Best Things to do near Cruise Port of Miami

Last Updated on December 21, 2023 – Posted by Stefan DP

Miami Beach Aerial ViewMiami is one of the most visited places in the United States and the world.

From its inviting climate to the beautiful sights, port, and packed streets, there isn’t a dull moment in Miami.

It is the perfect place for a cruise, especially since there isn’t a time of the year when you cannot take a cruise from Miami to the Bahamas or Caribbean.

Be sure to arrive a couple days early and stay a few nights in one of Miami’s best hotels near the port, some offer a free shuttle to the cruise terminal.

In addition to the cruise, there is a myriad of adventurous experiences that you can enjoy before and after your voyage.

Below are some of the top places to visit and things to do in Miami.

What are the Best Places to Visit in Miami?

Miami is the premier tourist destination in Southern Florida. Home to the world’s largest cruise port it attracts millions of people, many are looking for some exciting things to see and do while spending a few days in the city before or after a cruise vacation.

We have listed the best places to visit and some top activities in Miami Florida. So, if you’re planning your next trip, these are some attractions not to be missed.

1. Enjoy Prime Entertainment at the Jungle Island

Jungle Island Parrot
Jungle Island

Jungle Island is one of the prime entertainment and tourist destinations in the city of Miami. The place was formerly known as the Parrot Jungle. This contemporary theme park has been in existence for more than eight decades and comprises of more than 300 vibrant birds, rare twin orangutans and the only trained Cassowary in the world.

The Island is also known for its rick tropical landscape. At the Jungle Island, visitors get to enjoy viewing the animals, playing paintball, airsoft, and nerf games. See tickets.

2. Bond with Nature at the Miami Zoo

Flamingo in Miami Zoo
Miami Zoo

Miami Zoo is the oldest and the largest zoological garden in Florida. It is also the only sub-tropical zoo in the continental United States. Miami Zoo is home to a wide range of animals from different parts of the world, including Asia, Australia, and Africa.

The animals feature a mix of species, which is rare for zoos in the United States. The lush and tropical open-air landscape makes it suitable for the different species of animals. It also makes it a safe place for endangered wildlife.

Book your general admission ticket to Zoo Miami in advance and don’t wait in line.

3. Enjoy the Fun and Serenity at Miami Beach

Sign of Miami Beach near Ocean Drive
Miami Beach

Miami Beach is a coastal resort that is located in Miami-Dane County, Florida. It is located on barrier islands between Natural and Manmade Island, a place which is made up of a wide range of sunbaked beaches.

The beaches are located in an environment that is packed with beautiful hotels with the best scenery. Nightlife at the beach is also quite active, primarily because the climate is suitable for outdoor activities. The beaches to the south are more active while the north beaches are quieter and calmer.

4. It is Never a Dull Moment at South Beach & Ocean Drive

Ocean Drive on a Sunday morning in South Beach
Ocean Drive

Ocean Drive is one of the major thoroughfares in South Beach Miami. It is closely located near Miami Beach on the Atlantic coast of Florida and is known for its Art Deco-style hotels, restaurants, and bars. Tourists are attracted to these sights because they are commonly featured in movies and the media. The most famous building in the area is the Colony Hotel, which was built in 1939. The hotel holds the record of the most decorated art deco place in the United States.

A popular thing to do is taking a food‐filled walking tour of South Beach and taste cuisines of different Latin American countries.

5. Experience Architectural Genius in Art Deco District

Art Deco on Ocean Drive
Art Deco, South Beach

The Art Deco District is also known as the Miami Beach Architectural District. The place is a historic district in the US, well known as the home district of Gianni Versace, an internationally-recognized Italian designer. The district is made up of about 960 historic buildings. All the buildings feature the Art Deco design, and they are all within a mile.

Some of the buildings host the best restaurants and hotels to visit. Tourists enjoy walking through the place and taking photos, as well as making visits to the Deco Museum in the district. To learn more you can take a 2 hour guided Art Deco Walking Tour.

6. Enjoy an Exceptional Shopping Experience at Bayside Marketplace

Bayside Marketplace
Bayside Marketplace

The Bayside Marketplace is a two-story open-air shopping center that is located in downtown Miami, Florida. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitor’s Bureau recognizes the marketplace as the most visited attraction in Miami.

The marketplace differs significantly from regular shopping malls, especially because it offers an entertainment experience with live music every day. It also hosts the best restaurants, bars, family activities, and open-container places. Bayside marketplace consists of 140 inline spaces and more than 50 carts and kiosks scattered in different places in and around the center.

From Bayside Marketplace you can also take a city sightseeing cruise through Biscayne Bay to see the Port of Miami and Millionaire’s Row.

