A Couples Weekend in Miami

October 18, 2026

Couples planning a Miami weekend often find that the best stops open on different days. This plan sorts each idea by the days it is open, starting with Thursday, when the art museums stay late. Prices are in US dollars and come from official pages, so check them before you book.

Thursday evening

The Pérez Art Museum Miami (1103 Biscayne Blvd) stays open until 9 pm on Thursdays, and entry is free after 5 pm. Regular adult admission is $18. The museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which makes Thursday the first chance of the week. On the second Saturday of each month it is free all day, with art-making from 11 am to 3 pm. The PAMM visit page has current hours.

The Bass (2100 Collins Ave) on Miami Beach is free on Third Thursdays from 6 pm to 9 pm. It is open Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5 pm, and is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Daytime, any day it is open

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (10901 Old Cutler Rd) is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm with free parking. Weekday online tickets are $24.95 per adult, and weekends cost more. Its admission page lists every tier.

Venetian Pool in Coral Gables is a spring-fed pool carved out of a coral quarry in the 1920s. Non-resident adults pay $23. Hours are 11 am to 5:30 pm Tuesday to Friday and 10 am to 4:30 pm at weekends, and it is closed Mondays. Sales stop at capacity, so arrive near opening.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (3251 S Miami Ave, Coconut Grove) is the James Deering estate on the bay. It is open 9:30 am to 4:30 pm every day but Tuesday. Adult tickets are $20 during a temporary restoration discount, against a regular $32, and children 6 to 12 pay $10. Coolers, outside food and drink are not allowed, so there is no picnic option: book a table in Coconut Grove instead. Selected summer Friday evenings have later openings, which are announced on the Vizcaya website .

Evenings

WALLCAST. At SoundScape Park (500 17th St, Miami Beach), New World Symphony concerts are projected onto the New World Center wall. The shows are free, with no ticket listed, and you bring a blanket or chairs. Announced dates are 21 November, 12 December and 19 December 2026. Confirm them with the season announcement .

Dinner at South Pointe Park. Smith & Wollensky is at 1 Washington Ave in the park. Its weeknight hours are noon to 11 pm Monday to Thursday, and its own site lists the rest. Reserve on 305-673-2800. On Ocean Drive, ask for drink prices before you order and read the itemized check, because an automatic gratuity can lead to tipping twice.

Stage. The Colony Theatre (1040 Lincoln Rd) is the home of Miami New Drama, and the 2026-27 season is announced. The Arsht Center (1300 Biscayne Blvd) hosts the Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet and the New World Symphony.

On the bay

The Biscayne National Park Institute runs an Evening Bay Cruise from Homestead for $65 between November and February, and an Evening Cruise for $68 from Dinner Key Marina. Book on the institute’s website . For any other boat, ask the captain for a Merchant Mariner Credential, because the Coast Guard stops unlicensed charters on the bay.

Practical notes

Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, so keep hotel bookings flexible in late summer and early autumn.
King tides in late October and November can put water on low streets around high tide even when the sky is clear. Do not drive through it on the way to dinner.
If you swim from a city beach, stay by a lifeguard tower and check the flag before you wade in.

For a stay, look at Coconut Grove hotels on Booking.com , or compare bay trips on Viator .