Boats from Bayside Marketplace
The best Miami boat tours
The 90-minute Millionaire's Row cruise past Star Island, a 45-minute speedboat ride, bus-and-cruise combos and a reef snorkel trip in the Keys: here is how to pick, with honest advice on whether it is worth it, drinks, tips and what costs extra, and queues and boarding at Bayside.
See our 8 picks
The best Miami boat tour for most people is the 90-minute Biscayne Bay cruise. It passes the Millionaire's Row homes on Star Island and leaves from Bayside Marketplace. It costs from about €18 a person. Drinks on board and tips cost extra. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
Our 8 picks for Miami boat tours
Seven of the eight leave from Bayside Marketplace or meet next to it. The last one is a reef trip in the Florida Keys. All eight have free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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from €18 per person Our top pick 1.5 hours 4.5 (9,431) reviews on GetYourGuide
Biscayne Bay Millionaires' Homes cruise
A 90-minute cruise past Star Island, Hibiscus Island and the Venetian Islands, with a live guide in English and Spanish. Food, drinks and tips cost extra.
Best for First-timers and anyone on a budget
Check availability: Biscayne Bay Millionaires' Homes cruise on GetYourGuide - from €45 per person
Open-top bus loop
4 hours 4.1 (2,440) reviews on GetYourGuide
Bay cruise plus open-top bus tour
An open-top bus tour with audio in English and Spanish, plus a 90-minute bay cruise past Millionaire's Row. About 4 hours. Food and drinks cost extra.
Best for Visitors who want the city and the bay in one go
Check availability: Bay cruise plus open-top bus tour on GetYourGuide -
from €46 per person 45 minutes 4.6 (2,098) reviews on GetYourGuide
Sightseeing speedboat ride
A fast 45-minute ride out to the ocean and along South Beach, with a live guide. Tips and photos are optional extras. Not for children under 3, pregnant women or people with back problems.
Best for Thrill seekers short on time
Check availability: Sightseeing speedboat ride on GetYourGuide -
from €31 per person 1.5 hours 4.4 (1,142) reviews on GetYourGuide
Original Millionaire's Row cruise
A 90-minute narrated cruise past the homes of famous people, with views of the skyline. Food, drinks and tips cost extra.
Best for Visitors who want the classic cruise
Check availability: Original Millionaire's Row cruise on GetYourGuide -
from €27 per person 1.5 hours 4.5 (239) reviews on GetYourGuide
Celebrity homes boat tour on a double-decker
A 90-minute cruise past Star Island, the port and the Venetian Islands. You pick the open top deck or the cooled lower deck. Drinks, tips and parking cost extra.
Best for Hot days and mixed groups
Check availability: Celebrity homes boat tour on a double-decker on GetYourGuide -
from €27 per person 1.5 hours 4.2 (225) reviews on GetYourGuide
Millionaires homes boat tour with a bar
A 90-minute double-decker cruise with a bilingual guide and a bathroom on board. An open bar is an option you can pick. Tips, parking and dinner cost extra.
Best for Groups who want drinks on the cruise
Check availability: Millionaires homes boat tour with a bar on GetYourGuide -
from €46 per person 6 hours 4.6 (95) reviews on GetYourGuide
All-in-one city tour with a Millionaire's Row cruise
A small-group day of about 6 hours with Wynwood, a Cuban coffee tasting and the bay cruise. Pickup is offered in South Beach and at Bayside. Tips, food and alcohol cost extra.
Best for Visitors who want pickup and a guide all day
Check availability: All-in-one city tour with a Millionaire's Row cruise on GetYourGuide -
from €79 per person 3 hours 4.3 (61) reviews on GetYourGuide
Sombrero Reef snorkel boat, in Marathon, in the Florida Keys
A 3-hour boat trip to Sombrero Reef with a guide, gear, water, soda and fruit. It starts in Marathon, a long way south of Miami, so plan the drive.
