Ocean Drive and the Art Deco District
The best South Beach activities in Miami
Art Deco walks on Ocean Drive, bike and Segway tours, the beaches and the beachwalk, Lincoln Road and a food walk; here is how to pick, with honest advice on safety on the beach, what is free and what is worth paying for, and the price you really pay.
See our 6 picks
The best South Beach activities are an Art Deco walk on Ocean Drive and a day on the beach. Add a bike ride along the beachwalk. A guided Art Deco walk adds the history in about two hours, and our top-rated one costs from €44.
Our 6 South Beach tours
A walk, a bike tour, three Segway rides and a food walk. All six start within a few blocks of Ocean Drive. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
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from €44 per person Our top pick 2.5 hours 5.0 (59) reviews on GetYourGuide
Art Deco and history walking tour
A 2.5-hour walk from 1440 Ocean Drive with a local historian. You step into old hotel lobbies and see film locations from Miami Vice and Scarface. Tips are extra.
Best for History and architecture fans
Check availability: Art Deco and history walking tour on GetYourGuide -
from €49 per person 2 hours 4.9 (166) reviews on GetYourGuide
Art Deco Segway tour (2 hours)
Two hours on a Segway through the Art Deco district, past Ocean Drive and the Versace Mansion. Groups are up to 8. The Segway and helmet are included; tips are extra.
Best for Visitors who want to see more without walking far
Check availability: Art Deco Segway tour (2 hours) on GetYourGuide -
from €35 per person 2 hours 4.6 (163) reviews on GetYourGuide
Art Deco bike tour (2 hours)
A 5-mile guided ride to South Pointe Park, the pier and the Botanical Garden. The price covers the guide only: you rent the bike on site, and tips are extra.
Best for Riders who want a guide and a slow pace
Check availability: Art Deco bike tour (2 hours) on GetYourGuide - from €39 per person
1 hour 4.7 (153) reviews on GetYourGuide
1-hour Segway ride on Miami Beach
A short Segway ride along the shore and through the Art Deco district, with a safety briefing first. Riders must be 13 or older and weigh 99 to 254 lbs.
Best for First-time Segway riders short on time
Check availability: 1-hour Segway ride on Miami Beach on GetYourGuide -
from €67 per person 3 hours 4.7 (68) reviews on GetYourGuide
South Beach food walk
A 3-hour walk from Lincoln Road with tastings at 5 restaurants and cafes, enough for lunch. The guide adds Art Deco history. Groups are up to 10, and tips are extra.
Best for Food lovers and lunch planners
Check availability: South Beach food walk on GetYourGuide -
from €66 per person 1 hour 4.8 (46) reviews on GetYourGuide
Star Island Segway tour
A 1-hour Segway ride from 14th Street toward Star Island, with views of the bay and the skyline. Short training and water are included; tips are extra.
Best for Visitors curious about the mansions
Check availability: Star Island Segway tour on GetYourGuide
South Beach tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art Deco and history walking tour | €44 per person | 2.5 hours | Not stated | History and architecture fans | The best-rated tour here: 5.0 from 59 reviews. |
| Art Deco Segway tour (2 hours) | €49 per person | 2 hours | Up to 8 | Visitors who want to see more without walking far | The best-rated Segway ride: 4.9 from 166 reviews. |
| Art Deco bike tour (2 hours) | €35 per person | 2 hours | Up to 15 | Riders who want a guide and a slow pace | The cheapest guided tour here, before the bike rental. |
| 1-hour Segway ride on Miami Beach | €39 per person | 1 hour | Up to 10 | First-time Segway riders short on time | The cheapest Segway ride: 4.7 from 153 reviews. |
| South Beach food walk | €67 per person | 3 hours | Up to 10 | Food lovers and lunch planners | A meal and a history walk in one: 4.7 from 68 reviews. |
| Star Island Segway tour | €66 per person | 1 hour | Not stated | Visitors curious about the mansions | The only ride toward Star Island: 4.8 from 46 reviews. |
Art Deco and history walking tour
€44 per person2.5 hours 5.0 (59)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Who it suits
- History and architecture fans
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated tour here: 5.0 from 59 reviews.
Art Deco Segway tour (2 hours)
€49 per person2 hours 4.9 (166)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 8
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want to see more without walking far
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated Segway ride: 4.9 from 166 reviews.
€35 per person2 hours 4.6 (163)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 15
- Who it suits
- Riders who want a guide and a slow pace
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest guided tour here, before the bike rental.
1-hour Segway ride on Miami Beach
€39 per person1 hour 4.7 (153)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 10
- Who it suits
- First-time Segway riders short on time
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest Segway ride: 4.7 from 153 reviews.
€67 per person3 hours 4.7 (68)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 10
- Who it suits
- Food lovers and lunch planners
- Why we picked it
- A meal and a history walk in one: 4.7 from 68 reviews.
€66 per person1 hour 4.8 (46)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Who it suits
- Visitors curious about the mansions
- Why we picked it
- The only ride toward Star Island: 4.8 from 46 reviews.
None of the 6 includes hotel pickup: you meet on site. All 6 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.
What is there to do in South Beach, Miami?
In South Beach, you walk Ocean Drive, swim at the beach and ride the beachwalk. Then you eat on Lincoln Road or Espanola Way. Most of it is free.
