Is there more to life than being ridiculously good looking? Yes, despite appearances, Miami has a lot going on beneath the suntanned surface. Read our list of the top things to do in the city, from Everglades to beaches, street art to shopping – and don’t miss the Cuban sandwiches.
Hit up South Beach
What is it about South Beach that makes it so legendary? There are beautiful art deco buildings in candy colours. The lifeguard stations are the only thing that breaks up the expanse of sand and bronzing bodies stretching down to the sea. Crowds come to wet their whistles at Wet Willies or pootle along the promenade by Segway. The tingle of glamour is palpable at Ocean Drive – you’ll see tourists photographing Versace Mansion through the shrubbery.
Onde ficar: Boulan Suites South Beach is a great place for holidaymakers seeking a little independence: these relaxed apartments each have their own kitchens and share a chic rooftop pool and Jacuzzi.
“Swing by the Wynwood Walls – graffiti artists have made them into a glorious outdoor gallery.”
Head to LIV nightclub
In Miami, you're here for the nights as well as the days. The definitive destination in Miami is LIV, an expensive two-storey monster club comprising 18,000 square feet of stunning architecture and plush furnishings all illuminated like a kind of colourful spaceship-grotto. LIV has lit up the lives of many visitors – but it also lightens the wallet.
Onde ficar: a discoteca LIV fica no enorme resort Fontainebleau Miami Beach, incluindo 22 acres de puro relaxamento. A Beyoncé atuou aqui. E está tudo dito.
Drive to the outlets
This glamorous city has to keep its residents well dressed. That’s why you’ll find beautiful beach wear and chic espadrilles at Sunset Harbour – it takes 20 minutes to drive out to this rather over-the-top arcade and bowling alley. Bal Harbour Shops is for upmarket offerings and upmarket people – there are Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren and Bonpoint boutiques. For discounts, though, most people head out of town, to Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, Florida, which has everything from a Bose factory store to Calvin Klein, Coach and Converse.
Onde ficar: Sole on the Ocean is on Sunny Isles Beach, just north of Miami. This hip beach hotel is a great base for hitting all the malls: it’s seven minutes from Bal Harbour, and half an hour from Sawgrass Mills.
Watch a sports match
A rivalidade entre as equipas da cidade é um facto. Veja os Marlins de Miami lutar pela vitória numa partida de basebol. Vá até ao bairro Little Havana para ver outro tipo de competição. Veja os habitantes locais a jogar ao dominó no parque Máximo Gómez. Se quer ver algo diferente, visite os Wynwood Walls, uma série de muros que os artistas de grafites converteram numa verdadeira galeria de arte ao ar livre. Não deixe de ver a obra dos famosos Os Gemeos de São Paulo.
Onde ficar: The Miami Beach Edition is right on the shore and, as well as its glamorous bars and spa, it has an unusual perk: its buzzing Basement, below the rooms, has an ice skating rink and bowling alley.
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Como entrar
Os três lustres do Grand Hall do hotel St. Regis são adornados com 3.000 cristais de rocha.
Faça uma reserva no hotel St Regis Bal Harbour -
Aproveite a praia
Aproveite o dia para apanhar sol e à noite visite a discoteca do hotel.
Reserve o The Miami Beach EDITION -
Play golf
Florida is made for golf holidays – the pleasant people, the relaxed atmosphere, the space and the weather means it’s easy to find a fair fairway. Originally designed by architect Robert Trent Jones and then reimagined by Raymond Floyd, the two 18-hole Championship Courses at Turnberry Isle Miami are a dream to play on.
Onde ficar: O hotel Turnberry Isle Miami, Autograph Collection tem mais do que apenas golfe. Desfrute da privacidade de um resort situado num oásis de jardins e do santuário Spa âme, com três andares.
Visit a spa
Para o bem e para o mal, Miami é uma cidade onde se dá muita importância à imagem. Não se admire se reparar que se olha mais ao espelho. Por isso, faça uma pausa: ponha rodelas de pepino nos olhos no Carillon Hotel & Spa, um hotel de bem-estar com um spa com uma área de 7.000 metros quadrados. Experimente uma meditação ao nascer do sol para começar o dia ou experimente yoga e barre. Faça uma transformação completa ideal para uma saída à noite ou mime-se com um tratamento merecido.
Onde ficar: o Carillon Hotel & Spa fica mesmo em frente ao mar na praia de Miami Beach. Além dos serviços de bem-estar, se preferir experimentar algo diferente, conheça a parede de escalada com uma altura de dois andares.
Head to the Everglades
The Floridian Everglades is a vast expanse of tropical wetland, flat and wild, with only a healthy population of crocodiles, alligators and manatees for company. Florida only gets stranger from here – drive down the Florida Keys. This chain of interconnected islands ends at Key West, just 90 miles from Cuba, but a thousand miles away from stylish Miami. This is where things get a bit weird, the locals are colourful characters and even the cats have six toes.
Estadia: o Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne fica situado em frente a uma praia belíssima e tem um enorme centro de ténis com 11 quadras.