7. Explore Cuban Culture at Little Havana

Wall painting in Little Havana
Little Havana

Little Havana is home to Cuban exiles and immigrants from central and south America. This is the reason why it was named after the capital city in Cuba. It is recognized as the center of social, cultural, and political activity in Miami and is also known for festivals like the Three Kings Parade and the Calle Ocho Festival.

The home for Cuban exiles also features some amazing landmarks like the Latin Walk of fame and the SW 8th Street. Street life, restaurants, and music characterize Little Havana.

When looking for a tour, the most popular one is a guided walking tour in Little Havana which includes samples of the local cuisine.

8. Experience Extraordinary Views at Miami Seaquarium

Miami Seaquarium Dolphins
Miami Seaquarium

This is a 38-acre tropical paradise characterized by its spectacular view of the skyline. The Miami Seaquarium is also known as the place where dolphins walk on water, and extraordinary whales fly through the air. It is home to some of the most amazing sea lions that both parents and kids of all ages enjoy seeing.

The marine-life entertainment park features eight different species of marine animal shows hosted at different times of the day. At the Miami Seaquarium, there is a Dolphin Habor, where visitors can enjoy hands-on experience with the mammals.

9. Brickell City Centre & The Shops at Mary Brickell Village

Brickell area in Miami
Brickell

This is a shopping and multiuse project in Miami, Florida that costs more than a billion dollars to construct. The Brickell City Centre & The Shops at Mary Brickell Village is set to span up to five blocks, and it will be anchored by a 107, 000 square-foot fifth avenue in Miami.

The village and city center spans a bit over 9 acres with amenities like a department store, restaurants, shops of all kinds, hotels, office towers and condominiums.

10. Relax and Learn at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was formerly known as the Villa Vizcaya. James Deering, a famous businessman formerly owned the property. It is currently owned by the Miami Wade Country and is open to the public. The museum and gardens consists of 50 acres where the villa and gardens, as well as the remaining of the native forest, lies.

The garden section is made up of Italian Renaissance gardens with a native woodland landscape and a historic village outbuilding compound. The landmark is constructed in an open-air courtyard and has undergone a series of reconstructions.

11. Airboat Ride in Everglades National Park

Air boat ride in Everglades National Park near Miami
Everglades National Park

This is an American National Park that hosts twenty percent of the original Everglades in Florida. It is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States and of any kind in the East of the Mississippi River.

After Death Valley and Yellowstone, it is the third-largest national park in the contiguous US. The national treasure is home to some incredible geographic features, a network of wetlands and forests. The national park covers slightly more than 1.5 acres throughout Dade, Monroe, and Collier counties in Florida.

You can easily take a guided tour from Miami to Everglades National Park, which includes an airboat ride and often a nature walk.

12. Explore Bayfront Park

Bayfront Park
Bayfront Park

Bayfront Park is a 32-acre public, urban park in Downtown Miami, Florida, on Biscayne Port. Inside the park is a bronze statue of Christopher Columbus that was sculpted by Count Vittorio, one of the handpicked guards of Mussolini.

The national attraction is also the assassination site of Aton Cermak, who was the Mayor of Chicago at the time. The incident occurred while the president was shaking hands with former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The park was constructed in the mid-1920s and went through reconstruction in 1980.

13. Get Educated at the Miami Children’s Museum

The Miami Children’s Museum was founded in 1983 and was initially known as the Miami Youth Museum. However, in 2003, the place was transformed to the Miami Children’s Museum. The museum is located on Watson Island and consists of 14 permanent galleries, pre-school classrooms, and a parents and teachers resource center.

The Children’s Museum also hosts a 200-seat auditorium, as well as a subway restaurant. The exhibits, programs, and classes at the museum are offered in a wide range of languages. Materials in arts, culture, community, and communication are also available at the Miami Children’s Museums.

14. Experience the Beauty of Wynwood Walls

Wynwood walls was established in 2009 by Tom Goldman, a legendary place maker and visionary. The landmark was established as an outdoor museum of International Street Art and is the best venue in the world for viewing a wide variety of works by top street artists. It features an open green space with murals.

The Wynwood Walls is currently a phenomenon that has spurred the creation of several murals in the Wynwood District. Adjacent to the Wynwood walls is the Wynwood doors, which have 176 feet of roll-up storefront gardens. Tour the street art in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood by golf cart, a pedal-powered vehicle or classic car.

15. The Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel is also known as Fontainebleau hotel. The hotel is located at Collins Avenue and is owned by the Fontainebleau Resorts. The beach hotel was designed by Morris Lapidus and was officially opened in 1954.

