Miami South Beach (SoBe)

South Beach is perhaps the ultimate urban beach. It has it all; history, style, quirkiness, class and as much partying as you want, not to mention a vast swathe of white sand beach bordering clear blue ocean. This is where the beautiful and rich come to play in the sunshine before hitting the nightlife of Ocean Drive after dark. South beach is brash, colorful and even a little crazy - but this is part of the attraction. One day it can be a Caribbean carnival, the next there’s a polo game going on mid beach!

Miami beach is actually separate to Miami city and located on its own barrier island along with North beach. Considered a city in its own right it is one of America’s most established beach resorts. This can be seen in the wealth of Art Deco buildings that occupy the beachfront and provide a home to some of South Beach’s cultural institutions.

South Beach is often listed as one of Florida’s nude beaches, but this is somewhat debatable. Sure, going topless is no big deal - even if, strictly speaking it isn’t legal, you won’t raise many eyebrows. On the downside it does attract a certain kind of wannabe ‘paparazzi’ which is generally enough to put anyone off getting naked. That said, it has been known on quieter days, away from the main strip.