The 10 Best Free Things to Do in Miami Year-Round – Miami New Times

People love a great deal, and there isn’t a cheaper one out there than good ol’ “free.”

Everyone likes free stuff — it’s one of the few things we can all agree on during these divided times — but some freebies are better than others. (Just ask anyone who has attended a pushy timeshare presentation in exchange for a “free” vacation.)

Believe it or not, you can still do some things in Miami for free, and you don’t need to sit through a timeshare presentation to access them. These options are available year-round and showcase some of the best activities our city has to offer. Whether you’re a local squirreling away for looming rent increases or a visitor getting to know the city’s charms, here are ten fun things you can do around Miami at no cost.

Bike at Critical Mass

The weather and scenery make Miami a desirable place to ride your bicycle, but our car-dependent city can also be a dangerous place to bike. Some people prefer to ride in small groups, or, in the case of Critical Mass, an enormous group. The free cycling meetup departs from Government Center on the last Friday of each month and attracts hundreds of cyclists. Local celebrities have also been known to join — you might recall LeBron James and Dwyane Wade took part in Critical Mass during the Heatles era.

Enjoy Viernes Culturales

This Little Havana neighborhood party has been going steady once a month for 25 years. Viernes Culturales — which launched in 2000 to preserve the neighborhood’s vibrant culture and history — takes place the third Friday of each month to showcase local restaurants, musicians, artists, and artisans. You’ll want to want to sign up for the frequently changing walking tour led by history buff Dr. Paul S. George. His Little Havana tour, like Viernes Culturales, is gratis.

Go to the Beach

You might have to cough up a cover charge to visit the clubs on South Beach, but access to its shores is free. The world-famous beach is open to the public year-round (though decidedly less so during spring, due to restrictions meant to scare off spring breakers). If South Beach isn’t your thing, Crandon Park or Haulover Beach Park are free as well. Just keep in mind that the northern stretch of Haulover is also known to be clothes-free.

Join a Hiking Club

You don’t need mountains to go hiking, and you don’t always need expensive gear, either. Miami Hiking Club has organized free hikes through South Florida’s lush Everglades and parks since 2022. If you must bring equipment, founder Maria Llorens recommends a makeshift walking stick, such as a broom or mop handle, for certain hikes. No need for pricey hiking boots either — comfortable sneakers will do. Prepare to get them dirty on hikes that require you to walk through ankle-high to knee-deep water.

Join a Run Club

Why do 700 to 800 runners take over the streets of Brickell each Tuesday? Because Brickell Run Club founder Frankie Ruiz has created a social experience that is healthy, trendy, and free — and people want to be part of it. And Ruiz isn’t the only one leading the run club wave. Miami is home to several of them, including the emerging Coconut Grove Run Club, which meets Wednesdays and Sundays, and Run Little Havana, which also hits the pavement on hump day. You can be a part of more than one run club, so feel free to run club-hop throughout the week.

Listen to Jazz at MOCA

The price of just about everything in Miami has gone up over the past few decades, but the jazz music series at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami is one exception. The outdoor Jazz at MOCA (which takes place the last Friday of the month), is free, just like it was when it launched in 1999. The show goes on rain or shine, and seating is first-come, first-served — you can bring your own chairs, too. Want to check out the museum while you’re there? MOCA offers pay-what-you-want admission that night.

Play at Glitch Bar

Remember all those times at the arcade when you placed a token into the machine or swiped a card only for it to malfunction? Well, there are no tokens or cards at Glitch Bar. Every game at this Fort Lauderdale barcade is free and unlimited with the purchase of at least one alcoholic beverage (Glitch also offers non-alcoholic drinks that meet the requirement). We’re talking classic arcades such as Mortal Kombat II, Contra, Ms. Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. Okay, so you might not be the gamer you once were, but so what? You and the barrel-throwing ape have unfinished business.

See Wynwood’s Murals

The gated Wynwood Walls began charging an entrance fee in 2021, but the majority of murals in the former warehouse district-turned-art district are still free to enjoy. In fact, there are so many murals in Wynwood that you won’t be able to see all of these works of art during your walk or drive around the area. And even if you do, the street art here is always changing (especially during Wynwood Mural Fest, part of Art Basel), which means there’s almost always something new to see.

Take a Salsa Dance Lesson

Salsa is back in the mainstream spotlight thanks in part to big-time artists such as Bad Bunny and Rauw Alejandro dipping their toes into the rhythmic genre. Now might be as good a time as any to work on that back step, left turn, right turn, and cross-body lead. Little Havana Cuban restaurant and nightclub Ball & Chain offers free salsa and/or bachata lessons at 9 p.m. almost every night (except for Friday and Saturday). Beginners are welcome, and no, you don’t need to bring a partner — feel free to come solo.

Visit a Museum

Before you visit one of Miami’s many great museums, check to see if and when they have a free admission day. Some have these days memorized, but for those who don’t, the Miami Children’s Museum is free for families the third Friday of the month (3 to 8 p.m.), the Gold Coast Railroad Museum is free the first Saturday of the month, and Pérez Art Museum Miami and HistoryMiami are free the second Saturday of the month. And then there are the museums that are free year-round, such as the Frost Art Museum and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami.