Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Reviews

I spent a few hours here on a recent trip to Miami. The house is beautifully situated on acres of land and right on the water. The house was expertly decorated and planned out to allow the beauty of the outside gardens area to come into the home. All of the furniture and art is from the period And original from what I read. There are sculptures and marble busts everywhere. Fountains, small ponds, and outside entertaining areas. It is a beautiful place to have professional photography done. Many people were adding to their social media accounts on the day I was there. The price is a little steep at $25 but if you enjoy architecture, history, and gardens, you will enjoy this place and it is well worth the $25. The most amazing thing is the “barge“ about 100 to 200’ from the back patio. It looks like it’s out of a movie. Amazing!

This exemplar of an original Miami mansion and gardens was built for a Mr Deering, International Harvester founder and Chicago businessman as his winter home.

Each entertaining room is built as a testament to a unique time period in history. Features of these rooms include fireplaces removed from Europe and fitted into the mansion, ceilings from Renaissance and different time periods, etc. Although the rooms are a step back in time, the mansion also includes all the modern conveniences of the time it was built including telephones, indoor swimming pool, bowling alley, modern kitchen and an extraordinary player pipe organ.

The grounds include many other unique features such as a gifts hope and great cafe, a farm, and other beautiful aspects such as a large gorgeous stain glass window.

Living in New England, I'm no stranger to gilded age mansion museums; Newport, RI and Lenox, MA are both only an hour and a half drive from me. That said, Vizcaya is one of the best I've ever been to...especially when the gardens are taken into account. Everything was stunning in the house and those gardens are straight out of a fairytale! The planning and painstaking attention to detail were obvious throughout. I would actually make a point to return here even if only in Miami for a short time, such as before/after a cruise.

Very nice museum and gardens. Seems to be a popular place for wedding pictures - there were quite a few of them, and we understand why, grounds are beautiful there. Worth to visit!

This is the perfect place to visit if you want to see Miami's historical and cultural facets. Best of all, not many tourists around, so take your time and explore this beautiful building!

My husband and I arrived about 15 minutes before the opening time. We were easily able to find parking in Vizcaya’s lot at that time. When we left a few hours later, the lot was full.

At the advice of one of the docents, we started out in the gardens first since it was so hot. The gardens are beautiful, with many fountains. It’s a popular place for professional photographs of brides and birthday girls, so that was slightly annoying: having to wait until they were done to take pictures of the fountains and stonework.

The house was equally gorgeous. Most of the rooms are open to the public, although many are blocked off by a rope, so you just peek in. There is a third floor as well, so don’t miss that! The stairs aren’t obvious like on the first floor.

We ate at the cafe afterwards, in the basement of the house. It was okay.

We visited Villa Vizcaya and its gardens during our trip to Miami.
I recommend the visit as it is very interesting, both for the structure and its furnishings, and for the magnificent gardens, which are inspired by Italian ones.
The pier in front of the villa is beautiful and scenic.
I don't give 5 dots because in my opinion the price of the entrance ticket is very expensive for what is offered (25 dollars each).
Little curiosity: for those who played GTA Vice City, the Vizcaya villa was the inspiration for Diaz's villa in the video game.

The place is beautiful, especially the outdoor area where there are several gardens and the sea view area. Very well maintained, with free audio tour via the website (bring headphones). The house itself is interesting, but it doesn't surpass the gardens. The only defect is the price, expensive for what it offers. But it's still a different activity from the busy atmosphere of Miami that I recommend.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens are beautiful. Do be equipped to walk especially if you travel by train. Uber/Lyft etc may get you closer to the destination if walking is an issue. The gardens and museum is very popular sightseeing spot among tourists and I would definitely recommend it. The entrance fee is not cheap but it is difficult for the historical society to maintain these ancient structures.

Vizcaya has been around for over 100 years, a home built and furnished by a heir to the International Harvester fortune, and it's a wonderful trip through the past just a few miles from downtown Miami, a city of the future. It's a good value at $25. Excellent signage in the house, lovely gardens. Plan on two hours or so unless you want to escape the bustle on the city; bring a book and relax.

We bought tickets at the entrance for $25 per person on Saturday, SEP 22, and spent 2-3 hrs touring the mansion and gardens. It wasn’t crowded. The rooms are beautifully decorated and accurately reflect the time period- be sure and explore all 3 floors. We especially enjoyed the lovely gardens and fountains.

An interesting house to visit. When we arrived the main car park was already full so then you have to exit and go to a car park across the road which makes it a longer walk to the house. It would be good if there could be a system so that you know that the main car park is full in advance of entering the property as the road is quite dangerous. The grounds are smaller than expected, the house is interesting to visit and the gardens are pretty even in February. The cafe was also nice although the shop could have had more items relating to the history of the house and owner.

The house was nice, and pretty cool to see all of the artifacts that were taken from Greece and other locales. But the real star of the trip was the gardens. They reminded me of a miniature Versailles, and the ocean views could not be beaten. Took 2 kids under 12 here and we had a nice 2.5 hour time.

Must visit! Enjoyed the self guided tour through the home and beautiful gardens! Lots of great photos taken! Buy tickets on line in advance and bring your own bottled water!! Teens enjoyed it too. Spent approximately two hours.

The was an awesome place to visit. Too bad it rained heavily so we only managed to see half of the area. We plan to return when its cooler to see what we missed. Beautiful sculptures.

The whole place is really interesting. Is fun to imagine those times when someone will arrive to a place and say "yeah, I'll build an insane mansion here; makes sense to me".

I will say this is one of those place that you need to love history and such to enjoy it. I think I'm the only one of my friends and family that has ever been to this place as everyone goes to Miami for 1000 more reasons than to see this museum.

Still, if you have the chance, give it some love. Just know what you're getting into

Fascinating house with lots of history in a great location on the water. There is an audio tour that you can do on your phone but we didn’t take headphones so just read the interesting signs.
The gardens are really beautiful so plan to take time to walk around them. There is also a reasonable cafe.
It’s expensive at $25 but worth the visit

This place consist of the house and gardens, The house is very well decorated and diffrent in almost every room. There are alot of imports and are inside the house theamed with Seahorses and Ships. The cost is a little high for a place like this. $25 per person and no discounts unless your on food stamps which didnt make much sense to me as I work in the travel industry and do reviews all the time. so $50 for 2 people. This is a self guided tour and you download and use the app on your phone in order to do the tour. Its little hard to follow at times as some rooms are blocked off. we saw 2 rooms being worked on and they didnt look authentic so I dont know. Also most of the employees spoke spanish good thing my freind was fluent when asking for help. The house has alot of architecture and history. The gards have the same with the added bonus of sculptures. Its a neat place to visit.

Beautiful grounds. I am impressed with the original owner, how he adapted his dream gardens to the reality of the Florida climate. I found it interesting that he was very modern in technology, but very antique in his decor.

Of exceptional beauty.
Total refinement.
The application provides explanations in several languages including French.
You have to take the time to visit the villa but also the gardens.

I enjoyed my time at the home and gardens of the Farm Machinery Titan James Deering. I think the entry fee is a bit expensive, though.

A beautiful place, abundant in gardens and vegetation, well maintained. In its lower part there is a blessing that is partly under the dome of heaven and another part under the building - shaded. Full and overflowing with wonderfully preserved antique furniture, even original kitchen utensils - there is an illustration of the operation of the utensils in the kitchen on a digital monitor - highlighting the gap between the past and the present.
Paintings on the ceilings - spectacular in their beauty, carving and development works in wood, a music room with ancient musical instruments - fascinating.
Even a small communication room with an old telephone.

It was sad to see the signs of time - dampness in the ceilings, leaks that caused damage in all kinds of rooms, there is a musty smell, nevertheless, the signs of time are evident.

This Italian-style museum is definitely worth seeing, but it was nothing special for us Europeans, as we have seen so many castles that were even more lavishly decorated than the Villa Vizcaya. Since Americans are not familiar with this architectural style in their country, we understand that it is THE highlight in Miami for them.

We visited this location on June 25th. The gardens are magnificent with so many details, if you take the time to open your eyes ... And the house, so much history in it and so many details. We had a pleasant lunch at the café, we stayed inside, weather was extremely hot (97) but it must be pleasant outside when the weather cooperate. Just one point, perhaps staff should be told about the history of this place when they are hired. They should know why the place was called "Viscaya" for example!, Certainly worthwhile to spend 3-4 hours there like we did. A short drive from downtown hotels.

We decided to tour the Vizcaya house and gardens on our way from Miami Beach to the airport. It was definitely worth it. The house is like a museum so beautifully preserved. The gardens provided so many photo opportunities. A great experience!!!

Easy to find - 5 minute walk from Vizcaya metrorail station.
The museum/house has been very well preserved and maintained with some boards around telling the stories. No paper map is provided although there are maps dotted about but it can be a little difficult to navigate. They provide an app for a free self-guided audio tour but we found it very difficult to use and find our way around with it and lost connection a few times and soon gave up trying to use it.
The gardens and views are spectacular - worth the entrance fee on their own.

We had such a wonderful time at Vizcaya! We were in Miami for a few hours before boarding a cruise ship and only had time to visit one place. We're so glad we chose Vizcaya! It was beautiful, interesting, and relaxing.

Saw Vizcaya on a UK tv show and wanted to visit. We were not disappointed. Friendly staff, nice gift shop. House so interesting and beautiful gardens

Visiting Vizcaya was a highlight of my Miami trip! The historic house is fascinating, filled with original furnishings that tell a rich story of its past. The gardens are a tranquil haven, ideal for photography or simply enjoying nature. Don’t miss this beautiful spot when in Miami.

Wow!! The guide told us that this property including, home, gardens and docking pier probably cost about $10,000,000 - $15,000,000. in 1916. That would translate to well over $250,000,000. today. You can imagine that you could build quite a nice little cottage for that tidy sum. Well worth the visit. Do spend the extra few dollars for a guided tour.

My husband remembered visiting this site with his parents as a child, so we gave it a try while in Coral Gables with a few free hours. Lovely setting, well organized, runs smoothly. You can download the tour on an app so you don’t miss anything. Many treasures, good historical context, beautiful gardens, friendly service at shop and cafe

I think if you visit Miami, you should visit Vizcaya at least once. We went on a Thursday. We had to circle once but got lucky finding parking in the parking lot. There was no line when we arrived and we walked right up to the window and got tickets. We explored the grounds first. There were several photo shoots going on with young ladies in beautiful dresses celebrating their quinceañera and a bride and groom taking wedding photos. There was also a wedding party being set up for later. It’s a very popular place with many nice views.

Then we took an inside tour. Our volunteer tour guide Jo was very friendly and very knowledgeable. You can tell she really enjoys telling the stories of John Deering and Vizcaya. The guided tour only covers the first floor. You are free to explore the upper floors on your own and read the descriptive cards.

It is good to be rich! Spectacular environment. Even though it is 100 years old the accommodations are very modern. I would recommend a tour as many of little stories adds a rich depth to what you are witnessing. The outdoor cafe is a great place to catch a meal or just rest your feet. Just an opinion, I do not believe young children would enjoy this outing.

