3-Day Luxury Miami Itinerary: The Complete Day-by-Day Guide (2026)

3-Day Luxury Miami Itinerary: The Complete Day-by-Day Guide

Three days in Miami is the sweet spot.

Fewer than three days and you are just scratching the surface. You will hit the beach, eat one good dinner, maybe see a club, and then you are back at the airport feeling like you missed everything. Stay a full week and you risk going broke (Miami is not a cheap city), or worse, burning out on the same stretch of Collins Avenue.

But three days? That is enough time to actually experience the city. You can do a full beach day, explore the neighborhoods that give Miami its character, get on the water, eat at the restaurants you have been saving on Instagram, go out at night, and still have a morning to cruise down a coastal highway with the top down before your flight home.

This is not a generic "top things to do" list. It is a structured, hour-by-hour itinerary built for people who want a premium Miami experience. Every recommendation is specific. Every transition between activities is mapped out. And the whole thing is designed so you can actually pull it off without running yourself into the ground.

Let's get into it.

Before You Go: Planning Your 3 Days

Best Time to Visit Miami

Miami is a year-round destination, but the experience varies dramatically depending on when you go.

The prime window is November through April. Temperatures sit in the mid-70s to low 80s, humidity is manageable, and the city's social calendar is packed. This is when the best DJs are in town, the rooftop bars are at full capacity, and the energy on South Beach hits its peak.

If you want to overlap with a major event, consider timing your trip around Miami Music Week in March, the F1 Grand Prix in May, or the South Beach Wine and Food Festival in February. These events bring a different level of energy to the city, and the people-watching alone is worth the trip.

June through October is the off-season. Expect afternoon thunderstorms, serious humidity, and lower hotel prices. The trade-off: fewer crowds, better deals on everything, and the locals-only version of Miami that tourists never see. If you can handle the heat, off-season is an underrated move.

Where to Stay

For a 3-day luxury trip, your accommodation sets the tone for everything else. You have two solid options.

Option 1: A private villa. This is the move if you are traveling with a group, want a home base with a pool and outdoor space, and prefer privacy over hotel amenities. Miami has waterfront villas with private docks, rooftop terraces, and enough space for 6 to 14 guests. The best areas for villa rentals are Miami Beach (north of 40th Street), the Venetian Islands, and Coconut Grove.

A few standout properties worth looking at: Villa Torto for groups that want a statement home with resort-level finishes. Villa Palima for a more intimate setting with bay views. Both are centrally located and designed for exactly this kind of trip.

Option 2: A luxury hotel on South Beach or in Brickell. Hotels work best for solo travelers or couples who want walkability and concierge service. The Faena, the Setai, and the Four Seasons in Brickell are all excellent for a luxury trip. Just know that weekend pool areas get crowded, and you will not have the same level of space or flexibility that a villa offers.

Arranging Your Transportation

Miami is a car city. Full stop. Public transit will not get you from South Beach to Wynwood to Coconut Grove and back without eating up hours of your trip. Ride-sharing works, but surge pricing on weekend nights can be brutal, and you will spend more time waiting for drivers than actually enjoying yourself.

The best approach for a 3-day luxury trip: rent an exotic or luxury car for the full duration. This gives you total freedom to move on your own schedule, and in Miami, the car you drive is part of the experience. A Lamborghini Urus turning heads on Ocean Drive. A Rolls-Royce Ghost pulling up to dinner at Carbone. A Mercedes G-Wagon loaded with your group cruising to Wynwood. The car becomes a piece of the trip, not just a way to get from A to B.

If you do not want to drive yourself, chauffeur service is the alternative. A professional driver in a luxury SUV handles all the logistics: pickups, drop-offs, parking, and navigating Miami traffic so you do not have to. This is especially smart for nights out when nobody should be behind the wheel.

Pro tip: book your car at least 2 to 3 weeks before your trip, especially during peak season. The most popular exotic cars to rent in Miami (Lamborghinis, Ferraris, G-Wagons) sell out fast on weekends.

