Best Museums in Miami

HistoryMiami Museum

A Smithsonian-affiliated museum and the largest history museum in Florida, telling the 10,000-year story of South Florida from the Tequesta and Seminole peoples through Cuban exile and modern Miami. It's the best place to understand the city's multicultural roots. Practical note: located in the downtown Cultural Center plaza; check hours, as it currently operates Thursday through Sunday.

Museums

Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami)

A cutting-edge contemporary art museum in the Miami Design District showcasing emerging and under-recognized artists in a striking metal-faced building with a sculpture garden. Admission is always free, making it one of the best art values in the city. Practical note: closed Monday and Tuesday; pair a visit with the District's luxury shopping and dining.

Museums

Jewish Museum of Florida–FIU

Set in two restored historic synagogue buildings on South Beach, this is the only museum dedicated to over 250 years of Florida Jewish history, arts, and culture. The stained-glass-lit former sanctuary and the immigration-story exhibits are standouts. Practical note: closed Monday and Tuesday; the building itself is a piece of Miami Beach Art Deco-era history.

Museums

Lowe Art Museum

The University of Miami's art museum, with a wide-ranging encyclopedic collection of more than 19,000 works spanning ancient, Asian, European, Native American, and Latin American art. It's a quieter, scholarly alternative to Miami's flashier contemporary venues. Practical note: located on the UM campus in Coral Gables; closed Monday and Tuesday, and parking is on campus.

Museums

Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

A sprawling science complex in Museum Park with a three-level aquarium, a state-of-the-art planetarium, and hands-on STEM exhibits that are great for families. The Gulf Stream aquarium tank and the planetarium dome shows are the highlights. Practical note: it sits right next to PAMM, so the two pair well in a single day, and timed planetarium shows can sell out.

Museums

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)

A waterfront contemporary art museum on Biscayne Bay focused on 20th- and 21st-century art with a strong emphasis on Caribbean and Latin American artists. Frank Gehry-collaborator Herzog & de Meuron designed the airy building, whose hanging gardens and bayfront terrace are worth the visit alone. Practical note: it's closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and easily reached via the free Metromover.

Museums

The Bass

Miami Beach's contemporary art museum, housed in a 1930s Art Deco building in Collins Park, known for bold, often playful exhibitions and large-scale installations. It's a compact, design-forward stop a few blocks from the beach. Practical note: closed Monday and Tuesday and relatively small, so it pairs well with a wider South Beach day.

Museums

The Wolfsonian–FIU

A distinctive museum of modern design, art, and propaganda from 1850–1950, housed in a restored 1927 Mediterranean Revival building in the heart of the Art Deco District. Its collection of decorative arts, posters, and industrial design offers a thoughtful counterpoint to South Beach's party reputation. Practical note: closed Monday and Tuesday, with extended Friday evening hours.

Museums

Wynwood Walls

An open-air museum of large-scale street art and murals by world-renowned graffiti and contemporary artists, anchoring the warehouse-turned-arts neighborhood of Wynwood. It's the most Instagrammable spot in the city and a great intro to Miami's street-art scene. Practical note: it's a timed, ticketed outdoor experience; surrounding Wynwood streets also have free murals, galleries, and food.