Miami Beaches Guide
Miami is not one beach. South Beach is the famous stretch, Key Biscayne is calmer, Haulover and Sunny Isles run north, and Hollywood Beach sits in Broward County, not Miami. This hub links every ThingsMIA beach guide and keeps safety, flags, and sargassum in the same place.
Every guide in this section
Best Beaches in Miami Ranked
The Miami beach ranking, argued by use case rather than hype.
South Beach Guide
The famous beach explained by section, from the Art Deco blocks to the quieter north end.
Mid-Beach Miami Guide
The calmer middle stretch of Miami Beach, home to the big resort row.
Crandon Park Beach Guide
The Key Biscayne county beach: calm water, park facilities, and family days.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Beach Guide
The state park beach at the tip of Key Biscayne, paired with the lighthouse.
Sunny Isles Beach Guide
The high rise beach city north of Miami Beach, covered for resort and condo stays.
Bal Harbour Beach Guide
The quiet, polished north end beach by the Bal Harbour resorts and shops.
Hollywood Beach Guide (nearby, labeled as such)
Hollywood Beach in Broward County, labeled as nearby rather than Miami, Broadwalk included.
Haulover Beach Guide (including the clothing optional section, stated factually)
A Haulover Beach Park guide covering its beach areas, facilities, parking, and access.
Best Miami Beaches for Families
Family beach picks judged on water, facilities, shade, and parking.
Best Miami Beaches for Swimming
Swimming picks with honest notes on surf, sandbars, and lifeguard cover.
Miami Beach Safety Guide (Rip Currents, Flags, Jellyfish)
The safety basics in one place: rip currents, warning flags, jellyfish, and sun.
Sargassum Season in Miami: What Visitors Need to Know
What sargassum is, when it tends to arrive, and how to plan around a wash up.
Checked facts
Miami-Dade County's Parks department describes 17 miles of county beaches from Government Cut to the Broward County line, including Haulover Beach Park and Crandon Park Beach.
The same county page describes Haulover as a 1.4 mile beach park between Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles Beach.
The City of Miami Beach prohibits alcohol and smoking on City of Miami Beach beaches. That rule is stated here for the City of Miami Beach only.
Miami-Dade County says its beach cleanup crews work seven days a week and remove sargassum buildup at the water line.
Common questions
Can I drink alcohol on the beach in Miami Beach?
No. The City of Miami Beach prohibits alcohol and smoking on its beaches. Rules differ in other beach cities, so check the specific beach guide above for where you are going.
What should I do if I am caught in a rip current?
The National Weather Service guidance is to swim parallel to the shoreline to escape the current rather than swimming against it toward shore. The beach safety guide above covers flags and jellyfish as well.
What is sargassum and should it change my plans?
Sargassum is seaweed that washes onto Atlantic facing beaches in variable amounts. Miami-Dade County crews clean the water line daily, and conditions change beach by beach and day by day, so check the sargassum guide above close to your trip rather than months ahead.
Is Hollywood Beach part of Miami?
No. Hollywood Beach is in Broward County, north of Miami-Dade. It is included in this section as a nearby option and labeled that way.
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Last reviewed: October 25, 2026