Day 1: Arrival, South Beach, and Brickell Nightlife

Day 1 is about settling in, getting your bearings, and easing into Miami's rhythm. The goal is not to do everything today. It is to arrive, soak up the energy of the city, and set the stage for the bigger days ahead.

Morning to Early Afternoon: Arrive and Get Set Up

Fly in as early as you can. If you are coming from the East Coast, aim for a morning flight that puts you on the ground by 11am. West Coast travelers should try for a red-eye that arrives before noon.

Pick up your rental car at the airport or have it delivered to your hotel or villa. Most exotic car rental services in Miami offer delivery and pickup, which means someone can have a Porsche 911 Cabriolet or a BMW M8 convertible waiting for you at arrivals. That first drive from MIA to Miami Beach, with the windows down and the palm trees lining the MacArthur Causeway, is one of the best introductions to the city you will get.

Check into your villa or hotel, drop your bags, and change into something comfortable. Do not overthink the outfit. You are headed to the beach.

1pm to 4pm: South Beach

Head to South Beach between 1pm and 2pm. The afternoon sun in Miami is strong, so bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.

The stretch between 10th Street and 14th Street is the most iconic section of South Beach. The lifeguard towers, the turquoise water, the Art Deco buildings lining Ocean Drive behind you. This is the Miami you have seen in photos and movies, and it hits different in person.

If you want a more relaxed setting, head to Mid-Beach between 36th and 50th Street. Same beautiful sand, fewer crowds, and a quieter atmosphere. Surfside, just north of Bal Harbour, is even more laid-back.

Spend 2 to 3 hours here. Swim, walk the shoreline, grab a drink at a beachside bar. Do not rush it. This is your decompression time after travel.

4pm to 6pm: Ocean Drive Walk and Espanola Way

After the beach, rinse off and take a walk along Ocean Drive. The Art Deco Historic District runs from about 5th Street to 15th Street and features dozens of beautifully preserved buildings from the 1930s and 1940s. The architecture is genuinely impressive, and in the late afternoon light, the pastel colors pop against the sky.

Turn west on Espanola Way (between 14th and 15th Street). This narrow, Mediterranean-style pedestrian street has outdoor cafes, art vendors, and a European village feel that is completely different from the rest of South Beach. It is a great spot for a coffee or a light snack before heading back to get ready for dinner.

7:30pm to 9:30pm: Dinner in Brickell

For your first dinner in Miami, head to Brickell. This is Miami's financial district, but at night, it transforms into one of the best dining and nightlife neighborhoods in the city.

Komodo is the signature Brickell dinner spot. It is a three-story indoor-outdoor restaurant with Southeast Asian fusion food, an extensive cocktail menu, and a rooftop lounge that gets packed on weekends. The peking duck and the lobster dynamite are the standout dishes. Make a reservation at least a week in advance.

Alternatives: Cantina La Veinte for upscale Mexican with a lively atmosphere. Zuma for Japanese izakaya-style dining with a terrace overlooking the Miami River. Both are excellent for a first night.

10pm Onward: Brickell Night Out

Brickell is the perfect neighborhood for a first-night outing because everything is walkable. After dinner, you can bar-hop without getting in a car.

Start at Sugar, the rooftop bar at EAST Miami hotel. The views of the Brickell skyline are stunning, the cocktails are strong, and the atmosphere is upscale without being pretentious. From there, walk to Mama Tried for a more relaxed, dive-bar-meets-cocktail-lounge vibe.

If you want to keep the night going, head to a Brickell club. The options rotate seasonally, so check the Miami club guide for what is current. But the key for Night 1: do not go too hard. Tomorrow is the big day.

Aim to be back at your villa or hotel by 1am. You will thank yourself in the morning.

Day 2: Yacht Charter, Wynwood, and the Main Event Night

This is the centerpiece of your trip. Day 2 is packed, and every segment builds on the one before it. The morning is for the water. The afternoon is for art and culture. The evening is for the best dinner of the trip. And the night? The night is for going all out.

