10 Things to Do in Miami in October

If you want to get to know and celebrate cultural diversity, you will be interested in visiting Miami in October, as the city has a wide range of activities on offer.

Carmen Navarro

Carmen Navarro

10 min read

10 Things to Do in Miami in October

Miami, United States | ©Antonio Cuellar

Miami is a city with a great tourist attraction, which invites to be discovered by holidaymakers. Not only will you find dazzling beaches with crystal clear waters and modern shopping centres to explore. You'll also enjoy stunning natural scenery and historic sites.

You'll also sample a variety of cuisine while experiencing the city's multicultural celebrations and taking advantage of the low prices that are characteristic of the month of October.

1. Enjoy the mild weather and beauty of October in Key West

Key West Island| ©Robinson
Key West Island| ©Robinson

A must-do on your trip is to book an excursion to Key West from Miami. Its attractions have made these excursions one of the most popular among travellers. There, you can enjoy a series of outdoor tourist activities: stroll through the streets, taste delicious dishes, have a drink or relax in a café. You'll also enjoy the breathtaking natural scenery on the way to the key.

You'll start your tour on a bus that will take you to Key West. On the way along the coast you will see the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and the 31 Caribbean islands that make up the Florida Keys. In addition, you will cross over approximately 43 bridges.

Upon arrival in Key West you will have the opportunity to book a snorkelling excursion and ride a catamaran, two of Miami's best water activities. You'll be able to take an approximately two-hour cruise to marvel at the living coral reefs, considered the only ones in North America. You'll also enjoy a panoramic view of the key while parasailing.

Book a Key West excursion from Miami

2. Tour the city of Miami in comfort on the Big Bus Tour

Visiting Miami without getting off the tour bus| ©Ed Webster
Visiting Miami without getting off the tour bus| ©Ed Webster

Miami is a city that deserves to be explored in detail, as it has a series of buildings and monuments of great architectural beauty. Therefore, booking a Big Bus tour bus in Miami is a good option to comfortably stroll through the main streets.

Get on this double-decker bus with an open-top roof and take advantage of the cool October days to start this tour. With two routes and over 30 stops, you can hop on and off the Big Bus as often as you like. This way, you can explore Miami at your own pace.

Among the stops you can make when you get on any of Miami's best tour buses are Lincoln Road, Little Havana, Ocean Drive, Versace Mansion, Art Deco District, Freedom Tower, Wynwood, and more. And if you want to discover the illuminated city, you can book the night tour bus

Book your Big Bus tour bus in Miami

3. Fly over the clear skies of Miami by helicopter in October.

From the top of Miami| ©Alex Azabache
From the top of Miami| ©Alex Azabache

Flying over the city of Miami in a helicopter is considered by many tourists as a unique adventure, because they can see different aerial angles of the city.

Don't miss this opportunity, especially if you visit in October, when the skies are clearer than the rest of the year.

Miami helicopter rides can last up to an hour, during which time you'll be able to see various places of interest:

  • You'll see the impressive skyscrapers of the Brickell district from above.
  • Flying over South Beach you will quickly identify the Art Deco district hotel complex, Ocean Drive and the Lincoln Road sector.
  • You'll fly over Key Biscayne and, if you keep your eyes peeled, you'll catch a glimpse of marine wildlife in their habitat.
  • Finally, in Coral Gables you can book a cruise around Miami's celebrity homes and private yachts.

Book a helicopter flight over Miami

5. Experience the atmosphere of an NBA game

Attending an NBA game is an experience you'll never forget. That's why on your trip to Miami in October you shouldn't miss out on buying your ticket to a Miami Hea game in advance. The season starts in mid-October and ends in early April, so this is a great time to go and enjoy the great atmosphere of the stadium.

Please note, however, that it is very important to choose the right seat in order to fully enjoy the game. And, on the other hand, don't arrive just in time to experience the atmosphere to the fullest: buy some snacks or souvenirs, feel the music, watch the cheerleaders dancing and the players entering the pitch. In short: enjoy the experience to the fullest.

