When you think of Miami, the first thought that comes to mind is about partying on their beaches. South Beach is where all the action happens – the food, the music, the drinks and the people. But there’s more to Miami than just partying, especially if you are looking to have a relaxed vacation and indulge in a luxurious stay. If you have been wanting to have a relaxed vacation in Miami but haven’t figured out how to do so, read on to discover how to spend 5 days in Miami!
If you travel just a bit up north from South Beach, you will get to the Mid Beach area, where the atmosphere is more relaxed and sophisticated, with this area having one of the best beaches in Miami Beach. One of the best months to visit Miami is undoubtedly in July; the weather is hot and humid, giving you the best opportunity to enjoy the beautiful sand of its beaches, and the warmth of the ocean water.
5 Days in Miami – Where To Stay
Just like us, if you are looking for a luxurious and relaxing vacation and want to avoid the crazy crowds in the South Beach area, then the Mid Beach has the best resorts in Miami Beach for couples or families. The vibe is luxe in the entire area, and you will get to enjoy top notch service from the resort staff. We definitely recommend the Fontainebleau to spend 5 days in Miami.
They have the best expansive one and two bedroom suites with a fully equipped kitchen and washer dryer, their service is beyond excellence, whether it is in their bars or restaurants or the beach! To top it off, they have one of the best nightclubs, LIV, in the resort itself, where the music, the drinks and the partying continues late through the night! So, you can definitely party out on one (or two!) of the nights at LIV nightclub, and don’t have to worry about how to get back to your hotel room!
The 5 Days In Miami Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Miami and settle in.
Depending on where you are flying in from, you will either come in to the Miami International Airport (airport code MIA) or the Fort Lauderdale International Airport (airport code FLL). The Miami airport is much closer to the Miami Beach area, so you should consider flying in here. There are several airlines that provide red-eye flights, however, we recommend picking a day time flight to arrive in, since the resort’s check-in time starts at 4 pm.
Checking in at the Fontainebleau is a breeze, and the front-desk staff is very courteous and friendly. Today is mostly for you to settle in to your room, and check out the resort’s amenities. We picked the Sorrento ocean view bedroom suite that’s over 1100 sq ft so it was huge, and we were definitely not disappointed!
For dinner, the resort has several restaurants to choose from, we tried the Hakkasan that serves Cantonese cuisine, and enjoyed the ambience, the service and the authentic flavors.
After dinner, if you want to grab a few drinks, head to the Bleau bar at the lobby, where the music and the drinks continue until 2 AM, before calling it a night.
Day 2: Relax at the beach.
Today you will get to enjoy the blue water that Miami is known for and miles of unspoiled sand on the beach. Its very hot in July, but that’s what we were looking for – enjoy Miami waters under the hot sun! For breakfast, room service is recommended so that you can enjoy the view of the ocean from your room sipping coffee, while you wait for your food to arrive. An alternate option is to go to the Fresh, which serves a variety of snacks, sandwiches and wraps for a quick breakfast.
Head to the beach towel hut that’s located at the entrance to the Fontainebleau beach to rent day beds, umbrellas, towels. They also rent out paddle boards and kayaks, if that’s something you want to try out. The staff at the beach will set you up with the day beds and umbrellas at a good spot of your choice. Don’t forget to tip them!
There’s additional staff that makes the rounds to take your food and drink orders, while you enjoy the serenity of the space. For lunch, you can walk down to the La Cote which is right in front of the beach and choose from a variety of Mediterranean dishes. Spend the entire day at the beach (service closes at 6 pm) before you head back to your room. After you have freshened up, head out for dinner to one of the resort’s many restaurants.
Day 3: Visit the former Versace Mansion and South Beach.
On day 3 of this 5 day Miami itinerary, you will get to visit the Versace Mansion which is now turned into a stunning restaurant, the Gianni’s. This restaurant serves prex fixe menu for lunch at a very reasonable price, that includes Italian and Mediterranean food. This is a highly recommended place for lunch, as you get to experience the history behind the Versace. Reservations are required to dine, and they do have a dress code, so you would need to dress appropriately.
The drive to the restaurant is under 15 minutes, so if you get there early, stroll on the famous Ocean Drive since the restaurant is an oceanfront property. Click as many photos as you want inside the mansion; the staff will gladly take your group photos as well. After lunch, spend a couple of hours strolling in the South Beach area. Expect the area to be filled with tourists, and music blasting from several of the oceanfront restaurants.
Head back to the hotel and you can either spend time at one the many swimming pools in the resort, or simply relax in your room. Rest of the day is open for you to explore the resort or have a drink at the Bleau bar.
Day 4: Relax at the beach and party at LIV.
You are here in Miami to enjoy the beach, the sand, the water under the gorgeous warm sun, so it is going to be another day at the beach in this 5 day Miami itinerary! There are a couple of choices for you – enjoy your time at the beach, or rent a cabana at one of the swimming pools within the resort. We were there just for the natural beauty, so spent our entire day at the beach, with a book in one hand and a cocktail in another.
After having your heart’s fill at the beach, head back and freshen up. Plan to have a slightly early dinner at one of the resort’s restaurants since you will spend the rest of the night partying at LIV! LIV is one of the best nightclubs in all of Miami, so it gets an upscale crowd on the nights that it is open (Wednesday through Sunday). They follow a strict dress code so dress to impress. Tickets are required to enter the nightclub.
Another alternative is to reserve table service. The best option in my view is to simply head to the door and purchase bottle service. This will include the entry fee and unlimited alcohol from a certain selection. Enjoy the dance floor, the crowd, the music, the ambience and the drinks for as long as you wish, before dragging yourself back to your room. At this point, you will be thankful to yourself that you are staying in Fontainebleau since the nightclub is within the resort itself!
Day 5: Explore Little Havana.
After your late night partying, you will most certainly be waking up quite late on day 5 (lol). If you have the energy, spend some time at the beach or by the pool for a couple of hours, or just stay in your room till late afternoon. Later on, head to the Little Havana neighborhood, which is the best Cuban neighborhood that you can explore. It’s filled with Cuban architecture, art, restaurants and shops where you can easily spend a few hours. Do not miss the Little Havana’s Walk of Fame on Calle Ocho, which is their version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Another not to be missed location is having ice cream at Azucar Ice Cream. The flavors are incredible, and nothing beats ice cream on a hot day in July. Finally, have dinner at one of the many Latin-inspired restaurants in the area, you cannot go wrong with any of them, so just pick one and enjoy the Cuban cuisine.
Head back to the hotel and it’s now time to starting packing up before you check out the next day, and wrapping up a fantastic vacation for 5 days in Miami!
We hope this itinerary has inspired you to book your next luxury and relaxing vacation to Miami!
Your 5 day Miami Itinerary Map
Need Help Planning Your Vacation?
Need help planning your luxe trip, whether its for 5 days in Miami or more? Email us and let us know. We can create a unique itinerary for you to spend the best 5 days in Miami Beach like never before. Check out our blog post on the best beach vacations for families for more vacation inspirations!