Your guide to arts and culture in Miami, Miami Beach and South Florida

Arts and Culture

Museums, opera, ballet, symphonies and art galleries make Miami a world-class city for the "finer things" - with a fresh twist. Besides the Miami City Ballet, we have the Cuban Classical Ballet; in addition to the Florida Grand Opera, check out the New World Symphony. Many cultures have fingerprints on Miami and the vibrant art and music scene reflects that. Thanks to Art Basel and other fantastic art and events, the rest of the world is finally discovering that there's more to look at in Miami than the beautiful beaches!

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

South Florida’s premier venue, the Adrienne Arsht Center is the jewel of downtown Miami. The center includes the Ziff Ballet Opera House and the Knight Concert Hall, as well as several more intimate performance spaces. The Adrienne Arsht Center embraces excellence, celebrates differences, renews the spirit and engages diverse communities through the power of the performing arts. Performances change often; check the website for details.

Art Deco District Walking Tour

This 90-minute walking tour provides an introduction to the Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, and Miami Modern (MiMo) styles found within the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District. Explore hotels, restaurants, and other commercial structures with a visit to a number of interiors. Advance reservations not required, simply arrive at the Art Deco Welcome Center (1001 Ocean Drive, at 10th Street & Ocean Drive) within 10-15 minutes of the scheduled departure time in order to purchase your ticket. Tours depart from the Art Deco Gift Shop daily (except Thursdays) at 10:30am, and at 6:30pm on Thursdays. All tours are $20 or $15 for seniors, veterans and students with ID.

Bass Museum of Art

Located in the heart of South Beach, the Bass Museum of Art offers an overview of Renaissance and Baroque paintings, sculpture and textiles, as well as temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. Additionally, the museum opened its Egyptian Gallery, housed in the 460 sq. ft. first floor gallery. The gallery will showcase the sarcophagi, mummy and 14 objects of Egyptian antiquity including a gift to the museum and long-term loans from the Brooklyn Museum, Lowe Art Museum and private collections. Educational programs, lectures, concerts and live performances along with free family days complement the works on view.

Deering Estate at Cutler

Located along Biscayne Bay, the 444-acre estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Daily tours of the historic Richmond Cottage and Stone House are held at 10:30am and 3:00pm. Daily tours of the Natural Areas are held at 12:30 pm. Open daily 10am-5pm (ticket office closes at 4pm). Regular paid admission includes guided tours and parking. Kayak rentals available on weekends for an additional fee. The estate offers an array of seasonal outdoor activities: guided canoe tours of Biscayne Bay; moonlight canoe tours to Chicken Key, a seven-acre mangrove island and restored bird rookery; weekend kayak rentals, sunset cruises on the "Pelican Island Skipper", a 45-foot Corinthian Catamaran; tours of the historic Richmond Cottage and Stone House, and naturalist-lead tours of the lush natural areas. Night hikes, bird and butterfly walks, and bike tours are also offered.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

One of the world's preeminent botanical gardens, spanning 83 acres and featuring numerous rare, tropical plants. Highlights include a conservatory, a rainforest, a butterfly garden and the National Palm and Cycad Collections, café and gift shop. Festivals/art exhibitions and special events throughout the year. Open daily (except Christmas) 9:30am-4:30pm. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for children 6-17, and children under 5 and members are free. Admission includes narrated tram tours, some Spanish tram tours, seasonal walking tours and year-round butterfly tours; please check for availability. Special needs access available.

HistoryMiami

HistoryMiami is the premier cultural institution committed to gathering, organizing, preserving and celebrating Miami’s history as the unique crossroads of the Americas. Through exhibitions, collections and publications, HistoryMiami advocates for understanding the importance of the past in shaping Miami’s future. Open Tues.-Fri., 10am-5pm; Sat.-Sun., noon-5pm. Closed Monday. Adult admission, $8; students and seniors w/ ID, $7; children 6-12, $5; under 6, free.

Holocaust Memorial

Sculptor Kenneth Treister's conception of the six million Jewish lives lost in the Holocaust. This poignant, soul-stirring monument features a photographic mural of the death camps and a Memorial Wall with the names of victims. Free admission; open daily, 9am-sunset.

Jewish Museum of Florida

Housed in two adjacent restored National Register synagogues, this museum tells the story of 250 years of Florida Jewish life. Changing exhibits focus on Jewish history, art and culture, each with a Florida connection. In addition, there are timelines, films, a museum store, a collections and research center and guides. Open daily except Mondays, civil and Jewish holidays. Adults, $6; seniors 65+ and students, $5; children under 6 and members, free; families, $12. Saturdays free.