The duration of an NBA game is officially 48 minutes (4 quarters of 12 minutes each), but between time-outs and half-time, most games are usually extended to two hours. After the first two quarters, there is a 15-minute break where you can take a bathroom break or buy a drink.

Book your Miami Heat tickets

6. Take advantage of the pleasant October weather to visit Everglades National Park.

In Everglades| ©Manuel ROMARIS
In Everglades| ©Manuel ROMARIS

The month of October is characterised by stable weather conditions, meaning that its days are neither too cold nor too hot. Therefore, it is a perfect time to take a tour of Everglades Park. Consider this option to enjoy the amazing natural scenery and some endangered animals.

And to get there, you can book an airboat ride through the Everglades from Miami, which lasts almost 5 hours. Arriving at the natural enclosure will give you the opportunity to appreciate the wildlife from a more realistic perspective. This is because you will be in contact with the natural environment of a number of birds, snakes, fish, manatees, otters, crocodiles, alligators among other animals.

On the other hand, among the activities to do in the Everglades tours from Miami, highlights a fun airboat ride and an amazing alligator show. You will also learn about the main historical aspects of the Everglades, its flora and fauna.

Book an airboat ride in the Everglades

7. Hispanic Heritage Festival: Commemorate the legacy of Hispanic Americans in Miami

Hispanic Heritage Festival| ©Miami City Commission
Hispanic Heritage Festival| ©Miami City Commission

If you don't know what to do in Miami in a week, you should know that this city has plenty of activities. So you'll be short of days to enjoy yourself. For example, during the month of October you can visit the Hispanic Heritage Festival, which commemorates the city's Hispanic roots. This is a series of events aimed at transmitting Hispanic heritage. You'll have the chance to discover and sample a wide variety of dishes at the food festival held in Little Havana. And if that's not enough, don't hesitate to book a gastronomic tour of Little Havana.

Also, at the Tower Theatre on Calle Ocho you'll see a Hispanic film show, while at Domino Park, you'll see musical performances and open-air dance presentations.

On the other hand, the youngest members of the family can also take part in this great celebration and learn about Hispanic musical rhythms, architecture and literature. This is because the Museum of the City of Miami is preparing special activities for them.

Book a culinary tour of Little Havana

8. Take advantage of the low October prices and go on a shopping excursion

Shopping| ©Ksenia Chernaya
Shopping| ©Ksenia Chernaya

October is sale month in Miami, so you won't want to miss out on clothes, shoes, accessories and appliances. In addition, you'll be able to buy beautiful Christmas items, which shops are starting to display in their windows. For this, an ideal plan if you want to make the most of it is to book a shopping trip to Sawgrass Mills mall, which is one of the most impressive shopping centres in the USA and you will be able to buy several popular brands.

You will get good prices on collections from past seasons, which have not yet been sold. The same goes for smartphones, tablets and other devices, the top of the range of which is usually released in a couple of months.

But if you prefer pre-Christmas shopping, then your visit to Miami in October is the best opportunity. The variety of products is astounding, so you'll be spoilt for choice.

Book a shopping trip to Sawgrass Mills Mall

9. Experience three days of Caribbean rhythms and flavours at the Miami Carnival

Miami Carnival| ©Girly~Girl
Miami Carnival| ©Girly~Girl

If you're planning to be in Miami between October 8 and 10, you can experience a unique cultural experience where Caribbean rhythms and flavours take centre stage. Attend the Miami Carnival, which for more than three decades has been reviving the carnival traditions of the island of Trinidad and the Brazilian nation.

For three days you can taste island food and delight in the exotic flavours of Haitian and Jamaican cuisine. You will vibrate to the beat of the steel pans of the comparsas and be amazed by the elaborate and colourful costumes of those who move in the streets.

Finally, if you attend the third day of the Miami Carnival, you will enjoy a great parade of bands competing for prizes in an annual competition. You'll also see some costume contests, which you can enter if you wish.