When I first saw Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, Florida, even before I began my tour of the extraordinary 70-room villa and estate built by businessman James Deering of the Deering McCormick International Harvester fortune, it reminded me of American circus mogul John Ringling's Ca' d'zan in Sarasota, Florida. Located on Biscayne Bay in the present day neighborhood of Coconut Grove, the 50-acre complex was constructed between 1914 and 1923 at a cost of $15 million. It includes the villa, extensive Italian Renaissance gardens, native woodland landscape and historic village outbuildings. The villa contains rooms of distinctive architectural interiors decorated with numerous antiques, with an emphasis on 15th through early 19th century European decorative art and furnishings. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, the villa was used by Deering as his winter residence from 1916 until his death in 1925. Because of the villa's exterior and garden architecture that was a composite of different Italian Renaissance villas and gardens, Vizcaya has often been described as the "Hearst Castle of the East," a reference to William Randolph Hearst's San Simeon in California. It features Gilded Age technology, including doorbells, a dumbwaiter and the first telephone system in Miami-Dade County. In the swimming pool grotto, visitors can see one of only two public places in the world to feature a surviving mural by prominent American artist Robert Winthrop Chandler.

The grounds are very pretty, but would be much prettier with flowers. There weren’t a whole lot of flowers in January. Going in winter time is not worth the $29 entrance fee.

When we visited, there was so much construction and tree trimming going on it pretty much ruined the whole experience. Online they said the second floor was closed and sold discounted tickets but the cafe and pool were also closed, the gorgeous stained glass windows were blocked by pieces of wood, the tea house was under construction, and there were cranes for tree trimming. These were some of the main areas I was looking forward to visiting. Most of the gardens were open but all I could hear were chainsaws. I don’t know why some of this stuff couldn’t have been done on the days they’re closed. All that being said, it was still a magnificent house and the gardens were beautiful. I just wish I could have enjoyed more of it and without all the noise and construction.

It is nice to see this estate one time if you are visiting Miami area. It was interesting to see how people lived 100 years ago and the art in the mansion. The estate and gardens need a maintenance tune up and some places felt really run down. There were no flowers in the gardens but being in nature always feels good. In defense of this estate, I am sure if I studied art more and see the beauty of thought of putting this all together, I would likely have benefitted more as others have in their reviews.

We combined this with a Cuban area called. Calle 8 Little Havan where we found a great coffee shop and wonderful little restaurants. Winwood walls is another area we enjoyed on our trip to this area. and we found n pizza place where the dough comes from Italy! Coming full circle with Italian renaissance work of the old in this mansion and pizza from modern times near Winwood walls!

A gorgeous mansion and extensive gardens, full of exotic plants, flowers and beautiful statues. We loved this place! Even though it was very hot and humid (but it's Florida in July, so of course it was!) we spent almost two hours wandering around the gorgeous gardens and mansion. The "barge" sitting out on the bay is an absolute must-see, maybe one of the coolest things I've ever seen in an estate like this. The mansion itself is also gorgeous and well preserved, and with the A/C blasting it's a nice retreat from the heat. Don't miss the Orchidareum or the barge with the beautiful view of the ocean and downtown Miami.
Buy tickets online. $25 is maybe a little steep for some but it's a great place to spend the afternoon and to take in some beautiful views of nature and a historic house.

Here is a glimmer into the life of a Florida legend. The house is so well preserved except for damage to the lower floor which is now a cafe. And air-conditioned. Original furniture, art work, etc. The gardens are amazing, on the order of the Biltmore hotel. Download their app, for a small fee, and hear about each room, etc. Well worth it. They do not have audio guides on site - just your phone.

The gardens are beautiful and relaxing to walk through. The plants are well kept up and clean. The interior area is also neat.

This has to be one of the most beautiful house and garden I have been to. Get there early to avoid the crowds and escape the heat. We started in the garden and it has so many beautiful spots within it. Be warned we did see quite a large alligator in the back garden area but there are signs warning you about this. Everything is beautiful and photogenic. The barge on the bay is just amazing and everything looks like it should have been there centuries. The house itself is beyond amazing, I would have loved to have been a guest of James Deerling and seen it at its prime. There is an audio tour you can download prior to arrival to get more information. It was easy to get an Uber to and from there. You really need at least 2 hours to explore everything. It really is a must see if you go to Miami.

Two main parts to this place: the mansion and the gardens. Both are spectacular. The gardens are incredibly lush green. Lots of folks there taking photos and portraits. We saw several young ladies dressed in special dresses. They were getting quincinera (sp?) photos for their 15th birthday. Also a couple photo shoots with models were going on. Again, the lush green background, the mansion, and the water views are all very nice.

This place is so much cooler than the photos make it look! Beautiful views, fun history, and lots of interesting architecture. definitely a fun way to spend a few hours! The cafe was also surprisingly delicious!

I like museums and historic place. This place is gorgeous and totally worth visiting, you have to get tickets online to get in, and I spent about 2 hours total at this place. Parking was free!

I was there with a friend because I love history and the old art, I do recommend the place but is better if you look online to read the details and not paying for the extra to do the tour, is very short and you have to run from one room to another to avoid miss the guide speech.

The museum is wonderful, with artworks from various parts of the world, the gardens are beautiful and excellent for taking beautiful photos! Important to know that they only accept card at the entrance of the Museum!

Noted the gardens were in much better condition as compared to a visit two years earlier. Also, nice variation of color versus all green as in prior visit. Still, more work is necessary as some of the standing water in several fountains was dark or cloudy.

All of the house (1st & 2nd floor and restaurant) were accessible during the visit. However, the tea house and permanent barge were off limits. Area around mangroves had minimal debris as compared to a prior visit.
Years of Florida humidity have faded or darken many of the murals and tapestries in the house. Best to just absorb the magnificent of the mansion and imagine hosting lavish parties at the height of the Fitzgerald era.

Tickets can only be purchased on-line. Therefore, suggest you make your purchase prior to arrival and your phone will be scanned for entry. Even if you show up without tickets, you will be requested to scan your phone which will direct you to the ticket purchase web page.

Viscaya is a great place to visit with the family and enjoy a beautiful building, great art and an amazing setting

A beautiful space and very well preserved.
The house is clean and the gardens give pleasure to walk around.
For those who are not a fan of reptiles, att with the lizards loose through the gardens, the warm and humid weather is conducive to its appearance.

While visiting Miami this is a must see place, look at all their architecture, Gardens and it is extremely well kept...

A step in the past, a slice of european taste in miami. The place looks like it is out of a fairytale and the gardens are well kept in a french style. The building on biscaya bay gives you a sense of peace an tranquility. The interior is a mix of Italian, French and Dutch style which lives in harmony. If you are in Miami a visit to viscaya is a must.

A super nice spot! I would definitely visit him again. It was a quick trip for work, but I promise I'll be back. The food they sell nearby I recommend

We bought tickets at Vizkaya for $25 and used the free audio tour in the app so the value for money was pretty good, but it would not be if I’d paid $96. The house was interesting, particularly for history buffs, but not easy to navigate (even with the app) and some of the rooms were not clearly marked. And we never found the cafe. Parking was good and not too far from the museum. I would not rate it #5 of things to do in Miami.

It was very interesting to visit. The history is great. I think it was a bit pricy for what you get. I think it would have been nice to have more information regarding the family and eta on site. Parking was great. We didn’t realize the part of the tour across the street was closed on saturdays.

Gorgeous property. Must see in Miami area. Home built @ 1914 for Hames Deering. Original lavish furnishings, immaculate grounds.

Vizcaya is amazing! We spent four hours because there was so much to see. Make sure to download the audio tour and listen to it (or read the text) as you visit each room. We took a break after touring the house to eat at the Cafe. Then we followed with walking through the gardens. Again, the downloadable app gives great descriptions of the extensive property. This is definitely a must-see stop if visiting Miami.

Mansion was being renovated so it was not totally available.

We were visiting before our flight. Lots to see and free parking. It was easy to get to from downtown and quick to reach airport.

I purchased a ticket online to see Vizcaya on February 18. The charge went through, but I have not received the eticket. Calling Vizcaya does absolutely no good, you get shuffled from one recorded message to another. And the website says you can’t see the house unless you purchase your ticket online. I guess I’ll have to miss out, too bad so sad. Hopefully, my credit card will reimburse me.

Very good experience, rich place in history, extensive gardens, very well kept and maintained. Experience is achieved complete in about 4 hours to take advantage of each space.

Definitely worthwhile to visit and tour. Allow 3 hours to see the place. Staff and guided tours are excellent. Price increase to $29 for adults. Free for military and Vets

It is my second time visiting this museum and I continue to fall in love with it. Each room has a special charm and I really like to imagine people living in them. Obviously it is a museum, an old house that cannot be remodeled, but keep in mind that it is not easily accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. The gardens were a little neglected this time I went, as the fountains either had no water or were out of operation. And the orchid garden outside is very small, however it has very pretty orchids.
My favorite place is the boat area and the tea room!

I really enjoyed visiting Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. This place is very beautiful and peaceful. The building looks elegant and full of history. The gardens are amazing, with green trees, flowers, and a lovely view of the water. I enjoyed walking around and taking photos. Everything feels calm and relaxing. This place made me feel happy and inspired. I would love to visit Vizcaya again.

It was fun to visit a historical attraction in the Miami area, where most things are so new. This is a high-quality museum with plenty of materials for understanding its history. I think it is interesting for people who like history, botany, and architecture.

I recommend bringing headphones, because the audio tour is essential, it's through a website on your phone, and it's annoying to hold your phone up the whole time.

Came here and was captivated by the blend of European elegance and tropical charm, with a unique glimpse into early 20th-century luxury. Originally built between 1914 and 1916 as the winter residence of industrialist James Deering, the estate is designed to resemble an 18th-century Italian villa, complete with Renaissance architecture and Venetian influences. The mansion boasts over 70 rooms filled with European antiques and art, some dating back to the 15th century, providing a rich historical experience.

The surrounding gardens are equally impressive, spanning over 10 acres with meticulously maintained landscapes, fountains, and sculptures that evoke the grandeur of Versailles. The estate’s location offers stunning views of Biscayne Bay, enhancing its serene ambiance.

The state of the property is very well preserved and maintained. The orchid garden was breathtaking.

Overall, the villa and gardens offers a rich, immersive experience that combines art, history, and natural beauty, making it a must-visit destination in Miami.

Living in Miami, I haven't been here for years! Pleased to say its just as good, maybe even better than I remember it. The grounds are well maintained, the view gorgeous and my tour by Bill was excellent. He clearly loves Vizcaya and knows it's history well. He brought the museum to life and answered all my questions. Excellent tour and highly recommended.

if you want a quite place to rest. There is a love cafe with wide selection of sandwiches and salads.

We have been to Vizcaya at least three times in the last 5 years. This time we also had lunch at the museum which was excellent. The museum uses a web site for your own tour of the museum so we suggest you bring your phone with the downloaded Vizcaya app and a pair of head phones.

We walked the grounds and then took a tour of the first floor. The tour guide was excellent. Well informed and interesting. The facility is worth visiting.

This place surprised me so much, I did not fail to go even the ticket being expensive for us Brazilians. The museum is huge you have to take a day to be able to enjoy all of it, has many rooms to see is all beautiful and well taken care of. The outside is the one that has earned me the most, I have never been to such a beautiful place as this, are giant areas overlooking the sea, with botanical garden. Who loves history or likes to take photos, can not miss this visit

What an amazing place to explore while in Miami! The gardens and the house are simply beautiful and can't be missed during a Miami trip.

Perfect for pictures, to wander around, to relax and enjoy nature, plus there's also a café for some foods and drinks!