Lowe Art Museum

The Lowe houses a permanent collection of Old Masters, Asian, Native American, African, contemporary art, plus the Myrna and Sheldon Palley Pavilion for Contemporary Glass and Studio Arts. Admission is $10 for adults, $5, for seniors citizens, and children under 12 are free.

Miami Art Museum

Miami's flagship art museum presents modern and contemporary art. Open Tuesday-Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, noon-5pm. Closed Mondays. Children under 12 and students (w/ ID) are free. Adults $8, seniors $4. Free museum admission for all every second Saturday of the month.

Miami Children's Museum

Play, learn, imagine, create. Explore interactive, bilingual galleries filled with hundreds of exhibits including a supermarket, bank, hospital, two story sandcastle of dreams and a 32-foot rock climbing wall. MCM also offers daily arts and educational programming for the whole family, seasonal classes and camps, birthday parties, field trips and more. Members and children under 1 are free; adults and children, $12. Located next to Jungle Island.

MiaSci (Miami Science Museum)

Interactive, hands-on, permanent and traveling exhibits for all ages. The Wildlife Center has live animals and reptiles, and is a facility dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured birds of prey. The Planetarium features laser light shows every first Friday night of the month, plus daily multimedia shows. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students with ID, $13 for children, and children under 3 are free.

MiMo on the Beach Walking Tour

Want to learn more about Miami Modern, or MiMo, architecture? On this 90-minute guided walking tour you’ll learn how to identify the many unique traits of MiMo architecture by visiting a number of different public and private buildings. Tours depart at 9:30am on the first Saturday of the month from the southeast corner of 73rd Street and Collins Avenue. Reservations not required. Payment of $20 will be taken at the start of the tour.

Museum of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Contemporary Art, or MoCA, is known for its provocative and innovative exhibitions and for seeking a fresh approach in examining the art of our time. Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11am-5pm; Wednesday, 1pm-9pm, Sunday, noon-5pm; closed Monday. The last Friday of each month is the Jazz at MoCA event with free jazz performances from 7pm-10pm; admission to the museum is by donation only during this event. Regular admission is $5 for adults; $3 for seniors and students with ID, and children under 12 are free.

Philip & Patricia Frost Art Museum

Initially a small gallery of less than 3000 square feet, the Museum, originally known as The Art Museum at Florida International University, grew to achieve local, national and international recognition as one of South Florida's key cultural institutions. The museum was renamed in 2003 and now has a beautiful new building as well.

The PlayGround Theatre

The PlayGround Theatre is a repertory company dedicated to the production and presentation of classical and contemporary works that entertain, educate, and delight audiences of all ages. Our magical and intelligent productions foster intellectual, emotional, and social development while reflecting the cultural diversity of South Florida.

The Wolfsonian-FIU

The Wolfsonian-Florida International University (FIU) is a state-of-the-art museum contains more than 100,000 American and European objects from 1885 to 1945. The focus is on ways that design shapes and reflects human experience. Narrated tours on Thursday and Friday at 6pm (Friday tours are free). Open Saturday-Tuesday, noon-6pm; Thursday-Friday, noon-9pm; closed Wednesdays. Free admission on Fridays after 6pm during “Free Fridays at the Wolf.” Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors 62+ and students with ID, $5 for children 6-12, and children 6 and under are free.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was built in 1916 as the winter home of agricultural industrialist James Deering. With its unique architecture, gardens and interiors, this National Historic Landmark and European-inspired estate offers the perfect place to spend an hour or an afternoon. Guided tours available. Open daily, 9:30am-4:30pm. Admission is $15 for adults and $6 for children 6-12. Programs for families and adults available.

Wings Over Miami Air Museum

Located at Kendall-Tamiami Airport in Miami-Dade County, the Wings Over Miami Air Museum serves as an ongoing tribute to the veterans and aviators who pioneered military and civilian aviation. The museum seeks to educate visitors about the rich history of aviation, the scientific basis of flight, and the many challenges faced during the evolution of flight. See examples of operating, historic aircraft including more than 15 classic and military prop and jet-driven aircraft on display, the 1942 Boeing Stearman PT-17, 1957 Ikarus and the TBM 3. Classic and military aircraft models for sale in the gift shop. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children, and $7 for seniors. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm; closed Monday-Tuesday.

World Erotic Art Museum

Naomi Wilzig’s priceless collection of 4,000 pieces considered to be the greatest collection of fine, erotic art in the U.S. Travel through time with artistic treasures that depict the Biblical Era, Greek and Roman mythology, antiquities from Asia, China, Japan, India and Africa, as well as contemporary works from Europe and the U.S. There is also a research library of 250+ volumes on erotic art. Ages 18+ only. Open daily, 11am-midnight. Admission is $15.