The city’s air hub, Miami International Airport, sees over 34 million passengers a year, half of which are international travellers. Over 100 different airlines fly in and out of Miami to more than 150 destinations around the country and on five continents. The airport’s spacious modern terminal has all the amenities a traveller needs, such as ATMs, banks and currency exchange offices. Other facilities include restaurants, shopping and an onsite hotel with complete conference and business facilities. An information desk can be found in the Arrivals area (tel: +1 305 876 7000).

The airport is located just 14 kms from downtown and offers a number of ground transfer options. Many visitors choose to rent a car at the terminal. The trip between the airport and the city centre is straightforward and well-signed.

Shuttle buses are available 24 hours a day from outside the baggage claim area, offering a convenient door-to-door option while taxis are also to be found in the same area and use meters to determine their fares.

Public transportation options include the Miami Tri-Rail train, which links the airport to downtown Miami and many other popular locations in the area. Metro-Bus and Greyhound Bus also operate from the airport and service a wide range of destinations in and outside of the city. Many of the larger hotels offer courtesy shuttle services to and from the airport, but you will need to check in advance if this is included.

There is plenty of parking available at the airport with car parks which are designed to handle the massive amount of vehicle traffic flowing through the terminals daily. Short-term parking is conveniently located next to the terminal building and economy long-term parking is connected to the terminal by courtesy shuttles.

The Greater Miami area is a sprawling metropolis and you will certainly appreciate having a car to access all of the attractions which the city has to offer. However, the city runs an efficient public transportation network of buses and light-rail trains which can reach a few of the major highlights. There are 650 Metrobuses which run along 70 routes throughout the city. Bus stops are designated by blue and green signs which have a bus logo and information about the route. The frequency of the buses varies widely, so it’s best to pick up a schedule before you try to navigate the system. One of the smarter transport options is the Electrowave, a fleet of electric trolleys which run up and down Miami Beach every few minutes and cost a mere 25 cents. This is by far the best way to get around the Miami Beach strip.

The city’s Metrorail is an elevated train system covering 33kms of track which run through popular districts such as Coconut Grove and Brickwell Avenue. These trains operate every 20 minutes from 06:00 to midnight. MetroMover is another light-rail system that operates on two loops which circle downtown Miami and links the major hotels, shopping centres and business zones within that area. The service is very convenient and best of all it’s free. MetroMover trains run every 90 seconds during peak hours and every three minutes the rest of the day. Taxis can be hailed along the streets at nearly anytime of the day, and offer an affordable and convenient way to get around the downtown area.

To get to Miami by train, Amtrak has good rail links to the Greater Miami region. Three trains leave each day from New York City and stop at most major cities along the east coast. The journey takes about 29 hours, but it’s a great way to see some of the country if you have the time. Greyhound buses are another inexpensive and easy way to get to Miami from virtually any town in America. They are slow and not particularly luxurious, but they are reliable and get the job done.