Very nice and quiet place.
Free audio guides via the internet in several languages including French
The house is very nice as well as the gardens.
I recommend this visit

We really enjoy visiting this type of historical mansions and have visited several. This one met all our expectations - both inside and out were beautiful. The self-guided tour run with an app provided lots of information and extra links. We drove up from Key Largo, spent several hours at Vizcaya, and then drove back - so it took most of a full day. It was worth it, though. We would suggest wearing comfortable shoes as most of the walking is done on stone and hard surfaces. Also, arrive early if possible before it gets too busy.

We had a great time at Vizcaya learning the history and enjoying the architecture. We had an excellent, assertive tour guide who was clearly passionate about the place and was volunteering on his birthday after many years working at the location. It was neat seeing the house, grounds, railcar, and storm damage to the water features - though it was sad to see how much of the original gardens were sold off for development. Still - what's left is very worth the trip and the excellent tour guides make it all the better.

must see
Amazing place. I purchased the tickets online from official site. The admission fee is 25 usd per person. there is no time limit, you can come and stay up to museum closing time. Audio guide is available through Vizcaya application. You need to download application (QR code available at the entrance).
Beautiful garden. Its good place to make wedding photos there

House and gardens excellent! Very enjoyable couple of hours walking around the gardens. Nice coffee/snack shop. You do need to purchase tickets on line $18 pp.

This is the place that you must see once in Miami. It was beautiful house and garden built in 1914-1916 with architect of the 15th-16TH century. It opens by 9.30. We were the first people there. For now they only accept online ticket so making sure you get tickets before going there. Very beautiful art works and garden. We spotted different lizards. So cool! Unfortunately the second floor is under construction and cafe is closed.

Overall rating of 3 because the gardens are a 5 and the house is a 1. The gardens are worth the trip to enjoy and admire. The house is dreadful. It's too dark to view the furnishings or the paintings and they are poorly arranged and curated.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit! We took the guided tour of the house which was so good! Our guide was very informative! It was fascinating how modern the house was for its time. If we lived in the area, we would certainly buy an annual pass and go again and again!

The ticket is expensive ($25) but it's worth it. The mansion and gardens are stunning, allow at least 3 hours to take your time to see everything. Unfortunately I went on a very hot day, so I saw everything rushing around, mostly to take photos, as it wasn't pleasant (the mansion has air conditioning). Of the few places I visited in Miami, this was my favorite.

Beautiful house and gardens. Lots of history and interesting artefacts. Beautiful location right on Biscayne Bay. Well worth a visit, if you can afford it - which is the big negative. $28 per adult for a visit in Dec 2020. So $84 for our group of three. I find that outrageous for a public place owned by Miami Dade county. Regressive taxation in action. Only the rich need apply.

I felt like I was in Europe when we were touring through the house and gardens. The part I liked best was out by the Bay where we saw iguanas. I felt it was somewhat overpriced at $50 for the 2 of us. We were there a little over 1.5 hours.

I would say Vizcaya is my hands down absolute favorite place ever. They have so many great events here. On any day you can pay admission and walk around the grounds. The house tour is actually fun. I never usually am into that stuff. But it was great.

The gardens are beautiful and come in many different types. There are mangrove ones, orchid ones, rose bushes, ones inspired by France. There is a tea room at the water's edge. An imposing construction in the sea just in front of the house. And the house itself. Magnificent.

We went to the Vizcaya mansion and gardens since it was highly rated on Trip Advisor which never leads us up the wrong path. For once TA was completely wrong. The mansion was built in the Gilded age and is a mish mash of art and decor collected from Europe but with no taste! It’s the the architect said, I have been given a budget, let me spend it! The gardens are pretty beautiful but honestly not worth the overpriced tickets. Spare yourself and skip this!

Entering Vizcaya is like entering a different world and yet you're only minutes from the heart of Miami. It's well worth the time to visit.

Stunning! The Gardens are particularly beautiful. Ranks up there with the Newport mansions in Rhode Island, all from the same gilded age.

This was an utter delight. We were told to visit by our daughter who I think had seen it on Tiktok. We hadn't read anything about it so it was such a surprise. The house is gorgeous and wonderfully cool. Which was great as we visited on a very hot day! The walk in the gardens was incredible too. Loads of people seemed to be having photoshoots in the gardens. Visited the cafe too for a coffee - very welcoming staff.

An amazing experience. Beautiful gardens and interior design. We loved how the space offered refuge to mangroves and rockland hammock forest. The mangroves in turn protect the house from erosion. Around the gardens you may also find crabs, apparently from the tide of the ocean that flows around the property. A great oasis in Miami. One of our best stops. We spent 4 amazing hours exploring the property and loved the cafe as well.

came here as we love this type of authentic homes/museum and was surprised to find one here
house is very interesting and many items on display really give you the original vibe
only downside was there's work being done so second floor is closed
great place to visit for some culture!

We arrived late and therefore we were not able to enter and visit the interior, but the context in which it is located is very beautiful and full of greenery.

If you love history and appreciate antique furniture and architecture as well as beautiful gardens then this is a must for you. The QR code allows one to download an audio guide - making it easy to follow along at ones own pace. The grounds are magnificent, as well as the house. I really enjoyed learning more in depth about the James Deering.

It is a very interesting 100 year old estate. You see both the mansion and the grounds. It was an easy Uber ride from Miami Beach.

Vizcaya was beautiful! It was a lot of fun walking through the intricate rooms inside the mansion. The grounds were beautiful and we enjoyed exploring the gardens.

You need to purchase your tickets ahead of time and reserve a day. I recommend getting there when they open to avoid the crowds. A lot of people like to take professional photos here.

I think this would be a great place for people of all ages!

It's a beautiful way to spend an afternoon (or morning). The house is very interesting, but the property is probably more interesting.

Gardens and formal estates like this tend to be a winner in my book, and Vizcaya was no exception! Indeed, I feel like it competed well with some sites in Europe. We didn't visit every inch of the house, since I have seen enough old, rich people houses, but the gardens and bay held our interest for 2.5 hours. We would have probably eaten at the cafe and stayed a bit longer, if we didn't have a flight to catch.

I had read the parking situation could be rough, but we lucked out and got one of the last spots in the main lot. That was with us arriving a bit after 11am on a pleasant weather Saturday. Parking was free.

Admission is pretty expensive at $25/each, but as part of the cost of going on vacation, it was totally worth it.

I heard it was possible to see manatees in the bay near the stone barge, but I figured we'd probably not be so lucky. As it turns out - we were! We saw two large manatees swimming by, near the mangroves a bit north of the barge. Of course, we were making an effort to see them, and probably spent about 40 minutes in that spot. Additionally, we saw a large iguana in a tree, many different birds, and countless tiny lizards throughout the park. If you are an animal lover, it will be worth it to bring a camera with a nice zoom.

This place is amazing, beautiful gardens as well as wonderful history. This is a beautiful place for photo shoots and Weddings.

impressive scale with interesting and beautiful interior rooms. The tour guide explained that Deering and his architect chose coral stone as the main building material as it ages rapidly and gives the appearance of an older structure than it actually is. Unfortunately for me the exterior appearances as a result convey more of a feeling of decay and disrepair. Feels run down. Plus as with all estates of that scale it would take an enormous amount of money for upkeep. The gardens are interesting but not much in the way of formal gardening probably for budgetary reasons. Was worth $25 admission to see the interiors of the main house and support renovations. Arrive early as parking fills as the day goes on.

We came on our way from Key Largo to Miami. It was a nice stop on a hot day with some water views, gardens to tour, and an interesting house museum. I'm not sure that I'd return to see it again, but it was worth a first stop in. We also had lunch at the cafe which was pretty good--we split a grain/salad bowl and it was plenty!

Beautiful Architecture and gardens. Not sure it was really worth 25 bucks though. Spent about 45 minutes in gardens and main house.

Beautiful mansion/castle. 70 rooms and we saw dozens of them. Interesting to learn their “modern” conveniences. The gardens were spectacular, as were tge views of the water. The staff was very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. It reminded me a bit of the Biltmore in Asheville, NC

After breakfast/brunch we went to Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Driving into the gardens was magical because of the trees all around and hanging over the car! It was so cool! Even though it was HOT HOT HOT the day we went to the gardens we still thoroughly enjoyed walking around and exploring. I'd definitely go back to explore more!

This is listed in both the 1,000 Places to See in the United States and Canada as well as the 1,000 Places to See in the World. It was well worth the hype. I have visited a lot of historical mansions/homes, and this was one of the best ones. The inside was gorgeous, and the grounds were stunning. They offered a free audio tour with lots of information. It is sad to think of the impact that climate change is having on this property. See it before it disappears!

Definitely recommend a visit here. A lot to see. Stunning gardens. No elevators to the 2nd floor rooms, only stairs. We paid extra for the docent tour and many other guests just joined without paying (no wristband) so maybe save your money 😉

Beautiful mansion & grounds. Definitely worth a visit. Allow at least couple of hours to see the house and the gardens. I'm glad I visited.

hello, i planed on taking my fifteen pictures in july of last year had difficulties with vizcaya because first time of my cancellation was because of rain and second time was covid. i emailed them and asked if i can get another appt. they replied with there’s nothing they can do for me because of the two time appt. any way i explained to them in the email that i didn’t want to go there to infect or spread covid around. it wasn’t my fault about what happened and i’m extremely upset that there’s nothing they can do for me. they need me to pay the full amount all over again and i’m over it!

what a disappointment this was. My husband and I went last week. The museum charged extra for the holiday week. We paid $35 each - a complete rip off. Especially considering what we got. The gardens were lackluster. The water canals were empty and there was not much to see in the gardens. The house seemed pretty run down and many rooms were closed for renovations. I would have expected it to be more decorated for Christmas other than one tree. The view was certainly nice, but that was about it. Even the orchids were a disappointment - there weren't that many too see. I highly recommend going to Newport, RI and seeing the mansions there! Those are spectactular and the views are too!

Vizacaya museum and gardens was so beautiful! Beautiful estate with dynamic gardens!! Wonderful place to take family pictures or just take a stroll and enjoy the scenery.
Great history on the estate, beautiful artifacts.
Go early to avoid crowds. Sit in the gardens under the trees and enjoy your day!

We visited on a cloudy rainy day and still had a great time. The gardens are lovely and the interior was also quite interesting to explore. We didn’t do a guided tour and felt like we got enough from the audio tours on their website.

If you don't mind walking and love good scenery, this is the place to visit! This place was originally on my list of places to visit for our family vacation down in Miami this year, we almost decided to skip it because of the heat but I'm glad we decided to go. There is a nice little gift shop for refreshments if you need to cool down after. We didn't spend a lot of time here ourselves but that was only because we had other places planned for the same day. We spent a little over an hour here and didn't get to explore everything so I would definitely plan to spend a few hours here to fully enjoy it.

Visiting Vizcaya Museum and Gardens with my family felt like escaping into a peaceful world that blends art, architecture, and nature in a way that slowly draws you in. As soon as we entered the estate, the atmosphere shifted. The house stood in front of us like a dream from another century, with soft colors, elegant balconies, and a kind of quiet confidence that made all of us slow our pace without even realizing it.

Exploring the interior was like walking through a series of beautifully staged scenes. Each room had its own character, filled with antique furniture, tapestries, and small decorative details that made us linger longer than we expected. The sunlight filtering through the windows added a warm glow to everything, and my family kept pointing out things that caught their eye, from carved ceilings to delicate porcelain pieces. It felt less like a museum and more like stepping into someone’s very refined and very personal vision of home.

