Getting to Know Public Transportation

Miami is a large city. It stretches 180 km from north to south along the coast, and, of course, the city has a public transportation system. We want to give you an idea of it, though we’ll say right away that locals drive their own cars, and most tourists prefer to get around the city by taxi (by the way, you can find out about car rentals in Miami on our website).

Public transportation in Miami includes:

– Metrobus (including double-decker tourist buses),

– the subway (Miami Metrorail) and the Metromover,

– taxis;

– water taxis.

1) The 90 routes of the Metrobus network cover virtually the entire Miami-Dade County. They cover the entire coastline and many tourist attractions, and buses run on these routes around the clock. If you decide to take a bus tour of the city, you should be aware of a few things:

• stops are frequent (almost at every pole) and traffic jams are common, so the average bus speed is slow;
• when paying the fare (boarding through the front door), you should have the exact amount or an Easy Card.

Recently, open-top double-decker buses have begun operating in Miami, taking tourists past all the city’s major attractions. The buses depart from Bayfront Park every 15–20 minutes and follow two routes. Route 1 circles South Beach with stops at popular tourist attractions and returns to Bayfront Park. Route 2 crosses the Miami River to the Coral Gables area in southwest Miami, makes a loop through Little Havana, and returns.

2) The Miami Metro is exclusively elevated, as the area has a high water table, and consists of only two lines (green and orange). An interesting mode of transportation connected to the metro is the Metromover. This is an electric monorail in the downtown area that intersects with the metro system at the “Government Center” and “Brickell” stations. Metromover trains are driverless (no conductors), so the front seats in the first car are extremely popular with tourists for sightseeing. Note that this mode of transport in Miami is unique and free.

Buses, subway cars, and the Metromover feature wide, low entrances with special handrails, which are very convenient for people with disabilities, as well as for pregnant women and mothers with strollers.

3) Hailing a taxi in Miami is no problem; taxi stands are very common. The cars are marked with the word “Taxi” and the phone number of the company providing the service. Keep in mind that most residents speak Spanish, and if you happen to get a Mexican taxi driver, you need to pay close attention to avoid misunderstandings due to his accent.

4) Water taxis in Miami are not only a convenient mode of transportation but also great entertainment for many locals and, of course, tourists. Small boats with a canopy and comfortable seats run between the islands. Water tour routes lead to Miami’s most popular areas: Key Biscayne, South Beach, Coconut Grove, and Fisher Island. The water taxi routes include stops at the most popular shopping and entertainment centers. This mode of transportation is not only popular among tourists but also convenient for many locals.

We are confident that you will be able to take full advantage of public transportation in Miami, but it will still be more convenient to rent a car and get around the city without any hassle. We would be happy to assist you with this.