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Where to stay in Miami

The best areas to stay in Miami

South Beach, Downtown and Brickell, Wynwood and Little Havana, plus Key West and Fort Lauderdale for a night away; here is how to choose, with honest advice on hotel taxes and fees, getting around without a car and value for money.

By the Best Things to Do in Miami editorial team Hotels checked 23 October 2026

Compare the 6 areas
The Miami Beach coastline, beach and towers in evening light
Short answer

For a first visit to Miami, stay in South Beach if you want the beach on your doorstep. Stay in Downtown or Brickell for the Metrorail from the airport and the free Metromover. Every hotel we list is rated 8.0 or higher on Booking.com.

The 6 best areas to stay in Miami, compared

AreaBest forKeep in mind
South Beach First visits, the beach and Art Deco Miami Beach adds its own resort tax; Ocean Drive is busy day and night
Downtown and Brickell Getting around without a car, bay cruises and business trips No beach; you take a bus or a car to Miami Beach
Wynwood Street art, bars and a creative feel Fewer hotels; far from the beach
Little Havana Cuban food, Calle Ocho and lower prices Mostly small rentals, few hotels; far from the beach
Key West A night away at the end of the Florida Keys Far from Miami: our Key West day trip takes 14 hours
Fort Lauderdale Canals, a calmer beach and a base north of Miami You need a car or train for trips into Miami

Area 1 of 6

South Beach hotels

South Beach is the best base if you want the beach and Ocean Drive on your doorstep. Many hotels here are old Art Deco buildings close to the sand. The free Miami Beach trolley runs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

It is also the start of most walks and bike rides. See the best things to do in South Beach Miami.

For tips on staying safe on the beach and at night, read our answer to the question is Miami South Beach safe.

Best for
First visits, the beach and Art Deco
Keep in mind
Miami Beach adds its own resort tax; Ocean Drive is busy day and night

Nearby guides: South Beach and Art Deco tours

A pink lifeguard tower on South Beach with the sea behind

Our picks in South Beach

More hotels in South Beach on Booking.com →

Area 2 of 6

Where to stay in Downtown and Brickell

Downtown and Brickell are the best base without a car. The Metrorail runs from the airport, and the Metromover is free. Bay cruises and the hop-on bus leave from Bayside, on Biscayne Boulevard.

Several of our picks have suites with a full kitchen, which helps on a longer stay.

Best for
Getting around without a car, bay cruises and business trips
Keep in mind
No beach; you take a bus or a car to Miami Beach

Nearby guides: Miami boat tours and Biscayne Bay cruises · Hop-on hop-off bus and city tours in Miami

Brickell towers glowing in golden light, reflected in the bay

Our picks in Downtown and Brickell

More hotels in Downtown and Brickell on Booking.com →

Area 3 of 6

Where to stay in Wynwood

Wynwood suits visitors who come for the murals, the bars and the food. You can walk to Wynwood Walls. Many stays here are apartment-style, with a kitchen.

Best for
Street art, bars and a creative feel
Keep in mind
Fewer hotels; far from the beach

Nearby guides: Food tours in Miami

A large painted face mural in Wynwood

Our picks in Wynwood

More hotels in Wynwood on Booking.com →

Area 4 of 6

Where to stay in Little Havana

Little Havana suits visitors who want Cuban food and street life at the door. Most stays are small apartments and houses, some with free parking. That makes it a good fit for groups and families.

Best for
Cuban food, Calle Ocho and lower prices
Keep in mind
Mostly small rentals, few hotels; far from the beach

Nearby guides: Food tours in Miami

A pile of dominoes

Our picks in Little Havana

More hotels in Little Havana on Booking.com →

Area 5 of 6

Where to stay in Key West

Stay a night in Key West if a day trip feels too rushed. Our picks include a historic inn in Old Town and resorts with big pools.

Best for
A night away at the end of the Florida Keys
Keep in mind
Far from Miami: our Key West day trip takes 14 hours

Nearby guides: Day trips from Miami

A two-storey wooden Key West house with porches and bougainvillea

Our picks in Key West

More hotels in Key West on Booking.com →

Area 6 of 6

Where to stay in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale suits visitors who want a quieter beach and boat trips on the canals. Our picks include a hotel on Las Olas Boulevard and one near the beach.

Best for
Canals, a calmer beach and a base north of Miami
Keep in mind
You need a car or train for trips into Miami

Nearby guides: Day trips from Miami

Fort Lauderdale beach with palms, umbrellas and blue sea, seen from above

Our picks in Fort Lauderdale

More hotels in Fort Lauderdale on Booking.com →

Miami hotel prices and taxes

Hotel rooms carry percentage taxes: the 6% Florida sales tax plus 6% Miami-Dade tax outside Miami Beach, and Miami Beach adds its own resort tax. Check whether the price you see includes them.

For value, compare rooms at the same rating: every hotel we list scores 8.0 or higher on Booking.com. For a full budget, see our guide to Miami prices.

Staying in Miami without a car

Without a car, stay in Downtown or Brickell, or in South Beach. Downtown has the Metrorail and the free Metromover. South Beach has the free trolley, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Citi Bike docks.

Our guide to getting around Miami covers buses, trains and the airport.

Questions about where to stay in Miami

What is the best area to stay in Miami?
South Beach for the beach and Ocean Drive. Downtown and Brickell if you want trains, the free Metromover and the bay cruises close by.

Where should I stay in Miami Beach?
Stay in South Beach, near Ocean Drive or Collins Avenue. You can walk to the sand, and the free trolley runs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Where should I stay in Miami for the first time?
South Beach, for the beach and the Art Deco hotels. If you have no car, Downtown and Brickell are easier for the airport and the Metromover.

Where should I stay in Miami with a family or teens?
Pick a suite with a kitchen. Our picks in South Beach and Brickell include all-suite hotels, and Little Havana has houses with free parking. For ideas, see family things to do in Miami.

Where should I stay in Miami for just one night?
Stay in Downtown or Brickell, close to the Metrorail to the airport. If you want one night on the beach, pick South Beach.

Hotels checked on Booking.com on 23 October 2026: each link opened in the browser and showed the hotel, rated 8.0 or higher there. We list no ratings or prices because they change daily; Booking.com shows the live ones.

Facts checked on 23 October 2026 against: City of Miami Beach: trolley · Miami-Dade County: transit fares · Citi Bike Miami: pricing · Booking.com: South Beach.

Written by the Best Things to Do in Miami editorial team.