Go To Art Basel Miami For An Unforgettable Day Trip Before (Or After) Your Cruise

Experience Art Week In South Florida

By Amanda Mesa | Published on July 1, 2022

If you're an art lover, you have probably heard of Art Basel Miami. It's part of Art Basel proper, an international platform created to connect art collectors with artists and galleries during multi-day fairs in cultural capitals. Think Hong Kong, Paris, Miami Beach and, of course, Basel, Switzerland, where Art Basel began in 1970. Among Art Basel's many initiatives is a commitment to making the art market more accountable, while creating one-of-a-kind experiences that strengthen local art scenes around the world and nurture the careers of budding artists.

Even if you're not a collector or well-versed in the art world yourself, there's still a lot to love about Art Basel. In the Magic City, this iconic art fair has turned into a week-long celebration of creativity in all its forms, including music, food, fashion, architecture and design. Locals refer to it as Miami Art Week — the somewhat unofficial continuation of Art Basel Miami — and it's hands-down one of the best times of year to be in the city. So, if you're looking for things to do before a cruise from South Florida or simply want to experience Miami at its most colorful, consider this your Art Basel guide.

Aerial view of Art Basel tents on Miami Beach. Miami.
Aerial view of Art Basel tents on Miami Beach. Miami.
During the days and nights surrounding the main Art Basel fair, nightclubs come alive with iconic DJs and emerging performers visiting from every corner of the globe. Restaurants welcome guests with themed events accompanied by imaginative, limited-time menus and collaborations with internationally renowned chefs. Hotels along Miami Beach transform their pool decks into fashion runways and their lobbies into galleries and art pop-ups. And celebrities, philanthropists, and A-listers from around the world flock to Miami to discover new artists, expand their personal art collections, and immerse themselves in the fun, beauty, and culture of the city.
Travelers dancing in a lounge bar, with DJ playing music. Miami.
Travelers dancing in a lounge bar, with DJ playing music. Miami.
In Miami, Art Basel typically takes place during the first week of December. If you're considering winter cruises from Florida, it's worth it to time your getaway for just before or after this incredible week-long event. That way, you can kick off or wrap up your Caribbean vacation with a Miami day trip or a longer city stay and experience some of the many marvels Miami Art Week has to offer. Here are just some of the activities and events you can look forward to around Art Basel.

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Plan one of the best Miami day trip experiences before or after your cruise with an unforgettable visit to Art Basel.

Immerse Yourself In The Art Basel Scene

Long exposure photo of people in line to get into Art Basel. Miami.
Long exposure photo of people in line to get into Art Basel. Miami.

Art Basel Miami is best known for its main art show, which spotlights collections by leading global galleries, including works by emerging talent and established masters. The show also features other avant-garde exhibits, including a collection of large-scale, non-traditional artworks, thematic group and solo projects, and so much more. These works are on display at the Miami Beach Convention Center and open for three days to guests who have purchased tickets. The show is punctuated by on-site panel discussions on the global art scene led and moderated by artists, curators, architects, art critics and other luminaries.

If you can't make it to the main art show during your pre- or post-cruise stay, don't worry — there are plenty of other ways to participate in the Art Week magic. Galleries, museums and cultural centers throughout the city go all out during Art Basel. Head to Wynwood, the city's vibrant Art District, and fill a day or night with nonstop gallery-hopping. Must-visit spots include the Dina Mitrani Gallery, the Locust Projects exhibition space, the Fredric Snitzer Gallery and the Rubell Museum. Set aside some time for a visit to the Wynwood Walls, too. An outdoor "street museum" by the late art visionary and real estate developer Tony Goldman, this urban oasis has showcased spectacular graffiti murals by luminary artists from around the world, including urban icons like Friends With You, Aiko, Retna and Os Gemeos.

The Wynwood Arts District is home to all kinds of unique exhibition spaces ranging from sprawling warehouses to intimate galleries to the walls of buildings themselves, which serve as huge canvases for incredible street artists.

Sign of the Wynwood Walls. Miami.
Sign of the Wynwood Walls. Miami.

Savor Delicious Dining Experiences Across Miami

Bartender preparing cocktails in night club bar. Miami.
Bartender preparing cocktails in night club bar. Miami.

