Art Deco District in Miami Beach

Miami is a city whose great architectural history can be seen reflected in any of its streets. However, the Art Deco district, at the tip of South Beach, is the most iconic place in the entire city. This area is made up of more than 900 buildings designed in the distinctive architectural style that bears the same name as the jurisdiction.

On your tour of Miami, visit the Art Deco district to experience the glamour and colour of its buildings, most of which were built between the 1920s and 1940 s and later renovated to preserve the city's architectural legacy.

During your visit, you can also take part in traditional activities, visit museums, go on guided tours and even stay in some of the city's iconic hotels. With so many options you won't have to worry about what to see and do in Miami.

The Art Deco district is a must-see destination if you are in Miami Beach and even more so if you visit in January. During this month the Art Deco Weekend takes place, an event with more than 40 years of history, which celebrates architecture, art and music, among other cultural expressions.

If you are in Miami during these dates you will surely be interested in attending this great event, which takes place from the third Friday of the month of January. You can enjoy three days of free, continuous activities for adults and children:

• Guided tour of the Art Deco district.
• Lectures given by professionals explaining the history and importance of the Art Deco architectural movement and how it came to shape Miami's famous district.
• Exhibitions of sketches and photographic records, showing the evolution of the Art Deco district in Miami.
• Craft market, so you can buy a souvenir of this event.
• Projection of films with iconic scenes, filmed in specific places of the Art Deco district and in locations of the city of Miami in general.
• Musical show to liven up each day of the event.
• Children's area with games and special activities for the little ones.

If you're passionate about architecture and you're visiting Miami, you'll be interested in discovering the Art Deco hidden in this coastal city. So include among your tourist activities a guided architectural tour along the famous Ocean Drive. You will see some representative buildings of this artistic movement.

This type of tour usually lasts up to two hours, during which a specialised guide will accompany you along Ocean Drive Street, while introducing you to the origins of Art Deco and how it came to influence architecture.

You will have the opportunity to explore the interior of some commercial structures located in the area: hotels, restaurants and cafés. In addition, you will enjoy a privileged view of the sea, as Ocean Drive is right next to the Atlantic coast.

Don't waste any more time thinking about what to see in Miami in 1 day and join a tour of South Beach.

With the help of a guide you'll get to know the main Art Deco buildings in the area. You'll also get a close-up look at some iconic sites, which have been used as locations for the filming of famous series and movies.

You'll be able to stop for souvenir photos or simply take a closer look at each of the buildings.

You will be amazed by the precision of the rectangular lines, the elegance of the geometric shapes and the presence of ornamental elements.

You will walk in front of the renowned ** Versace mansion, the 11th Street Diner, the Tudor Hotel and the Carlyle Hotel**.

Meanwhile, the guide will tell you about the history of each building and which ones have been featured in 80's TV series such as Miami Vice or "Scarface"; a big screen film starring Al Pacino.

If you are on holiday in Miami and want to discover all the architectural elegance of the Art Deco district, you can opt to buy a self-guided tour. This way, you will go at your own pace and you won't have time constraints to stop and observe each building.

The first thing to do is to look for the official tour of the Art Deco district, developed by the MDPL Center.

To do so, you can purchase and download the app in English, Spanish, French or German, through the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

This is one of the most complete tours, designed to last at least two hours from the moment you leave the Art Deco Welcome Centre on Ocean Drive. You'll learn about the history of the city and each of the buildings as you pass through.

There are many tours of Miami's South Beach and each one offers a variety of routes, so you can choose the one that suits you best.

Among them is a tour of approximately three hours, to experience the gastronomy and peculiar architecture of this area.

You will taste the best multicultural dishes of this famous neighbourhood, along with a gastronomic guide, who will explain the origin of each preparation. You will taste Mediterranean, French, Haitian, American, Italian, Cuban and other cuisines.

You will also learn about the Art Deco district, which is located at the end of South Beach. A colourful, elegant and unique place in the world, which brings together more than 900 buildings built in the emblematic Art Deco style, which emerged in the 1910s.

