Exciting Things to Do in Miami Before and After Your Cruise

Booked your cruise and planning flights in and out of Miami? Hold on! If you’ve got extra time, why not explore Miami? You’re in for a treat!

Miami is called the 'Magic City' for a reason! With so much to explore, you might want to add an extra day or night to your cruise itinerary. Start your vacation right with these exciting Things to Do in Miami Before and After Your Cruise.

Fun and Family-Friendly Activities

Enjoy a Relaxing Day at the Beach

Naturally, the beach tops my list. A visit to Miami wouldn’t be complete without a trip to its stunning shores! Turquoise waters, vibrant umbrellas, and endless stretches of white sand await you.

Pack a picnic, grab your beach towel, and head to South Beach—or for a family-friendly vibe, Crandon Park. Don't forget the sunscreen! My favorite spot on South Beach is off 5th Street, with public restrooms and a lovely grassy area nearby.

Take a break from the sun with some shopping along Lincoln Road or check out the trendy restaurants that line Collins Avenue.

Enjoy Water Adventures

Miami boasts a variety of watersports, so there’s something for everyone. Hop on a water taxi through the islands, rent a jet ski on the beach, or paddle through the bay on a kayak! Book your cruise with Dinogos, and you'll find fantastic shore excursions in Miami, with all the planning done for you!

For those who love the open sea, there are snorkeling and diving trips, glass-bottom boat tours, and even sunset dinner cruises. You can also rent a sailboat or book a fishing charter while in Miami!

Discover The Florida Birding Trail

Miami sits in a unique ecological spot, close to both the ocean and the Florida Everglades, a region filled with marshlands and pine forests. It's no wonder so many birds migrate here for the winter!

You’ll spot pelicans, Blue Herons (both juvenile and adult), and a variety of other bird species in their natural habitat all around Miami.

While highway markers along US1 will guide you, here’s a tip: many exotic birds gather at local waterfront parks, feeding on small fish in the shallow waters. My favorite birdwatching spot is Deering Point, a public park at 176th Street, just off Old Cutler Road in Southwest Miami. If that’s too far (about 25 minutes from Downtown Miami), watch for Florida Birding Trail signs along US1 to find other great spots.

Explore Monkey Jungle

Located in Southwest Miami, Monkey Jungle is one of the city’s best-kept secrets for wildlife experiences. In 1933, animal behaviorist Joseph DuMond introduced six Java monkeys to begin a zoological study, and now, nearly 100 years later, a thriving troop inhabits the canopy at Monkey Jungle.

What makes Monkey Jungle stand out from other wildlife parks is that the monkeys roam freely while visitors explore from enclosed walkways. It’s like you’re the one in the cage!

Nearly 400 primates live in this 30-acre reserve, one of the few protected habitats for endangered primates in the U.S. You can watch them play, care for their young, and even feed them raisins through baskets throughout the park.

Monkey Jungle is the ONLY protected primate habitat in the U.S. that’s open to the public.

This is truly a one-of-a-kind experience, and I highly recommend it to any animal lover visiting Miami!

Experience an Airboat Ride in the Florida Everglades

Head to one of the parks in the Florida Everglades for a thrilling airboat adventure!

The Everglades is home to countless birds and reptiles, including the iconic American alligator. It’s a perfect way to soak up some sun while exploring Miami's wild side. Airboat operators will amaze you with sharp turns, splashes, and in-depth knowledge about the ecosystem. You can book an airboat ride through your cruise line’s shore excursion department or stop by a visitor center in Everglades National Park. Dinogo offers Everglades tours that include luggage storage and transfers to Miami International or Fort Lauderdale Airport.

Catch a Miami HEAT Game

While you're in Miami for your next cruise, don’t miss the chance to see a Miami HEAT game and dive into the city's electrifying sports atmosphere. The games are always thrilling, and the Miami HEAT Dancers put on a fantastic halftime show!

You can even download the Miami HEAT mobile app to buy tickets, follow interviews, check standings, get news alerts, and join in on Game Night Chats!

Indulge in Miami's Culinary Scene

Miami boasts some of the best food in the country, and I’m not just saying that because I’m a local! The city’s diverse culture means you can find authentic dishes from all over the world right here in the Magic City.

Dining in Miami is a social event, and you never know which celebrity or athlete might be nearby. Whether you're at a chic French café in Coconut Grove or a classic steakhouse downtown, keep your eyes open—you might just spot someone famous!

Disclaimer: I’m not a celebrity, but if you see me, feel free to act like I am. My dinner companions will be impressed!

Craving fine dining with a view? Miami’s South Beach and downtown waterfront are lined with top-notch restaurants and boutique shops.

Bonus: Dining on Brickell Avenue in downtown Miami offers a luxurious experience with stunning views of Biscayne Bay, and you’re just minutes from the Port of Miami!

There are definitely worse places to enjoy a meal before setting sail on a Caribbean cruise!

The only thing that rivals the views is the incredible food on the menus.

Are you a fan of classic steakhouses? Miami has plenty to choose from!

Looking for an upscale bar or lounge on South Beach that serves expertly crafted cocktails and has fantastic music, where you can spend your evening like a true Miamian?

We may have one or two… or maybe 300! Collins Avenue, stretching from 5th Street to Lincoln Road, is filled with chic bars and lounges perfect for happy hour and dinner. Plus, the hottest nightclubs on South Beach are just a short walk or cab ride away!

Miami offers cuisine from every corner of the globe. Whether you're craving Cuban, Dominican, Jamaican, Haitian, or even Italian, Spanish, French, or German—whatever you're in the mood for, you'll find it when you venture out for a night on the town in Miami.

For an exceptional dining experience in Miami, head to South Beach and explore the numerous restaurants along Collins Avenue. Here, you’ll discover fresh seafood (it’s always fresh in Miami!), Cuban dishes, fusion cuisine, and of course, classic pizzerias and burger spots.

And you certainly don’t have to wait until nightfall to satisfy your appetite in Miami!

Then there are the food trucks…so many food trucks! Many of these trucks are operated by some of the area’s top chefs or are extensions of our finest restaurants.

The best food trucks in Miami can be found at Tamiami Park (11201 SW 24TH ST.) during the weekly “Food Truck Friday” event on Friday nights. Food trucks pop up all over Miami throughout the week; to find out where they are at any given time, check out this helpful list: http://burgerbeast.com/miamifoodtrucks/miami-food-trucks-list/.

What do you think? If you’ve sailed with Dinogos from the Port of Miami in the past, I’d love to hear about your favorite activities in Miami before and after your cruise!

This post was created for Away We Go with Dinogo, your go-to resource for getting into a vacation mindset.