Date Night in Miami

Sunset on the water

The simplest romantic plan in Miami is a sunset cruise: an hour or two on Biscayne Bay while the sky turns orange behind the Brickell towers, with a glass of champagne. Shared champagne cruises from Bayside are inexpensive and relaxed; a private boat for two, with a captain and a bottle on ice, is the more intimate version, and can stop at the quietest spot of the bay.

Time it right: the sun sets around 5:30–6 pm in winter and after 8 pm in summer, and most tours schedule the sunset departure accordingly.

Miami from above

A private helicopter or small-plane flight over Miami Beach, the islands and the skyline is the date that is hard to forget. Flights last from 30 to 60 minutes, many include champagne after landing, and the sunset and night flights show the city lit up. Planes cost less than helicopters for a similar route.

Flights take off from airports outside the centre, so allow travel time, and a weight limit per passenger usually applies.

Tips for the evening

Book a few days ahead for Fridays and Saturdays, and keep the end of the evening free for dinner in Brickell, Wynwood or South Beach. Summer storms can delay a sunset cruise or a flight; most tours offer another date or a refund.