Are you looking for the best beaches in Miami to visit? We have you covered with our list of the most gorgeous beaches in the area!
Every year, over 23 million people flock to Miami, known for its year-round sunshine from spring break to winter. Visitors come for the beaches and nightlife. The beaches in Miami are known for their soft, white sand and clear, warm, and calm Atlantic water.
With miles of coastline along the Atlantic coast, each of the beaches is unique. From the glitzy Bal Harbour and popular South Beach to nude beaches, family-friendly beaches, state parks, gay beaches, and the perfect beach for curling up with a book, there is a Miami Beach for everyone!
Here is our list of beaches in Miami to check out for your next Florida vacation!
Does Miami Have Nice Beaches?
Yes, Miami has some of the best and most iconic beaches not only in Florida but in the whole U.S.! The white sand and turquoise waters draw in tourists as much as the fun and lively vibes.
No matter what kind of beach vacation you are planning, there are beach spots in Miami perfect for you!
What is the Prettiest Beach in Miami?
It is impossible to pick one beach to give the title of prettiest beach in Miami. So many have sugary white sand and are lined with palm trees that dance in the breeze.
The prettiest Miami beaches are the ones found farther from the tourist crowds and high-rise buildings. These beaches are cleaner and have more natural surroundings.
If you are looking for some of the prettiest beaches in Miami, explore Matheson Hammock Park Beach, Crandon Park Beach, and Cape Florida Beach at Bill Baggs State Park.
What is the Clearest Beach in Miami?
If you are looking for the Miami beach with the most crystal-clear water, you need to head to Crandon Park Beach. This beach is famous for having some of the calmest and clearest water in Florida!
This is a great place to bring snorkel gear since you will have an awesome underwater view. The water is also shallow, making it perfect for younger underwater explorers.
16 Best Beaches In Miami, FL (And Nearby!) You Must Visit
Haulover Beach Park
If you’re looking for nude beaches in Miami to visit as a first-timer and want a place to feel comfortable, head to Haulover Beach Park in Miami!
Located along the southern side of Bal Harbour, many unsuspecting runners and joggers have been surprised as they come upon nudists sunning themselves on the beach!
At any given time, you’ll find hundreds of naked sunbathers and swimmers. Trust us, they’ve seen it all before. Nothing phases them! Don’t worry about getting comfortable at first, nobody will be looking at you.
Because the beach is in Haulover Park, you will have to park on Collins Avenue and walk underneath the road. Once you get to the best Miami nude beach make sure to check out the Nude Drum Circle and volleyball tournaments!
South Beach
We couldn’t talk about the best beaches in Miami without including South Beach, arguably the most famous beach in Miami. It has the hallmarks of beautiful Floridian beaches with an expansive, sugary white sands shoreline and crystal-clear turquoise water, making it the perfect spot for families.
Visitors and residents alike flock to South Beach for its vibe and culture that is not experienced anywhere else. Known by locals as SoBe this was the first section of Miami Beach to be developed. Now the white sands are surrounded by pastel art deco masterpieces and the sight is truly breathtaking.
It is topped off with the iconic colorful lifeguard stands designed by William Lane who donated his design services after Hurricane Andrew. His lifeguard towers have become the symbol of all Miami Beach.
Some say South Beach glitters, and we couldn’t agree more. South Beach is glamorous, beautiful, and lively. From tanning, relaxing on the sand, building sand castles, soaking up some water, or even renting a jet ski, there is not a dull moment here!
Be prepared for crowds as it does get busy. Keep an eye out for food carts along the sands. They’re delicious!
Miami Beach
Miami Beach is best known for the art deco buildings seen between 23rd Street and 46th Street and is known as Mid-Beach. This area of the beach is known for being more relaxed but just as glitzy as South Beach, and it has a wider beach than North Beach.
Since 2008, this stretch of the beach has been restored by the many hotels that line the beachfront, cafes, restaurants, and a boardwalk that runs the length of the beach along Collins Avenue.
One of the more popular beach entrances to Mid Beach is Indian Beach Park since this section is quieter and more family-friendly. Just be aware parking in this area is often difficult to find and expensive with almost no free parking!