9am to 10:30am: Slow Morning

Do not set an alarm for 6am. You were out last night, and today is a marathon, not a sprint.

Wake up naturally, have coffee at the villa (or order room service at the hotel), and eat a real breakfast. If you are staying in a villa, stock the kitchen the night before with fruit, eggs, and good coffee. If you want to go out, A La Folie on Espanola Way does excellent French-style pastries and crepes.

Use this time to confirm your yacht charter details. Check the weather forecast. Apply sunscreen. Pack a bag with swimsuits, towels, sunglasses, and a portable speaker.

11am to 4pm: Private Yacht Charter on Biscayne Bay

This is the highlight of the entire trip for most people. A private yacht charter through Biscayne Bay is, without exaggeration, one of the best things you can do in Miami.

Here is what a typical 5-hour charter looks like.

You board at a marina in Miami Beach or Downtown around 11am. The captain and crew brief you on the vessel, show you around, and get the music going. Within minutes, you are cruising out of the marina and into the open bay.

The first stretch takes you past Star Island, where the mansions line the waterfront. You will see homes belonging to some of the most recognizable names in entertainment and business. The captain usually has stories about who lives where.

From there, you head south past Fisher Island and toward the sandbar near Nixon Beach or Haulover. This is where the boat anchors and everyone jumps in. The water is shallow, warm, and incredibly clear. Other boats anchor nearby, and on weekends the sandbar turns into a floating party with music drifting across the water.

Spend an hour or two at the sandbar swimming, floating, and soaking it in. Most charters include options for catering, so you can have food and drinks brought onboard. Some vessels also have water toys: paddleboards, jet skis, inflatable slides, and snorkeling gear.

For vessel selection, a yacht in the 60 to 85-foot range is ideal for groups of 6 to 12. Larger groups can look at 85-foot to 110-foot yachts that feature jacuzzis, multiple sun decks, and dedicated crew quarters. The Wally 85 is a sleek, modern option with a minimalist design. The Rodman 110 with jacuzzi is the flagship choice for groups that want the full luxury treatment.

Around 3:30pm, the captain starts heading back. The return cruise along the coast gives you views of the Miami skyline from the water, which is one of the best perspectives of the city. You are back at the marina by 4pm, sun-kissed and already talking about booking another charter.

4:30pm to 6:30pm: Wynwood and the Design District

Head back to your hotel or villa, shower quickly, and change into something comfortable but presentable. Then drive to Wynwood. In a convertible or exotic car, the drive itself is part of the fun.

Wynwood is Miami's creative heart. The neighborhood is defined by large-scale murals covering nearly every building, and the Wynwood Walls (a curated outdoor gallery) is the epicenter. Even if you are not an art person, the colors and scale of the work here are genuinely impressive. It is also one of the most photographed spots in the city, for good reason.

Walk the main blocks between NW 2nd Avenue and NW 26th Street. Duck into galleries like Mana Contemporary or the Rubell Museum if you want something more curated. The neighborhood is also packed with excellent restaurants, bars, and coffee shops.

If you have time, drive 10 minutes north to the Miami Design District. This is where high fashion meets public art. The district is an open-air luxury shopping destination with brands like Dior, Prada, and Louis Vuitton, but the architecture and art installations between the stores are what make it special. The Fly's Eye Dome by Buckminster Fuller, the giant slide by Carsten Holler, and the rotating sculpture installations make it feel more like a gallery than a mall.

Grab a late afternoon snack or a cocktail at one of the Design District's restaurants. MC Kitchen has solid Italian food. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon is a splurge-worthy fine dining option.

7:30pm to 9:30pm: The Big Dinner

Tonight is your marquee dinner. This is the meal you want to remember.

Carbone on South Beach is the top choice. The restaurant recreates a 1950s Italian-American supper club, and the food is spectacular. The spicy rigatoni vodka, the veal parmesan, and the Caesar salad (made tableside) are all worth ordering. The atmosphere is theatrical, with tuxedoed waiters and Dean Martin on the speakers. Reservations are extremely competitive, so book as far in advance as possible.

