A getaway to Miami doesn't have to be overly expensive. There are many activities and attractions that don't cost a cent. I like to time my visit so that I can go on a free museum day and use cheap local transportation instead of renting a car.
Unique Affordable Activities in Miami:
1. The Institute of Contemporary Art Miami
This free museum in the Miami Design District provided a great starting point for exploring Miami on the cheap! You can see cutting-edge contemporary artwork as well as temporary exhibitions in a variety of mediums.
Though admission is free, you may reserve ticket slots for admission online to guarantee admission at select times.
The Institute of Contemporary Art Miami, 61 NE 41st St, Miami, FL 33137, Phone: 305-901-5272
2. The Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum
If you prefer a museum on the other side of town at FIU's Modesto A. Maidique campus, head to The Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum. It showcases important collections of Latin American art and 20th-century contemporary artworks.
Explore a permanent collection of more than 6,000 items. There is a focus on Haitian paintings, modern sculptures, American printmaking, Pre-Columbian artifacts and so much more for you to see.
The Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum, 10975 SW 17th St, Miami, FL 33199, Phone: 305-348-2890
3. The Wolfsonian-FIU, Miami, FL
About 15 minutes from The Institute of Contemporary Art Miami within Miami's Art Deco District is The Wolfsonian-FIU. It's a museum and library research center.
You can see nearly 200,000 international artworks and artifacts crafted from the beginning of the Industrial Revolution through the end of World War II.
If you are interested in the history of art and design as persuasive mediums, this is a fascinating place. You can see items such as World War propaganda, New Deal graphic design materials, and pieces from the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements.
You can visit this Smithsonian-affiliated museum for free each Friday evening between 6:00pm and 9:00pm, with free permanent collection and special exhibition tours available.
The Wolfsonian-FIU, The Wolfsonian-FIU, 1001 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, Phone: 305-531-1001
Cheap Romantic Attractions in Miami:
4. HistoryMiami
You probably won't want to miss Florida's largest history museum! Look for HistoryMiami in downtown Miami. It showcases four permanent exhibit galleries and space for several rotating exhibits.
You can admire than one million historic images related to the history of Miami on display at the museum, along with 30,000 artifacts chronicling the city's civic, economic, and social development.
Major artifacts you can admire include a 1920s-era city trolley car and artifacts preserved from 17th and 18th-century shipwrecks in the Miami Beach area.
The museum is open to the public for free on the second Saturday of every month as part of the Family Fun Days initiative, encouraging you to learn about the city's vibrant past, present, and future.
HistoryMiami, 101 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33130, Phone: 305-375-1492
5. Bayside Marketplace
Another great place to spend an afternoon in downtown Miami is Bayside Marketplace, an open-air shopping center, located along beautiful Biscayne Bay and the City of Miami's marina.
As Miami's most-visited tourist attraction, the two-story shopping center is home to a vast array of retail, dining, and nightlife spots. You can enjoy daily live music performances here.
You can drink by the beachside and embark on chartered bay cruises from the center's waterfront, including water taxis to Miami Beach and tours of celebrity houses on nearby Star Island.
You should note that while the marketplace is free to enter, many attractions require a purchase or ticketed upcharge.
Bayside Marketplace, 401 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, Phone: 305-577-3344
6. Hobie Beach at Key Biscayne
If you want to spend time on the beach, Hobie Beach at Key Biscayne, also referred to as Windsurfer Beach, is a good choice. The beach is completely free to visit and you can watch windsurfers catch the waves.
The beach is located near the Rickenbacker Causeway near downtown Miami and Key Biscane, where you can enjoy beautiful views of the city's skyline and Atlantic Ocean coastline.
You can even learn to windsurf through two-hour and all-day group lessons, hosted by area professionals.
Hobie cat rentals are also offered, along with kayaking and paddleboard rentals so that you can explore further out on the waters.
If you are traveling with your dog, the beach is dog-friendly and has shallow water for dogs to play. Enjoy free parking at the beach but be sure to arrive early on weekends.
Hobie Beach at Key Biscayne, Old Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, Phone: 305-361-2833
7. Wynwood Art Walk
If you are a fan of art, Wynwood Art Walk is a free art walk event held the second Saturday of each month throughout Miami's Wynwood cultural district, known as the city's largest regular block party.
You'll have a unique chance to explore the graffiti, street art, and eclectic galleries and businesses of one of Miami's hippest neighborhoods.
Exhibit openings are hosted at many of the neighborhood's galleries, with food and drink specials offered at many of the district's James Beard Award-nominated restaurants and trendy food trucks.
Live music performances are showcased by top regional DJs spinning EDM, hip-hop, rock, and pop hits.
Don't miss the artisan market, along with mixology demonstrations and street games such as giant Jenga.
Wynwood Art Walk, 2219 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127, Phone: 305-814-9290
8. Crandon Park, Miami, FL
If you are a nature fan like me, head to Crandon Park, a massive 808-acre urban park located within the northern region of Key Biscayne.
You'll find family-friendly amusements and activities located along a two-mile stretch of Atlantic Ocean beachfront.
Sections of the park are preserved as the designated Bear Cut Preserve Environment Study Area, with environmental exhibits offered at Biscayne Nature Center.
Other attractions you can take part in include a family amusement center, a marina, an 18-hole golf course, a tennis center, and day-use picnic areas.
Crandon Park , 6747 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149, Phone: 305-361-5421
Frequently Asked Questions:
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What budget-friendly activities are available in Miami?
- Miami offers many attractions for visitors traveling on a budget.
- Numerous museums in its Museum Park and Cultural Plaza areas provide free admission daily or on select evenings.
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Where can visitors enjoy scenic ocean views in Miami?
- Public parks within adjacent Miami Beach offer unparalleled views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Map:
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