Holiday Inn Hotel (340 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33132)

The main pick-up location for our tours is in front of the Holiday Inn hotel. The bus stops at the hotel entrance on Biscayne Boulevard, located across the street from Bayside Marketplace (an open-air shopping mall in downtown Miami).

Driving directions from the North and South

Take I-95 to I-395 East. Exit at Biscayne Blvd. At the end of the off ramp, continue eastbound, turn right (South) onto Biscayne Blvd. and continue until you reach NE 2nd Street. Make a U-turn at NE 2nd Street onto Biscayne Blvd., North. Go one block to NE 3rd Street and turn right (East) into Bayside Marketplace -- immediately veer left to the parking garage. After parking your vehicle, walk across the street to the Holiday Inn and meet the bus.

Where to park your car

There is a parking garage at the entrance to Bayside Marketplace, next to the American flags. An early bird parking special is available - if you arrive before 10:00 AM - you can park until 6:00 PM for $5. On Saturday and Sunday, the garage accepts cash only, payable in advance. Parking can also be found adjacent to to the mall, and along Biscayne Boulevard. See the parking map below.

View Tour Bus Stop at Holiday Inn Hotel in a larger map

Other modes of transportation to Downtown Miami:

How to take the city bus from Miami Airport hotels

The quickest way is to board the "Route 7" Bus on NW 7th St. Get off the bus at NE 3rd St. in Downtown Miami, walk two blocks east to the Holiday Inn Hotel. Learn more

How to take the train to Downtown Miami

Take Miami's Metrorail to the Government Center and connect to the downtown MetroMover Inner Loop and continue to the College/Bayside stop. Holiday Inn is one block east.

From Broward and Palm Beach County you can take the Tri-Rail commuter trains (that connect with Miami's Metrorail system) and follow the instructions listed above.

After the tour, guests often ask these questions

Where can I go shopping?

Within walking distance to Bayside Marketplace, there is Ross and Marshall's discount clothing store. In Miami Beach, there is a Best Buy electronics store, along with with Ross and Publix supermarket. There is a Target in Mid-Town Miami. For the Aventura Mall and Dolphin Mall, follow the instructions listed below.

What restaurants do you recommended?

At Bayside Marketplace, Bubba Gump Shrimp is good, and Chili's restaurant has the best view.

For a casual meal in Miami Beach, we recommended, Puerto Sagua, Cardozo, Rice, Grill Fish, Doraku Sushi, San Loco Tacos, and Big Pink.

Other good restaurants include, Micheal's Genuine, Mr Chow, Prime 112, and either Smith & Wollensky or Monyt's in Miami Beach, to watch the sunset.

How to take the city bus to Miami Beach

There are two city buses that will pick you up in front of Bayside Marketplace, going northbound on Biscayne Boulevard, and take you to Miami Beach:

• "Route C" Bus - This bus will cross MacArthur Causeway, headed east, go north on Washington Ave., east on Lincoln Road, then north on Collins Ave. to 44th St. Take this route to go to Ocean Drive, or anywhere along the beach, from 1st to 15th St. The ride to South Beach takes approximately 15 minutes. See map (PDF)

• "Route S" Bus - This bus will cross MacArthur Causeway, headed east, go north on Alton Road, turn east on 17th Street, then north on Collins Ave., traveling through Sunny Isles. The bus then heads West on 192nd St., arriving to the Aventura Mall. The ride to Aventura Mall takes approximately 2 hours. See map (PDF)

How to take the city bus to Dolphin Mall, International Mall, and Mall of the Americas.

From Bayside Marketplace, walk to NE 3rd Street and take the "Route 7" Bus. The ride to Dolphin Mall takes approximately 90 minutes. See map (PDF)

Things to do near Bayside Marketplace

15 minutes at Bayside

• Use the restroom near Baby Gap, or upstaris near Chilis

• Go to Starbucks

• See Friendship Torch, honoring President John F. Kennedy

30 minutes at Bayside

• Go souvenir shopping

• Get something to drink or eat

• See statutes in Bayfront Park, and the Challenger Space Shuttle Memorial

1 hour at Bayside

• Eat a sit-down lunch

• Go shopping at Ross or Marchall's discount clothing stores

• Go to South Florida History Museum, walk 5 blocks west on NE 1 St. to 101 West Flagler Street

Here is a list of interesting shops at Bayside: Prehistoric Shop.