Surfside
Surfside is the place to go if looking for an upscale beach feel in Miami!
Situated halfway between Miami Beach and Bal Harbour, Surfside Beach is an oceanfront neighborhood known for its luxury hotels and a plethora of retail and restaurants just steps from the beach. Even so, it has a small-town feel.
Surfside Beach is popular with European and South American visitors who flock to Florida for its year-round sunshine. This is the place to come if you want to feel as if you have your own private area on the Atlantic coast.
This Miami beach even features large sand dunes where you can often spot runners along the beach.
Bill Baggs State Park
Bill Baggs State Park is located on the southern tip of Key Biscayne. This state park is open daily from 8 am until sunset and it costs $8 per car to enter.
At Cape Florida Beach, you will find a historic lighthouse that was built in 1825 known as Cape Florida. While most known for its scenic viewpoints, as well as hiking and biking trails, the beach here is worth visiting too!
The beach is over a mile long and is often ranked one of the best Miami beaches. Here you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas as well as bicycles and paddle boards.
This is a super fun thing to do in Miami with Kids that you shouldn’t miss!
Bal Harbour
Bal Harbour is the place to go if looking for one of the upscale and swanky beach escapes in Miami. Located just north of Surfside Beach, this town is known for shopping as well as its beach.
A long beach path connects the two beaches, and you will often find beachgoers dressed in couture and sipping on cocktails at one of the glitzy resorts.
As with all the best public beaches in Miami, finding parking in Bal Harbour Village can be difficult. However, it is well worth the extra time to find parking if you want to enjoy a quiet and calm spot in the sand. This is the beach to bring a book and relax in the sand.
If you walk to the end of the beach, you’ll be met with an inlet and one of the best spots to catch a sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.
Hobie Island
Hobie Island Beach Park is one of the only dog-friendly beaches in the area. It is located on Key Biscayne just over the Rickenbacker causeway and is known for being the best beach in Miami for windsurfing in the area.
This is a great choice if looking for free beaches in Miami! Parking is free! You just have to pay the toll cost for the causeway! Just be sure to head here early on the weekends as parking fills up quickly. There are restroom and shower facilities located right off the beach.
Windsurfing equipment can be rented right from the beach and the shop has been around for over 20 years! The shop also offers lessons for those wanting to try it out for the first time.
Or you can just relax in the shallow water under the palm trees of one of the best beaches around Miami!
North Beach
North Beach is the beach to head to if looking for a low-key beach experience. It encompasses the beach access points between 63rd Street and 87th Street. It is one of the North Miami beaches, just a 15-minute drive north of South Beach.
This is a great beach choice for those looking for a beach that is both dog and family-friendly!
In this residential area, you will find a wide, white sandy beach lined by palm trees, calm waters, small sand dunes, and a boardwalk along the beach. North Beach is popular with visitors from Latin America and most of the nearby restaurants serve Latin American foods.
Stop by the bandshell for many open-air concerts overlooking the beach. Since 1961, the bandshell has been a staple of life on North Beach. There is also a beach park with a playground, dog park, picnic tables, grills, volleyball courts, and walking trails.
Sunny Isles Beach
Sunny Isles Beach is a 2-mile stretch of beach known for its wide, sandy beach and crystal clear waters, perfect for snorkeling. The beach also features the Newport Fishing Pier built in 1982, featuring a fishing area, restaurant, and lookout areas.
This is one of the best beaches in Miami to head to if looking for close proximity to shopping, restaurants, museums, nightlife, and more! Sunny Isles is often called the Florida Riveria and is known as the city of sun and sea.
One of the easiest public beach access spots is at Samson Oceanfront, a park where a parking lot is also located. There are over 10 other public access points in the area, three of which are dog friendly.
From free concerts, beach yoga, mediation, and beach activities like jet skiing, catamarans, and snorkeling, Sunny Isles Beach offers something for everyone.
Joia Beach
Located on Jungle Island, Joia Beach is a waterfront beach club. From its tropical tiki huts, high-end restaurant and bar, and entertainment, this Mediterranean beach club is the place to head if looking for somewhere special to spend the day.
