Florida juts out between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico: white-sand beaches, the pastel Art Deco district of Miami Beach, the Everglades marshes, the island chain of the Keys and the theme parks of Orlando. It is explored by car, on long straight roads, and suits a family vacation as well as a road trip. This Florida travel guide helps you choose what to see and do, your stops, your itinerary and your budget.
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Time zoneEastern Time in most of the state, UTC−5 (UTC−4 in summer): 5 hours behind London most of the year, same time as New York · detailsLocal time now: –:–
AirportsMiami (MIA) and Orlando (MCO) are the main international gatewaysalso Fort Lauderdale and Tampa; check current nonstop options from your home airport
EntryUS citizens: domestic travel; UK citizens: approved ESTA or US visa before travel · UK: GOV.UK
Electricitycheck voltage and plug types before you leave · plugs
✅ Best months: January, February, March, April, November, December
❌ Period to avoid: September
The best period is December to April: 24 to 29 °C (75 to 84 °F) in the afternoon in Miami, little rain and bearable humidity, according to NOAA normals. From May to October, temperatures exceed 30 °C (86 °F), thunderstorms are frequent and the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November. Orlando is cooler in winter, the Keys milder. Month-by-month climate and tips by type of trip: see our article when to go to Florida.
What to see and do in Florida: the highlights
Miami and Miami Beach
Miami Beach, separated from Miami by Biscayne Bay, lines up its pastel Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive in South Beach. The very wide beach is watched over by colorful lifeguard towers. On the mainland, Little Havana and its Calle Ocho reflect the importance of the Cuban community: cafés, cigars, games of dominoes. The Wynwood district is known for its murals, and Vizcaya for its Italian-style gardens facing the bay.
The Everglades
Everglades National Park protects a vast wetland, a « river of grass » flowing slowly south. You can see alligators, turtles and many birds, especially in the dry season. The Anhinga Trail boardwalk, near the Homestead entrance, is one of the most accessible; Shark Valley can be explored by bike or tram. Airboat rides are offered outside the national park, by private operators. Everglades is one of the parks where non-US residents pay the $100 nonresident fee (National Park Service, checked 26 October 2026).
The Keys and Key West
US 1 links Miami with Key West across some forty islands connected by bridges, including the Seven Mile Bridge. Key Largo is the base for diving and snorkeling in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Islamorada and Marathon are quieter. At the end of the road, Key West is a small town of wooden houses, known for the Ernest Hemingway Home, the marker of the southernmost point of the continental United States and its sunsets at Mallory Square. Allow at least 3 h 30 min of non-stop driving from Miami. This drive is more relaxed at the best time to visit Miami, outside hurricane season.
Orlando and its theme parks
In the center of the state, Orlando is home to the big theme parks: Walt Disney World, which includes several parks, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld. Each park takes a full day. Tickets are expensive and lines are long during US school vacations: buy tickets online and plan your days in advance. Fans of the Orlando parks can also find that world at sea: our Disney Cruise Line page covers ships and departures.
Kennedy Space Center and the Space Coast
About an hour’s drive east of Orlando, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex tells the story of American space exploration, with the Space Shuttle Atlantis and a Saturn V rocket. Rocket launches take place regularly from this coast: dates are published in advance but are often postponed.
St. Augustine
In the northeast, St. Augustine bills itself as the oldest continuously inhabited city of European origin in the United States, founded by the Spanish in the 16th century. Its pedestrian center, its stone fort (Castillo de San Marcos) and its colonial houses are a change from the rest of Florida.
The Gulf Coast: Tampa, Sarasota, Naples
The west coast is calmer than Miami’s. Tampa has a historic Cuban district, Ybor City. Further south, the beaches of Clearwater, Siesta Key (Sarasota) and Naples are known for their fine sand and sunsets. Sanibel and Captiva islands are known for their seashells.
