Book flights to Miami

Boat tours are the tourist staple when travelling to Miami, and they cover the open waters of the Atlantic as well as the alligator-strewn swamplands of the Everglades. The Everglades offer airboat tours and alligator farms, where feeding time is always a treat. You can also take river-boat tours (such as the Island Queen in Miami or the Jungle Queen in nearby Fort Lauderdale) along canal-like oceanic tributaries, lined with celebrity holiday homes. Miami Beach is also a hotspot for close encounters with Hollywood stars on vacation from Los Angeles.

Away from the movie-star-speckled sugary sands and exotic wetlands, the city offers further wildlife attractions at Miami Zoo, Miami Seaquarium and Jungle Island.

The beach is definitely the highlight of any trip to Miami. If lazing around on the beach is too sedate for your tastes, then spring into action with some diving, kayaking, sailing or fishing. Hot air balloon rides or yacht charters are excellent ways of seeing more of the local surroundings.

If you want to experience one of America’s national obsessions, head to Marlins Park in Little Havana, the stadium of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball Team. During American football season, the Miami Dolphins are also a major magnet for sporting enthusiasts. An American football match is not just about sport; stadiums put on ample razzmatazz at half-time too. So, if your stay does coincide with a Dolphins home game, procuring tickets will be worth the effort.

Other items on Miami’s events calendar include the Ultra Music Festival and Carnival Miami in March, and the spectacular fireworks displays on 4 July, for Independence Day. In December, visit Miami Beach for Art Basel.

After the day is done, head to South Beach for its legendary nightlife; countless restaurants and entertainment options await you.

Miami offers visitors a cornucopia of flavours from around the world, but is best known for its “New World” cuisine. This fusion of dishes is based around local produce, but is inspired by recipes and cooking techniques from Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean.

Cuban cuisine is well represented in many of the city’s restaurants and diners, while foods from Asia and the Middle East are increasingly easy to come by. Seafood lovers are also unlikely to be disappointed in coastal Miami.

Miami has several shopping areas, but you will also find plenty of tourist shops located along the seafront. Collins Avenue offers a diverse range of high-end retail opportunities, while South Beach is known for its fashion boutiques. If you are looking for an authentic American mall experience when you travel to Miami, try the huge Aventura Mall on Biscayne Boulevard, or the open-air CocoWalk on Grand Avenue.