Key takeaways

• The city of Miami, the densest municipality in Miami-Dade County, had an estimated 455,924 residents as of 2024.
• The community has a large Latin population. Caribbean and Latin American traditions and routines largely influence the city's lifestyle.
• The city continues to undergo waves of change. Most recently, it drew several tech and financial firms during the pandemic.

Miami moves to its own beat — a rhythm of city life mixed with Caribbean and Latin American traditions slowing the pace just enough to enjoy each day.

It's a dance any newcomer may need a little guidance to learn.

The city is carved out of the much larger Miami-Dade County and includes core business centers Brickell and downtown as well as tourist hubs, including Little Havana, Wynwood and the Design District. Locals tend to refer to the entire area simply as Miami.

It has the highest concentration of residents compared to any other municipality in Miami-Dade County. It has an estimated 455,924 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the 2024 Miami-Dade County Municipal Population Estimates Data Flash report. The city of Hialeah followed behind with 221,300 residents.

The region saw an influx of wealth over the years and especially during the pandemic, including the arrival of Citadel founder Ken Griffin and the return of Miami native and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The county's rich mix of cultures continues to be a draw for newcomers and locals alike.

"What kept me here is the diversity, that is Miami," said Mitchell Kaplan, founder of the independent bookstore Books & Books and co-founder of the Miami Book Fair. "What has been cool is seeing the city remake itself."

The most recent wave of change came during the pandemic. Tech and finance industries expanded into the county. It began in part with remote work. The trend of remote work allowed professionals to trade their studio apartments in Manhattan or Silicon Valley for a spacious rental on the water. Several firms and their executives moved into Miami-Dade County, including online retail giant Amazon, design and editing company Picsart and law firm Kirkland & Ellis.

Looking to fit in like a true Miamian? Start with these 10 tips:

For a place often thought of as young, Miami has a long and rich past, said Paul George, resident historian at the HistoryMiami Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate. "Next time people tell you Miami is too young to have a history, just tell them people have been living there for more than 10,000 years," he said, referring to the museum's collection of excavated artifacts dating back to prehistoric times.

Oil tycoon Henry Flagler funded and expanded the Florida East Coast Railway into Miami in 1896, the same year the city became incorporated. The railway tracks would later extend into Key West in 1912, but by then the region as a whole grew with snowbirds traveling from the Northeast during winter and permanent residents seeking warm weather 365 days throughout the year.

History buffs can start at The Barnacle Historic State Park. The five-acre site in Coconut Grove sits on the bay and features the county’s oldest home, built in 1891. Yacht designer and businessman Ralph Middleton Munroe constructed his house using timber from shipwrecks. The native New Yorker settled permanently in Coconut Grove after the death of his first wife. He would later remarry and have two children. The design and materials of his house were meant to help with air circulation and cooling long before the birth of air-conditioner systems for homes.

Miamians connect with nature through botanic gardens, parks and historic estates. While some locals rarely visit the beach, these locales are go-to places to soak in nature.

The Kampong and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens remain classic experiences, said Daniela Roger, communications manager for the nonprofit Miami Homes for All.

Botanist David Fairchild once called Kampong his home. A world explorer, Fairchild is credited for introducing thousands of crops to the United States, including varieties of pistachios, mangos and dates. Fairchild would go on to be the namesake and inspiration for another local oasis, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in the city of Coral Gables.

Wealthy businessman, philanthropist and lifelong bachelor James Deering built his bayfront mansion at the Kampong and Vizcaya site over several years, completing it in 1922. It remains a favorite spot for tourists and locals.

The estate is a popular photoshoot location for girls turning 15 and celebrating their quinceañera, the sweet 16 version for Latina girls. Visitors may see the teens walking around in peach- or strawberry-colored dresses wearing tiaras, often the same dress they'll later wear to their lavish party. "If you didn’t have your quinces ever, you can always go and live vicariously through the quinceañeras who are out there taking their pictures and go and cheer them on," Roger said.

