Perfect 4 Days in Miami: Your Budget Itinerary

Miami can be an expensive city to visit but there are so many ways you can save money to make a trip much more affordable. And over the course of 4 amazing days sipping mojitos at the beach you might be surprised just how much it costs to visit this incredible city. That’s why I’ve created the best 4-days in Miami itinerary to help you save and enjoy your trip.

Find ways to save money in Miami on food, experiences, and hotel stays through this budget travel itinerary guaranteed to create the ultimate long weekend trip!

Getting to Miami

Flights to Miami are pretty cheap due to high competition and the choice to fly into either Miami (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale (FLL) airports. Miami International Airport is closer to Miami Beach, making it easier and cheaper to get to your hotel from the airport than flying into Fort Lauderdale but you might find that your flight options are cheaper into FLL, especially since Southwest operates here.

From the airport the easiest way to get to your hotel (if you’re not renting a car) is to book an Uber or Lyft. If you’re flying into Miami you’ll pay around $25-40 for your transfer, whereas Fort Lauderdale will be about double the price.

Where to stay in Miami

There are two options for where to stay in Miami: Miami and Miami Beach. Oftentimes when travelers think of Miami they think of Miami Beach, which is far more expensive than Miami and actually, its own town. Miami Beach is more expensive for your hotel stay but it will be easier since you can simply walk around instead of taking car every time you need to go somewhere.

I’ve compiled 3 great hotel options that are consistently under $200 to help you stretch your budget in Miami! These hotels are all great options in central locations right near the beach.

Hyatt Centric South Beach

I love this hotel because it’s in a great location and you can use World of Hyatt points to book your nights for free (currently it’s a Category 5). But if you travel to Miami off-peak season you can easily get the hotel for less than $200 a night.

>> Want to learn more about traveling the world for nearly free? Check out my complete guide to budget travel hacking and get started today!

Miami Generator (my pick if You’re on a tight budget!)

There are some really cool hostels in Miami Beach that can save you over $200 a night compared to the hotel rates in the same areas. The Miami Generator is a great option at around $70 a night for a private room (Basically a hotel, right?).

The hostel has a pool, bar, and is in a great location to explore Miami Beach. And if you’re really on a budget, you can choose a ten-person dorm for just $19 per bed.

Goodtime Hotel

Finally, Goodtime Hotel is a great hotel for a cash budget, youthful hotel. The Goodtime Hotel has a super fun aesthetic full of playful colors and fun accents. But what truly sets this hotel apart is its low rates for a hotel. At just $155 a night, this place is a well-decorated steal on Miami Beach.

Miami in 4-days: Your Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to South Beach

Welcome to Miami! By now you’ve checked into your hotel and it’s time to get out and do a bit of exploring. This evening take it easy and explore a bit of South Beach nearby. I’d recommend taking a tour of the Art Deco district. You can book a guided tour for a pretty affordable price or consider downloading the GPS MyCity tour for free.

If you arrive earlier in the day take some time to relax at Sunny Isles Beach. The beaches here are stunning with perfect sand, blue waters, and a relaxing feel, too. Or, visit some of the art galleries in Miami Beach (there are a cluster of them near Trader Joes).

What I love about the art deco district: There is just something magical about the colors and design of the buildings in this area of South Beach (and super Instagram-worthy!). Even if you're not an architecture nerd you can really enjoy this tour, as you learn a lot about the history of Miami, too.

For dinner tonight head to Sweet Liberty during their long and plentiful happy hour. You can grab a dozen oysters for just $18 or a mini po’boy for $9. Their happy hour runs from 4-7pm, so you have plenty of time to enjoy one of the best happy hours in town!

Day 2: Little Havana and Midtown

Start your morning off right with a trip to one of the many amazing bakeries and cafes on Miami Beach. I’d recommend trying out Cortadito Coffee House they have some amazing pastries (try the guava and cheese pastelito!) and coffee, too. If you want something more substantial they have a complete breakfast menu as well.

But don’t get too full because we have to eat all of Little Havana very soon! This morning you’ll head out to Little Havana, one of the most unique and culturally interesting neighborhoods in the United States. Join the 11:30 AM food tour and get started learning everything from Cuban coffee, to cigars, to mojitos and so much more.

After your food tour spend a little more time in Little Havana because there is just so much to see. Walk through the cigar shops, like El Titan de Bronze. Take the time to learn more about the history of the area at the Cubaocho Museum. Or drink a mojito at Old’s Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina.

Spend the afternoon in Downtown Miami

Midtown Miami doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Around here you’ll find a lot of great museums, like the Balloon Museum (trust me on this, it’s super cool) and the Museum of Graffiti. But if you’re interested just in general Miami history you can visit HistoryMiami or perhaps the Perez Art Museum near downtown Miami.

If you want to head a bit further south you could visit Coconut Grove for the afternoon to visit the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. This beautiful home has 10 acres of gardens overlooking the water.

After your big food tour you might or might not be hungry for a big meal this evening. (I certainly wasn’t.) You can head back to Little Havana for some live music and light appetizers at Ball and Chain. They have live music pretty much every night in an incredibly historic building near the Domino Park.

If you want to head back to South Beach for some sushi at Moshi Moshi. They run a happy hour with $10 rolls until 7:00 PM, which is honestly a steal for the quality.

Day 3: Day trip to Everglades National Park

It’s time to get out of Miami for a day trip to the Everglades! There are a few ways to visit the Everglades from Miami but the two most popular are renting a car and having a DIY day or joining a group tour from Miami into the Everglades. Let’s outline both of the options to help you decide which one is right for you.

Just a note: You can visit Everglades National Park without a guided tour or renting a car and instead taking the public bus. But the bus takes a long time and only runs at designated times, too. Making it far too inconvenient for most people (myself included).

Joining a Guided tour

Going on a guided tour to the Everglades is probably the easiest way to visit but you’ll be limited on the time and activities you can do in the park. This full-day tour is a great way to really get to experience a variety of what the Everglades has to offer.

Be sure when you’re looking at guided experiences of the Everglades transportation is included in your cost – some cheaper options only include the experience and not getting to the Everglades. All the options below have already been vetted to include your transportation, so they are great options!

Renting a car to visit

The second option to visit Everglades National Park is a bit more trouble when it comes to the logistics but it gives you a lot more freedom on your visit, too. Once you rent your car follow directions to Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center (about a 1.5 hour drive from the beach). This is the main visitor’s entrance into the park where you can pick up a brochure, see a small museum, and talk to a ranger about how you should structure your day.

Even if you visit on your own you can still add-on an airboat ride, just purchasing it as a separate ticket instead of a full-day experience.

Where to eat near Everglades National Park

There are quite a few restaurants near Everglades National Park to choose from when you’re done visiting. Everglades Gator Grill is a popular small mom-and-pop shop that has (you guessed it) gator and a variety of seafood sandwiches and platters.

Nearby you’ll also find Los Potosinos Taqueria, which has some amazing tacos in a no-fuss taco truck that’s only open on the weekends. You could also stop in for some Thai food at Bangkok Cuisine.

Your last night in Maimi, Florida

Tonight is your last night in Miami. Depending on how you feel you might be interested in traveling out one last time. I recommend this sunset cruise on the ocean. It’s a great price and includes an open bar.

Day 4: Goodbye, Miami

It’s your final morning in beautiful Miami! Take time to visit one of my favorite breakfast bagel sandwich shops at Taste Cafe. This unassuming cafe is off the main strip, which makes it cheaper and full of locals.

Taste Cafe is located near the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. Depending on your schedule you could spend your morning wandering the beautiful tropical flowers. Admission is free, so why not?

By now it’s time to say goodbye to Miami. Take an Uber or Lyft back to the airport and have a safe flight home!

How to save money on food in Miami

Food and especially drinks are expensive in Miami Beach but there are a couple of tricks that I’m certain will save you hundreds on your trip.

Eat the happy hours

Happy hours last a long time in Miami Beach (at least 7 pm, if not 8 or 9!). Though you might think of a happy hour as a great time to get a drink it’s also a good time to get some food, too. Sweet Liberty is a great place to take advantage of well-priced drinks and $1 oysters during their long-running happy hour. As a bonus, get the cauliflower nachos. They are a huge portion and perfect to share for a meal.

To find happy hours in a new city do a quick Google search of "best happy hours [city]" and you'll find great lists compiled by locals.

Find the local bakeries

Local bakeries in Miami Beach are a great place to grab lunch. Most of them include Latin influences and have a long list of amazing meat-filled pastries. You can snag a $7 empanada at Charlotte Bakery and take it to the beach for an empanada with a view.

Take a food tour of Little Havana

Little Havana is a great place to spend the day on a trip to Miami Beach. It’s cheaper and (though touristy) a local experience. One of the best ways to experience Little Havana is through a food tour. I opted for this one that took us to many local shops and had huge portions. You can easily skip a meal (or two) and get something to do and your lunch for one low price.

Things to do on a budget

See Art Deco yourself but visit the museum

There are many paid art deco walking tours throughout Miami Beach but you can just as easily do a GPS MyCity tour for free. One thing worth a small fee, however, is the Art Deco Welcome Center which includes a small museum for just $5 a person.

Join a Free Tour Miami experience

Probably the silliest free tour option I’ve ever seen, Free Tour Miami offers a tip-based party bus experience around Miami. It’s fun, it’s so Miami and it can be very inexpensive.

Take the bus to Everglades National Park

Did you know you can easily get to Everglades National Park from Miami on a bus? A roundtrip ticket can run you as little as $5.

Head to Little Havana

Is this place touristy? Absolutely. But is it still local? Absolutely. You can head out on a food tour of Little Havana for around $70 but you can also opt to create your own tour for as little as $20 or so a person.

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