With its eye-catching skyline, glittering bay, and diverse, colourful neighborhoods, Miami is a city that likes to look good. Not surprising in a place that boasts one of the most contemporary art and design scenes in the world. The Design District’s high-end galleries and luxury shopping personifies the city’s well-heeled clientele. There’s plenty of flair to be found in the street murals of Wynwood, the tango cafés of Little Havana, and the utopian 1920s architecture of Coral Gables. All that without even mentioning its famous beach, reached by the dramatic MacArthur Causeway across Biscayne Bay. Don’t be fooled by its glitzy reputation, either: There’s depth and richness beneath Miami’s veneer of glamour, and a complex history, as evidenced in its world-class museums, music, and multiculturalism.

February is Miami’s busiest month, when hundreds of thousands attend its glamorous International Boat Show and International Auto Show. But you don’t have to splash the cash to enjoy the city’s festival feeling: there are carnivals aplenty in March — including Calle Ocho, a gala of Cuban and Latin American culture — and one of the world’s biggest Pride events. In May, there’s Fashion Week; in July, an international ballet festival; and a celebration of Afro-Cuban dance in August, not to mention one of the largest book fairs in the United States in November. Miami is hot all year round, with a dry season between December and May; it can get humid in the summer (between June and September), and August and September are the peak months for hurricane season.

Allapattah

After the rapid rise of hipster Wynwood, Allapattah has become the hottest new neighbourhood in the city. Many of its buildings date back to the 1850s, while its rich Latin heritage shines through in the community’s beloved bars and clubs, bakeries, and restaurants. Juan Pablo Duarte Park is a locals’ favourite, a calm oasis that offers something much more down-to-earth than the frenetic pace of downtown and the glitz of Miami Beach.

Perez Art Museum Miami

Miami is so blessed with art that even this incredible collection has gone a little unsung. Opened in 2013 overlooking the bay, the PAMM is a must-see museum, its spacious design and tall rooms a cool delight at any time of day. With cutting-edge exhibitions alongside its permanent contemporary collection, as well an outdoor sculpture garden and an excellent restaurant, there’s no better place to get started on your art education.

The Lyric Theater

The neighbourhood known as Historic Overtown has a complex history, its rich musical culture developed out of the segregation that once blighted the city. The Lyric Theater, built in 1913, once fostered a thriving “Little Broadway” jazz scene. Dark for decades, the 400-seat theater has been restored to its former glory as a centre of Black culture, entertainment, and history.