Bayfront Park

Outdoor Experiences

Originally called Royal Palm Park, Bayfront Park was the Greater Miami community’s first public gathering space. The park was built in 1896 and had nothing more than a pavilion and a green space that visitors used for baseball games and track and field activities. A bandshell was added later, and the park was often used for athletic competitions, cultural and religious happenings, political events and more.

After expanding many times over the years, Bayfront Park now spans 32 acres in the heart of Downtown Miami and sits right on Biscayne Bay. Perfect for families who want to relax, play or exercise, this iconic park has open lawn spaces, a wide baywalk, winding walkways, a sandy beach area, a stunning fountain, performance venues with special event lighting and VIP seating areas, a tropical rock garden, a waterfall that dates back to 1926 and so much more.

Park Activities

This waterfront park offers plenty of outdoor fun for all ages and interests. If it's fresh air you seek, wander along the palm and oak-lined bayfront, go bike riding or simply relax in one of the park’s many grassy areas. If you feel like shopping, follow the baywalk all the way to the adjacent Bayside Marketplace, a waterfront outdoor mall with tons of popular stores, restaurants and bars. Along the way, make sure you check out the park’s impressive monuments. Isamu Noguchi, who is recognized as one of the world’s leading 20th-century sculptors, designed several gems in Bayfront Park like the Challenger Memorial, the Light Tower and the Slide Mantra. Other can’t-miss monuments include a World War II Veterans’ Memorial, Mildred and Claude Pepper Fountain, the Centennial Time Capsule and statues of Claude Pepper, Christopher Columbus and Julia Tuttle.

Families will love the Lee & Tina Hills Playground, which has a pirate ship, bouncers, slides, climbing areas and a play sculpture with waves, dolphins, turtles and a manatee that children ages 5-12 can enjoy. This playground is located in the south end of the park, next to the Tina Hills Pavilion.

Given its prime Downtown Miami location, Bayfront Park is surrounded by a large collection of restaurants, from grab-and-go fast food options to upscale haunts and dive bars. It is also surrounded by some of Greater Miami’s most iconic sites like Kaseya Arena, Freedom Tower, Bayside Marketplace and Maurice A. Ferré Park. Downtown Miami is pedestrian-friendly and these spots are all within walking distance. The latest attraction is the Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel, an enclosed gondola ride that rises nearly 200 feet above Bayside Marketplace, offering amazing views.

Concerts and Shows

Bayfront Park has two performance venues that host a diverse calendar of events. The park’s primary performance facility is the FPL Solar Amphitheater, a state-of-the-art, solar-powered venue managed and operated by Live Nation. With direct views of Biscayne Bay, permanent seating and designated VIP areas, this venue is great for large-scale concerts and music festivals.

The Tina Hills Pavilion has both permanent seating and a casual lawn area. It typically hosts smaller-scale performances, press conferences, corporate events, outdoor receptions as well as Bayfront Park’s popular free yoga classes. The yoga classes take place every Tuesday and Thursday at 5 p.m.

Maurice A. Ferré Park

Formerly called Museum Park, the 21-acre Maurice A. Ferré Park is home to the Peréz Art Museum Miami and the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science. Located north of AmericanAirlines Arena, this park is considered an extension of Bayfront Park. It sits right on Biscayne Bay and has an outdoor amphitheater, grassy areas, walking and biking baths and Plaza de la Marina Española (Spanish Navy Plaza), a monument that honors the Spanish Navy and its arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492.

For something truly unique and adventurous, visit The Flying Trapeze School. Here, participants are attached to a double-line harness and jump off a platform as they “fly” through the air, over a safety net. This activity is open to anyone ages six and up.