10. Make the most of your visit to Miami and be part of the traditional Pride celebration

Wynwood Pride Miami| ©Site Staff
Wynwood Pride Miami| ©Site Staff

For 11 consecutive years the city of Miami has commemorated Pride with a memorable party where you'll meet the LGBTQ+ community. Be part of all the events that this traditional celebration has to offer. The agenda of activities extends over two weeks, starting on 1 October with an exciting free lecture by speakers from around the world, who present the challenges of the LGBTQ+ community and the civil rights that protect them.

So, from 2 October the fun begins, you can go by bus to the Drag Gallery, where a drag host will guide you through the entire exhibition. Four days later, on 6 October, you'll have to get a ticket for the eagerly awaited William Dorsey Swann Party. He is a well-known figure of gay liberation, to whom the popular expression "Queen of Drag" is due .

On 8 October in the Dezerland Park, you will experience the Dragalympics with various tests and on 9 October, you will have the opportunity to take a backstage tour in the Art Diva. And finally, on 15 October at Dezerland Park you will experience a night of music and drive-in cinema with a screening of the iconic queer film "The Birdcage".

11. Live a multicultural experience in Coral Gables and celebrate the Day of the Dead

At Giralda Plaza| ©JuanPabloBastidas
At Giralda Plaza| ©JuanPabloBastidas

The Coral Gables neighbourhood of Miami dresses up every October 30th to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Be part of this multicultural experience during your trip and relive a colourful Mexican tradition.

Stroll the streets of Coral Gables, visit the city's cafes and shopping malls. You'll see beautiful decorations of the iconic garbanzo skull and sample some of the culinary delights characteristic of the holiday. All this wrapped in an atmosphere of joyful celebration.

And if you are travelling with your children, but don't know what to do in Miami with them, you have the option of taking them to the Giralda Plaza Shopping Centre and Merrick Way. There, the Consulate General of Mexico, in conjunction with the Coral Gables government agencies, is preparing a series of children's activities, catrinas contests, plays, among others.

12. Join the popular Halloween celebration at Lincoln Road

Halloween at Lincoln Road| ©BeatFun1415
Halloween at Lincoln Road| ©BeatFun1415

If you are in the city of Miami on October 31st, you should join the Halloween celebration at Lincoln Road. You'll be able to wear everything from scary make-up to an ingenious costume. Also, if you are with your children, you will have the opportunity to take them with you from 17:00 to 20:00 hours. The little ones will be able to play Trick or Treat, while they show off their costumes.

You'll come across ghosts, zombies and catrinas. There will also be classic characters from Tim Burton' s films: Beetlejuice, Jack Skellington, Edward Scissorhands, Emily, Victor Frankenstein, Sally, Vincent, among others.

You will experience the scariest and funniest night of all, along with hundreds of people who take the opportunity to have a great time. What are you waiting for? Put this activity on your list of what to see and do in Miami at night and enjoy Halloween in Miami.

What to pack for a visit to Miami in October?

Luggage at the airport| ©Dimitri Karastelev
Luggage at the airport| ©Dimitri Karastelev

If you plan to travel to Miami in October you shouldn't overpack your suitcase with unnecessary items. Make sure you pack clothes made of lightweight fabrics, so you'll always stay cool during your travels. You should also pack a swimming costume, at least one change of shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Don't forget your camera or video camera with charging cables and a universal connector. Also, take a toiletry bag with you with some personal products that you consider essential and, if you wish, add a couple of painkillers to combat an unexpected headache.

Book your Miami Explorer Pass

Average temperatures in Miami in October

Summer in Miami| ©Humberto Moreno
Summer in Miami| ©Humberto Moreno

Miami has many things to see and do and you should know that the month of October is considered the summer season. Therefore, when you arrive you'll find the weather to be quite warm, with temperatures usually ranging between 30ºC and 28ºC. In addition, during this period there is a high level of humidity in the atmosphere, due to the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.

The temperature in the last days of October usually starts to drop a little. You will notice a minimum temperature of 26 ºC, which is 2 ºC lower than at the beginning of the month.

Likewise, the humidity will decrease slightly, but this is not really noticeable to tourists. In any case, it never hurts to check the weather forecast a little before you travel.

Book a bike tour in Miami