Best Time to Visit Miami, Florida

November to April: dry season and high season

This is the Miami you see in photos. Days are warm but not heavy, evenings are comfortable, and rain mostly comes in short bursts. January to March is our pick, with highs of 23 to 25°C. That's perfect for a long afternoon on South Beach or a walk through the Art Deco district on Ocean Drive.

It's also the busiest and priciest stretch. Winter holidays and spring break fill hotels, and Lincoln Road gets packed. If you hate crowds, aim for November or early December. The weather is just as good and the mood is calmer.

May to October: hot, wet and sticky

Summer here means storms, not a single wet spell. June to September brings rain on most days, usually a loud afternoon downpour that clears within an hour. Lows stay at 27 to 28°C, so nights don't cool off much. You'll want to plan beach time for the morning and head indoors after lunch, perhaps to the Pérez Art Museum or the shops in Wynwood.

Hurricane season runs June to November, and the peak is late summer into early autumn. It's worth buying travel insurance that covers storms. The upside is lower hotel rates and quieter beaches. Locals also use this time for Miami Spice, a restaurant promotion with set-price menus that usually runs in August and September.

May and October are the in-between months. They're still wet, but the sticky heat eases a little by late October.

Events through the year

Miami Open tennis takes over Hard Rock Stadium in late March, so book rooms early or pick another weekend. Art Basel Miami Beach arrives in early December and fills the city with galleries, parties and traffic. Calle Ocho Festival, a big Cuban-flavoured street party in Little Havana, is held in March. Ultra Music Festival also lands downtown in March.

Winter is the time for the Coconut Grove Arts Festival in February, a long-running outdoor show with local artists. Planning a Florida Keys road trip or a day in Everglades National Park? Winter's drier, cooler weather also means fewer mosquitoes, which makes airboat rides and trail walks far more pleasant.

Travelling with kids? February and March are easiest for beaches and zoo visits. Just expect crowds during school breaks.