How to get from Miami airport to downtown is one of the most frequently asked questions when you start organizing a trip to the most Latin city in the United States. It is for this reason that we have implemented this guide with all the necessary steps to make this transfer to the city of Miami or to your hotel in the fastest and cheapest way possible.
Miami International Airport (MIA) is located just 12 kilometres from the center, also known as Downtown, and about 18 kilometres from Miami Beach, which has the tourist area of South Beach, perfect for staying. It must be taken into account that it is the second airport in the United States in terms of volume of international passengers, and it is advisable to arrive well in advance (3 hours) to pass all the controls without stressing yourself.
The three airport terminals are connected in a few minutes to the station (Miami Airport Station) through the MIA Mover train (which runs 24/7) and from this point you can take a bus or subway (which does not reach Miami Beach) to get closer to the downtown Miami or opt for more comfortable and expensive transportation such as taxi, Uber or private transfer.
Based on the experience of our trip to Florida, in which we entered and left the country through this airport, we show you the best alternatives to get from the airport to the centre of Miami so that you can choose the one that is most useful to you. Let’s start!
Bus from Miami airport to downtown
The bus is the cheapest way to get from the airport to Miami and also reaches the tourist area of Miami Beach, although it is not the fastest or the most comfortable.
Once you arrive at Miami Airport Station with the free MIA Mover train in about two minutes you must take the Airport Express Bus (bus 150) at stop 10 that will take you to Downtown or the South Beach area in one hour for 2.65 Dollars.
These buses, which leave every half hour and operate between 6 a.m. and 11:40 p.m., have several stops in the South Beach area, between 41st Street and the final stop (South Point Drive), such as Indian Creek Drive, Collins Avenue, and the corner of Washington Avenue and Lincoln Road.
It is important to keep in mind that to pay for public transportation in Miami you will need the rechargeable EASY Card or EASY ticket, which you can purchase at the vending machines at the station and which costs $2. Remember that a good option to avoid paying fees and always have the current exchange rate is to use the Revolut card and the N26 card. They are the ones we use, they are free and will mean great savings for you. You can find more information in this article about the best cards for travel without commissions.
Metro to get to Miami from the Airport
If you are staying Downtown, the fastest and cheapest way to get to Miami from the Airport is to take the Metrorail orange line, which takes 30 minutes and costs $2.25.
The subway leaves approximately every 15 or 30 minutes between 5 a.m. and 2 a.m. and drops you off at the Government Center and Brickell downtown stations. Once there you can take the Metromover, a free elevated train that takes you to almost all points of Downtown.
Private transfer from the Airport to Miami
If you prefer comfort and do not want to have any setbacks, in going from Miami airport to downtown or South Beach, we advise you to book this direct transfer, with which a driver will wait for you at the arrivals terminal of any of the 3 terminals by lifting a sign with your name and it will take you to the hotel door or the address you indicate.
This exclusive transport has a price of 76 euros, higher than the taxi and Uber, with the advantage that you will not have to wait at the taxi stop.
Cab
The taxi, with a price between 40 and 50 dollars (depending on traffic) is a good alternative to go from the airport to downtown Miami or South Beach.
Another option is to use the Uber or Lyft service, which can be a little cheaper depending on demand and traffic.
Another excellent way to get to your hotel or the city center, if you are going to take a route later through the most beautiful places to see in Florida, is to rent a car to make the transfer to Miami.
Once in the city, we recommend staying at the Henrosa Hotel, the Ocean Hotel, or the Breakwater South Beach Hotel, all with an excellent quality/price ratio and located near Ocean Drive, the most touristy area of Miami.
For more information, you can consult this post about the best areas and hotels to stay in Miami.
After a short break at the hotel, you can complete this list of essential things to do in Miami in one, two, or three days to get to know the best that this spectacular city has to offer, make a reservation at some of the recommended restaurants where to eat in Miami, do some of the best excursions from Miami such as the Everglades or the Kennedy Space Center.
If you have more time you can do this route through Florida in 21 days, like we did.