More about: 11 Things to Do in Miami at Night
Miami is not a city that encourages early nights. If you find the daytime activities interesting, wait until you see what the nightlife in this vibrant place has to offer. It's no surprise that Miami Beach's parties and entertainment venues are among the most exclusive and famous in the world.
However, when it comes to nightlife in Miami, it's not all about bars and nightclubs. No matter what type of traveller you are, you'll find options to suit all tastes. Read on and see for yourself!
1. Miami City: The best place to improve your salsa moves!
It's no secret that much of the atmosphere and spirit of the city of Miami is due to the strong influence of Latin-Caribbean culture in this part of the United States. In fact, this city is one of the best destinations in the world to get a feel for salsa dancing.
That's why booking a salsa class has become an extremely popular social activity. You will find nightlife centres offering lessons every night for both beginners and enthusiasts of all levels who want to improve their dance moves.
Attending is really fun, because in addition to the learners, you will find live music shows and professional Latin dancers with amazing skills.
2. Experience an NBA game
The first thing I recommend you do when buying your tickets to Miami is to book your ticket for the Miami Heat. Why, you ask? Attending an NBA game is an unforgettable and spectacular experience that you have to have at least once in your life.
When you buy your ticket, consider the seat you choose so you can enjoy the game to the fullest. And on the day of the game, arrive early. An NBA game is a spectacle and you have to enjoy the atmosphere, buy some souvenirs, watch the cheerleaders dance and the players enter the court.
The official duration of an NBA game is 48 minutes (4 quarters of 12 minutes each), but between the half-time break and time-outs, it usually lasts up to two hours.
3. Take a sunset cruise on Biscayne Bay
To make the most of your night in Miami, I recommend booking a cruise on Biscayne Bay to enjoy the beautiful sunset and admire the city skyline.
Another unforgettable activity is to book a boat party where you can enjoy the wonderful night views of the city while listening to music from a professional DJ.
Miami is a beautiful city, and taking to the water allows you to admire its beauty from another perspective, which is an ideal plan.
Useful information
- Duration: Approximately 2 hours.
- Time: At sunset. You must be at the meeting point 20 minutes before boarding.
- Price range: From €28 for adults.
4. Miami sightseeing bus tour
Booking the Miami night sightseeing bus is one of the best activities you can do to discover Miami. Highly recommended if it is your first time in the city and your stay is only a few days, for example 3 days in Miami or less.
The night sightseeing bus tour starts on Biscayne Boulevard, one of the most beautiful areas to stroll around in Miami after sunset.
On board the bus, you will find pre-recorded commentary explaining the most iconic attractions on the tour. The guide is available in several languages, including English, Spanish, German and French.
Useful information
- Duration: The tour without stops lasts approximately 90 minutes, making it an ideal activity to combine with others on the list.
- Timetable: Available every day from 8 p.m.
- Price range: Adult tickets start at €29, while children between the ages of 3 and 12 pay approximately €23.
5. Take a helicopter tour to see the night lights
Flying over the city of Miami in a helicopter is a very popular activity that allows you to appreciate the city in all its splendour and from a totally different perspective.
Book a helicopter tour to enjoy the sunset over the city and see how the most iconic and beautiful places in the city gradually light up: Williams Island, Indian Creek, the mansions of the rich and famous located on the Intracoastal Waterway, and many more.
A private champagne plane tour of Miami is also a perfect romantic plan if you are in the city celebrating a special occasion, as many local companies include complementary plans with champagne toasts during the flight and other surprises that you can coordinate.
Useful information
- Duration: Depends on the tour you book. The flight can last between 30 and 50 minutes.
- Schedule: At sunset.
- Price range: The private experience is available for around €286, with a maximum of 2 to 4 participants.
6. Sign up for a night tour of Everglades National Park
An adventure to enjoy the mangroves of Everglades National Park from Miami is one of the best activities to do in the city, but did you know that activities are organised in the Everglades at night? That's right, you can book a night tour on an airboat in the Everglades.
It's worth going to the Everglades at night, as it's one of the few places in Miami where you can enjoy the stars without light pollution.
Useful information
- Duration: The tour takes approximately 1 hour to complete.
- Schedule: Only available on Wednesdays and Saturdays after sunset.
- Price range: The tour costs approximately €42 per person.
7. Ride the city's Ferris wheel: the Skyview Miami Wheel
Take the opportunity to ride one of the newest attractions added to the city's urban landscape. This is possibly one of the best activities to do with children at night.
