Miami Beach, Florida is a great destination for a weekend girls trip. There’s enough going on in the city that you’ll never be bored, but it isn’t too overwhelming to see the highlights in a weekend trip.

This city in southern Florida is all about sunny beach days, colorful architecture and global dining. As you can tell from its name, the beaches in Miami Beach are truly world class. The water is warm and turquoise and the sand is fine and white.

Another thing that makes Miami Beach a great destination for a girls trip is that there’s something for everyone. You can have a weekend partying in Miami Beach’s popular clubs. You can have a relaxing trip catching some sun on the beach. You could have a fashion focused trip with Miami Beach’s world class shopping. There is truly something for everyone in this vibrant city on the Atlantic.

This guide outlines my favorite places to dine, stay and things to do for a girls trip to Miami Beach.

Best time for a girls trip to Miami Beach

Miami Beach is a great destination year round. Its location at the southern tip of Florida means consistent tropical weather and warm temperates. However, there are some months that are better than others to visit Miami Beach.

Miami Beach is a popular spring break destination, which occurs around March and April. Expect heavy crowds and high hotel prices during this time. The holiday season, especially New Year’s Eve, is also a busy time when prices skyrocket.

Another thing to keep in mind is the weather. Summer is less popular, but the heat and humidity can be intense. Summer through autumn is also hurricane season. You’re likely to find good prices, but your trip could get impacted by storms.

Breaking down Miami’s tourist neighborhoods

Miami encompasses a large area. There’s so much going on, it can be hard to get a lay of the land. It’s important to understand how the city is laid out to determine the best area to base yourself. This weekend girls trip guide will focus on the Miami Beach neighborhood.

Miami Beach– This is an island where much of the action is. The south end of the island is called South Beach, and this is what most people envision when they imagine Miami. Here you’ll find the glitziest hotels, restaurants and nightclubs. This is also where the famed art deco district is located.

Wynwood– This hipster neighborhood is the Brooklyn of Miami. It’s not on the beach but is still a big tourist destination due to its street art and Instagramable murals.

Little Havana– Miami’s famed Cuban neighborhood is a foodie’s dream. It’s filled with culture and Miami Cubans take great pride in this area. It’s also home to the famous Calle Ocho strip.

Design District– This fashionable area is home to some of the city’s best designer stores.

How to get around Miami Beach

Miami Beach is a very walkable area and most of what you want to see and do will be nearby. If you need to go farther than walking will allow, public transportation and ride shares are available. I typically use Uber when I travel and have used it around Miami Beach successfully. There are also more cost effective public transportation options in the city.

Miami also offers a free citywide trolley service. The trolley won’t get you everywhere, but it could help. More info on the loops it makes can be found here. Renting a car is another option. I personally love to have a car when I travel so I can come and go as I please. If you do rent, watch out for hotel parking fees. I’ve seen prices as high as $60 to park a car overnight at a hotel.

 The best hotel for a girls trip to Miami Beach

I love the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel as a place to base yourself in Miami Beach. It’s located in a prime area that’s very walkable to many of the area’s highlights. The hotel is also located right on the beach!

The Kimpton Surfcomber is a boutique hotel with an Art Deco design. It has a lot of pink and white coloring with tropical touches throughout. Every morning in the lobby you’ll find a complimentary coffee bar station and in the evening the hotel offers a gratis happy hour with a variety of wine and local beer. The Surfcomber also a restaurant called The Social Club that focuses on culturally inspired dishes and handcrafted cocktails.

My favorite part of the hotel is its backyard that includes a big pool, outdoor restaurant called High Tide and private cabanas. Right beyond the pool is the Atlantic Ocean and the hotel provides beach chairs and umbrellas. Guests can rent a beach cabana in a private area called The Vines that sits adjacent to the pool. The cabanas are spacious and provide a respite from the sun. You can also order drinks and food right to your cabana. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon on a girls trip. Don’t miss the Surfcomber’s piña coladas, they’re some of the best I’ve had!

The best things to do in Miami Beach on a girls trip

Explore the Art Deco Historic District

Miami Beach has the nation’s largest concentration of Art Deco architecture, with over 800 buildings. Many of the buildings can be found along Collins Avenue, Ocean Drive and Washington Ave. Spend an afternoon admiring the architecture with a guided walking tour led by the Miami Design Preservation League. You can also visit the Art Deco Museum to learn about the cultural heritage of Miami Beach.

See modern art at The Bass

The Bass is Miami Beach’s contemporary art museum. It has a very eclectic collection of art and a sculpture garden. One of my favorite pieces at The Bass is the colorful Miami Mountain sculpture by Ugo Rondinone. It’s a 42 feet tall statute of colorful boulders stacked on top of each other located in front of the museum on 21st Street and Collins Avenue.

Lounge on the beach

Miami is known for its beaches, and for good reason. Miami beaches are pristine with fine white sand and bright turquoise water. All beaches in Miami are open to the public, but most hotels, like The Surfcomber, offer beach service and will set up lounge chairs and umbrellas for guests. If you’re looking to beach hop this guide to the different Miami beaches and their vibes will determine the best one for you. Keep an eye out for the colorful lifeguard stands that line the beach!

See a movie in the sky

Rooftop Cinema Club offers a unique way to see a movie. This outdoor cinema is located high on a rooftop. The skyline of Miami is your backdrop as you grab popcorn and drinks and settle in to watch one of two movies that are shown every night. Movie goers wear wireless headphones to listen to the movie. The space also has lawn games, a bar and a snack truck.

Shop on Lincoln Road

Miami is home to some fabulous shopping. Lincoln Road is bustling outdoor shopping destination in Miami Beach that’s full of boutiques, large stores and restaurants.

Drive to The Keys

If you’re looking to extend your trip in Florida and see a new area, I recommend renting a car and driving down to The Keys. The Florida Keys archipelago is located just south of Miami. While I recommend spending at least four nights in The Florida Keys, a visit to the northern keys, Key Largo and Islamorada, is doable for a day or two. Check out my full travel guide to The Florida Keys here.

Best restaurants in Miami Beach 

The food in Miami Beach is a major highlight. The city is a true melting pot with residents coming from all over the world, and that diversity is represented in its cuisine. The great thing about Miami Beach is you can find all types of restaurants. From historic seafood restaurants, to trendy bars to hole in the wall sandwich shops, there are so many culinary experiences to be had.

Joe’s Stone Crab

This is a Miami Beach institution. Joe’s serves some of the best, and freshest, stone crab you’ll find. The restaurant is closed out of stone crab season, so ensure it’s open before you visit.

Orange Blossom

Orange Blossom is a new American restaurant that’s perfect for a healthy brunch or lunch. The decor is colorful with a tropical floral theme. Orange Blossom also has an outdoor garden area that patrons can dine in. They serve delicious fresh juices and a big brunch menu with classic favorites and healthy dishes.

Tropezon

This is an Andalusian-style gin and tapas bar. It’s located in a quiet side street in Miami Beach’s Españõla Way area. The tapas feel elevated here and the paella is a not-miss!

The News Cafe

This is an iconic Miami Beach cafe that’s open 24/7 and serves breakfast all day long. It’s located on Ocean Drive right across from the beach. It was a favorite spot of Gianni Versace, who lived right down the road. Their café con leche french toast is a delicious brunch order!

The Roof at Esme Hotel

The Esme is a chic boutique hotel in Miami Beach. It has a great rooftop bar area with sunset views that’s an ideal spot to grab a drink before a night out. The rooftop has a Spanish-Mediterranean aesthetic and a very chic design.

This blog post was sponsored by Experience Miami Beach. All thoughts and opinions are my own.