The many locations across the city are often packed with workers, families and friends grabbing Cuban pastries from the bakery with croquetas, fried finger foods stuffed with ham or cod; baked puff pastry pastelitos, or traditional dishes, such as the ground beef dish picadillo, a shredded beef platter soaked in a tomato wine sauce ropa vieja or a grilled catch of the day. Portions are big, and prices are affordable.

"Going to Palacio de los Jugos, you can do everything," Roger said. "You can get sweet treats at the bakery ... all things that are, you know, just part of our daily snacking habits down here and what we like to serve at parties."

Just make sure to try one of the tropical juices or milkshakes they're known for. Batido de mamey, anyone? The milkshake often mixes the salmon-colored mamey fruit with condensed milk, whole milk and ice, a favorite among locals.

A Census Bureau survey found 75% of households in Miami-Dade County spoke another language at home other than English. Spanish remains the most popular foreign language.

"We speak this perfect combination of English and Spanish, this hybrid of Spanglish," said Lissette Calderon, president and CEO of the real estate firm Neology Life Development Group. "Miami isn’t just one culture. We’re a melting pot."

"Get used to kisses. Everybody says 'hello' with a kiss," Calderon said. "You got to figure it out in half a second or it’s going to get really awkward."

Lean in, give a single kiss and hug.

"That’s a Miami thing," Calderon said.

Consider it a miracle when anything or anyone runs on time. Miamians often run tardy.

"'I’m five minutes away' can mean I’m on I-95, 30 minutes away in traffic or it means I’m in the garage downstairs parking," Calderon said. "Everything is five minutes. Miami runs on five minutes. You really can’t take it personal."

The workplace comes alive in the afternoon with a round of Cuban coffee — cafecito — an espresso mixed with spoonfuls of sugar and served in tiny plastic cups.

"Everything revolves around a cafecito. In our office, cafecito is at 3:05 p.m. like our area code," Calderon said. "You know when cafecito starts going around the office. It’s a time for everybody to step back and just enjoy each other’s company."

People who want a snack with their coffee often head to Sergio's Restaurant or Versailles. Locals stand by the ventanita, the serving window outside the restaurants. They're talking chisme, or gossip, with other locals and quickly heading off to the rest of their day. Tourists are usually the ones who take a table.

"You can’t have it sitting down," Calderon said. "You got to have it standing up by the window. You’re a tourist if you go in there and you sit down."

As Gloria Estefan once sang, the rhythm is going to get you. In Miami, that rhythm is called salsa. Whether it's a jingle on the radio, commercial on television or live performances in Little Havana, salsa looms large here.

Little Havana remains a hotspot for salsa, including at Ball & Chain, Hoy Como Ayer or the community's Calle Ocho Music Festival hosted in March. Several musical giants performed at the festival throughout the years, including Selena, Celia Cruz and Pitbull.

"Music is a core piece of Miami, so seeing Miami through music is incredibly important," Roger said.

Miamians often use a car to move around on a daily basis or when pressed for time.

The city has public transit, but it remains — controversially so — limited in scope. The Miami-Dade County Metrorail and, slightly less popular Metrobus, are safe options for people traveling to a busy event with an area tight on parking or on days with a relaxed itinerary. But locals opt for a car or ride-sharing service when it comes to workdays and timely meetings.

Iguanas, a common sight in Miami, may frighten some newcomers. They grow to the size of lapdogs and look like mini dinosaurs with four legs and claws often used to climb trees. They're usually harmless and will dash away if someone approaches them.

Winter — that is anything below 50 degrees Fahrenheit in Miami — brings a big change for them. They enter a coma-like state. Paralyzed, they'll fall from trees or be found limp behind bushes. Adults and children may think they've gone onto eat mangos in iguana heaven, but in reality, their bodies stiffen to preserve energy. Leave them; they’ll scurry along once the weather warms up.

Come summer they'll be hogging the trunks of fruit trees. Make sure to pick the mangos as soon as they ripen — before the iguanas get them.