour and highly recommend the ride, even in the rain. Plus, the boat only has space for up to 11 passengers, which allows for an intimate small-group experience, according to reviewers. Tickets cost approximately $60 for adults, $30 for children ages 6 to 10 and are free for children 5 and younger. Tours depart daily at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. The company also offers private tours and sunset tours.
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