South Florida's leading culinary and mixology masters also put their best feet forward during Art Basel. Cooking and crafting cocktails are forms of creative expression, too! In previous years, many of the city's best restaurants have offered exclusive menus featuring never-before-tasted drinks and dishes in celebration of Art Basel. Some have also partnered with chefs, bartenders, brands and artists from around town — and around the world — to transform their dining and drinking experiences into immersive art events.

In 2021, for example, Cuba's oldest brewery, Cervecería La Tropical, opened a permanent location in the Wynwood Arts District. To celebrate Miami Art Week, it teamed up with celebrated Cuban artist Rigo Leon to launch a limited-edition Art Week can for its flagship beer, La Original. It also hosted a Havana Nights-themed Art Basel party with live music, special giveaways and on-site art installations by Cuban artist Sandra Ramos.

In Key Biscayne, the Rusty Pelican paired its dinner service with a special Miami Art Week gallery viewing by Victoria Kovalenchivkovan, which featured work inspired by the theme of human connection. Guests who opted to visit the restaurant during the free showcase received a complimentary welcome cocktail and caviar to enjoy as they browsed the pieces on display. And in 2019, downtown Miami hotspot Novikov partnered with premium sake brand SOTO for a special Art Basel edition of its signature dim sum brunch. Though art is certainly at the center of this multi-day, city-wide experience, Art Basel is as much a culinary platform for restaurants, chefs and bartenders as it is a platform for artists and galleries.

Art Basel Miami and the Art Week that surrounds it are a spectacular and unforgettable time to be in the city, whether you're involved in the art scene or not.

Enjoy Your Pick Of Endless Art Week Parties

Aerial view of neon lights on Ocean Drive Miami Beach. Miami.
Aerial view of neon lights on Ocean Drive Miami Beach. Miami.
There's no doubt about it — Miami is a party city. And it goes all out in the days leading up to and following Art Basel. Similar in many ways to Miami Music Week, which centers around music festivals and nightlife-driven experiences in March, Miami Art Week draws big-name DJs, rappers, pop stars and hip-swinging party-goers to the city's many nightclubs, lounges and event venues. By day, hotels up and down Miami Beach host champagne-fueled pool parties that double as fashion shows or live art showcases. When the sun sets behind South Beach's neon-lit skyline, the city's pulse quickens to the rhythmic thump of dance music and the flash of strobe lights.
Dj mixing outdoor at beach party festival with crowd of people. Miami.
Dj mixing outdoor at beach party festival with crowd of people. Miami.
Just last year, DJs Laidback Luke and Morgan Page took over Wynwood's Old RC Cola Plant for an epic Art Basel party that drew hundreds of guests and kept them dancing well into the early morning. Local and international street artists created stunning murals, multisensory installations and other one-of-a-kind art pieces for the event. In 2019, Wynwood's Heart Nightclub hosted a massive two-day festival during Art Basel that included performances by headliners such as Sasha and John Digweed, Andrea Oliva, The Martinez Brothers and Damian Lazarus. Lil Wayne and Alesso took over ultra-exclusive Miami Beach nightclub LIV with Art Week closing sets, and DJs Black Coffee and Deadmau5 performed across two nights at its sister club, Story.
DJ playing music with a turntable at beach party festival. Miami.
DJ playing music with a turntable at beach party festival. Miami.

These are just the big-name parties you can look forward to during Art Week — rooftop bars, lounges, hotels and event spaces throughout the city also turn up with celebrity-studded shindigs featuring underground acts and locally loved headliners. Eager to hit the dance floor? All the more reason to plan an Art Basel Miami day trip before or after your next cruise from South Florida.

Art Basel and the Art Week that surrounds it are a spectacular and unforgettable time to be in Miami, whether you're involved in the art scene or not. As long as you enjoy delicious flavors, fashion, music or just a great party, you'll find plenty of experiences to make every moment of your pre- or post-cruise visit memorable during Art Basel week. One of the best parts about it is that every Miami neighborhood participates in some way — from galleries in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove to nightclubs and hotels in South Beach (and practically every business in Wynwood). If you're looking for things to do in Miami before your cruise from South Florida, you'll find no shortage of ways to fill every single second onshore with wow-worthy art, flavors and experiences.

Written By
AMANDA MESA

Amanda has written for Royal Caribbean since 2017. She also covers travel, lifestyle, food and beverage for Indulge Magazine, the Miami Herald and PureWow. She's traveled extensively around the world, enjoys building unforgettable itineraries and loves introducing readers to lesser-known destinations.

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