Bayside Marketplace
A waterfront shopping-and-dining complex downtown and the main launch point for bay boat tours.
The call
Skip it unless this is central to the trip.
Short answer
Is Bayside Marketplace worth it?
Bayside Marketplace is easy to leave out. Go early or reserve ahead. Crowds are part of the cost.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
Why
- 01
Convenient and lively, with live music, a marina, and easy access to Biscayne Bay cruises and the big wheel.
- 02
The catch: it's a generic open-air tourist mall — chain stores, overpriced food, time-share pitches — that locals avoid; its real value is as a boat-tour departure point.
Is it a fit?
Think twice if
You're watching the budget
Save the money. Bayside Marketplace does not return enough for the price.
You only have one day
Leave Bayside Marketplace for a longer trip.
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, skip Bayside Marketplace.
You're traveling with kids
With kids, Bayside Marketplace needs the right timing and tolerance.
Plan it well
- Cost
- Free entry; boat tours ~$30+
- Timing
- Daytime or early evening when boat tours run.
- Booking
- No entry fee; book boat tours and the wheel separately.
- Allow
- 1–2 hours
- Accessibility
- Flat, paved and fully wheelchair accessible.
- Getting there
- Downtown on Biscayne Blvd; free Metromover stops nearby.