Itinerary ideas for Florida
10 days: Miami, the Keys and the Everglades
Days 1 to 3: Miami Beach, the Art Deco District, Little Havana, Wynwood
Day 4: Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail or Shark Valley)
Days 5 and 6: the Keys road, night in Key Largo or Islamorada (diving, snorkeling)
Days 7 and 8: Key West
Days 9 and 10: back to Miami, a last beach day and flight home
2 weeks: the grand tour of the peninsula
Days 1 to 3: Miami and Miami Beach
Days 4 and 5: the Everglades, then on to the Keys
Days 6 and 7: Key West
Days 8 and 9: the Gulf Coast (Naples, Sanibel or Sarasota)
Days 10 to 12: Orlando (one or two parks) and Kennedy Space Center
Days 13 and 14: St. Augustine, or back down the Atlantic coast to Miami
For a trip focused on the Orlando parks, allow at least 5 days there, plus a few beach days to finish.
Budget for a trip to Florida
Florida is an expensive destination, especially in high season and in Miami Beach or the Keys. Car rental, gas, theme parks and tips add up. Indicative amounts per person per day, excluding international flights:
Item
Budget
Comfort
Accommodation (based on a shared double room)
about US$55 to 90
about US$135 to 245
Meals
about US$40 to 55
about US$65 to 110
Transport (shared car, gas, tolls, parking)
about US$20 to 35
about US$35 to 55
Activities
about US$10 to 20
about US$35 to 65
Total per day
roughly US$125 to 190
roughly US$245 to 450
Indicative estimates, converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate of 23 October 2026, varying with the season. Days in the Orlando parks cost considerably more. US prices are shown before sales tax and tips.
To keep costs down: travel outside US school vacations, stay in motels away from the most touristy areas, choose accommodation with a kitchen and compare multi-day park ticket prices.
Getting around Florida
Rental car: the most practical option outside Miami. Check the included insurance, the under-25 surcharge and how tolls, often electronic, are handled: ask the rental company how they are billed. UK travelers: GOV.UK says a UK photocard licence can be used, but you may also need the 1949 international driving permit, depending on the state and rental company.
Train: the private company Brightline links Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Orlando International Airport (gobrightline.com, checked 26 October 2026); check timetables before you go.
In Miami: according to Miami-Dade County (Metrorail and Metromover pages, checked 26 October 2026), the Metrorail Orange Line serves Miami International Airport station, and the Metromover, which is always free, serves Downtown, Omni and Brickell. Parking is expensive in Miami Beach.
Bus:long-distance buses link the big cities, but they are slow and impractical for natural sites.
Domestic flights: useful for quickly linking Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Key West, or for combining Florida with New York.
Where to stay in Florida?
In Miami, South Beach is the most convenient area for the beach and nightlife, but also the most expensive and noisiest; Mid-Beach and North Beach are quieter. Brickell and Downtown suit a city stay. In the Keys, options range from motels to beachfront resorts, with high prices in Key West; staying in Marathon or Big Pine Key often saves money.
In Orlando, park hotels sometimes offer perks (shuttles, early entry), while hotels on International Drive or in Kissimmee are often cheaper, with a car. On the Gulf Coast, vacation rentals and beach motels are plentiful. In high season, book several months ahead.
Entry requirements, health and safety
US citizens: a trip to Florida is domestic travel, with no entry formalities.
UK citizens: according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 18 August 2026), you need an approved ESTA (only via the official ESTA website or ESTA Mobile app) or a US visa before you travel; some travel histories (Cuba since 12 January 2021, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since March 2011) and arrests or criminal records can make you ineligible. Your passport must be valid for the length of your stay.
Health: medical treatment is expensive and some hospitals ask non-residents for a deposit; UK prescriptions are not valid in the US (GOV.UK). Take out insurance covering medical costs. Emergency number: 911.
Driving: GOV.UK says you can use a UK photocard driving licence, but you may also need the 1949 international driving permit (IDP), depending on the state, and car hire companies may set stricter conditions.
