Select Airport

FLL Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International

35 min to city

MIA Miami International

30 min to city · 3 terminals

FLL guide →MIA guide →

Miami

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

Make the layover count

Tours that fit your layover

Pick your free time after immigration, security and the trip into Miami, and we'll show what actually fits.

WeGoTrip

Self-guided audio tour

Starts the moment you arrive. No group to meet and no fixed departure, so a late landing does not cost you the booking.

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Big Bus Tours

Hop-on hop-off bus loop

A sit-down loop past the main sights with nothing to reserve. Stay aboard if you are watching the clock.

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Tiqets

Skip-the-line attraction ticket

One landmark, done properly. The ticket lands on your phone straight away.

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GetYourGuide

Half-day guided tour

The sweet spot for a long layover. Most listings offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

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Viator

Top-rated experiences

Tripadvisor's marketplace, and a useful second opinion where GetYourGuide is thin.

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Tiqets

Skip-the-line attraction ticket

Good filler if your tour finishes early and you still have an hour to spend.

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GetYourGuide

Full-day tours and combos

Enough runway to get beyond the immediate city and still return with margin.

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Viator

Private guide, flexible timing

Set your own return time. Worth the premium when the whole day hinges on one flight.

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Big Bus Tours

Multi-day pass

Cheaper per hour past eight, and still valid if the layover turns into an overnight.

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🏢

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.

Stay connected with an eSIM

Data from arrival, no roaming fees. Instant activation via Airalo.

Get eSIM ↗

Quick Facts

CountryUnited States

Transit to city~35 min

Getting to CityTrain/Metro

Entry RequirementsMobile Passport Control available in ...

Airport WiFiFree WiFi

🧭 Layover CalculatorSee if you can leave any airport during your layover. → ✈️ Flight delayed or connection missed?You could be owed up to €600 — check free in 30 seconds. →

Miami

Tours that fit your layover

Your layover plan

Best eats for a layover

Top sights for your time window

What you need to know

More layover cities

Guides for Miami & nearby