The gardens were the part that truly charmed us. Paths curved around fountains, trimmed hedges, and statues that seemed to appear just when the view needed something to balance it. We wandered without a strict plan, letting the layout guide us, and every turn offered a new angle to admire. Down by the waterfront the stone barge and the open view of Biscayne Bay created a feeling of calm that made us all stop and take in the breeze.

What stayed with us afterward was the gentle rhythm of the visit. The combination of art, nature, and peaceful spaces made the experience feel almost restorative, and sharing it as a family made each moment more meaningful. Vizcaya left us with the sense of having discovered a place that invites you to slow down and simply enjoy beauty in its many forms.

Beautiful!!! Go with comfortable shoes and cool clothes in July, take many photos that remain souvenir, in July it is very hot and humid.

This place is the Florida equivalent of the North Carolina Biltmore but it's on the ocean front. Delightful place (pricey though, per person), beautiful gardens; took so many pictures.

Everything was so amazing.We took so many pictures.Feel like back in time.
The property slowly deteriorating,should be taking care more to preserve for future generations.Beautiful property which should have better advertising.

History and beauty preserved. A look back to 1916 life style. Manicured 180 acres. Beautiful views inside and on the waterfront. Air conditioned on site shop and cafe offered quality food.

I visited this museum with my boyfriend who doesn’t like to visit “tourist destinations,” but we both fell in love with this museum. Especially the garden is amazing. It feels like you have a time travel to different eras. While the villa reminds European castles, the garden design makes you feel like you’re in ancient Greek or Rome. Every sculpture, every corner of the villa, the overall design is a masterpiece. I truly enjoyed it a lot and we both plan to come back with our families again.

If you only have time to do one thing in Miami make it this. Truly amazing house.I’ve seen a lot of big houses in Europe so I thought this might be a let down - wrong. Derrings house is amazing.

You can do a free audio tour from your phone - totally worth it! Excellent information and very well done. Make sure ur phone battery is fully charged.

We spent just over 3 hours here.

Very boring place. There isn’t much, just hyped up… Don’t waste money and time to visit this place. Instead just sit a beach.

Our family visited this museum recently. The museum is a very memorable experience. The meditarrian architechure is spellbinding . We observed the main building is having two floors. 1st floor is having living rooms decorated with 18th centure Europian furniture . Upstairs is having many bed rooms. To the left side , we saw orchidorium. It is a garden with many orchids. The rear side is having the sea. There is a rock shp in the sea waters just few yards from the buildeing . To the right side there is a lavish , lush green garden. The garden is having marble statues .
There was some rain fall during our visit. The climate enhanced the enchanting experience.

The extraordinary estate and art museum of James Deering, a rich Miami businessman who passed in 1925, is a must-see in Miami. Known as Vizcaya Museum and Gardens now, it was meant to resemble Venetian architecture as Venice was Deering's favorite city. It is a waterfront property with fantastic views of Biscayne Bay. His collection of Italian art pieces is indescribable.

There are various tours available to see this beautiful estate and the 180 acres of manicured gardens. The least expensive tour costs $25 per person. The more involved and historical tours are more expensive, $80-$300 per tour.

I'm so glad that we were able to see a portion of it. There is too much for me to see at one time as I do not have the strength and mobility to do so. Wear comfortable shoes for sure. I'm not sure about wheelchair accessibility. You would need to contact their business office for more information.

There are parking lots for the visitors or you can Uber or Lyft to Vizcaya.

Amazing place to get to know a little about the history of ancient Miami.
Excellent place and amazing gardens to escape a bit from the beach and cement.
Very nice views of the Bay and gardens reminiscent of those of the castles of Europe (only smaller). It's worth the visit.

nice place for a free day in Miami,25 dollars ticket,you can take photos everywhere,everything was very clean,the gardens very beautiful and you can arrange a photoshooting inside

Estate is not in a state of neglect but rather in another time era, and without the confines of safety devices in place to protect from tourists liability. When you visit, you don't feel like a tourist but rather a traveler discovering spots others might not even get to. There are minor dangers on site such as outside rock steps, some stairs leading to the third floor of house are very steep and for smaller feet that one could conceivably trip or fall down (and look for a half hidden spiral staircase near 2nd floor bathroom that most people fail to see), and I am pleasantly surprised no barriers are in place to potentially sweep someone into the rocky wave bay from a peninsular rock dock. This place is one of the last gems in Miami where one can feel truly disconnected from the city, and century for that matter. Something haunting and whimsical is mixed in with its beauty. But instead of asking for explanation, you just go with it. I purchased a family membership because I can't stay away for more than two months at a time.

We stopped by yesterday on our way into Miami. I thought it was a bit overpriced as the 2nd floor was not available and everything was extremely dated and there was a lot of work being done to the gardens.

Visited with family and toured the grounds. It was pretty muggy out so the interior air conditioning was nice, and we enjoyed touring the property. The grounds outside were not hospitable during our time so we cut that part short. We joined a tour in progress and it was helpful to learn about the owners and property.

Outside of beaches, we did not find many interesting options in Miami as a family with kids. This was a great find. Having been to Italy before, this took us back to our trip. The orchidarium, museum , gardens and the water front will take 2-3 hours. Cafe has good choices - avocado toast and the flat bread were good! Plenty of photo ops!

Probably the only true historic place in Miami. The location is amazing and the house is in great condition for it's age. If you visit Miami you have to vist Vizcaya.

Fabulous estate. We arrived at 9:30 and immediately headed to the gardens which are wonderful. Spent about an hour there and then headed to the cafe to cool off and get something to eat. Our guided tour started at 11:30 and was well worth the money. We spent about an hour with our staff guide who loved her job which comes through as she explains the history and what we are seeing. Then to the cafe for lunch which was just okay. Then back to the house to walk the 2nd and 3rd floor which are not included on the guided tour. Total about 5 hours.

Was so happy we found this place. Had this on a list of things to do on overcast days and this was perfect. Would even be good rain or shine. the Villa and grounds are massive and make you feel like you are somewhere in Italy. It was fun seeing something historic and so beautiful.

Vizcaya is absolutely stunning, from the Spanish/Italian influenced architecture to the many amazing marble statues in the beautiful gardens. We really enjoyed seeing colorful iguanas - one had to be over 4 feet long including its tail - sunning themselves on the property, and there were lots of beautiful lizards there as well.

We spent half of a day touring the gardens and got so many terrific photographs - this place is a shutterbug's paradise! There are also pretty exhibits indoors but due to covid we mostly stayed outside. Overall this is a must do in the Miami area, and I'm so glad that we visited.

Went into house first. Very decadent and full of interesting artifacts. Quite dark in the rooms, presumably to protect the collections. The central courtyard was a lovely with all its potted greenery and it was good to be able to view it from the balconies overlooking it. Great spiral staircase.
The garden; lots of trees and generally surprisingly green. More structure and formality to it than planting. What spoilt it for me was the number of professional photos shoots going on, at least 7. I understand these are a money maker, but they really detract from the enjoyment of the garden, as they spend too long in each area and sometimes the next group was hovering to get into the same spot.
It was also upsetting to see the amount of rubbish accumulated in the mangrove area. There was a notice explaining about a survey that had been done that established the rubbish is all local. That didn’t deal with the problem. Surely someone could go in and clear it on a regular basis, given the high profile of this property and the fact that the waterfront plays a big part in the whole place.
There are several ponds and water features, although a couple had been drained. A nice little orchid garden that you really need to step into to appreciate.
There is a small café with indoor and outdoor seating. The gift shop is disappointingly small within the café area.
It was about $25 each way by Lyft from Coral Gables.

Wonderful place that preserves a beautiful architecture and style. Wonderful garden, that can be used for amazing pics (additional costs to professional photos)

I've been to Vizcaya 8 times now, and the estate is impressive. But the new ticketing system and tour app is unworkable. You must buy tickets online in advance and are emailed a bar code. But what you get is so confusing it takes the gate attendant 8 mins to explain to every single visitor how it works. How is that better than the old system? And then you must download the app to listen to the audio tour, which is so awkward -- nobody uses it. Everyone just reads the placards at every point of interest. How is this better than the old system. Meaning the tour experience is much less than it should be. What a shame for such a unique treasure.

Go when you have time to take it all in; the grounds, the secret alcoves, the waterfront, the banyan trees and fountains and of course the interior.
Enjoyed lunch and a gelato from onsite food trucks which I believe are a regular feature.
You can also kayak over to view the estate from the water - but no docking to tour the property.

great change of pace from the beach.

We thoroughly enjoyed touring this mansion and gardens. The gardens are expansive and well maintained. The downloadable audio tour was very informative. It was nice to beat the heat inside the beautiful mansion. Worth the drive. Note- must purchase tickets online only.

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens are worth a visit. The museum is fascinating. We appreciated that there is information about the people who worked there before it was a museum and the impact of climate changes.

It was nice to stroll through the gardens. February is probably not the best time to see them. They are likely much more impressive in the spring and summer.

Water views are beautiful.

Parking is easy.

Staff in museum and cafe are very responsive and welcoming.

P.S. According to the website and signage upon arrival, you have to buy tickets on-line. Unfortunately, this is clunky on a mobile phone and personal information is requested to "register" that is not really necessary. You can just walk up to the ticket counter and buy tickets.

Vizcaya requires online ticket purchase and while they will bill your credit card immediately, they cannot process credit card purchases for a same-day visit. If you are looking for a last-minute thing to do, go elsewhere.

One of the best places in Miami to visit. Large old house with amazing architecture, art, and history. The large gardens are good for a stroll with great views of Biscayne Bay and the mansion. Highly recommended.

The weather was perfect and we arrived early just before opening time. Nice to be able to park at no further cost and to not rush and deal with crowds. There was a steady stream of visitors who were just as eager as were to explore this villa and the grounds.
We decide to explore the grounds which is a good decision before it becomes toasty hot. We ambled along the impressive gardens discovering the mangroves, beautiful gazebos, stairs, and water cascades, the rose gardens, sculptures, orchids, champion trees, banyans' complex root structures, and even more spectacular was the tea house, the barge, and the boat landing and the striped gondola inspired poles.
Inside the villa, we enjoyed visiting the rooms, the musical instruments on display, and the unique chandeliers especially the little caravel which is also the logo/emblem of the estate. The self guided audio tour was helpful and provided very relevant information. I would have liked to have more information of James Deering while there; I had to research afterwards.
Worth the visit.

We found tickets on line and went to a Friday evening festival at Vizcaya. We showed our tickets on our phones and we’re given lanterns. The first floor of the house was decorated beautifully for the holidays. The gardens were spectacular. A duet played and there were food trucks on the premises. It was just a beautiful beautiful night to explore for Deering Estate. I wish I could post all of the gorgeous photographs I took here but there isn’t enough space. Vizcaya is not to be missed and if you could imagine it’s even more spectacular at Christmas time when the sun goes down.

Wow this a must visit place when you come to miami!!!

Gorgeous building, beautiful gardens, and the most phenomenal Biscayne Bay view. Simply breathtaking.

They are offering membership discounts to those who go to the farmers market they have every Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

The house and ground were very impressive. My husband and I visited while they were fixing up the upper level of the main house, but the lower lever was beautiful. Lots of intricate designs, beautiful furniture and impressive structure. The grounds were lovely with all sorts of gardens, statues and water features. It felt like it came right out of a regency novel.

This is a beautiful place to spend some time walking the garden, relaxing, enjoying the day. Love it. Don’t forget to take pictures!

