Select Airport

FLL Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International

35 min to city

MIA Miami International

30 min to city

Miami

Two airports. Deco beaches and Cuban coffee 20 minutes from the gate.

🏢

Under 3h

Stay airside

🚕

3–6 hours

Quick city stop

🗽

6–10 hours

Full exploration

🌃

10+ hours

Multi-neighborhood

IMMIGRATION45m

TRANSIT35m

EXPLORE2h

RETURN35m

BUFFER35m

Recommended Itinerary

Your layover plan

Follow signs to passport control immediately on landing
Have onward boarding pass and hotel/address ready for questions
Mobile Passport Control available in Terminal 3. Non-US queues run smaller than MIA but can spike during evening international banks; allow 30 to 45 min worst case.

Brightline connects Fort Lauderdale Station to Downtown Miami (MiamiCentral) in 35 min from $21, every 60 min; rideshare from FLL Terminal 1 to Fort Lauderdale Station runs about $12. Tri-Rail from Fort Lauderdale Airport Station to Miami Airport Station takes 50 min for $3.75, then Metrorail Orange Line to Downtown in 20 min.

At MIA, stay airside and close—terminals are long and crowded, but there’s solid Cuban food and coffee if you stay near your gate.

We recommend you stay airside: Miami traffic and security lines can be unpredictable; grab Cuban food, hydrate, and avoid leaving unless everything is unusually quiet.

If traffic is light, you can do a very quick South Beach or Wynwood stop, but keep it to one area and head back early.

Set up near the beach or downtown and enjoy the atmosphere rather than trying to see everything. South Beach works well for walking, food, and people-watching, while Brickell is better for dining and hotels. Heat and traffic can sneak up on you, so plan indoor breaks and an early return.

Leave enough buffer - trains run to a schedule and can be delayed
Buy your return ticket in advance if possible
Set an alarm 70 min before your departure gate closes

Re-entry security at FLL typically takes 10-20 min
Check your gate - it may have changed while you were out
Liquids bought in the city cannot pass security - finish or bin them

Where to Eat

Best eats for a layover

What to See

Top sights for your time window

Practical Info

What you need to know

Currency

US Dollar ($). Cards and Apple Pay accepted everywhere. Skip the airport currency counters.

Language

English. Spanish is widely spoken, especially in Little Havana and Doral.

Visa

ESTA required for Visa Waiver Program nationals; other passports need a B-1/B-2 visa. US Customs and Border Protection clearance happens on arrival, not at the connecting gate. Verify before travel, visa rules change.

Transit

Metrorail Orange Line: MIA to Government Center (Downtown) in 20 min, $2.25 per ride, every 15 min via the free MIA Mover to Miami Intermodal Center. Uber to South Beach runs about $35 and 25 min off-peak.

Weather

Subtropical, hot humid summers with afternoon thunderstorms, mild dry winters. November through April is the best layover window; avoid hurricane risk August through October.

Tipping

Expected. 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants, $1 to $2 per drink at bars, $2 to $5 for taxi and rideshare drivers.

Emergency

911 (US universal, police, fire, ambulance).

Time Zone

EST (UTC-5). Clocks move to EDT (UTC-4) mid-March through early November.

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Quick Facts

CountryUnited States

Transit to city~35 min

Getting to CityTrain/Metro

Entry RequirementsMobile Passport Control available in ...

Airport WiFiFree WiFi

Miami

Your layover plan

Best eats for a layover

Top sights for your time window

What you need to know

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