Hurricanes: according to GOV.UK, the Atlantic hurricane season normally runs from June to November. Monitor forecasts from NOAA and the US National Hurricane Center, expect possible flight disruption and follow evacuation orders.
Mosquito-borne diseases: GOV.UK lists Zika and West Nile virus among health risks in the US: use repellent and cover up.
Safety: GOV.UK notes that violent crime and gun crime rarely affect tourists, but advises taking care in unfamiliar areas and not walking through quieter areas alone at night. Watch your belongings on the beach and in tourist areas.
Nature: do not feed or approach alligators, and follow lifeguards’ instructions on the beaches.
Practical tips for Florida
Money: cards are accepted almost everywhere. Allow about 18 to 20% for tips in restaurants; check it is not already included on the bill.
Taxes: sales tax is added at the register, and hotels often add local taxes and resort fees: look at the final price before booking.
Mobile data: check your home carrier’s US roaming charges; a local SIM or eSIM is often cheaper than roaming.
Sun and heat: sunscreen, a hat and water are essential, even in winter. Never leave a child or a pet in a parked car.
Who is Florida for?
Our verdict by type of traveler, based on the information in this guide (sights, budget, seasons).
Profile
Our verdict
Why
Couples
Good fit
The Keys road, sunsets in Key West, quiet Gulf Coast beaches.
Families
Very good fit
Orlando parks, Kennedy Space Center, beaches; park days cost considerably more.
Tight budget
With reservations
Roughly US$125 to 190 per day; motels, accommodation with a kitchen, travel outside US school vacations.
Nature
Very good fit
The Everglades, snorkeling and diving in Key Largo.
Culture
Good fit
Miami Beach Art Deco, St. Augustine, Ybor City in Tampa, space exploration.
Beach
Very good fit
Miami Beach, Clearwater, Siesta Key, Naples.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Florida?
Ten days let you see Miami, the Everglades and the Keys. Allow two weeks to add the Gulf Coast, Orlando and Kennedy Space Center, and another week for several theme parks.
Do you need a visa to visit Florida?
US citizens need nothing: it is domestic travel. According to GOV.UK, UK citizens need an approved ESTA or a US visa before travelling; travel to Cuba on or after 12 January 2021 makes you ineligible for an ESTA.
Do you need to rent a car in Florida?
Yes for the Everglades, the Keys, the Gulf Coast and Orlando. In Miami, a car is less useful and parking is expensive, especially in Miami Beach.
Can you see alligators in Florida?
Yes, especially in Everglades National Park, on the Anhinga Trail or at Shark Valley, particularly in the dry season. Keep your distance and never feed them.
Is Florida a safe destination?
Generally yes. GOV.UK notes that violent crime rarely affects tourists but advises care in unfamiliar areas. From June to November, follow hurricane alerts from the National Hurricane Center.
What to do in Florida?
Stroll through the Art Deco District of Miami Beach and Little Havana, spot alligators in the Everglades, drive the Keys road to Key West, spend a few days in the Orlando parks, visit Kennedy Space Center, wander the old town of St. Augustine and enjoy the Gulf Coast beaches (Sarasota, Naples). Details above.
How much does 2 weeks in Florida cost?
Based on our budget table (roughly US$125 to 190 per person per day on a budget, US$245 to 450 for comfort), allow about US$1680 to 2685 per person for 14 days on a budget and US$3470 to 6270 for comfort, excluding international flights and Orlando park tickets.
Entry, safety and health information read on 26 October 2026: UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for the USA (GOV.UK, updated 18 August 2026)
Climate normals: NOAA (National Weather Service) 1991-2020 normals: Miami (international airport), Orlando (international airport) and Key West (international airport); values converted to °C and mm
Miami-Dade County (Metrorail, Metromover), Brightline and National Park Service nonresident fees, checked 26 October 2026
European Central Bank euro reference rates, 23 October 2026 (budget conversions)
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