Miami has always known how to turn a day at the beach into a scene. This rings especially true along the sandy patches belonging to Miami Beach’s top hotels, which have been upping the stakes with cushy amenities and experiences designed to warrant hefty membership fees for locals—and generate enough revenue to keep their beach clubs at the top of their game. The good news for travelers? Book a room at such hotels—think
—and many of those same privileges typically extend to hotel guests, no membership required (though nightly rates will cost ya!).
Of course, you don’t need a hotel key, annual dues, or an impending inheritance to experience Miami’s best beaches. Miles of public shoreline remain gloriously democratic, whether you want to join the beautiful bodies and colorful lifeguard stands of South Beach, bike beneath the palms of Key Biscayne, kayak through mangroves at Oleta River State Park, or ditch your swimsuit altogether at liberating,
Haulover Beach. Consider these 18 picks less a ranking of sand and more a guide to Miami’s many ways of doing the beach, popular year-round thanks to a balmy climate that makes summer feel seemingly endless.
journalist who knows the destination and has visited that activity. When choosing things to do, our editors consider landmarks and experiences that offer an insider’s view of a destination, keeping authenticity, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Beautiful people, flashy cars, skimpy bathing suits,
: It’s all here. South Beach’s most recognizable public stretch fronts Lummus Park between roughly fifth and 14th streets, where models, musclemen, volleyball players, colorful lifeguard stands, and Ocean Drive’s neon-trimmed architecture supply the Miami fantasy. Locals tend to migrate south of the hoopla below Fifth Street. Continue north and the shoreline becomes increasingly dominated by the beach clubs of South Beach’s luxury hotels, where orderly rows of chairs and umbrellas replace the anything-goes towel crowd farther south. There’s still plenty of public sand in between.
Those who enjoy a busy beach with plenty of eye candy
offers the nature-inspired antidote to Ocean Drive, with four pools and 600 feet of beachfront. Or rediscover the
, fresh from a six-year closure and $100 million restoration.
Running roughly from 23rd to 46th streets, Mid-Beach trades South Beach’s crowds for a more hotel- and condo-driven atmosphere along a long stretch of shoreline. The promenade makes walking and biking easy, while some of Miami Beach’s biggest-name hotels line Collins Avenue and supply much of the social action. It’s where locals come for staycations, long lunches, beach clubs, and a day that has a funny way of becoming a night out.
Fashionistas, trendsetters, and those who like to chill and drink at hotel beach clubs
Take your pick among some of Miami Beach’s heavy hitters, including
Between Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles lies 177-acre Haulover Park, home to Florida’s best-known officially recognized clothing-optional public beach. Here, all bodies are beach bodies. Farther south, between lifeguard towers two and three, Haulover Dog Beach gives four-legged beachgoers their own off-leash slice of shoreline—a better bet for traveling pups than many of Miami Beach’s more restrictive sands. Currents around Haulover Inlet also produce some of the area’s more noticeable swells, attracting beginner surfers and bodyboarders. Overall, though, people come here to let it all hang out and tan head-to-toe. Feel free to forget your clothes, but not the essentials: The relatively undeveloped park setting means fewer conveniences close to the water, so pack food, drinks, sunscreen, and whatever else you’ll want for the day.
Those who dare to bare, dog lovers, and beginner surfers
All shapes, sizes, and sexes for naked fun in the sun
Haulover sits closest to Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles, but plenty of beachgoers drive or Uber from South and Mid-Beach—or even Fort Lauderdale. For the latter, consider the
Pristine sand meets serious fashion in Bal Harbour, Miami’s poshest beachfront neighborhood. Expect plenty of bling, designer bikinis, and immaculate cover-ups—and don’t even think about wearing the same threads twice. Thankfully, Bal Harbour Shops and its parade of top-tier designers are right across Collins Avenue should an emergency wardrobe refresh arise.
Those looking to showcase their latest beachwear between dips in the ocean
Summer in the Hamptons meets Rodeo Drive meets Miami
, where the beachfront comes strewn with chairs and daybeds and service is every bit as polished as the crowd.
This state park has it all, albeit with some caveats: a mile-long beach on the southern tip of Key Biscayne, an extensive network of walking and biking trails, excellent birding, restaurants worth the visit, and the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse. While the beach is indeed nice, we feel there are better elsewhere. Our advice: couple some sand time with exploration and dining. Follow the scenic path along the park’s western perimeter for superb Miami skyline views and birding opportunities, bike to the lighthouse, then reward yourself at Boater’s Grill or the must-visit sunset bar The Cleat.
Families and couples who enjoy nature, active pursuits, and cocktails
is a luxe-yet-unpretentious island retreat that’s the antithesis of the Miami Beach experience and just a quick bike ride from the park entrance.
It’s a sea of Speedo-clad, sculpted bodies at South Beach’s best-known LGBTQ+ beach, marked by rainbow flags near the 12th Street lifeguard stations and spilling south toward 11th. Expect dance-heavy playlists erupting from speakers, plenty of socializing, and a slightly buzzed crowd sipping Surfsides. Topless female sunbathers often join the mix, because everyone is invited to the party. Once everyone finally puts clothes back on, South Beach’s LGBTQ+ nightlife is within walking distance, with Palace a day-drinking mainstay thanks to head-turning drag performances and a revamped menu that merits a look. And, of course, then there’s Twist, a late-night rite of passage. Oh, Twist, we love and hate you.
Those looking to admire Adonises or find their next Grindr hookup IRL
Miami Beach is pretty gay, so all’s fair game. But for gay-maxxing, look to
, the adults-only LGBTQ+ hotel and social hub at the far end of Lincoln Road.
At South of Fifth, or SoFi to locals, South Beach begins to exhale. At First Street, South Pointe Beach offers wide sand, fewer high-rise shadows, and immediate access to adjacent South Pointe Park. Follow its walking paths toward the pier for sweeping views of the Atlantic, Government Cut, Fisher Island, and cruise ships sailing impossibly close by. Come late afternoon, locals migrate toward the park for one of Miami Beach’s best sunset shows. Dine al-fresco on chilled shellfish and steaks at Smith & Wollensky while boats cruise through Government Cut, or head indoors to Miami institution
for claws and seafood that have kept crowds coming for more than a century.
Sursă: https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-beaches-in-miami