I’ve been looking back at my Miami photos for the last couple of weeks, wishing I was back on South Beach with the sand between my toes. My time in Miami this year was way too short. It was a place that I didn’t choose to visit, but found myself there nonetheless and by the end of my five days there I was completely hooked.

I didn’t get long enough to write a proper guide on what to see, but I’ve compiled nine photos to make you drool over how cool and hip this seaside city really is.

South Beach

Florida’s biggest drawcard is its amazing beaches and surely Miami’s most famous asset has to be the golden sands and clear aquamarine waters of South Beach. With a stretch of sand as far as the eye can see and a thriving nightlife mere metres away from the beach, this pocket of Miami is always pumping and always turning heads. With epic sunsets like this, it’s clear why this is still the number one spot for Miami photos.

Do sunsets ever get better than this?

South Beach is just as pretty during the day as it is when the sun goes down. A walk along the boardwalk that trawls the length of the beach in the morning will have you brushing shoulders with the beach bed businesses, setting up their lounges and umbrellas for another day of sun and relaxation. Get there in the morning to see the beach and score a beach lounge in prime position before the rush sets in.

South Beach ready for action on a sunny morning

The best part about not waking up in Miami with a headache from a big night out on South Beach is that until around 11am, the beach is wholly yours. Despite it being a perfect day, the sands were deserted apart from a few wanderers getting their feet wet or walking up an appetite for brunch. And with Miami photos that look like this? Totally worth it.

Even the guard towers are pretty here!

Wynwood Walls

This complex of vibrant murals is one of the most Instagrammable Miami photo spots for good reason. Everything about these murals is total eye candy and with the backdrop of the Miami sunshine, there’s no better spot to spend the afternoon taking selfies. Best yet? It’s totally free to enter and wander around and the murals spill out of the main complex and into the surrounding neighbourhood, so take time to wander off the beaten path a little.

There’s nothing more vibrant than Miami’s Wynwood Walls

This kooky colourful cat resting on the body of a plane caught my eye when wandering Wynwood and I just had to snap it. Side note: Wynwood used to be a warehouse district and thanks to one visionary guy – Tony Goldman – the area was transformed and turned into one of the best displays of street art in the world. Well done, Tony!

Wynwood has sculptures, too, and they’re just as cool as the murals.

According to the Wynwood Walls website, the project has seen over 50 artists contribute to the murals since its launch in 2009. For something that hasn’t been around for too long, it sure has made a massive impact and has shot right up my list of places to take photos of Miami.

Even the surrounding streets are covered in murals in Wynwood

EAST, Miami

Not only is EAST, Miami in the Brickell Centre one of the nicest and most well-equipped hotels I’ve stayed at in recent times, but the view of the sunset from my balcony offered up views like this. As the sun set, the sky was slashed with pink and orange all around the skyscrapers as I caught my last glimpse of the turquoise waters. EAST, Miami also has a killer rooftop cocktail bar called Sugar, which is famous for being one of the best places to take your Miami photos for Instagram!

The view from my balcony at EAST, Miami

Mondrian South Beach

Another hotel that I just about had to be dragged out of because I never wanted to leave was the epic Mondrian South Beach. Although it’s a little further from South Beach than the name suggests, with a pool area as incredible as this one, who’s complaining?

The epic pool view from Mondrian South Beach

Yardbird

Anthony Bourdain brought me here with his recommendations and I went back twice because the southern-style food here is just tops. Whilst this may not be the greatest photo – artsy photos are hard to style when you’re out to lunch with a bunch of hungry friends – I think it’s clear that the food here is something special. Try the fried chicken, the devilled eggs or the hush puppies if you want a real treat.

Devilled eggs have never looked so good

And there you have it – my short and sweet taster of where to get some amazing Miami photos. I’ll definitely be heading back one day, so can’t wait to add some more Instagram-worthy spots to this list.