Alternatives for the marquee dinner: Papi Steak for a bold, over-the-top steakhouse experience. Major Food Group's Sadelle's for a more relaxed but equally polished option. Cote Miami in the Design District for a Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse concept.

For the drive to dinner, this is the night to bring the statement car. A Rolls-Royce pulling up to Carbone on Collins Avenue is exactly the kind of moment Miami was built for. If you have a Bentley Continental GT or a Ferrari Roma in the fleet, tonight is when you use it.

10pm to Late: The Main Event Night Out

After dinner, head to a cocktail bar for one drink before the club. The Regent Cocktail Club on Collins is an intimate, dimly lit bar with a speakeasy feel. Sweet Liberty on Collins Avenue is one of the best cocktail bars in the country. Either one is a perfect transition between dinner and dancing.

Then: the club.

LIV at the Fontainebleau is the most iconic nightclub in Miami. The production value is insane, with world-class DJs, a massive LED wall, and an energy level that hits different than anywhere else in the country. Saturday nights at LIV are legendary. The catch: table minimums on weekends are high, and the wait to get in without a table can stretch past an hour. If you are going to LIV, commit to the table.

E11even is the alternative. It is a 24-hour ultraclub in Downtown Miami with live performances, aerialists, and a production that blurs the line between nightclub and theater. E11even never closes. Literally. You can walk in at 3am on a Tuesday and the place will be going. For a Saturday night, it is one of the most high-energy rooms in the country.

For a more curated vibe, check the current lineup at Do Not Sit on the Furniture in South Beach (house music, intimate setting) or Basement at the Edition (bowling alley and ice rink attached to a nightclub, which is as Miami as it gets).

How you arrive matters. Pull up to the valet in your rental. The valet line at LIV on a Saturday is a scene in itself, and showing up in something memorable sets the tone for the rest of the night. If you have a chauffeur, have them drop you right at the VIP entrance.

Day 3: Coral Gables, Scenic Drive, and Departure

Day 3 is about slowing down without losing momentum. You have had two big days. Today, you trade the clubs and the sandbar for scenic drives, leafy neighborhoods, and a side of Miami that most tourists never see.

9:30am to 11am: Late Breakfast in Coconut Grove

Sleep in. You earned it.

When you are ready, drive to Coconut Grove for breakfast. The Grove is one of Miami's oldest neighborhoods, and it has a completely different feel from South Beach or Brickell. The streets are canopied by massive banyan trees, the architecture is a mix of Mediterranean Revival and modern tropical, and the pace is noticeably slower.

Greenstreet Cafe is the classic Coconut Grove breakfast spot. It has been open since the 1990s, and the outdoor patio is one of the best people-watching spots in the neighborhood. Order the avocado toast or the eggs Benedict and take your time. You are in no rush.

After breakfast, walk through CocoWalk, the recently renovated open-air shopping and dining complex in the center of the Grove. It is not a tourist trap. It is a well-designed space with good restaurants, boutique shops, and a cinema.

11am to 1pm: Coral Gables and Vizcaya

From Coconut Grove, it is a 5-minute drive to Coral Gables. This is one of the most beautiful residential areas in South Florida, and the architecture alone is worth the trip.

The city was designed in the 1920s by George Merrick, who envisioned it as a "City Beautiful" with Mediterranean Revival architecture, wide boulevards, and lush landscaping. The result is a neighborhood where every street looks like it belongs in a movie. Driving through Coral Gables in a convertible is one of the most underrated experiences in Miami.

Key stops in Coral Gables:

·       The Biltmore Hotel: A massive 1926 landmark with a 315-foot tower modeled after the Giralda in Seville. The lobby and pool area are open to visitors, and the Sunday brunch here is legendary.

·       Venetian Pool: A spring-fed swimming pool carved out of a coral rock quarry in 1924. It is genuinely one of the most beautiful public pools in the world. Open for swimming seasonally.