The gardens are gorgeous, but you can tell the house needs some renovations. We weren't able to go upstairs in March 2021, but I want to go back when you can. It's a good 1 - 2 hour adventure and they have a mobile app/QR codes to learn more about the home.

Definitely worth the trip to Vizcaya. If you like old architecture and beautiful gardens, this is a great place! We also went to the Miami Botanical Gardens and it was Rinky-Dink compared to Vizcaya.

If you enjoyed visiting the Biltmore, you would probably enjoy this as well. It’s a beautiful home and gardens, and there is also a cafe.

I did not see an elevator for guests, so if you have problems with stairs you might want to check online before you come.

Also, be aware that you have to buy the tickets online. You can’t walk up to the window and buy a ticket.

Unique house and gardens. He knew how to decorate! The gift shop and cafe are hard to find. Ceilings and walls are amazingly decorated.

a mix of 18th century Italian villa and Florida coral. Lovely formal gardens with multiple water features. Wharf on Biscayne bay also evocative of Venice with fascinating construction. Remarkable to think this was built when Miami had ~10,000 residents.

Really interesting and beautiful place to visit. Couldn't get the online guide to work on my phone but it didn't lessen my enjoyment. Really glad I went. Highly recommended.

Beautiful and well preserved, both the house and the gardens. The rooms remain with all their decoration and furniture.
It is worth downloading the app and following its tour. Be sure to see the pool, the orchid garden and if you can have lunch there it is delicious and pleasant

Read the other reviews to see what's here. It's definitely worthwhile but the management urgently needs to change their ticketing practices. What they are doing now is stupid, difficult and unnecessary.

Even though there were two real people in the ticket booth, we had to purchase tickets online. Seems like these agents spend most of their day telling people they have to go back to the beginning of the line and scan the QR code to create an account and then purchase tickets online.

At $25 a head, you'd think the workers sitting in the booth could actually sell you a ticket, which would be so much faster and so much less invasive. I watched other customers turn around and leave rather than go through all this rigmarole.

I did the whole thing for our party of three, paid my $75 online, and never got the promised tickets delivered to my email inbox. Had to go back to the booth agent who couldn't sell me tickets and she had to spend 15 minutes trying to find my order on her computer.

Honestly, it took us half an hour with no line to wait in just to get our admission worked out. This is the stupidest, most unfriendly system ever.

The visit of Villa Vizcaya was a great disappointment. In the photos, everything looks very bright, but in reality, the interior of the house was very dark, sad and gave the feeling of little maintenance. Part of the house was closed for construction and the terrace facing the ocean was occupied by a large tent they were pitching for a wedding. Parts of the park were in the works. I would say that maintenance was also missing there. In Europe, we have magnificent castles and palaces that turn this palace around a thousand times.

Absolutely worth visiting this villa and its gardens. Beautiful and unthinkable such a wonder in these areas. Well kept and organized.

Beautiful old property transformed to museum. Filled with Rococo and Renaissance European pieces of art which were collected by the owner and located in amazing garden.

No tours offered. Upstairs is closed. Great jobs in the gardens with new plants. Gondola inaccessible. Restaurant closed. Hope things get back to normal. Beautiful setting to enjoy the day.

To enter the Vizcaya is like stepping into the past, a century ago. Incredible detail and fascinating tour which really helps to see the details you may otherwise miss.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was SO BEAUTIFUL. Everything about the architecture in the building, the natural light that came in made it a picture perfect location. I found this to be one of the most beautiful places I have visited in the continental US, I argue even more so than Huntington Gardens in LA or Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in South of France. I recommend going early so there may be less people; lots of photoshoots and and a wedding was being set up which blocked some spaces near the main building. If you cannot park because the lot is full in the main area near the museum, than you have to park across the street. Random note but crossing this one street was nearly impossible as the light never changes for pedestrians to walk; honestly risking your life just to cross the street (hopefully they fix this). Otherwise, this is an absolutely beautiful place to visit over and over again.

Really beautiful to visit!
We didn't really get to visit the gardens because of the hurricane outside, but it made the experience inside even more enjoyable. We like to imagine living there.

It was a nice experience, the gardens were nice. But the house was so dark. It will be a good time if you like historical buildings and learning a bit about the history of places. It felt a bit like the Japanese gardens in Palm Beach but less thought out. But again, I didn't expect much going since it is just an old rich persons house that was made into a museum.

Over all very nice, the gardens were pretty. Just don't expect too much. Again bring water and wear sunscreen!

Worth an afternoon to step back in time. The museum and gardens have a unique feel to it and there is a lot of history behind the place too. Out back there is a stunning view of Biscayne Bay and lovely gardens to walk around. You can easily spend 2-3 hours in this place. Highly recommend.

I liked the house and it's 5 stars. Since COVID is still going on I thought there would be more of a detailed process for guests to enter and exit the property. At some point there were 8 people in the same room I was in, and all the rooms were pretty small in access space (permitted walking space) so everyone was very close to everyone and there were no signs of one way entry and one way exit. This should be implemented not just during COVID but in general, and possibly timed entries for the mean time (due to COVID).

I just think a planned, patterned, oriented process of entry and exit would have been good. Just one way through the house.

Another note: that also made it difficult to listen to the audio on my phone because the amount of guests in the house at a time and there were barely any signs that referred to items in the house. Just signs that said don't touch or don't sit. There were framed pictures planted around the house but nothing was labeled or addressed to who's who or what were the other rooms for.

More details for reading would've been nice to have around the house.

Hopefully some of these things will be implemented for a better, seamless process during guests visits.

We spent a leisurely three hours, exploring the estate and the lovely gardens. Definitely do one of the tours if you can, although the audio tours are also good. And leave enough time to wander through the gardens the formal gardens are beautiful and the informal gardens our place to get lost and relax. And the history of the estate is intriguing.

Really interesting and beautiful place. One of the best places I have visited. Can’t wait to go back again.

I'm not really much of a museum visitor to historic places, but I loved this walk. Although it has a guided audio tour, we do not use it because we are a little late and prefer to tour on our own. It is a giant palace full of pictures and very well preserved ancient elements. Best of all: the gardens and the ocean view sector, where one has countless beautiful places to take good photos.
We did the tour in about 2 hours, however, if you do not walk in a hurry and stop to observe well the objects and places can easily spend up to 3 hours.
The price in my opinion is fair considering how well maintained the place is and the time you dedicate to it.

My wife and I visited Vizcaya Museum and Gardens during a Florida vacation. It is the second time we have been there but we had forgotten just how amazing this place is. If you are in the Miami area it is a ‘must see’ place to visit. Parking was straight forward but I would recommend booking online ahead of a visit.
The Italianate mansion is spectacular with numerous displays and looked really good with all the Christmas decorations still in place. However, it is the surrounding 50-acre Italian renaissance gardens that are really impressive. Overlooking the sea there are a variety of stunning formal gardens.
Highly recommended.

We arrived at opening. I wasn’t sure if my 4 yo would enjoy but there was so much space to run around and explore. We ended up chasing lizards for a while near the roses. Otherwise, the property was beautiful. Staff were very friendly. I would probably come back w/ out the family…

We purchased tickets online which apparently in 2021 is the only way to purchase them, they said. Then we waited for the eticket to arrive via email but after an hour, it never did. So we just headed out and went up to the window and told them we never got the email but they were able to look it up and verify we had purchased them so we could go in. Had we known, we could have left earlier, so that was not the greatest. However, the fact that Veterans are FREE, made up for the wait!
The house and gardens are impressive. They had guided tours (have to pay for) and free audio tours which you can take at your leisure by downloading an App on a smart device. They recommend using headphones to listen so as not to disturb the other visitors.
Anyway, we loved seeing the spaces decorated in the period. Looked very authentic. We would have loved to have seen more rooms, but about half of them are closed off to the public. The gardens were much bigger than we expected and some more maintained than others. It would be nice to see the gardens better maintained with more flowering plants throughout. Luckily it was a sunny but cool day, because there is lots of walking, as the gardens are spread out.

Both the park and the villa are worth a half day visit.

During the guided walking tour, you will get lots of background info about the owner and the building, which was his winter retreat.

Filled with such history. this museum was a gem and my wife loved it from the greenery all around to the architectural structure! its truly a miami gem

A wonderful property and the gardens are fantastic! Plan to spend an hour or so touring the house and at least that much or more to walk the gardens. Enjoy a bench in the shade by the long pond in the garden.
Soak up the great views of the bay by the Venice inspired boat dock.
The only thing missing were a few docents placed around the house to answer questions. They rely on using QR codes to access the tours…I always like some personal interaction with locals.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a gorgeous garden surrounding an old waterfront mansion, so there's natural beauty as well as history to be enjoyed. Much of the mansion is open for exploration, which made this an all-morning indulgence for me. Allow yourself enough time to fully appreciate everything there is to experience.

Vizcaya was built by Charles Deering, an executive of International Harvester at the turn of the last century. The house is opulent and fun to walk around. The painter John Singer Sargent visited this home and painted Deering's portrait, as well as various views of the home.

The home itself still has fine views across the water to Miami. The home and grounds are filled with all kinds of interesting architectural elements. Based on the reviews, some visitors like them; some think they are over the top. But they are certainly interesting and often fun, such as a huge stone "gondola" that sits in front of the house in Biscayne Bay. Many of the rooms are exceedingly opulent - whether you like them or not is up to you, but they are all impressive in their own way.

The house has acres of ornamental gardens that are attractive and worth exploring. As others have noted, the site is popular for wedding and other photo shoots, but we found that most were very polite and we never had to wait for more than a few moments.

We were here during the spring break for many colleges. The site seem to be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children, to college students, to older visitors.

My husband and I started our tour of the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens as soon as they opened at 9:30 a.m. and didn't leave until a little after 1 p.m. This was an amazing house with so much culture. The house was amazing with all of the artifacts and history, but the gardens were equally exquisite! I believe it was only $18 each to visit, and it was well worth that. I was able to follow along with a guided tour on my phone for free, too! This normally only costs $5, though. I would highly recommend leaving the hustle and bustle of Miami and visit Vizcaya Museum and Gardens!

Beautiful gardens. Location is stunning. Layed out kind off odd. Interior of building needs some restoration. Looked dirty and mis mashed walls and furniture. So, not completely impressed with inside. Would be nice if there were some sort of a bridge to walk out onto the island. We stayed for an hour.

The museum is interesting, the gardens are very nice but the coffee leaves nothing to be desired, it was already more interesting as far as the setting as the menu. It can be interesting to air conditioning the outside area, more attractive place but impossible to be attended on hot days.

Nice outing with garden. Beautiful greenery and relaxing atmosphere. The children could run and play outside. The villa is very interesting however it is over priced. Good to see enroute to Coconut Grove. It was quite hot outside , you need a hat or umbrella.

It's a must see for a visitor, very nice museum and gardens! Easy to reach by Metrorail, bus or taxi from Downtown/Brickell. Loved it!

A beautiful house museum and garden. Very pleasant for a quick stop. Not as historically interesting or informative as it could be.

If you enjoy delving into the history of a place when you travel, you’ll enjoy this beautiful house and gardens. Although the house itself was built in the early 20th century it features many different architectural styles. It’s in complete contrast to most other places you might visit in Miami and is well worth a visit.