If you want to live an experience full of luxury and elegance, you must visit an iconic building of Art Deco architecture in Miami. This is the Versace Mansion, which currently has its doors open to tourists as an exquisite hotel and restaurant.

You can stay at the Versace house for approximately 800 to 2000 dollars per night. Admittedly, it's a bit steep, but you'll enjoy a dreamy ambience:

• You'll be able to relax on the rooftop while soaking up the sun and admiring the fabulous view of the Atlantic Ocean.
• You'll swim in an ostentatious 24-carat gold-tiled pool.
• You will have access to a private gym.
• Pamper your body and release pent-up tension in a beautiful spa.
• Dine in an impressive dining room.

On the other hand, there is the mansion's restaurant service and garden bar, which are less expensive than staying at the hotel, but still allow you to enjoy a luxurious and tranquil atmosphere.

At the Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive in the Miami Beach neighbourhood, you'll find an incredible museum. Here you can learn all you need to know about the historic design that characterises the city.

You will learn about the predominant design styles of Miami Beach: Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival and Miami Modern, better known as Mimo. Afterwards, you will observe a series of scale models, so that you can pinpoint the elements that identify each style.

You will also learn about the development process of the city of Miami and see some visually appealing exhibits. In fact, if you're travelling with your kids, you won't have to wonder what to do in Miami with kids, as they're sure to enjoy this educational tour through the history of architecture.

Among the tours offered in Miami Beach to showcase the history and beauty of its buildings, you'll find the Mimo or Modern Miami tour. This is an architectural movement that originated from Art Deco. Be part of this expedition through the city and learn all about this peculiar style.

During the tour, the guide will accompany you through the streets as he explains how Modern Miami was born and points out the features that distinguish this style. In addition, you will be able to enter some representative buildings and see every single detail in the construction.

This tour usually lasts two hours and groups do not exceed 10 people, making it ideal for any tourist who wants to explore the city quickly, but does not yet know what to see and do in Miami in 3 days of travel.

On your tour of Miami Beach's Art Deco district, you should visit the famous Wolfsonian Museum and enjoy its architectural beauty, restored and preserved over the years. In addition, you will be able to see incredible art exhibitions.

Exhibitions, installations, workshops, lectures and guided tours are organised on a daily basis. All of these are available at a very affordable price, as the entrance fee is no more than 10 dollars.

The museum also has an amazing library and research centre, which is very popular with locals, school groups and tourists.

Visiting the Art Deco district after 7pm will help answer the question of what to do in Miami at night.

In this elegant neighbourhood of Miami Beach, you'll find a lively, colourful atmosphere and plenty of places to eat, dance, have a drink and more.

As you start your evening stroll, you'll immediately notice the neon lights on the facades of the buildings, which provide a stunning visual spectacle. Moreover, this is often the ideal setting to take some souvenir photos.

As for the nightlife, you will have access to a large entertainment area. You can go into a restaurant and sample any number of culinary delicacies for dinner. Afterwards, go to one of the countless bars and end the night in a lively Latin dance hall.

Miami's Art Deco district is characterised by high prices when it comes to accommodation, bars and restaurants. This is because most of these buildings are luxury buildings, such as the Versace Mansion, where you'll need up to $2000 to spend a night.

But don't be discouraged if you don't have a big budget. You can take part in a guided tour, which costs no more than $100 per person. This way, you will get to know this iconic neighbourhood, learn about its history and take lots of pictures of the facades.

The influx of tourists in Miami's Art Deco district is usually constant throughout the year. Hundreds of people walk the streets of this district located at the end of South Beach every day to enjoy the 900 buildings that are located there.

You will see a large number of people in the morning, afternoon and evening. All of them admiring and photographing the architectural beauty of the place: colourful facades in pastel tones, elegant designs that combine straight lines, striking ornaments, the spherical and the cuboid.