An expert guide to Miami

Bewitchingly beautiful, with palm trees swaying in the breeze and those famous pastel-hued Art Deco hotels sparkling in the sun, Miami is many people’s dream cruise destination.

And that’s just Miami Beach. Cross Biscayne Bay to mainland Miami and you’ll discover a dazzling city with a hugely diverse population,where a whole range of distinct neighbourhoods offer something for every kind of visitor. The Wynwood, Little River and Little Haiti districts are fast-rising hotbeds for contemporary art and the local foodie scene, while Little Havana is a must for lovers of latin night-life, and the galleries and museums of the Design District are a global draw for culture vultures.

The shopping is something else, too. Miami and Miami Beach are actually two separate cities (most visitors don’t realise this, so you’ll earn cred points with the locals if you do). Handily, the cruise terminal is exactly between the two, with great connections in both directions (buses are the cheapest and easiest way to go). As for the best time to visit, summer – May to October –is hot and wet but winter is dry and delightfully warm, with temperatures regularly in the 20s. Here’s what not to miss when you’re there...

MUST SEE
South Beach
Feel like you’ve been here before?Because it’s been a backdrop for just about every movie and TV show set in Miami, the city’s famous stretch of sand will seem strangely familiar – especially the lifeguard stations and those kiosks where you rent lounge chairs and umbrellas. The beach itself is free and easily accessible on foot, with the most scenic part accessed via Lummus Park, which runs along Ocean Drive from 5th to 15th streets. But don’t forget to pack your best beach wear – this where the beautiful people go to see and be seen. visitflorida.com
The Institute of Contemporary Art
Miami is keen to rebrand itself as a cultural hotspot, and this extraordinary building leads the way. Located in the Design District, its eye-catching metallic shell (by Spanish architects Aranguren & Gallegos) houses an impressive permanent collection of works by twentieth-century greats such as Picasso and Roy Lichtenstein, as well as temporary exhibitions by local and emerging artists. Admission is free but it’s best to reserve your tickets online in advance (the Institute is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays).Icamiami.org

The Philip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Encompassing an aquarium, a planetarium and two science galleries, this vast site can swallow up even the largest rainy-day crowds. The exhibits are arranged very much with younger visitors in mind butt here’s plenty to enthral adults too. When museum legs set in ,take the elevator to the rooftop observation deck for city view sand a charming urban garden. frostscience.org

The Deering Estate
Once the home of a wealthy industrialist, this 444-acre property on Biscayne Bay is now a public nature reserve. Offering eco-tours and canoe trips, it’s a great day out, as well as a fascinating glimpse into Miami’s past. The estate is open every day from 10 till 5, admission $15 (children half price). deeringestate.or