Vizcaya is one of the greatest landmarks that tell us about life in the late 1800s, early 1900s in South Florida.
Very well kept and still being very well looked after.
Totally worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a must-see in Miami. The mansion is an architectural masterpiece, filled with stunning art and historical charm. The gardens are equally impressive, with beautifully manicured lawns, fountains, and a view of Biscayne Bay. We spent hours exploring the grounds, and every corner offered something new to admire. The combination of history, art, and nature makes it a truly unique experience. Whether you’re into history, architecture, or just a peaceful walk, Vizcaya has it all. Definitely worth a visit!

I can say that one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been . Great building with beautiful garden impressed me a lot . I would definitely go there again

Enjoyable but so sad to see the filthy water in the once elegant fountains, all green with lack of care. Once beautiful to be sure and worth a walk.

Beautiful house, amazing artwork, architecture. The history of the house is interesting and it’s a must see if you are visiting Miami.

Really stunning house and gardens just a few minutes drive from downtown miami. Lot of walking involved so be prepared.

Take the self-guided tour (using your phone) through this estate of the Golden Age, and make sure to take time to wander through the gardens. This historic home and property of industrialist John Deering gets crowded, so reserve online ahead of time.

We were looking forward to touring this beautiful museum and it is worth going to see! I was amazed at how well preserved the furniture and how it was positioned, based on historical photos. Everywhere you looked was so interesting and beautiful. The reason for an average rating is not due to the museum but rather the staff. When we first arrived, the person at the box office was not very friendly when we shared with her we didn't realize she was open for us to walk up to purchase our tickets. She said no one ever hears her and my friend suggested she use the microphone for others to hear- she wasn't receptive and not very welcoming, but we decided not to allow it to effect our day. Once you purchase your ticket, you walk down an outdoor path that because it probably hasn't been paved in a while is uneven and you just need to be aware when making your way down to the museum. As we made our way through the museum and walked out to the back area to the water, we noticed that the stone walkway in this entire area was very unique yet unsteady to walk on. Unfortunately, I didn't see what was a gap in the stone and fell very hard to my knees, with my palms and my face hitting the ground. My knees and palms were shredded, and I had rolled my ankle as well. Luckily my sunglasses prevented my face from getting hurt. I was bleeding very badly and bruised on one knee and luckily my friend was with me to help me get to a chair in the cafe area to assess my injuries. I was so grateful for not breaking any bones or teeth and that my friend had a first aid kit with him to help me. We took a moment because since I rolled my ankle, I couldn't walk very well on the opposite foot. My friend helped me back to the back entrance to the museum and we made our way through to the exit- I was in a lot of pain and sadly didn't get to see the beautiful grounds or the third floor of the museum because of what happened. When we were making our way back to the car, I was dreading trying to maneuver walking on that pathway that was uneven when we arrived. We started to take the paved road and the security guard stopped us in our tracks and said we could not walk there because cars may be passing through- I had blood running down my leg with bandages that were too small for my injury- and I started to tell him I fell and why we were wanting to walk that path and he cut me off without hearing what I was saying. He didn't even bother to ask about what happened- even though he was the same security guard we spoke with for about 10 minutes in the museum before going out the back door to the waterfront! It was so rude and he could see that I was limping, bleeding and couldn't walk without help. We had to turn around and go back to the entrance of the walkway and make our way slowly through that path to get to the car. It was almost comical because he clearly was hired to keep people safe and pay attention to tourists touching artifacts, etc., yet he was oblivious or didn't care to notice that I was injured, bleeding and limping right in front of him, in a different state than when he saw me about an hour before. My advice and reason for this whole recap: We noticed there were no signs anywhere for people to be attentive to the ground being uneven, particularly in the back of the museum. It would be great if they posted signs to make people aware to simply watch their step and be careful. Someone will fall again and I'm afraid it will be worse and could potentially mean a legal issue for Vizcaya.

We visited this place as soon as it opened and it was already crowded. Fortunately the site is large so no worries. We are far from stepping on each other.
Here it looks like a mix of a Tuscan palace and a Spanish house. But the result is not bad at all. Outside a pretty garden for orchids, a French-style bed of bushes and a beautiful outdoor-indoor swimming pool. There is also direct access to the sea and it has a vague air of Venice with a small bridge on the side and blue stakes like those used to attach the gondolas.

A place out of time, gorgeous gardens (don't miss the orchids) take your time to explore. The house is a pure marvel. Try to find the elevator, so lovely (you cannot use it). Every single detail is absolutely stunning.
You must book only before coming. There is an audio guide in several languages. It's even better in the morning, fewer people and less heat.

Words cannot describe the amazing estate and the fabulous gardens surrounding it. Arrive early to get the most wonderful pictures of the garden area then venture inside to enjoy the actual building and more history. When you are finished visit the Cafe for a lunch or sweet treat. Made with locally sourced produce.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a great location to visit while traveling to the Miami area. Historic location with great architecture and grounds.

The second floor of the home was closed for renovations, as was the Barge area. Many of the water features were off, areas were not well maintained, and the mangrove area stank. Better to visit the Fairchild Botanical Gardens for well maintained gardens. They should discount the tickets more; they are still $18 for adults.

Had an amazing time visiting this local attraction. Took me an hour and half to cover the entire grounds and the garden. Beautiful home and even more impressive gardens with sculptures all over. Totally worth the time and effort. Magnificent views all around. Mask wearing is mandatory all the time. Tickets to be bought online only and scanned at the entrance at this time.

This was a great way to spend half a day in Miami. I'd definitely recommend getting a tour. They're 45 minutes. It was fun to walk around and see the opulence and history, a lovely, beautiful walk.

A very nice house and beautiful gardens.

Everything in the house reflects the wealth of the owner and the care taken with heathered furniture elements on all continents before construction (French fireplace, Cuban tiles...)

Just like the beauty of the gardens and the modernity of places (the kitchen, the amenities, the indoor pool)

The audio-guide is not in focus, however, some rooms are plunged into darkness (to preserve the furniture) and the entrance fee is a bit high, but when you know that the place was damaged several times by hurricanes, this remains understandable.

Such a magical place with stunning gardens. Every corner of this place a picture so mesmerizing. It reminded us of Newport RI mansions but the garden here was more beautiful. We arrived at the opening and were so happy because I was able to get some nice pics without anyone in it. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who loves gardens can appreciate the beauty of architecture and design. Both of our kids enjoyed it (9 and 20). They have a small gift shop and cafe.

We tour a lot of mansions, and this one was really unique. Another reviewer said it was “dated”?!? It’s historic and just beautiful.

Good for getting away from city life. Has cafeteria for taking rest with kids. Enjoy amazon forests. My daughter enjoys seeing lizards. One of the lizards is super huge almost same size long of one leg.

Expected this to be good but expectations were exceeded. The Villa is large inside and the best parts are upstairs. However it is the views out to the water at the back of the Villa and the gardens that are the real highlights.

There is a small cafe to enjoy. It is easy to get an Uber to and from. We did notice that the car park was pretty much full up when we were leaving at lunch time

My family and I visited viscaya last week and It was truly amazing and very unique. My family was mind blown on how amazing and detailed the mansion was. But the only problem we had was that the garden water and fountain water was literally black and smelled like dead fish and trash.

I have been to Miami but never came here. I am so glad that I finally came. One of Miami’s most treasured landmarks, Vizcaya features a Main House with original furnishings in 34 rooms, ten acres of meticulously landscaped gardens, as well as the historic Vizcaya Village. Stunning. Vizcaya is more than a museum; it is a cultural oasis where history comes alive. I would recommend after purchasing your ticket to visit the Main House first and then take a leisurely stroll in the gardens.

So I went to this place because it was recommended to me by a friend and I have to say I was very impressed. The house it self is very interesting and worth a visit. The garden is pretty and there was a lot of people taking photos. If your into Instagram than I would say this place is worth it. There’s many beautiful places to take picture and watch the water. Over all I would say it’s something you definitely should do and is worth the $25 dollars to go. I would do this possibly again. Over all I would say this was one of the better gardens in Miami.

Cartoon caricature of what an Italian mansion is. Don’t bother coming. This is a complete waste of time and money.

The concrete barge on the bay is one of a kind, the detailed gardens sparks one imagination about the gilded age. The gardens are sprawling and took us about two hours to fully enjoy. Wish more could be done to clean up the statues and fountains. Parking is free and abundant, there's a cafe in the basement.

My husband and I visited today. It is gorgeous! We found ourselves comparing this home and gardens to Biltmore. I am from Appalachia, so I am used to the story of Biltmore; therefore, this made Vizcaya much more enjoyable to me. This is a must see even in the winter! The outside water view is breathtaking! Also, I believe I saw well over 50 adorable Lizards! So cute!

Beautiful walk in the gardens of the castle, very well maintained, the castle is beautiful and also very well maintained, beautiful sunny day

Excellent view of history seeing this luxury home of the past. Well worth the time to explore. Would recommend

If you are interested in historic homes and enjoy visiting places such as the Biltmore in NC or the mansions of Long Island, you'll love this one as well. Absolutely gorgeous and worth the $25 entrance fee. (To those complaining... how much do you think it costs to maintain a 100-year-old mansion in the heat, humidity, and salt air of Miami?!? Not to mention the maintenance of the extensive garden and grounds? Answer: a lot.) The house is impressive, but it's really the grounds that make the place so spectacular. Be mindful of the heat if you are here anytime other than the "winter" months, although there is a lot of shade and a nice breeze when you're closer to the water. A small cafe in the gift shop also offers sandwiches, gelato, bakery items, beer, and wine. Outdoor seating is available after purchase. Overall, a nice way to spend a few hours if you're in the area.

This beautiful house and gardens was a nice morning activity while in the area. The cost of admission was reasonable for this type of activity. It seems to be popular with professional photographers to take bridal and other formal photos. They were obtrusive and somewhat distracting. The audio tour of the house and grounds could only be accessed by downloading the museum’s app. The audio tour was obviously the old stand alone audio tour. It has not been updated to be used easily with a cell phone which made it frustrating to use. There was lots of staff on site but they were not very helpful. When asked where we should start the audio tour a staff member said “oh anywhere! It doesn’t matter.” The house and gardens were beautiful but it would have been nice to have docents along the way to answer questions.

This place is a must see in Miami. My 22 year old son and I enjoyed walking the grounds and throughout the house. We did do any sort of tour but I would if I returned.

Not sure if I can fit everything amazing I need to say about this place in one review. Incredible doesn’t even cover our experience here. Went for a friends birthday cause he’s a history nerd and we stayed till just before closing. There was not a single part of the villa or gardens that didn’t blow me away and make me awe in the incredibleness of the space.

My biggest tip is to bring an umbrella with you for shade when you’re walking along in the gardens and outside the villa. It was one of the things that was recommended when I brought our tickets online and we were so happy that we listened, it allowed us to explore the outside grounds comfortably and pace ourselves as we weren’t roasting in the brutal Florida sun. The villa itself was surprising cool with some much appreciated air condition. Another amazing thing I loved was the cafe they have there! They have a beautiful indoor and outdoor seating area and had some real sandwiches, some pastries, and the best part, they had ice cream!
My other biggest tip is to make sure that you have plenty of storage left on your phone for pictures.
All in all, it was a steel for the ticket prices and we had such an amazing time and definitely won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.

