WHERE TO STAY IN MIAMI: BEST AREAS & MY FAVOURITE HOTELS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRIP
You’re planning a trip and don’t know where to stay in Miami? I’ve had that problem quite a few times myself, so now I’m here to help you find the perfect hotel!
Trying to figure out where to stay in Miami can be surprisingly difficult, especially if you’re not sure what you want to do during your trip. Miami and Miami Beach are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually two different cities, and the area you choose can make a big difference to your experience. I have a whole blog post comparing Miami vs. Miami Beach, which can help you understand the difference between the two.
I’ve visited Miami several times, and depending on the type of trip you’re planning, I’d actually recommend staying in completely different parts of the city.
In this guide, I’m sharing my favourite areas to stay in Miami, along with the hotels I’d recommend for a luxury beach holiday, budget-friendly trip, romantic getaway, family holiday, or pre-cruise stay.
WHERE TO STAY IN MIAMI AND HAVE A GREAT TIME?
If you don’t want to read the entire guide, here’s my quick answer on which area is perfect for what type of trip:
| AREA | BEST FOR |
| South Beach | First-time visitors, beaches, nightlife & Art Deco |
| Mid-Beach | Luxury resorts & relaxing beach holidays |
| Brickell | Restaurants, nightlife & a modern city atmosphere |
| Downtown Miami | Short stays, sightseeing & cruises |
For your first trip to Miami, I always recommend South Beach. It’s where you’ll find the classic Miami experience, with beautiful beaches, Ocean Drive, Art Deco buildings, restaurants, bars, and plenty to do within walking distance. I absolutely love staying here, and it’s perfect for anyone who wants a mix of a relaxing and active holiday. I definitely recommend it for first-time visitors, couples, and short Miami visits, because even a few days in South Beach really give you that Miami atmosphere.
If you’re looking for a more luxurious and relaxing beach holiday, I’d look at Mid-Beach. It’s not far from South Beach, but while South Beach is very active, busy, and loud, Mid-Beach is much more resort-focused, so it’s perfect for a luxurious trip where you can truly relax.
For restaurants, nightlife, and a more modern city atmosphere, Brickell is a great option. I’ve visited several times, and it looks truly incredible, but I’m more of a beach person. However, if you want to experience both, you can easily stay in Brickell and then grab an Uber to South Beach or Key Biscayne whenever you want to experience the beach.
If you’re spending time in Miami before a cruise, I’d choose South Beach if you have time to enjoy Miami, so you can still do some sightseeing. But if you’re arriving the night before the cruise, I’d stay in Downtown/Brickell because you’re then really close to the port and can easily get there in the morning.
MY FAVOURITE LUXURY MIAMI BEACH HOTELS
If you’re looking for a beautiful hotel where the hotel itself is part of the holiday, Miami Beach has some fantastic options, and you can find them both on South Beach and Mid-Beach. South Beach is better if you want to be close to everything, while Mid-Beach is better if you want more of a calm, luxury resort experience. We usually choose South Beach because we love having different things to do and being close to some really fun neighbourhoods.
THE SETAI, MIAMI BEACH
If you’re looking for an ultra-luxurious Miami Beach experience, The Setai is one of the hotels I’d put at the top of the list. It’s located in the quieter northern part of South Beach, so you get easy access to the beach and the South Beach atmosphere without being right in the middle of the busiest part of Ocean Drive. The hotel is known for its beautiful design and exceptional service, and it’s perfect for a honeymoon or a romantic getaway.
1 HOTEL SOUTH BEACH
This stylish hotel has been on my Pinterest board for yearsssss, and unfortunately, I still haven’t gotten to stay here, but you could! It’s right on the beach and has several pools, including a rooftop pool with beautiful views. It’s technically on South Beach, but quite a bit north, so you’ll have plenty of peace and quiet while still being close to everything. The rooms are stunning, with a very natural and earthy design, and I think staying here would be just incredible. Imagine having a romantic getaway here?!
THE MIAMI BEACH EDITION
Finally, I have to mention this luxury resort. The rooms at The Miami Beach EDITION are gorgeous, but the resort amenities are just on another level. With beautiful pools, six restaurants, and direct beach access, you can hardly top this one. This one is definitely on my wish list as well!
MY FAVOURITE BUDGET-FRIENDLY MIAMI BEACH HOTELS
You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars a night to stay in Miami Beach, but it is still the most popular part of Miami, so you’ll have to spend a bit if you want something nice. For a budget-friendly Miami trip, I would look for a hotel with a good location and nice rooms, rather than simply choosing the cheapest room available. You’ll probably be out exploring most of the day, but you still want somewhere nice to come back to. We’ve definitely had some hotels that were hit or miss, so trust me when I tell you it’s nice to be comfortable at the end of the day!
