Two of the most popular places for going shopping in Miami are South Beach and downtown Miami.
Photo © chensiyuan
Shopping in South Beach
There are many places to go shopping in South Beach. Check out Collins Ave between 5th and 9th streets for a variety of touristy and designer shops. This is just a couple of blocks away from our Miami hostel at 321 Collins Ave. For more shops, walk one block towards the beach and check out Ocean Drive. Or take a walk one block inland to find Washington Ave where things are cheaper and you can grab some falafel or a slice of pizza.
Another great place to check out is the Lincoln Road Mall — a pedestrian walkway located between 16th and 17th streets. With over 400 shops, there are sure to be stores for people of all budgets. It is also a great place to grab a bite in one of the many outdoor restaurants and bars and do some serious people-watching. Espanola Way, just south of Lincoln Road between 14th and 15th streets, is lined with boutiques.
Shopping in Downtown Miami
Flagler Street is the main road in downtown Miami and provides electronics, jewelery and discount shopping.
The Bayside Marketplace is an outdoor shopping area with over 115 shops. More down-to-earth than South Beach, this is also a great place to stroll along the bay, enjoy some free music, or catch a boat tour of the gazillion dollar mansions along the water.
The Bal Harbour Shops is an open-air shopping mall packed with high-end luxury goods, especially famous for stocking the most expensive fashions and jewelry to match. If you love designer labels like Armani, Bvlgari, Cartier, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace, this is the place to go.
Other Nearby Malls
Cocowalk is a shopping center in Coconut Grove just south of Miami on the Metrorail.
There are also two large indoor malls less than a hour from Miami: Aventura Mall, north of Miami, and Dadeland Mall to the south.