Best for Snorkelers already heading to the Keys
Check availability: Sombrero Reef snorkel boat, in Marathon, in the Florida Keys on GetYourGuide
Miami boat tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Pickup | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biscayne Bay Millionaires' Homes cruise | €18 per person | 1.5 hours | Up to 100 | Meet on site | First-timers and anyone on a budget | The cheapest cruise here and the most reviewed: 9,431 reviews. |
| Bay cruise plus open-top bus tour | €45 per person | 4 hours | Not stated | Meet on site | Visitors who want the city and the bay in one go | One ticket for the bus and the boat, with 2,440 reviews. |
| Sightseeing speedboat ride | €46 per person | 45 minutes | Not stated | Meet on site | Thrill seekers short on time | The only speedboat ride here, rated 4.6 from 2,098 reviews. |
| Original Millionaire's Row cruise | €31 per person | 1.5 hours | Up to 70 | Meet on site | Visitors who want the classic cruise | A long-running cruise with 1,142 reviews and a 4.4 rating. |
| Celebrity homes boat tour on a double-decker | €27 per person | 1.5 hours | Up to 90 | Meet on site | Hot days and mixed groups | A cooled lower deck for hot or wet days. |
| Millionaires homes boat tour with a bar | €27 per person | 1.5 hours | Up to 100 | Meet on site | Groups who want drinks on the cruise | The only cruise here with an open-bar option. |
| All-in-one city tour with a Millionaire's Row cruise | €46 per person | 6 hours | Up to 14 | Pickup included | Visitors who want pickup and a guide all day | The only pick with pickup, limited to 14 people. |
| Sombrero Reef snorkel boat, in Marathon, in the Florida Keys | €79 per person | 3 hours | Not stated | Meet on site | Snorkelers already heading to the Keys | A reef trip with gear and snacks included. |
Biscayne Bay Millionaires' Homes cruise
€18 per person1.5 hours 4.5 (9,431)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 100
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- First-timers and anyone on a budget
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest cruise here and the most reviewed: 9,431 reviews.
Bay cruise plus open-top bus tour
€45 per person4 hours 4.1 (2,440)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want the city and the bay in one go
- Why we picked it
- One ticket for the bus and the boat, with 2,440 reviews.
€46 per person45 minutes 4.6 (2,098)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Thrill seekers short on time
- Why we picked it
- The only speedboat ride here, rated 4.6 from 2,098 reviews.
Original Millionaire's Row cruise
€31 per person1.5 hours 4.4 (1,142)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 70
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want the classic cruise
- Why we picked it
- A long-running cruise with 1,142 reviews and a 4.4 rating.
Celebrity homes boat tour on a double-decker
€27 per person1.5 hours 4.5 (239)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 90
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Hot days and mixed groups
- Why we picked it
- A cooled lower deck for hot or wet days.
Millionaires homes boat tour with a bar
€27 per person1.5 hours 4.2 (225)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 100
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Groups who want drinks on the cruise
- Why we picked it
- The only cruise here with an open-bar option.
All-in-one city tour with a Millionaire's Row cruise
€46 per person6 hours 4.6 (95)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 14
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want pickup and a guide all day
- Why we picked it
- The only pick with pickup, limited to 14 people.
Sombrero Reef snorkel boat, in Marathon, in the Florida Keys
€79 per person3 hours 4.3 (61)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Snorkelers already heading to the Keys
- Why we picked it
- A reef trip with gear and snacks included.
All 8 offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 23 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Which Miami boat tour is best?
The 90-minute Biscayne Bay cruise is the best boat tour for most people. It is cheap, it leaves from Bayside, and it shows you Star Island and the skyline.
Pick by what you want from the day:
- Cheapest look at the bay: the Millionaires' Homes cruise, from €18.
- Speed and spray: the 45-minute speedboat ride, from €46.
- City and bay in one ticket: the bus-and-cruise combo, from €45.
- Pickup and a guide all day: the all-in-one city tour, from €46.
- A reef and fish: the Sombrero Reef trip in Marathon, from €79.
Are Miami boat tours worth it?
Yes, for most visitors a 90-minute bay cruise is worth it. You see the famous island homes, the port and the skyline in one short trip.
It is less worth it if you only want photos of the skyline. You can see much of it from the shore for free. It also feels long if you hate crowds, because the big boats are busy.
For a quiet trip, pick a smaller boat. For a party, pick a sunset or yacht trip from the guides below.
How much does a boat ride in Miami cost?
A boat ride in Miami costs from about €18 to €79 a person on our list. The 90-minute bay cruises cost €18 to €31. The speedboat and the combos cost about €45 to €46.
Private yachts cost much more. They are priced per group, and most add fees you pay on the day. On the yacht listings we checked, the captain costs $45 to $100 an hour. Some add a fuel fee, often $50, or a docking fee. The yacht rental guide above compares them.
Most cruises add costs on the day. Plan for these extras:
- Tips: extra on every bay cruise. The cards give no set amount.
- Parking: extra on the double-decker cruise and the cruise with a bar. The cards give no price.
- Drinks and snacks: sold on board. The open bar is an option you pay for when you book.
- Photos: optional on the speedboat ride.
Compare the tours: sightseeing, sunset, speedboat, bundles
Here is each type side by side. The plain rule: pick the 90-minute cruise unless you want speed, pickup or a reef.