FREEHAND MIAMI
Freehand Miami is one of the nicest options for travellers who want a more affordable stay while still being close to Miami Beach. It’s in Mid-Beach, so you’ll have to walk a bit to South Beach whenever you want to go out or do something fun there, but you’re staying nearby without paying South Beach prices. It’s a social and casual hotel, and it has everything you need!
HOTEL RIU PLAZA MIAMI BEACH
Another option to look at for a more affordable beachfront stay is Hotel Riu Plaza Miami Beach. It’s located further north along Miami Beach, which means you’re away from the busiest part of South Beach but still right on the beach. This is one of the best affordable hotels if you want to stay directly on the beach and get a little taste of that resort-style Miami experience without paying huge prices!
ESME MIAMI BEACH
This one is really beautiful! We tried to stay here a few times, but somehow it was always sold out on our nights. The rooms and bathrooms are wonderful, the whole hotel is very aesthetically pleasing, and for the price, it’s more than perfect. It’s also in a really great location, right on Española Way, which is one of my favourite streets in Miami, with incredible restaurants all around. I really hope it’s available for us next time we visit, but if you can get a room, definitely check it out!
Other hotels you can check out: Kenmore Village Hotel (stayed here and it was great), The Fritz Hotel (stayed there and the location is incredible, but otherwise underwhelming), The Fairwind Hotel (stayed here and we had a great time!)
MY FAVOURITE BRICKELL HOTELS
If you’ve already experienced Miami Beach or simply aren’t that interested in spending your entire trip on the beach, Brickell is an amazing alternative. Brickell is Miami’s modern financial district, filled with skyscrapers, rooftop bars, restaurants, shops, and stylish hotels. It feels very different from South Beach because you get much more of a modern city atmosphere here.
You can easily get around by public transportation or Uber, and it’s a great base for exploring Downtown Miami. It’s also a really good location if you’re coming a day or two before your cruise because you’re close to the Miami cruise port.
EAST MIAMI
This one is an absolutely incredible hotel with some of the best city views you can get. It’s quite pricey, but if you’re looking for a stylish Brickell stay and you love modern design, great restaurants, and rooftop views, this hotel will absolutely blow you away.
CITIZENM MIAMI BRICKELL
This one is more affordable than EAST, but you do pay for that in space. The rooms here are significantly smaller, but it’s a good option if you want to be in a great location and don’t mind having a smaller room. It still has excellent views of the city, which is definitely a plus.
HYATT CENTRIC MIAMI BRICKELL
Hyatt is absolutely lovely here in Brickell. The rooms are big and comfortable, and the views are absolutely stunning, yet it’s not as expensive as EAST, so it’s right there in the middle when it comes to amenities and price. I’d definitely recommend this one if you want the views of EAST (maybe even better ones) without the huge price tag.
MY FAVOURITE DOWNTOWN MIAMI HOTELS
Downtown Miami is another area similar to Brickell that’s worth considering, especially if you’re only staying for a night or two. It’s also close to PortMiami, so if you’re going on a cruise, this is a great location to stay!
However, if this is your first Miami trip and you have several days, I’d personally choose South Beach over Downtown any time. It just has a much better atmosphere, and the experience is so different on Miami Beach compared to Downtown.
INTERCONTINENTAL MIAMI
This is a stunning hotel and a great option if you want a more luxurious Downtown stay. The views from the rooms are incredible, and the hotel itself is lovely with great amenities. It’s on the pricier side, but still more affordable than many of the beach resorts, so if you’re looking for luxury away from the beach, this one is perfect. It’s also really close to PortMiami, so you can get to the cruise port in about 5 minutes by car.
THE ELSER HOTEL MIAMI
This is, in my opinion, one of the prettiest hotels in Downtown Miami. The rooms are beautiful and modern, and you get really impressive city views and great amenities. You can also walk to some really cool places, like Bayside Marketplace, which is a must-visit, and the Kaseya Center, where you can watch a basketball game or go to a concert. The rooftop pool is also absolutely incredible.
HILTON MIAMI DOWNTOWN
Finally, there’s also Hilton Miami Downtown, which in my opinion isn’t quite as impressive as the two mentioned before, but it’s still a really nice option and is very close to PortMiami if you’re going on a cruise. It’s also within walking distance of quite a few attractions, and the rooms look really comfortable.
WHERE TO STAY IN MIAMI FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRIPS
Now that we’ve been through the best areas to stay in Miami, I’ll quickly suggest which one I’d choose for each type of trip and why!
MY FAVOURITE MIAMI HOTELS FOR COUPLES
Miami is an excellent destination for a couples’ trip, and we’ve stayed in Miami as a couple many times. However, the best hotel really depends on what kind of holiday you’re looking for.
If you’re looking for a romantic luxury beach holiday, I’d recommend The Setai or 1 Hotel South Beach because they are absolutely incredible luxury resorts that you’ll love and remember forever. If you want a really memorable trip, these are perfect.
