Car Rental Miami

Rent a car in Miami and you can easily see all that this city, and the region, has to offer. Take a coastal drive north to Palm Beach, or head south to the Everglades or the gorgeous and balmy Florida Keys.

Navigating the city is made easy, thanks to the simple grid layout of numbered streets and avenues. Streets run from east to west and avenues from north to south. As well as standard roads, you’ll also find wider boulevards that can handle more traffic.

To see the city on one side and the sea on the other, take Biscayne Boulevard, which runs parallel to the ocean. The same road is known as Route 1 and continues to snake its way all the way down south to the Keys, while it’s also the coastal road going north. Of the two directions to go in, the Keys is a truly memorable drive, where you’re never far from the water or spectacular panoramas.

If you plan on heading up the coast a little quicker, you’ll want to get on the I-95, which runs inland from Route 1, heading up through Palm Beach and taking you as far as Jacksonville, around five hours away. There are quite a few toll roads in the Miami area, which are useful if you want to save time – look out for the Airport Expressway and Florida Turnpike on I-95.

Speed limits are clearly signposted in miles per hour throughout the city and beyond. The most common limit in the city is 30mph (48km/h), and 55mph (88km/h) on most highways.Parking lots have numerous payment methods but there is limited free on-street parking in Miami.

Where to begin in Miami? Do you head straight for the beach or explore the Cuban district first? Take a dip in the pool at a 1930s hotel or delve into the vibrant and tireless arts scene? Throw in sensational food, state parks and a buzzing nightlife, and you can do Miami any way you want.

The art deco trail

There are few US cities that can put on a show quite as special as Miami. It’s a handsome town where aesthetic glory sits alongside great, curling expanses of sand next to the azure sea. Best of all, and most notably, are the classically art deco buildings that pepper the town.

South Beach is home to the most eye-catching art deco buildings in the city – and there are more than 800 here. Park up and take a walking tour that’ll shed fascinating light on the history of the buildings.

Shades of blue and green gleam in the sun, with plentiful nautical elements. Hotel highlights include the Tides, the Carlyle and the Park Central Hotel – reserve your room a good while in advance to stay in a part of history.

Munching on Miami

It’s easy to eat brilliantly in Miami. All tastes are catered for, with pretty much every international cuisine represented somewhere within the city limits. There are loads of authentic, local flavors to be explored, though, whether it’s in places that embrace southern heritage or those that showcase Cuban influence.

If you’re looking to dip your toe into the latter, drive over to El Mago de las Fritas. Unpretentious and friendly, they do superb hot dogs and steak sandwiches in Cuban bread, but are best known for their ‘frita’. It’s their take on a hamburger and comes stacked with wispy potato fries and onions. They’re so good, in fact, that Barack Obama dropped by to try one while he was president.

At the other end of the spectrum, Stubborn Seed is making waves down at South Beach. They elevate humble ingredients by sourcing locally and presenting dramatically. Homemade bread comes with fennel pollen, chicken is boosted by rich truffle butter, and halibut is crusted with sourdough, with a side of shiitake mushrooms. It’s high-flying Miami food.

Beach bound

Miami has beaches for every type of vacation – sunbathing spots, watersport havens, and others where the party never stops.

South Beach is perhaps the busiest slice of sand, popular with tourists and lined with places to grab a cooling drink or some lunch in the shade. Mid-Beach, as it’s known, is a bit more chilled out, with lounge bars and fashionable hotels only a block back.

There are private stretches, too, usually run by hotels, but you can often use them for a fee even if you’re not a resident. Look out for Setai Beach Club at South Beach and you can relax on a lounger while waiters serve up drinks and excellent food. Further up on North Beach, you’ll find a similar vibe at Acqualina Resort.

It doesn’t matter which you go for – dip your toes into the sugar-soft sand and you’ll soon experience true bliss. With beaches, a bounty of restaurants, amazing art and a multitude of museums, clubs and more, this is one of the world’s great cities.

Car rental in Miami will put you in the perfect position to see it all.