- Sightseeing cruise: 1.5 hours, by day, big double-decker boats on most. Includes a live guide. Suits first-timers and families.
- Speedboat: 45 minutes, by day, a small fast boat. Includes a live guide. Suits adults who want a thrill.
- Bus and cruise combo: about 4 hours, by day. Includes the open-top bus and the 90-minute cruise. Suits a first day in Miami.
- All-in-one day tour: about 6 hours, up to 14 people. Includes pickup in South Beach or Bayside, water and coffee. Suits visitors without a car.
- Reef snorkel boat: 3 hours in Marathon. Includes gear, a guide and snacks. Suits swimmers heading to the Keys.
Miami speedboat tours
The speedboat ride lasts 45 minutes and goes out to the ocean and along South Beach. It is fast and you will get wet.
It is not for children under 3, pregnant women or anyone with back problems. Tips and photos are optional extras.
What will you see on a Biscayne Bay boat tour?
On a Biscayne Bay boat tour you see the downtown skyline, the cruise port and the homes on Star Island. Most cruises also pass Hibiscus Island, Sunset Island and the Venetian Islands.
The guide points out homes of famous people. One cruise names Shaquille O'Neal, Gloria Estefan and Thalia among the owners on its route.
Fisher Island: why you only see it from the water
Fisher Island has no road to it. Its ferry is for residents and their guests only, so a cruise is how most visitors see it.
Day, sunset or night: when should you go?
Go by day for the clearest views of the homes. Go at sunset for the light and a drink on deck.
Summer brings afternoon storms. June and September are the wettest months in Miami, with over 10 inches of rain each. January is the driest.
Miami night boat tours
None of our eight picks is a night-only tour. The sunset cruises are the closest thing. Some stay out after dark, so you see the city lights come on.
What is included and what costs extra?
Every bay cruise here includes the boat ride and a live guide. That is all you get for the base price.
Food and drinks cost extra on every Bayside cruise, and they are sold on board. Tips are extra too. Two cruises list parking as extra, and the speedboat sells photos.
The reef trip in Marathon is the exception. It includes gear, water, soda, fruit and light snacks.
What should you know before you book?
Book a tour with free cancellation, and all eight of ours have it. You can cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund.
Children are welcome on the bay cruises. The speedboat is the one to skip with a child under 3. Big groups fit best on the double-decker boats.
The county's manatee plan sets slow-speed zones in much of the bay. So boats go slowly in places, and that is normal.
Bayside Marketplace: where most boats leave
Most cruises leave from Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami. Here are the key facts:
- Address: 401 Biscayne Blvd, downtown Miami.
- Bus combo: starts at 333 Biscayne Blvd, next door.
- Pier: several companies board side by side. Check your ticket for the right pier.
- Timing: come early.
- Without a tour: the water taxi Miami guide covers the do-it-yourself way onto the bay.
Not a sightseeing cruise? Yachts, sandbar, water sports and airboats
If a big cruise is not for you, the guides above cover every other way onto the water. Each one has its own picks and prices. Pick the big cruise for the views, and one of these guides to go at your own pace.
- Your own boat: a private yacht for your group.
- Sunset: cruises with drinks as the sun goes down.
- Swim and float: the Haulover sandbar.
- Thrills: jet skis and parasailing.
- Under the water: snorkeling trips.
- Quiet water: kayaks and paddleboards.
- Fishing: deep-sea and canal fishing trips.
- Airboats: rides in the Everglades, west of the city. See our Everglades airboat tours.
Tips before you book a Miami boat tour
Bring cash for tips
Tips are not in the price of any bay cruise. Drinks on board cost extra too.
Plan for parking
Two cruises list parking as extra. Check how you will get to Bayside before the day.
Want the bus too?
The bus-and-cruise combo is one ticket for both. Compare it with our hop-on hop-off bus guide first.
Watch the weather
Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Summer storms come in the afternoon, so a morning cruise is safer.
Miami boat tours: questions and answers
Which boat tour is best in Miami?
Are Miami boat tours worth it?
How much does it cost to go on a boat ride in Miami?
Where should I stay in Miami before a cruise?
Are there airboat rides in Everglades National Park?
More Miami boat tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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See all of these tours with today's prices on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideFacts checked on 23 October 2026 against: NOAA: hurricane season · NOAA NCEI: Miami climate normals · Miami-Dade County: manatee protection plan · NPS: Everglades FAQ.
Sources (4), facts checked on 23 October 2026
Written by the Best Things to Do in Miami editorial team.