Miami Beach Walking Tour: How to Walk Ocean Drive’s Art Deco Historic District

Ocean Drive is a practical place to begin a walk through the Art Deco Historic District. Casa Grande Suites on Ocean Drive sits on the route’s starting street, so you can set out directly from the hotel.

The Miami Beach Architectural District was the nation’s first urban 20th-century historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. Its roughly defined boundaries run from the Atlantic Ocean to Miami Beach Boulevard, Alton Road and Collins Canal.

The City of Miami Beach identifies Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival and Miami Modern (MiMo) among the styles found across its historic districts. Those districts encompass more than 2,600 buildings, with 70% considered contributing or historic.

If you’re planning a wider visit, the South Beach Miami Beach visitor guide covers the area beyond this architecture-focused walk.

Art Deco buildings are only part of the architectural story, but Ocean Drive offers several named examples to look for as you walk.

The city identifies the Colony Hotel at 736 Ocean Drive as a 1935 building designed by Henry Hohauser. Farther along, the Park Central Hotel, now the Gabriel South Beach, is at 640 Ocean Drive; Hohauser designed it in 1937.

Use these buildings as points of reference rather than treating the street as a checklist. Their dates and architect give you specific details to connect with the larger history of the district. The city’s broader account of local styles also provides context for buildings that don’t fit the Art Deco label.

The Art Deco Welcome Center is at 1001 Ocean Drive and can anchor your visit to the district. The Miami Design Preservation League offers a guided walking tour daily; it lasts approximately two hours and covers about 1.5 miles through the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District.

The guided tour includes a guide, headsets and admission to the official Art Deco Gift Shop, and all ages are welcome. Posted prices are $50 for adults ages 18–64, $40 for seniors ages 65 and older, $35 for youths ages 13–17, and free for children age 12 and under.

The Welcome Center’s posted daily hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The Miami Design Preservation League also offers an app-based audio tour in four languages, so you can choose between a guided walk and an audio option.

Before you go, check the official site of the Miami Design Preservation League for current tour, price and Welcome Center details.

Collins Avenue adds another stretch of historic architecture to your walk. The city identifies the National Hotel at 1677 Collins Avenue as a 1940 building designed by Roy France.

Keep the route flexible: the district’s stated boundaries extend as far as Collins Canal, while the guided tour covers a defined 1.5-mile route. If you want to pair the architecture walk with a broader look at the waterfront, South Pointe Park’s waterfront walks and visitor tips can help you plan that separate outing.

For drivers, the Miami Design Preservation League recommends street parking and City of Miami Beach parking garages. Options include the 7th Street Garage between Washington and Collins on 7th Street, the 12th Street Garage just west of Washington Avenue, the 13th Street Garage just east of Collins Avenue, and the 17th Street Garage at Convention Center Drive.

Posted rates are $4 per hour at meters and $1.25 per hour in City garages. Handicapped parking is available on Ocean Drive at the 5th Street entrance to Lummus Park.

How long is the Art Deco walking tour?

The Miami Design Preservation League’s guided tour takes approximately two hours and covers about 1.5 miles through the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District.

Where is the Art Deco Welcome Center?

It is at 1001 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139.

Can children join the guided tour?

Yes. The tour welcomes all ages, and children age 12 and under have a posted ticket price of $0.

What architectural styles can you see in Miami Beach?

The City of Miami Beach identifies Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival and Miami Modern (MiMo) among the styles in its historic districts.