5 Free Things Miami

Why it made the list: The obvious one, and the best free thing in the city, miles of wide, white-sand beach and warm turquoise water, free to everyone. From the scene at South Beach to the quiet of Mid-Beach and Bal Harbour, it's the whole reason Miami exists, and it costs nothing.

Why it made the list: The largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world, the pastel 1930s hotels of Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, all curves, neon and nautical details. Walking it is free, and it's most magical at dusk when the neon flickers on. The Art Deco Welcome Center runs a self-guided audio tour.

Why it made the list: The whole of Wynwood is an open-air gallery, block after block of giant, ever-changing murals by artists from around the world, free to wander. The ticketed Wynwood Walls garden is the curated core, but the surrounding streets deliver most of the art for nothing.

Why it made the list: The soul of Cuban Miami, and free to soak up, the domino players at Máximo Gómez Park, live music spilling from doorways, cigar rollers, the Walk of Fame stars, and the smell of café cubano everywhere. Walking Calle Ocho costs nothing and is one of the most alive experiences in the city.

Why it made the list: One of the best contemporary art museums in the city, and admission is completely free, three floors of ambitious art and a sculpture garden in the Design District. It's the rare world-class museum that costs nothing, and it anchors a free stroll through the district's public art and architecture.