The Best Beaches in Miami

Thursday, 15 October 2020 -
  1. Haulover Beach
  2. Surfside Beach
  3. South Beach
  4. North Beach
  5. Crandon Park
  6. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
  7. Matheson Hammock Park
  8. Sunny Isles Beach
  9. Virginia Key Beach

When people visit Miami on vacation they’re here for one thing: The beach. Miami coastlines don’t disappoint. Miami does have the best beaches with swaths of bright white sand and turquoise water.

Some beaches in Miami are decorated with palm trees that provide a shady oasis, while others are perfect for that summer golden sun tan that you might be hoping to achieve.

Most of the beaches in Miami feature trained lifeguards to ensure everyone is safe while in their care. The strong winds and tides can get pretty dangerous, so lifeguard stands have a flag system that warns visitors about the sea conditions.

 


Haulover Beach

Haulover Beach

This 1.5 mile beach is located north of Miami Beach, between the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean and it’s stunning landscape attracts travelers from all around the world.

Haulover Beach features landscaped dunes, a couple of picnic areas, and dozens of lifeguard towers.

If you are planning to visit Haulover Beach on a Tuesday, expect to find a small food truck festival with local vendors and live music performances.

Haulover Beach is also the host of a stretch of clothing optional beach. So, if you forgot to pack a suit no problem! Or, if you're looking to get some sun without any tan lines, well, this is the place for you. 

 Haulover has a nude beach (between the two northernmost parking lots), a gay nude beach (north of the lifeguard tower) and an always-adorable dog park/beach (between Lifeguard Towers two and three).

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Surfside Beach

Surfside Beach

Consideraded the best small beach in Miami. 

Surside is known as Miami's Uptown Beach Town. Nestled between Miami Beach's North Beach neighborhood and Bal Harbour.

The sand is the same coarse, dredged stuff you will find in all of Miami Beach, fronting magnificent light blue water stretching off into the horizon. It's a quieter, more affluent feel than you will find in South Beach. 

Expect to spend the day with the locals who come here to listen to live music, relax on the beach and have drinks at the nearby bars.

Surfsude is also a place for 3 amazing Hotels: Four Seasons Hotel, Grand Beach Hotel and Residence Inn.

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South Beach

South Beach

One of the most popular beaches in Miami, South Beach is definitely a place to be seen due to the many celebrities calling it their favourite. It is located on Ocean Drive, right across the street from some of the most famous nightclubs in Miami.

This trendy beach attracts all types of travelers who come here to check out the historic Art Deco architecture and dine at some of the best restaurants in the state.

The raucous heart of the beach runs from 5th to 15th Street along Ocean Drive and you’ll find a more subdued, residential atmosphere to the north and south. Down at First Street, you'll spy surfers if conditions are right.

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North Beach

North Beach

With chilled out beaches, historic Art Deco architecture and inviting green spaces, North Beach makes for a mellow, family-friendly beach destination. A beautiful oceanfront park with ample shade trees, North Shore Oceanside Park is an ideal spot to access the beach for a relaxing afternoon. You’ll find shaded walking trails, a bike path, dog park and a playground for the little ones. There are also picnic pavilions with barbecue grills if you feel like packing a feast to share with friends and family. Best of all, the white sands and aquamarine waters of the Atlantic Ocean are right there for your enjoyment. The beach is hyper-local, as tourists tend to skip over North Beach on their way from South Beach up to Surfside. It’s got a big public parking lot, and is the best beach to hit if you want to go where the locals go. 

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Crandon Park

Crandon Park

Miamians know the best beaches in the city sit across the Rickenbacker Causeway in Key Biscayne. The first you’ll encounter is Crandon Park, a soft-sand slice of paradise that feels like a deserted tropical island. The water here is bright turquoise and calm as a lake, making it the best place to bring kids who want to get in the bay.

Vendors offer lessons and rentals for kiteboarding, stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking, while there are trails across a mangrove boardwalk to a fossilized coral reef, and naturalist-led tours provided by the Nature Center.

You can find a famous sandbar that constantly changes due to the wind and tides. Back on the beach there are picnic tables, cabanas and volleyball nets, and within the park a marina, golf course and tennis center.

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Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, at the tip of Key Biscayne, is a treasure. Marked by a historic lighthouse and views out to Stiltsville. The narrow beach here feels like you’ve washed up on a marshy island, with rugged sand dunes leading to an uncrowded beach and unlimited ocean views, it's a piece of unspoiled and natural old Florida.

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Matheson Hammock Park

Matheson Hammock Park

Located just south of Coral Gables, Matheson Hammock Park is well-known for its natural landscape of swaying palms, mangroves and old oak trees.

Things to see include the man-made atoll pool, the picturesque marina, and of course, the spectacular beach which is perfect for various water activities such as kiteboarding and paddle boarding.

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Sunny Isles Beach

Sunny Isles Beach

Located beyond Haulover Beach Park and north of Miami Beach, Sunny Isles Beach consists of two miles of public beaches, upscale hotels, and dozens of souvenir shops.

This clean and uncrowded two-mile stretch of sand at the northernmost reaches of Miami Beach is lined with towering residential condominiums.

Sunny Isles Beach is also famous for its world-renowned restaurants, theatres, and nightclubs.

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Virginia Key Beach

Virginia Key Beach

Located in beautiful Biscayne Bay, less than a mile away from the shores of Downtown Miami, is one of the most scenic beaches you can find here. A unique hidden retreat full of nature, with endless views of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic — the ideal location for visitors that enjoy swimming, lazing in the sun, and rich cultural history. Visitors to this hideaway can expect to enjoy a mile-long shoreline, ride an antique carousel with views of the ocean, be transported around the area by a miniature train, and explore coastal hammock trails on a nature boardwalk.

Virginia Key Beach Park is known as an ecological treasure containing one of the largest mangrove wetlands in the state. Enjoy a truly natural adventure just minutes away from the heart of Miami. Experience unique plant and endangered animal species as a testament to some of the oldest surviving flora and fauna varieties in the region.

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