The beach club is open from Wednesday to Friday from 4 pm to 11 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 1 pm to 11 pm. Reservations are required!
Complete with a full restaurant, the beach lounge offers a relaxing oasis for those looking for an upscale beach day.
While Miami is known for its amazing white sand beaches this is the first beach club in the area. Whether you come by boat or land, Joia Beach Club aims to deliver the best food, cocktails, and atmosphere in Miami.
Overall, this is one of the best vacation beaches in Miami!
Crandon Park Beach
Crandon Park is another one of the beaches located on Key Biscayne and is an 800-acre oasis located on the country’s oldest coconut plantation formally owned by William Matheson. This is the perfect spot if looking for a family-friendly beach.
Since 1949, Crandon Park has been the perfect beach to visit if you want a beach with adventure offering tennis courts, golf courses, a nature center, and a marina. The beach area at Crandon Park is a 2-mile-wide stretch of white sand beach with calm water due to the sandbar offshore.
You can enjoy water sports like paddleboarding and kayaking or grill out at one of the park’s bbq grills or picnic areas. For those not wanting to cook, there is a concession stand that sells food.
This is one of the most beautiful beaches in Miami.
Virginia Key Beach
Virginia Key is an 800-plus-acre barrier island located off the coast of Miami. Located near downtown Miami, this beach park lagoon is celebrating its 75th anniversary and is open daily until 5 pm. The entrance fee is $8 per car.
This beach is a nature lover’s dream with a plethora of mangrove trees, a mile-long shoreline, and a boardwalk through hammock trees all of which were restored in 2008. There is even a mini train that gives the history of the beach!
Virginia Key is also a great beach to head to if looking for a place that offers beach wheelchair rentals, water sports rentals, cabanas, oceanfront cabins, biking trails, and more!
This is one of the great beaches in Miami to escape the large and loud crowds.
12th Street Beach
12th Street Beach is the place to head if looking for a gay-friendly beach in Miami. You will know you are at the right place when you see the rainbow flags flying on the beach by the lifeguard shack!
Here you will often find women who enjoy sunbathing topless and gay men in speedos laying on the large white sand beach. You can expect this beach to be energetic with music often being played.
You can rent towels, chairs, and umbrellas on the beach as well as find shower and bathroom facilities.
South Pointe Park Beach
South Pointe Park Beach is the beach known for its iconic colorful lifeguard towers. This is a great spot for families as lifeguards patrol the beach, and restrooms and showers are located right off the beach along with a cafe.
Located on the southernmost tip of Miami Beach this is a 17-acre recreational park. Once you go over the sand dunes, you will arrive at a white sand beach with clear water. You can take the beach boardwalk from Miami Beach to the pier. This is a great family-friendly free beach in Miami with a playground located in the park.
There is a public parking lot with an hourly fee of $2 on weekdays and a set fee of $20 during the weekends. It is worth it to explore one of the nicest beaches in Miami.
Matheson Hammock Park Beach
Matheson Hammock Park Beach is about 30 minutes south of Miami. This beach is unique because it is a man-made atoll. The circle of palm tree-lined sand creates a calm and safe pool perfect for beginner swimmers.
Kiteboarding, kayaking, and paddleboarding are also popular activities here. For a bite to eat, stop by the Red Fish Grill for fresh seafood.
The marina is picturesque and even offers free wifi! There are picnic tables and nature trails to explore as well. You will have a fantastic time relaxing at one of the prettiest beaches near Miami.
Oleta River State Park
North of Miami, Oleta River State Park has great beaches if you want to be surrounded by nature. These secluded areas are perfect for escaping the Miami crowds.
Canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding are great ways to explore the waterways here. The mix of paved and unpaved trails offers a place for running, biking, and rollerblading.
Keep your eyes open for wildlife as well. Dolphins, manatees, rosette spoonbills, and more native Florida wildlife can be seen here. Check out the butterfly garden too.
There are a playground and picnic tables too. The whole family will agree this is one of the best beaches of Miami.
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