The 60-metre-high Ferris wheel is located on Biscayne Boulevard, offering travellers and tourists alike breathtaking views of the iconic downtown skyline, Biscayne Bay and Bayfront Park.
In addition to enjoying spectacular views, visiting the Skyview Miami Wheel at night is an attraction in itself, as the wheel is decked out in fun colours in a light show that illuminates the surrounding area. Food stalls and other entertainment are also available for the public to enjoy.
Useful information
- Duration: As long as you like.
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Price range: Approximately €15 for an adult ticket. Children under 4 years old ride free when accompanied by an adult.
8. Enjoy the neon light show in Miami Beach
Miami Beach is one of the best-known areas of Miami, and the reasons are obvious. This small, elongated island, separated from the city by the beautiful Biscayne Bay, has been the hub of nightlife in the city for centuries.
Bustling, vibrant and colourful, the neighbourhood features buildings built in the purest Art Deco style that light up every night, offering an extremely attractive neon light show. Head to this part of town to enjoy a stroll along the seafront avenues and book an Art Deco tour.
What's more, if you're interested, you can join in some of the many parties that are held here, so don't hesitate! To find out about the parties, I recommend checking Eventbrite a few days before your trip.
Useful information
- Opening hours: When night falls on the city.
- Price range: Free.
9. Enjoy a live jazz music show
If you're a jazz fan or simply curious about this unique musical style, you should know that Miami offers some of the most interesting live jazz in North America.
While it's true that jazz in Miami is less diverse than in cities like New Orleans or New York, it also has a unique sparkle of its own that's worth soaking up.
The best jazz bars in Miami.
Here is a list of the best places in Miami to enjoy a fun night of jazz:
- Ball & Chain: Located in Little Havana, this historic jazz club was founded in 1935 and continues the jazz tradition to this day. Its weekly programme alternates between jazz nights and salsa theme nights.
- Le Chat Noir: If you're looking to enjoy good wine, cheese and cosy music for a romantic evening, this French-inspired bar is the best option.
- Casa Lagniappe: A favourite among locals, with an atmosphere very similar to the bars of New Orleans. Live music shows are held every night.
- Museum of Contemporary Art: Located in North Miami, this museum offers free jazz performances on the last Friday of every month.
10. Discover the best rooftop bars in Miami
Miami is one of the cities with the most variety of rooftop bars and terraces, and nighttime is the best time to enjoy these spaces, as that's when the atmosphere becomes more lively and interesting.
On your next visit to the city, I recommend taking the time to visit some of these locations and enjoy a good drink accompanied by fabulous views.
The best rooftop bars in Miami
You will soon realise that there are many rooftop bar options in the city of Miami. My recommendation is that, whenever possible, you do your own research, but if you don't have time for that, use the following list as a starting point:
- Rosa Sky Rooftop: Located in the Brickell area on the roof of a 22-storey building.
- Area 31: Located on the 16th floor of the Kimpton the EPIC Hotel in the heart of Miami.
- C-LEVEL Rooftop: Located on the 16th floor of the Kimpton the EPIC Hotel in the heart of Miami. Located in a six-storey building in the beautiful South Beach area.
- Sugar: Located on the 40th floor of the EAST Miami hotel in the Brickell area, it is the highest bar in Miami.
- Juvia: Located on the 9th floor in the Miami Beach area.
11. Enjoy the best nightclubs in the city
When it comes to enjoying all the things to see and do in Miami, there are three that should not be missing from your itinerary: swimming and sunbathing on its idyllic beaches, enjoying its rich cuisine on a gastronomic tour and, last but not least, enjoying the festive atmosphere of its iconic nightclubs.
There's a reason why Miami's nightclubs are among the best in the world, and I invite you to discover why by visiting the most popular ones. Here's a list:
- LIV Miami: the most famous club in Miami Beach. You may spot celebrities in the club's VIP section.
- Basement: an entertainment centre that combines bars with an ice rink and a bowling alley.
- Floyd: small, modern and exclusive. It is one of the best places in Miami to enjoy dance music.
- Story: DJs of the calibre of Travis Scott often visit Story, an influential and important venue on the local hip-hop scene.
- E11even: part nightclub, part entertainment venue. Neon lights are part of the classic atmosphere, as are the trapeze dancers hanging from the ceiling.
- Club Space: a favourite among travellers and locals alike, ideal for dancing the night away to techno music.