What a fun visit and a step back in time to Miami’s history of the robber barons. The house is massive. The gardens are massive. The whole place is just large and well preserved. It was great to read how climate change has affected the property overall, and the owner from Chicago had to adjust his planting choices to the climate of Miami, the self-paced you can download an app so you can hear the stories. We really enjoyed ourselves a great deal, and this was an enjoyable way to spend the morning.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens were worth every penny!
Beautiful flowers, landscape, architecture and more! Fair price. A/C inside certain areas, bathrooms, and easy access ramps, and elevators ( I think). The View, the View, the view! At the turn of the century, this had to be like stepping into a dreamland. Very nice, very well kept, and what a layout. Please check it out ASAP! A+++

Frankly, we were disappointed. We have visited other mansions and associated gardens in other cities and find this one to be less well maintained. The house exterior needs to be brought up to modern standards. Statues, columns, walls and other aspects have deteriorated. The rooms are nicely laid out throughout the mansion and the gardens are fine but, nothing special. To see beautiful gardens, you can go to Fairchild Tropical Gardens which is a half hour drive away. There, if you arrive at the right time, you can take a free one hour tram ride throughout the entire gardens. They are extensive.

The house and gardens are lovely. Right now you can’t visit the second floor, which is kind of a bummer considering the first floor doesn’t show you much. The gardens are beautiful and worth it. There is a lot of restoration going on, so almost everywhere you look there is construction or renovations. Obviously it needs to be done but kind of a lot now and it kind of ruins the magic of the place.

Nice visit to escape the hustle and bustle of Miami, taking a step back in time and review the life of the very wealthy about 100 years ago. A little bit expensive entry ticket but most money is used to maintain the house and gardens in the original state.

Our trip to the mansion was enjoyable. We would have enjoyed it more but part of the grounds and the second floor are under renovation. We still enjoyed strolling around snapping pictures. My favorite part was all of the gardens and the pool.

Tickets must be purchased online. Easy access for an Uber.

The gardens are just spectacular. You could roam around for hours! The is a special spot that preserves some of the old growth coastal habitat. Be sure to investigate the shelled grottos as well as the views to the bay. The house itself is also quite interesting. We purchased tickets for a short tour and were glad we did. Learned quite a bit about the construction of the house and gained an appreciation for a piece of 20th century Florida history.

This place is amazing! My family of four enjoyed our visit. We had never seen any place quite like it. A few areas (like the pool) weren't open, but the staff was very friendly. We didn't try the cafe, but spent two hours touring the house and gardens. Most of the parking is in the shade, too, which is fairly important during summertime.

BEAUTIFUL SPOT THE GARDEN AND THE MUSEUM...

Viscaya Gardens and Museum - in Miami a real State in Miami...beautiful spot Nature and lush landscaping garden was so gorgeous..Most beautiful place to visit..it was made by a formal garden..the audio tours was so excellent by guiding visitors at the place..eligible and helpful Fabulous artwork. And statue have been here in the beautiful mansion..I love it..

My friends and I took the tour with Judy J and we learned so much about Mr. Deering and the entire house. The house is amazing/gorgeous but very quirky. We also found the gardens to be superb and the outdoor tea room, etc. were so beautiful. Judy answered all of our questions and knew so much history behind the house that we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

I visit Vizcaya every time I come to Miami. It's absolutely amazing and beautiful. I'm not usually one to enjoy touring mansions, but this place is unreal. The architecture inside and out is amazing. The gardens are incredible. You'll be taking pictures everywhere.

It has beautiful grounds and the home was very cool to tour the home had unusual design,architecture and artifacts.

We drove and paid on site.

We found that the path to the house when having to park across the street wasn't easy with a walking stick. The house was quite interesting; beautiful but perhaps in need of some care. Some parts of the gardens were definitely in need of some maintenance.

Interesting to see a vision to create a European style "palace" or grand mansion in Miami. If you have travelled Europe extensively, you may not find this interesting but (even having lived and travelled in Europe extensively) I found it interesting. The audio tour (free via their app) definitely added to the experience.

Worth a few hours visit. Note that it is fairly open and thus is not an airconditioned museum.

Vizcaya is a beautiful mansion with stunning art and gardens on Biscayne Bay. It is a true throwback to an age of grace and formality. Each room is different. I really enjoyed walking around and imagining how the family lived and spent their leisure time at this amazing private home. Close to a Metrorail station but far from the crowds of South Florida's tourism. A nice respite if you visit during the busy season (November-April).

Izcaya is a beautiful place to explore. We took the orange train to get there. Once we crossed over the bridge we were in another place. Quiet and serene. The gardens are lovely, the home was enjoyable to look through and the sea views were amazing!

- Huge home with great architecture, garden, & beach front
- Lots of historical value
- Great outing for family, friends, couples, or solo trip
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Great photo opportunities
- Cafe and gift shop available
- Recommend going earlier in the day. Many visitors come through and parking can fill up.
- Tour available via guide and electronically
- Recommended bringing a water bottle
- I’d for sure go again 🙌🏾

If you enjoy historic mansions and esp. those on the water with formal gardens, you MUST tour Vizcaya. The gardens rival almost all I've seen in Europe, truly wonderful.

An unspeakable atmosphere of southern luxury.
I want to go and see every corner of this beautiful villa and its gardens.
The jetty and the tea house are a separate delight.
Everyone is in very good condition and you can see that this place is well watched and taken care of.

This place is awesome and should be advertised more. It’s a private residence that was sold to the county for public visits. There is a house and grounds to explore. It’s HOT so be prepared. I had a neck fan that helped a lot. I started outside first. To be honest some of it feels a little weathered but they did state that most of the place was built out of coral stone which does not hold up in the weather. Which I get, but in the gardens there seemed to be some empty foundations that collected rain water and grossness. Yet it was still very rustic looking. But the rotting leaves smelled a little bit. Just in one tiny section though. They were updating the pool so I was a little disappointed to not get the full effect of it. I went to the house next. I really liked the Audio tour. Please be respectful and bring headphones though. Also people need to be more mindful of their picture taking. Don’t spend 10 mins trying to get the perfect selfie when others are trying to take a picture in the same spot. I ate in the cafe and it was honestly the best meal I had during my whole trip to Miami. I had the caprese salad with chicken. I did shop in the gift shop and lots of items didn’t have prices which they need to fix. Also I asked one staff person if there were places to charge your phone if need be and she pointed to one plug that was available. I asked about the cafe and she wasn’t sure. With modern technology and use of phones to buy tickets, get lyft, take the Audio tour you need to know if phone charging is available. I went to the cafe myself to see and there’s a few tables inside with outlets. I was able to use my phone for the audio tour and map and charge my phone later. Please make sure all the staff knows there’s outlets in the cafe. Other than that minor detail this place was awesome and I spent 5 hours there!

This museum and garden is undeniably one of the best and most beautiful I've ever had the unparalleled pleasure to experience and see. The meticulous preservation and curation, the rich history within its walls are definitely palpable, Such joyful knowledge to gain the artifacts, architectural design, and pieces and their living creates an intellectually stimulating
atmosphere that I found profoundly captivating. A colossal testament to human history and accomplishments. The staff are super knowledgeable and incredibly friendly from will-call window to cafe. A highly strong recommendation when in Miami.

Visit Viscaya Museum & Gardens and teleport back to the early 1900's when the wealthy knew how to entertain their family and guests! So much to see and absorb here! Prepare to spend a day's worth to enjoy the complete estate. GetSome!!

this place is quite chill i really like the environment and nice to roam around, spent great time there

Excellent place to spend the afternoon with the family and watch the sunset with the boat in the background.
They have a beautiful display of orchids.
The gardens are beautiful and large.

A huge and luxurious home and beautiful gardens: it is undoubtedly a site not to be missed. I highly recommend if you are visiting Miami

Vizcaya was a beautiful and interesting home set on the water. We did not participate in the formal tour of the house, but we enjoyed touring the home on our own and we learned a lot about Mr. Deering’s life and the history of the property. We also strolled the beautiful gardens. If you’re a fan of architecture, interior design, or history, this is a must. I also have to add that all the staff we interacted with during our visit were very professional and went out of their way to ensure guests enjoyed the visit.

Beautiful, so well-kept.

Walking here, between the flowers and the architecture, with the views and it feels like another world.

It's definitely worth it.

When we visited this garden we did not expect to see such a beautiful place! The house is right by the water and you are transported to a different time in history when you are there. It's such a nice day to spend with family or even on your own. The staff was friendly and helpful. This is also a nice place for photoshoots and weddings. I would recommend the visit!

Was blown away by the lovely gardens and waterfront terrace with tea room and barge state. Can imagine spending many lovely hours here.

Beautiful house, very beautiful gardens. But the price ($25) is excessive given the dilapidated interior. The maintenance leaves much to be desired.

If you like beautiful homes, landscaped gardens with fountains and seeing how the wealthy lived in the early 1900's then be sure to make this stop. A nice quiet place to visit with family in the middle of Miami.

Remarkable garden, even though it was incredibly hot! Worth walking around in, especially if you are carrying a bottle of water in the summer time. We timed it so we could eat lunch here as they have a little cafe, which was semi reasonably priced. There is air conditioning throughout the museum thank goodness! They do have an audio tour, but we got a lot from just reading the exhibit signs throughout the museum/house. The dock in the back is incredible - it is shaped like a ship! They have an inner dock so this place must have been hopping with boats at one time. Lot of people come here for a quincenara celebration photos, so you will probably see one or two groups doing that. We saw three during our 2 1/2 hours at the place. There are some huge lizards in the garden and we saw an orange lizard! Wow! The cafe was reasonably priced about midlevel and had pretty good food. Lots of seating inside, but can get crowded right around noon. We ate around 1 so it was not too bad.

Beautiful Grounds and an impressive mansion. They have a free audio tour, but it was clumsy to find the right track to listen to for each stop. We gave up on it and just walked around and admired the scenery. Also, if you enjoy watching InstaGram Selfie-Queen's then this is the place to go, they were everywhere.

Very nice tour and beautiful gardens, preserved and clean palace, free parking.

Reminds us of the European palaces that we went to. Beautiful property in Miami's Cottage Grove area on Biscayne Bay. Would recommend touring in the spring when the Orchids and Roses are in bloom. Allow 2-3 hours to see everything and enjoy the gardens.

Beautiful, serene, and endlessly reminiscent of an older time. Highly recommend this wonderful and unique experience.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is hands down one of the most beautiful and memorable places I’ve visited in Miami. From the moment you enter, it feels like you’ve been transported to another time and place — somewhere between Europe and a tropical paradise. It’s completely worth the price of admission, and honestly, I would go again without hesitation.

The gardens are absolutely breathtaking. Perfectly manicured, peaceful, and full of interesting corners to explore. We saw tons of lizards sunbathing on the stone walls and running through the paths — it was a fun and unexpected part of the experience. Whether you’re a photographer, a nature lover, or just looking to unwind, the gardens alone are worth the visit.

The house itself is just as incredible. Every room is full of detail, history, and character. From the antique furniture and ornate ceilings to the art and architecture, it’s like walking through a European villa right in the heart of Miami. The views of the bay from the back terrace are spectacular, and the whole estate is so well-preserved and curated that it’s easy to lose track of time exploring every corner.

Another huge plus: free parking. In a city where parking is usually a hassle and an added expense, this was a very welcome surprise and made the whole visit even more enjoyable.

If you’re visiting Miami — or even if you live here and have never been — you should absolutely make time to go to Vizcaya. It’s peaceful, unique, and full of beauty at every turn. Five stars without a doubt.

The gardens were beautiful, but on a Friday afternoon in February, they were absolutely overrun by private photography shoots. Wedding photos, engagement photos, portraits, etc. One even looked like a fashion shoot with some dolled up gal in a huge ballgown standing in the very center of a fountain. We had to wait in almost every area of the garden for a photo shoot to end before we were allowed to look around. It got very annoying. Maybe going first thing in the morning during the week is a better time to visit?

