5 top museums in Miami

Quick insights

• Maurice A. Ferré Park in downtown Miami is home to the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Science Museum.
• Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a Gilded Age estate where visitors can view European gardens adapted to Miami’s tropical climate.
• Wynwood Walls features murals hand-sprayed by some of the most well-known graffiti artists at this unique, open-air museum located in one of Miami’s trendiest neighborhoods.

There are few things more enriching than a day at the museum. While Miami may be known for trendy nightclubs, excellent restaurants and beautiful beaches, the city is also home to some world-renowned museums where you may take in great art, learn about the past and behold the wonders of nature and science.

Let’s take a look at what some of the top museums in Miami have to offer.

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)

This modern and contemporary art museum features art from the Americas, Western Europe and Africa and is a foundational institution in Miami’s cultural scene. PAMM’s permanent collection reflects Miami’s cultural diversity and places a “strong emphasis on art that relates to the US Latinx experience, the African diaspora, Latin America and the Caribbean,” according to the museum’s website.

In 2013, PAMM moved to its current downtown location in a unique, dynamic space designed by Herzog & de Meuron to display the museum’s growing collection. The spectacular building is a work of art in its own right.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a cultural and historic landmark in Miami’s glamorous, celebrity-packed Biscayne Bay. Formerly the winter residence of businessman James Deering, this early 20th-century estate features a main house with original furnishings, extensive Italian Renaissance-style gardens and the historic Vizcaya Village.

The gardens are notable for adapting European aesthetics to the tropical habitat of South Florida. Environmental sustainability is at the core to the museum’s approach to maintaining the gardens, and the museum received the American Public Gardens Association’s Sustainability Award for innovative sustainability practices in 2024.

HistoryMiami Museum

HistoryMiami is the largest history museum in the state and a Smithsonian affiliate. During a visit, you may connect with Miami’s past and learn the story of the region. The museum houses artifacts, visual materials, books and manuscripts, architectural records and more that document the Miami area’s earliest settlement days to its current status as an essential tourist destination.

Notable artifacts include a raft from Cuban refugees, Miccosukee and Seminole patchwork dolls, Pan American Airways memorabilia and Santería ritual items. In addition to its sizeable permanent collection, the museum offers several exhibitions throughout the year, so you may see something new each time you visit.  

Wynwood Walls

When you think of an art museum, you may picture paintings by the great European masters or experimental sculptures by avant-garde artists. Wynwood Walls, a street art museum, is redefining modern art and expanding our understanding of what belongs in a museum.

At the museum’s large, open-air galleries, you’ll find thousands of feet of walls with murals hand-sprayed by some of the best-known masters of the graffiti scene. The colorful and engaging murals make the museum a great place to snap pics for social media.

The fun doesn’t have to end once you’ve seen all Wynwood Walls has to offer. You’ll find lots of large-scale works sprinkled throughout the Wynwood area, which has recently become one of the trendiest neighborhoods in the city.

Phillip and Patricia Frost Science Museum

What if you could experience a planetarium, aquarium, science exhibitions and stunning views of Biscayne Bay all in one place? You can experience this and more at Frost Science.

The three-level aquarium is a must-see feature of this kid-friendly museum. You’ll find a range of ecosystems on display, and the lowest level provides a glimpse of sea life from the ocean depths.

Head over to the Frost Planetarium for thrilling and visually stimulating shows that will take from outer space to underwater ecosystems. Its large, dome-shaped screen offers a 360-degree view for a truly immersive educational experience. On top of these exciting features, visitors can engage with several interactive exhibitions that help bring science to life.

Frost Science is situated next to PAMM, so you can visit both if you’re looking for a full day of science, art and culture. These two important cultural institutions have helped revitalize downtown Miami.

In summary

Miami has a vibrant cultural scene with museums that rival what you may find in other major cities around the globe. For a jam-packed museum day, visit Maurice A. Ferré Park where you can squeeze in a visit to both PAMM and Frost Science. Wynwood Walls, a street art museum, and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a Gilded Age estate and historic landmark, are two of the city’s more unique museum experiences. Another top museum is HistoryMiami, which offers visitors a chance to engage with Miami’s storied past.