If you’re on a budget but still want to stay in Miami Beach, I’d go for Esme, Freehand, or Kenmore Village Hotel. These are also great options if you want to focus on the lively nightlife, because you’ll be close to Ocean Drive and everything happening around South Beach.
If you’re looking for a modern city break for just a few days, EAST Miami or The Elser Hotel would be my first two choices. For a more modern Miami experience, Downtown or Brickell are perfect. You can enjoy the restaurants, bars and city atmosphere, and still easily grab an Uber to South Beach whenever you feel like going to the beach.
MY FAVOURITE MIAMI HOTELS FOR FAMILIES
If you’re travelling with children, I wouldn’t necessarily choose the busiest part of South Beach. I’d go for Mid-Beach or North Beach instead, where you can still enjoy the beach but have a somewhat quieter atmosphere.
When choosing a family hotel, make sure you have pools, beach access, and rooms that can fit everyone, or connecting rooms if you need more than one. Out of the hotels I’ve already recommended, The Miami Beach EDITION could be great for a family trip, but you can also check out Loews or Aqualina if you want something really luxurious.
WHERE TO STAY IN MIAMI BEFORE A CRUISE
If you’re flying into Miami before a cruise, you need to decide where to stay based on how much time you have before the cruise. If you have 2–3 days before boarding, I’d definitely stay on South Beach in hotels like The Setai for luxury or Esme if you want something more budget-friendly.
If you don’t really care about seeing Miami before your cruise, or you’re arriving only the day before and want to be close to PortMiami, Downtown or Brickell makes more sense. You’ll be closer to the port and have an easy trip there in the morning. Here, check out hotels like The Elser, Hyatt Centric, or CitizenM.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE BOOKING A MIAMI HOTEL
Before you book your hotel, there are a few things I really recommend checking. First of all, don’t look at the room price alone, because Miami hotels can have additional costs such as resort or destination fees, taxes, and parking. Always check the final price before comparing two hotels.
Secondly, you probably don’t need a car if you’re staying in South Beach or Brickell, so it doesn’t really make sense to rent one and then pay for expensive parking. However, if you’re planning on doing lots of day trips, make sure you count parking into your budget for each day. We usually paid around $20–25 for a public garage, and hotel parking is often even more expensive because it’s usually valet parking.
Finally, think about where you’ll actually spend your time. If you want to spend your days at the beach and walk along Ocean Drive every evening, don’t book a hotel in Downtown just because it’s cheaper. You’ll end up spending extra money on Ubers to get to the beach every day. And if you want a peaceful resort holiday, don’t book a hotel in the middle of South Beach nightlife just because you found an affordable place.
Try to really think about what gives you the best value for money based on what you actually want to experience in Miami. We always stay on South Beach because that’s what we like, and we usually only go to Downtown Miami for maybe one day of our holiday.
MY FAVOURITE MIAMI HOTELS AT A GLANCE
| TYPE OF TRIP | WHERE I’D STAY | MY HOTEL PICK |
| First Miami visit | South Beach | The Setai (luxury) Freehand (budget) |
| Luxury beach holiday | Miami Beach | 1 Hotel South Beach |
| Romantic getaway | South Beach/Mid-Beach | The Setai |
| Budget-friendly beach stay | Miami Beach | Freehand Miami |
| Restaurants & nightlife | Brickell | EAST Miami |
| Modern city break | Brickell | CitizenM Miami Brickell |
| Short stay | Downtown | InterContinental Miami |
| Pre-cruise | South Beach/Downtown | Esme or InterContinental Miami |
| Family beach holiday | Mid-Beach/North Beach | Loews Hotel or Aqualina Hotel |
CONCLUSION: WHERE WOULD I STAY IN MIAMI?
If I were planning my first trip to Miami, I’d choose South Beach. I’ve been several times and we always stay there because it’s our favourite place. I want to be able to walk to the beach, see the Art Deco buildings, have dinner somewhere nearby, and experience that famous Miami atmosphere without spending half my holiday travelling between neighbourhoods.
If you don’t care about that and prefer a modern city atmosphere, stay in Brickell, but I honestly find it a bit boring unless you plan to spend a lot on nights out and dinners. If I were planning a luxury couples’ trip, I’d absolutely go for 1 Hotel Miami Beach because I’m obsessed with that hotel. And if you’re coming for a cruise, I’d either choose South Beach or Brickell/Downtown, depending on how much time you have before your cruise.
Miami is incredible, so make sure you choose your stay carefully to make it the best possible holiday!
Helpful resources for planning your USA trip 🇺🇸
• Find your accommodation on Booking.com, Expedia.com or Hotels.com, depending on your budget and preferences
• Rent your car with DiscoverCars
• Find your public transport options on Omio
• Get your e-Sim from GetYourGuide, Viator, or Tiqets