·       Miracle Mile: The main commercial street of Coral Gables, with independent boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. Less flashy than South Beach, but more authentic.

If you have time, visit Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. This 1916 estate was built by industrialist James Deering and features a main house with 34 rooms of European antiques, plus 10 acres of formal gardens on the shore of Biscayne Bay. It is one of the most visited cultural sites in Florida, and the gardens alone are worth the stop.

1:30pm to 3:30pm: The Scenic Drive

This is the part of the itinerary where your rental car really earns its place.

From Coral Gables, take the Rickenbacker Causeway south toward Key Biscayne. This raised causeway crosses Biscayne Bay with the downtown Miami skyline behind you and the open Atlantic in front. The views are wide, unobstructed, and absolutely stunning. If you are in a convertible or a car with a panoramic roof, this is the drive you will remember.

Once you cross onto Key Biscayne, you have a couple of options. Crandon Park is a beautiful public beach on the north end of the island with calm, shallow water and a long stretch of sand that is far less crowded than South Beach. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is at the southern tip and features a historic lighthouse and some of the most pristine natural beach in the Miami area.

Drive the full loop of Key Biscayne, then head back across the causeway. On the return, pull over at the designated overlook spots for photos. The skyline shot from the Rickenbacker Causeway, especially with a photogenic car in the frame, is one of the most iconic images of Miami.

If you are looking for more driving, continue north from downtown along the Julia Tuttle Causeway back to Miami Beach, then cruise up Collins Avenue through Bal Harbour. The entire loop takes about 90 minutes with stops and gives you a comprehensive tour of Miami's coastline.

4pm to 5:30pm: Final Meal or Golden Hour at the Villa

You have a choice here depending on your departure time.

If your flight is in the evening (7pm or later), head back to your villa or hotel and enjoy the golden hour. If you have a villa with a pool, this is the time to float, take final photos, and soak up the last of the Miami sun. It is a perfect way to close the trip.

If you want one last meal, try something casual but excellent. Sushi Garage on Sunset Harbour is a locals' favorite with outstanding omakase. La Sandwicherie on 14th Street is a Miami institution that has been making French-style pressed sandwiches since 1988. KYU in Wynwood does wood-fired Asian cuisine that has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

Then pack up, load the car, and head to MIA. If you are returning a rental, most services offer airport drop-off so you can drive your exotic car right up to departure. It is the best possible bookend to the trip.

Extending to 4 or 5 Days

Three days covers the essentials, but if you have the time and budget, a 4th or 5th day allows you to go deeper.

Day 4: The Recovery and Culture Day

Start with a late brunch in Wynwood. Beaker and Gray has one of the best brunch menus in the city. Then spend the afternoon at the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), which sits on the waterfront in downtown with excellent contemporary art and panoramic bay views from the terrace.

In the evening, keep it low-key. Sunset drinks at a waterfront bar like the Lido Bayside Grill at the Standard Spa in Miami Beach. A simple dinner at a neighborhood spot. Early to bed.

Day 5: Key Biscayne Deep Dive or a Day Trip

With a 5th day, you can take a full day trip to the Florida Keys. The drive from Miami to Key Largo takes about an hour, and from there you can snorkel at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, eat fresh stone crab at a waterfront shack, and drive the Overseas Highway, one of the most scenic roads in America.

Alternatively, spend Day 5 doing everything you ran out of time for on the first three days. A second yacht charter, this time a sunset cruise. A morning at the spa. A return visit to a restaurant you loved. Or just a full, unstructured beach day with nothing on the calendar.

What to Pack for 3 Days in Miami

Packing for Miami is straightforward if you plan for three distinct modes: daytime heat, evening style, and water activities.

