Local museums offer a sense of place and community by providing a wonderful opportunity to learn the history and culture of our community. You can also understand what makes the community work – the science of our home. And you can enjoy art from around the world.
While Miami is known for its vibrant nightlife and fine restaurants, it also is home to a vast variety of beautiful and compelling museums. They are perfect for romantic dates, family outings, and educational research.
Here are a few of our favorites.
1101 NW 23rd St.
Miami, FL 33127
786-697-3414
Find your way out of a maze of mirrors, interact with multiple exhibits, and prepare for optical illusions. Superblue is an exciting, modern, and immersive museum located across the street from the Rubell Museum in Allapattah. If you’re feeling artsy, visit the two museums in one day. Superblue’s interactive experience consists of distinctly colored flowers blooming just below your shoes and hands as you touch the floors and walls. Tickets cost $34 for students every day. Adults pay $36 during weekends and less during the week. Additionally, for an extra $12, Superblue offers an installation for guests to interact with large clouds of soap bubbles.
3251 S Miami Ave.
Miami, FL 33129
(305) 250-9133
Located in Coconut Grove, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is the former estate of millionaire James Deering and was built in the early 1900s. Inspired by Venetian and Tuscan Italian Renaissance properties, Vizcaya is a walkthrough of history with intricate architecture and luscious landscapes. The museum is also an iconic location for majestic weddings and quinceañera photos. Additionally, Vizcaya includes an indoor cafe that connects to the east terrace. It’s a great place to grab a snack before or after exploring the gardens and observing the gorgeous architecture. Vizcaya is open from Monday to Wednesday, and tickets cost $25 for adults ages 13 and up, $10 for children ages 6 to 12, and it’s free for children under 5.
1103 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 33132
(305) 375-3000
The Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is a contemporary and modern art venue committed to demonstrating international work of the 20th and 21st centuries. Ongoing exhibits consist of portrayals of invasive species, distinctive sculptures, and more. Moreover, other exhibits change every couple of months, covering several topics about South Florida and the world. Their permanent installations include a sculpture garden outside the venue and a range of art galleries on the first and sixth floor representing the various cultures of Miami. The museum showcases picturesque views of Biscayne Bay and is surrounded by greenery and intricate hanging gardens. A visit to PAMM costs $12 for students and $16 for adults. However, if you reserve in advance, every second Saturday of the month, admission is free.
The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum
10975 SW 17th St.
Miami, FL 33199
(305) 348-2890
The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, located in a three-story lakeside building on the Florida International University campus, includes the General, the Metropolitan Museum, the Art Center and the Betty Laird Perry Emerging Artist collections. The museum also hosts many exhibitions, workshops, panel discussions, and lectures. There are prominent collections of 20th Century greats such as painter Agustin Fernandez and photographer Manuel Carrillo. Additionally, there is a collection of outdoor sculptures that amplifies the serene area surrounding the museum. Admission to the museum is free and parking is accessible in several lots. With its diverse exhibits and various hands-on activities, The venue is essential for not only every FIU student but also everyone who visits Miami.
980 MacArthur Causeway
Miami, FL 33132
(305) 373-5437
Children have their proper museum in Miami. This is a non-profit educational organization that provides programs, interactive exhibits, and learning materials related to culture, community, and arts for children of all ages. For non-Florida residents, admission is $20 for adults and children; however, it is $15 for Florida residents. The unique outer part of the building consists of colors resembling elements of the world: earth, wind, and fire. It is on Watson Island and is one of the largest children’s museums in the United States. The exhibits were established and prepared to accompany the curriculum of Miami Dade County Public Schools and to make tangible and enduring learning experiences.
1100 NW 23rd St.
Miami, FL 33127
(305) 573-6090
The Rubell Museum is one of the best destinations on this list for fans of contemporary art. It is owned by two of the most well-known art collectors of this generation, Don and Mera Rubell. The museum has 40 galleries, a library, and an elegant restaurant. There is everything from intimate works of art to large-scale pieces. These artworks include sculptures, paintings, drawings, and videos. Particularly notable here is the work of painters Keith Haring and Hernan Bas. The library inside the museum is a unique space for people to hold meetings and presentations. The museum also includes a garden with native Florida plants perfect for cocktail receptions, dinner parties, brunches, and private activities. However, the most impressive features of Rubell are the two infinity rooms designed by the creative and world renowned artist, Yayoi Kusama, which are decorated with mirrors and dozens of LED lights that hang from the ceiling. The entrance costs $15, and parking is free.
101 W Flagler St.
Miami, FL 33130
(305) 375-1492
Located in downtown, the HistoryMiami Museum protects and showcases local stories to promote learning, motivate a sense of place, and create an engaged community. The eye-opening museum includes approximately 37,000 three-dimensional artifacts that cover a wide range of historical finds and hosts multiple intellectual activities for all ages. Admission to HistoryMiami costs $5 for children, $8 for students, and $10 for adults. The museum also offers public and private tours of South Florida for those who wish to explore the region. The exhibits are altered every couple of months. Currently the exhibits that are on display discuss the history of the Miami International Airport, environmental flooding issues in South Florida, and the Miccosukee Tribe.
266 NW 26th St.
Miami, FL 33127
(305) 576-3334
Wynwood Walls is an outdoor museum of international street art made by developer Tony Goldman. It is one of the best venues in the world to see the work of leading street artists and an essential visit for art lovers and photographers. It includes various murals and indoor art galleries with sculptures and paintings. These include works by artists such as Maya Hayuk and Lady Aiko. It also has its very own gift shop. The outdoor museum is an exciting place to explore and take aesthetically pleasing photos to post on Instagram. Entrance to Wynwood costs $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and military, with 12 and under free, while parking costs $12.
The Institute of Contemporary Art
61 NE 41st St.
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 901-5272
The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami is committed to encouraging constant experimentation. With a dynamic and detailed calendar of contrasting and enjoyable programs and exhibitions, it supplies a critical platform for local, new, and unnoticed artists to show their talents and gain traction. Its well-known exhibits consist of “Yet, Another Pathetic Fallacy” by London-based artist Jadé Fadojutimi and “Serious Moonlight” by American artist Betye Saar. Admission to the museum is free of charge.
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
1101 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 33132
(305) 434-9600
Frost Science is a great place for adults and students to learn more about the natural world. It includes six levels, with the top floor an observation deck for Instagram-worthy photos. The first level houses the Planetarium, the “Power of Science” exhibit, as well as information about mammals, astronomy, and marine life. The second level houses the MeLab, in which children can learn interactively about how different choices influence one’s body. The museum also includes the River of Glass exhibit which informs guests about the Everglades and how the ecosystem in Florida functions. In the last level, you can catch a view of the city at what’s known as “The Sun Spot.” The venue is open every day from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m, and the cost to enter is $29.
