Learn the top things to do and see on a Relaxing Miami girls trip. Plus, get helpful tips on how to save money and where to stay.
Going on a Miami girls trip is always a good idea. Depending on what you need, you could have a relaxing vacation or party hard the whole time. Plus, if you’re like me, you’ll have Will Smith’s “Welcome to Miami” rap song running through your head while you plan the trip. Bonus!
Since my bestie and I just needed to unwind, our Miami girls trip itinerary was loaded with sunshine, spa time, cocktails, and exploring. It was exactly what we needed to reset before heading back to work, parenting, and all that life throws our way on the daily. Read on to see if a Miami girls trip is a good fit for you too.
Is Miami a good place for a girls trip?
Miami is a great place to go on a girls trip. The best area to stay for a quick getaway is Miami Beach. It’s a city on an island three miles off the coast of Florida. A bridge from mainland Miami connects to Miami Beach so you can easily drive there. Miami Beach has beautiful, white-sand beaches, Art Deco architecture, trendy eateries and clubs, and bougie hotels.
The South Beach section of Miami Beach has the wildest nightlife. So for a good night’s sleep, stay in the Mid-Beach area where there are uncrowded beaches and some of the best restaurants too. Locals say it’s also safer than staying in South Beach, which sees more crime at night.
Another thing that makes Miami Beach a fantastic girls trip destination is that you don’t need a car. You can rent bikes to cruise down the beachside boardwalk to the tip of the island. You can also use Miami Beach’s free trolley or get an Uber ride.
Is it worth going to Miami for three days?
Three days in Miami is perfect! Stay in Miami Beach and you can spend one day on the beach, the next exploring, and the final day relaxing at the spa before going home. Three days is the right amount of time to unwind and have fun on a Miami girls trip.
Is Miami expensive for a tourist?
Miami has a reputation for being expensive to visit. In Miami Beach, hotels and restaurants can be pricy. However, an affordable trip to Miami Beach is possible because there are lots of free and low-cost things to do. How can I go to Miami on a budget?
There are three major ways to save money on a trip to Miami. First, stay in Miami Beach and use the free trolley or ride bikes down the boardwalk so you don’t have to rent a car.
Second, avoid staying in the South Beach neighborhood. Hotels there are outrageously expensive. Instead, select a hotel in the Mid-Beach neighborhood, which is a cute place to stay and also a bike ride or easy walk away from the South Beach section.
Last, choose a hotel that offers free breakfast. Fill up in the morning before heading out and then take advantage of happy hour, which starts as early as 3 p.m. There are a ton of restaurants that offer happy-hour specials with lower prices on food and drinks.
best things to do on a Miami girls trip
1. Lay on a sugar-sand beach
We stayed at the Hampton Inn Mid-Beach. From there we could walk across the street to this gorgeous sugar-sand beach. It costs $35 to rent two chairs, an umbrella, and two towels for the day. You can find umbrellas and chairs to rent anywhere on the beach from the Mid-Beach neighborhood to the South Beach neighborhood.
Soaking up the ocean breezes while reading a novel and watching the waves was a lovely way to spend our first day in Miami Beach. FYI, if you’re there in the later afternoon, around 4 p.m. a man came around selling cold water, watermelon, pineapple, and baked empanadas.
2. Snap pics of the adorable lifeguard stations
I fell in love with Miami Beach’s adorable lifeguard towers. We took a long walk down the beach and snapped pictures of each one we came across. How cute are they?
3. Hit up happy hour
Miami Beach has no shortage of amazing places to eat. But they can be costly. So we chose to hit up restaurants during happy hour. Nearly every restaurant in Miami Beach offers some kind of happy hour special with cheaper drinks and appetizers. Try the Wunder Bar (in the Circa 39 Hotel) if you’re in Mid-Beach. Their white sangria and sweet-and-spicy bang-bang cauliflower appetizer are delish.
4. Indulge at a spa
You guys, a day at The Standard Spa is a must. From the hotel lobby that smelled like tropical flowers to sitting in the spa lounge with a beautiful view of the bay, the whole experience was awesome.
My bestie and I got matching manis and pedis, which gave us access to the spa amenities for the day. That included a hot steam room, dry sauna, cold room, and a gorgeous pool that looks out onto the bay (but get to the pool early because it gets crowded!).
5. Check out the shops
If you like shopping, you’ll love the Lincoln Road Mall. It’s an eight-block, outdoor mall with cafes and places to hang out and chill along the way. They have big-box stores like Aerie, Anthropologie, and Adidas as well as smaller boutiques like the Turkish candy store/bakery where we got these goodies.
6. See the Art Deco architecture
Miami Beach is famous for its Art Deco architecture, especially along Ocean Drive in South Beach. Take a long stroll or ride bikes down the street.
7. Sip frozen rose
We splurged on a post-spa meal at Lido Bayside, a restaurant in The Standard Hotel. It was so worth it—the shrimp quesadilla was delicious, the frozen rosé was refreshing, and the bay views were stunning.
8. Have dinner in a Spanish village
Espanola Way isn’t really a village. It’s two blocks of Mediterranean-style buildings in the South Beach neighborhood. It’s home to restaurants with outdoor patios, all strung with white lights. It’s a total vibe. (Note: Unless you are going there to eat a meal, there isn’t much else to do.)
9. Bike along the coast
My bestie and I walked from our Mid-Beach location down the beachside boardwalk to South Beach. But you could also rent bikes and ride all the way to the tip of the island.
10. See Everglades National Park
Since you’ve made it all the way to Florida, you may want to spend a day exploring Everglades National Park, which is about a one-hour drive away. You can book a 4-hour Everglades tour that includes pick up at a South Beach hotel, an airboat ride, and an alligator show.
11. Eat Cuban food
Miami and Cuban food just go together like peanut butter and jelly. In Miami Beach, go to Cortaditos. You can build your own bowl, or order a Cuban sandwich and a Cuban coffee. If you have the time, a food tour of Little Havana would be a blast too—but that’s on the Miami mainland.
Our Miami girls trip was a so much fun and I know yours will be too. Whether you want to stay out all night or explore all day and tuck in early to bed, Miami Beach is a fantastic girlfriend getaway!
P.S. Feeling guilty about leaving your kids behind? Make a promise to take them to Key West or Discovery Cove next time you visit Florida.