Daytime essentials:

·       Lightweight, breathable clothing (linen shirts, shorts, sundresses)

·       High SPF sunscreen (the Miami sun is stronger than you think)

·       Quality sunglasses

·       A hat for beach days

·       Comfortable walking shoes for Wynwood and Coral Gables

Evening and nightlife:

·       Two to three evening outfits (Miami clubs have strict dress codes)

·       Dress shoes or heels

·       A light jacket or blazer for air-conditioned restaurants

Water activities:

·       Two swimsuits (one for the beach, one for the yacht charter)

·       A cover-up or rash guard

·       Waterproof phone case

·       A dry bag for the boat

One thing people always forget: a portable charger. Between GPS navigation, photos, restaurant lookups, and ride coordination, your phone battery will not make it through a full Miami day without backup power.

Budget Overview: What 3 Days in Luxury Miami Costs

Let's talk actual numbers. Prices vary based on the season, the size of your group, and how many premium experiences you add, but here is a realistic breakdown for a 3-day luxury trip.

Accommodation (3 nights):

·       Luxury villa: $2,500 to $8,000 per night depending on size and location

·       High-end hotel: $400 to $1,200 per night per room

Transportation:

·       Exotic car rental (3 days): $800 to $5,000+ depending on the model. A Mercedes G-Wagon or Cadillac Escalade runs $800 to $1,500 per day. A Lamborghini or Ferrari starts around $1,200 to $2,500 per day.

·       Chauffeur service: $75 to $150 per hour, depending on the vehicle

Experiences:

·       Yacht charter (5 hours): $3,500 to $12,000+ depending on vessel size. Split across a group of 8, that is $440 to $1,500 per person.

Dining (3 days):

·       Budget per person: $200 to $500 total, depending on restaurant choice and drinks

Nightlife:

·       Cover charges: $20 to $60 per venue

·       Bottle service: $500 to $5,000+ per table depending on the club and night

Total per person for a group of 4 (splitting villa and yacht): $2,500 to $6,000 for the full 3-day trip, depending on choices. For a couple: $4,000 to $10,000+. For a solo luxury traveler: $5,000 to $15,000+.

The biggest cost savings come from group travel. A $5,000 yacht charter split 8 ways is $625 per person. A $4,000 per night villa split 4 ways is $1,000 per person per night. The more people in your group, the more accessible the luxury tier becomes.

Final Tips for Your 3-Day Miami Trip

A few last things that will make or break your experience.

Book early. The best villas, yacht charters, and exotic car rentals in Miami get reserved weeks (sometimes months) in advance during peak season. Do not wait until the week before your trip. Lock in the big-ticket items as soon as your dates are confirmed.

Make dinner reservations immediately. The top restaurants in Miami (Carbone, Komodo, Cote, Papi Steak) book up 2 to 4 weeks in advance for weekend seatings. For groups of 6 or more, call the restaurant directly. Many places have semi-private dining areas that do not appear on reservation apps.

Plan your outfits before you leave home. Miami's dress code culture is real. Clubs require cocktail attire (no sneakers, no shorts, no casual wear). Restaurants range from smart casual to formal. Having outfits pre-planned means you are not scrambling at 9pm trying to figure out what to wear.

Protect your skin. The South Florida sun is powerful year-round. SPF 50 minimum, reapplied every 2 hours, especially on beach and yacht days. Sunburn on Day 1 will ruin Days 2 and 3.

Stay hydrated. Between the sun, the walking, and the late nights, dehydration sneaks up fast. Carry a water bottle. Drink water between cocktails. Your body will thank you on Day 3.

Do not try to do everything. This itinerary is thorough, but it is also flexible. If you are having an amazing time at the sandbar and want to extend the yacht charter by an hour, do it. If you would rather skip Coral Gables and spend a lazy morning at the pool, that is fine too. The best Miami trips have a plan but leave room for spontaneity.

Three days in Miami, done right, will feel like a week's worth of memories. The key is to balance the big moments (the yacht, the nightclub, the scenic drive) with enough downtime that you actually enjoy them instead of rushing through a checklist.

And when you are cruising across the Rickenbacker Causeway on Day 3, windows down, the skyline behind you and the ocean ahead, you will understand why people keep coming back to this city.