Fontainebleau Miami was ranked by the American Institute of Architects in the top-ten list of America’s Favorite Architecture. Parts of the pool are featured in films, television shows, and music videos. The hotel includes accommodation spaces, restaurants, and nightclubs. It was renovated for two years and re-opened in 2008.

What are the Best Things to do before or after a Cruise?

Miami ranks at the top of the world’s most visited destinations.

If you and your family are looking for the top things to do in Miami during your trip, check out our list of some of best activities you can take.

16. Take the Big Bus Miami Open Top Hop-On-Off Tour

Big Bus Tour in Miami

By taking the bus tour, you can explore some of the most popular sites in Miami. The tour will take you through some of the top attractions in Wynwood, Coconut Grove, Little Havana, and South Beach.

It allows you to enjoy the flexibility of exploring the city at a pace that you can control. The big bus tour features live on-board commentary and also allows you to enjoy the unparalleled views from an open-top double-decker style bus.

You can also opt to take a double-decker bus night tour which takes you through South Beach and downtown Miami and see the city lit up at night.

17. Enjoy Miami Combo Tour; City Sightseeing, Biscayne Bay Cruise & Everglades Airboat Ride

Through the Miami Combo tour, you can enjoy an escape to the Florida Everglades by bus and boat. The combo tour is a guided, full-day city sightseeing adventure that features an exciting package, including a coach tour around Downtown Miami and its environs.

The tour also features a cruise on the Biscayne Port and its clear waters. During the combo tour, you also get to enjoy the Miami Skyline and the beach, the abundant wildlife in Florida, including alligators and turtles.

18. Take a Private Exclusive Classic Car Tour of Miami

This tour will have you explore the streets of Miami in a classic convertible car. It is a half-day tour with a private chauffeur who will pick you up and drop you off at select hotels in the Miami Beach area.

The tour covers the area around the Art Deco district of South Beach. You also get to cruise the port and explore the design district, Downtown Miami, Bayside, Coral Gables, and Wynwood. Onboard, you get bottled water, a live documentary, and photo stops.

19. Learn the History of Miami with the Duck Tours in South Beach

The Miami Duck tour is hosted both on a boat and a car and is a unique land and sea cruiser. The 90-minute tour will take you through famous attractions in Miami. For example, you can take a splashdown into the Biscayne Bay and Port, as you learn about the history of Miami Beach.

The guides for this tour have a background in acting and comedy. Therefore, you can expect an entertaining experience. The departure point and return point of the tour are at James Avenue 1661.

20. Explore Miami Landmarks with the Miami City Tour Shopping and Bay Cruise

This tour includes a round trip from Miami Beach or Downtown, and it features narration by a professional guide with knowledge of the history of the area. The guides are also very entertaining. The trip involves a 90-minute cruise at the Biscayne Bay and a free lunch.

During the tour, you get to travel on a comfortable coach and go through some landmarks like The Magic City. You also get to explore the beauty of beachside neighborhoods such as Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. Read more.

21. Get a Taste of South Beach Food Tour

On this small-group tour, you get to experience the diverse and unique culture of Miami through its cuisine. The food tour is led by enthusiastic and entertaining local foodie guides with a vast knowledge of the diverse cuisines. On tour, you get to sample American, Cuban, French, Mediterranean, and Peruvian dishes, among others.

The foods are made by some of the most popular restaurants in the South Beach area. You also get to learn about the history, architecture, and culture of the city while enjoying the food.

22. Try the Seaplane Tour of Miami

On seaplane tours, you get to enjoy the beauty of Miami through aerial views. The tour glides over the best coastal hotspots like Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove, Star Island, and South Beach. Your guide here will be the pilot, who is equipped with incredible know-how of the history and details of the sites.

You also get to experience breathtaking views of the mansions and the signature Art Deco style of the city from the sky. The takeoff and landing area is on the waters of Key Biscayne.


(Latest update December 21st, 2023)
Please contact us if any information is incorrect or not up-to-date.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a small commission if you click through and make a reservation.

Author of allcruisehotels, Stefan DP

Stefan, Editor-in-Chief of “I Love 2 Cruise” at www.allcruisehotels.com, discovered his passion for cruising in 1999 with his wife on a Carnival Cruise. Since then, he’s been hooked, reveling in the unique atmosphere, entertainment, and culinary delights of cruise travel. With voyages on 15 different cruise lines, including Azamara and Royal Caribbean, Stefan has sailed to all 7 continents, visited 67 countries, and spent 480 days at sea. He shares his extensive experience and love for cruising through tips, reviews, and port information to help others plan their perfect cruise vacation.

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