- Ocean Drive and the Art Deco hotels: pastel buildings from the 1930s, best seen on foot or by bike.
- The beach: Lummus Park beach along Ocean Drive, and South Pointe at the southern tip.
- Lincoln Road: a street for shops and restaurants, a few blocks north.
- Bass Museum of Art: open Wednesday to Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m. Adult entry is $15.
- A night out: Ocean Drive fills with bars and music after dark.
Is Miami Beach the same as South Beach, and where is it?
No: South Beach is one part of Miami Beach, not the whole city. People also call it South Miami Beach, FL. It is the southern end of Miami Beach, an island city across Biscayne Bay from Miami.
Miami Beach runs north from South Beach for miles. Downtown Miami is on the mainland, over the causeways.
More guides for South Beach
Is South Beach safe?
South Beach is safe for most visitors who follow the beach rules. The main risk is the sea. Rip currents cause more than 80% of beach rescues.
Never fight a current. Swim near a lifeguard tower; Miami Beach lists lifeguard hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If a current pulls you out, swim parallel to the shore.
Beach rules on South Beach
Alcohol and smoking are banned on Miami Beach beaches. So are glass, coolers, tents, inflatables and loud music. Drink in bars and restaurants instead.
Which tour should I book in South Beach?
Book the Art Deco walk if you love history, and a Segway or bike tour if you want to cover more ground. The food walk suits people who want lunch with the stories.
- Art Deco walk
- 2.5 hours, from €44
- Bike tour
- 2 hours, from €35 plus bike
- Segway
- 1 to 2 hours, from €39
- Food walk
- 3 hours, from €67
Art Deco on Ocean Drive: walk it yourself or take a tour?
Walk it yourself if you only want photos; take a tour if you want the stories. Ocean Drive costs nothing to walk, and it is one of the best free things to do in Miami.
Start at the Art Deco Welcome Center, 1001 Ocean Drive. Its Art Deco Museum is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The preservation league there runs its own daily walking tour. It costs about $35, so check the league's site for the current price.
A guided tour adds hotel lobbies, film locations and the history of the buildings. Our top pick also takes you inside some lobbies you might skip on your own.
Which South Beach beach is right for you?
Pick Lummus Park beach for the Ocean Drive scene, or South Pointe for a calmer spot at the tip. South Pointe Park has a pier you can walk out on. Read more in our guide to South Pointe Beach Miami.
The ocean at South Beach: flags and lifeguards
Check the flag at the lifeguard tower before you swim. A red flag means strong surf or currents. A double red flag means the water is closed. A purple flag warns of dangerous sea life.
Seaweed can wash up in summer, and it cannot be forecast.
Is Lincoln Road Mall worth a visit?
Yes, if you want shops and a place to eat a few blocks from the beach. Lincoln Road is a street of stores and cafes. The South Beach food walk starts here, at 927 Lincoln Road.
Lincoln Road is free to walk, a few blocks north of the beach.
Bikes and Segways: how to get around South Beach
South Beach is flat, so a bike is the easiest way around. A Citi Bike costs $6.95 for 30 minutes or $24 for a day. The free Miami Beach trolley runs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., about every 20 minutes.
Segway tours cover more ground with a guide. Riders usually must be 12 or older, and there are weight limits.
Riding the South Beach boardwalk (Beachwalk)
The beachwalk runs along the sand behind the dunes. Our bike rental pick suggests the promenade at Lummus Park. Ride slowly: you share it with people on foot.
South Beach dining: where to eat, and is a food tour worth it?
A food tour is worth it if you want a guide to pick the places for you. Our pick stops at 5 restaurants and cafes, which is enough for lunch. It costs from €67, plus a tip.
On your own, Lincoln Road and Espanola Way have many places to eat.
The food walk stops at 5 places, enough for lunch. The tip is extra.
Where to stay on South Beach
Stay in South Beach if you want the beach and Ocean Drive on your doorstep. Our guide on where to stay in Miami compares it with Downtown, Brickell and Wynwood.
Tips before you book in South Beach
The bike tour price is for the guide
The 2-hour Art Deco bike tour does not include the bike. You rent it on site, so add that to the price.
Check the Segway limits
Segway rides are not for children under 12 or pregnant women. The 1-hour ride needs riders from 99 to 254 lbs.
Free cancellation
All six tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Book early and cancel if the weather turns.
Tips are extra
No tour here includes the tip for the guide. Bring some cash for it.
South Beach: questions and answers
What is there to do in South Beach, Miami?
Is South Beach in Miami safe?
Where is South Beach in Miami?
Where should I stay in South Beach?
Where should I eat in South Beach?
Are Miami Beach and South Beach the same?
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Browse all on GetYourGuideFacts checked on 23 October 2026 against: Miami Design Preservation League: tours · City of Miami Beach: Art Deco walking tour listing · The Bass: visit · City of Miami Beach: beach rules · City of Miami Beach: current beach conditions · Miami-Dade County: beach safety · City of Miami Beach: trolley · Citi Bike Miami: pricing · NOAA: sargassum inundation report.
Sources (9), facts checked on 23 October 2026
Written by the Best Things to Do in Miami editorial team.