Miami has been a tropical playground for the rich and famous since its urban inception in the 20th Century. Miami's modern era begins with Florida's richest citizen, Henry Flagler, when the railroad comes. Shortly after that his friends like the Deerings who have amassed unimagined riches in America's industrial Gilded Age come to build their castles.

James and Charles Deering, whose father started built an agricultural equipment empire and was close friends with Flagler, decided to each build palatial winter residences in Miami far from the cold of Chicago. After their company had sold and their father passed, James looked to make his mark with the grandest house and gardens Miami has seen for the last 120 years.

While the grounds are a fraction of their original size, the property is still 43 acres with more than a thousand feet of Biscayne Bay frontage in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami. At over 100 years old it is not only one of the first houses in the city, today it is one of the oldest. It is a 2 story Venician Villa with an open courtyard. While today the courtyard has been enclosed and climate controlled, the home was designed to be open and airy with no real hallways, simply rooms connected to the open courtyard. All of the living spaces are on the ground floor with the exception of the breakfast area on the second floor. Here there are great living, dining and ballrooms with incredible historic European furniture collected by James Deering. One of the great things about the way the family gave the property to the City of Miami is that the gift included nearly all of the original furniture. No replicas needed. The upper floor consists of bedrooms and baths with more bedrooms in two symmetric towers that have a 3rd floor.

Just as impressive as the house, the gardens and grounds, including the waterfront, are simply breathtaking. Be sure to spend time walking the gardens and grounds. Finally, outside you will see the swimming pool that is part enclosed and part open to the sun. The whole package is a monument to excess and the insane riches of the Gilded Age even at its end.

We visited the home as one of the first attractions of our weeklong vacation with 5 couples. Everyone enjoyed our visit here and the chance to see the home and grounds. Yes, Miami has an incredible beach, beautiful art museums and shopping and outdoor activities for every hobby. However, this 100-year home is one of the top attractions to see here and something I highly recommend you see on your visit.

We were on our Winter Get-away from Chicago, so it was interesting to visit the Winter-getaway of a famous Chicagoan. What was most impressive was how James Deering did not try to conquer nature, but to incorporate it. The Cafe is a secret gem with fresh ingredients grown right on site. Our Capresse Salads were divine. The free audio tour is magnificent.

So worth taking your time and soaking in all the history, visually stunning and a small adventure. We loved it

The weather wasn’t cooperating during our visit for beach activities, so we decided to explore this place.
From the moment you drive up, the “WOWs” start. Then you tour the mansion and all its history and beauty left me missing Europe and the architectural elements. Ornate and Tasteful.
They love orchids and the displays are inside and outside within the gardens.
It’s on the bay and you will enjoy rain or shine.

Perhaps this is because in Europe (France in particular), we are more used to this kind of building and gardens. So I wasn't as amazed as expected or as amazed as American visitors. The place remains beautiful, especially the covered inner courtyard. For the rest of the building, they are pieces of life that are repeated and that are not so impressive when you have already visited large castles in France. I haven't found the advertised free audio guide, but I'm not yet a smartphone and QR-code pro. Attention, payment by card only for the entrance ticket, cash is not accepted!!

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was the former villa and lavish estate of businessman James Deering, The grounds used to be more comprehensive, though what is left is still extensive. The grounds and landscaping are, for the most part, well maintained, though I noticed crumbling structures, peeling paint in some areas, and did read how the estate is looking for continuous donations to maintain the estate. When I visited, there were a few photographers shooting wedding photos. I imagined the grounds to be more of a botanical garden but it was plainer than I had thought. I still recommend a visit, especially if you're a fan of nature.

A must do . Add it your list. Just beautiful and the restaurant on site was incredibly good. Please do take the guided tour.

Very beautiful grounds although there was
some remodeling while we were visiting. Arrive early and avoid the crowds

I might have enjoyed this more if around every corner and in every walkway/through way there weren’t people taking photos either with professional photographers or as what appeared to be influencers and/or just plain narcissists. It would be one thing if people were just taking normal tourist type photos but these people were taking over spaces and would take multiple pictures in one spot not allowing for others to pass or enjoy the area.
Plus the grounds were poorly maintained with areas that were over grown and others that were dying.

We recently went to the ringling museum in st Pete and that was a far better experience in every way.

One and done for me.

Way too expensive. It is a lovely house with unusual and beautiful rooms but it's quite small and didn't take long to look around all the rooms. The stone barge is spectacular but let down by all the unsightly seaweed around it (surely some type of netting could be used around the bay to keep it clear?). The gardens have so much scope to be spectacular too but they look run down with no imagination gone into the planting. Usually garden's invite you to sit and enjoy the scenery but even walking around these gardens was boring. With entry being so expensive, it does beg the question as to what on earth the revenues gained are being spent on because it really doesn't seem to be on the upkeep of the place.

My husband and I enjoyed our 2.5 hrs. exploring this Guilded Age estate and gardens. It’s a fascinating step-back in time to stroll through the indoor and outdoor spaces build with a meticulous attention to detail and a seemingly “money-is-no-object” budget. The self-guided audio tour is an essential, informative resource and currently free ($5 pre-COVID). Aside from the feat to construct and furnish the estate, it’s fascinating to learn of James Deering’s environmental conservation efforts during construction. The estate possess an old mangrove for protection and the hardwood hammock.

We went in the afternoon after our Little Havana walking tour. I highly recommend the two as same-day cultural activities for their proximity to one another and the enjoyable difference between the two.

It is a beautiful visit to Miami, the gardens are beautiful, very photogenic, the view of the villa, the kiosk, is really splendid.

A must see if you can! Second floor was closed but there's still so much to see. Gardens are amazing! I'm glad we visited.

Are you in Florida or somewhere in Italy ? Awesome place ! The cafe and gift shop were closed when we were there so walk with water .

This mansion just goes to show that you can be filthy rich and still have no taste. We’ve been through lots of historic homes and mansions and every so often you come across one where you say “I wouldn’t live here if they gave it to me.” That’s how I felt about Vizcaya. The house is just cold, impersonal and gaudy. The gardens are very pretty. We spent about 45 minutes on the self-guided tour and another 45 minutes or so walking around the garden. There is free parking on site and restrooms. I think there is a café/gift shop, but it was closed the day we visited.

They are beautiful views towards the Sea, the beautiful gardens although I thought they lacked care. You can take pictures from all the spots. We spent a day on that side of Miami, visited Biscay in the morning and then went to the Coconut Grove area. We found it difficult to move, if you want to meet and there is no hurry, we took the subway, trucks and walking...

Sometimes the yelp pictures are better than real life.... Not here. Museum & Gardens is truly one of the most elegant gems of Miami. I'm a big fan of history and architecture, but this property is beyond ornate, anyone can appreciate its' beauty.

We planned our visit ahead and ended up choosing a monsoon of a day which meant we wouldn't be able to enjoy the garden portion. Since it was a large part of our visit, i contacted their staff about honoring our tickets on a day with better weather and we were accommodated a few days later.

The property consists of the most incredibly-constructed facade and interior, acres of walkable garden, outdoor pool, and of course a water-view with a (human-made) sunken ship. As it is a lot to navigate through, (if you're stopping to read the information) you'll probably have seen it all within an hour or two. Definitely worth the read, as the property has an interesting story!

Would definitely return as I'm sure there are new things I'd notice within the home. 10/10 worth the visit!!

The villa and the gardens are beautiful, and there is some signage around the house explaining the history, but I'd recommend doing a guided tour, which is offered 4 times per day, to get the most out of your visit. There is a self-guided audio tour that you can do, but unless you bring your own earbuds or headphones you can't really use it, plus because we were traveling we were relying on wifi so couldn't have downloaded the tour anyway. At $25 per person it's a pretty expensive walk around a house.

One of my favorite place to go in Miami, this place is beautiful and exquisite. The inside is truly unique with many original statues and furniture that were used by mr.deering and guest. The best part is the outside gardens, mazes, trees, and stairwell. Simply breathtaking specially the front view of the bay and the gardens are. Highly recommend for anyone to go and relax and enjoy south Florida. Gardens does have entrance fee.

Beautiful grounds, beautiful scenery. You are just dodging photographers and models (all of whom are rude by the way). Just be aware.

Over priced just to take a look at how the elites lived 100 years ago. Basically if you've seen one mansion owned by the Vanderbilts, the Rockefellers, etc., you've seen them all. Nice art. That's about it. Better art here than the Perez museum.

Really lovely place - if you love gilded age house museums, this one is definitely worth a visit. The whole property is an unexpected surprise, from the juxtaposition of the european furnishings against the mostly definitely non-european exterior, to the formal gardens right next to the mangroves, to the stunning water views that are completely not like Newport. Really, REALLY worth a visit if you love house museums.

Had a lovely visit to this property. Enjoyed the free audio app tour and took the time we wanted to see everything. The stone barge was a neat addition for the time.

Beautiful place! We did the in house tour and found very informative. Food from the cafe was very good too. A must see!

Vizcaya Museum and Garden.
This beautiful home was a vacation home to industialist James Deering but is now a museum. It has the largest collection of 20th central Italian furniture and art.

Construction on the Main House at Vizcaya began in 1914, with founder James Deering taking up winter residency there for the first time on December 25, 1916. The home is an interpretation of an eighteenth-century Italian villa.

The garden area is really nice. The house was surely was built to last.

A friend i visited here in feb 2022. Cost $29 to enter, book online. We spent about 3-4 hrs here. Very well laid out and feels like you're in Europe but its miami was amd billionaire from Chicago built in 1920s, there are nice gardens, fountains, saw big iguanas, lily and lotus ponds. The inside is is very grande and not something you'd expect to see in usa. Wealth beyond, a little over the top.

Great from beginning to end. Parking was very easy. Online ticketing is rather weird since you can't walk to the window to buy your way in. Once in, however, the grounds are extraordinary and the home is magnificent. Wear walking shoes and plan what you want to see (in advance). The home has 3 levels and there are no elevators. The stairs are easily navigated, but one side has no handrail for the elderly. Washrooms are readily available (walking again). Lots and lots of photo ops. If you love flowers and gardens, this is the place in view of Miami (in the distance). There are plenty of benches to sit on and rest for a while. A cafe is available although we did not eat there. Easily this could be a 5-hour visit (with lunch). Lots to see and enjoy.

This is a magical place with both amazing gardens and a trip back in time innside the house. A lovely and romantic place for a date with areas for photos and a refill of our history knowledge. A must to visit when in the Miami Coconut Grove area.

The prices for lunch and drinks in the kiosk was a little steep. But you could absolutely use a whole day at this place.

This was surprisingly amazing. The tour of the house was well done and the gardens were beautiful. This was a house unlike anything I've seen and it was amazing to see such an interesting piece of history so close to Miami.

This stunning house and gardens blew our minds. We luckily purchased a tour with Sandy that was so informative and we learnt a lot. This added to our overall experience.The house, gardens and views were breathtaking. I would highly recommend- minimum of 2 hours is the least time you can spend here to absorb all the culture.

What a lovely place full of history and great architecture. We really did not expect such old European architecture in the USA. It's a beautiful place to learn about the history of the Deering Estate and relax and enjoy the garden. As of now, you can only purchase tickets online so please ensure you do so before visiting especially if you do not have a data plan. It's only when I got there I realise that I needed to book online, luckily I had a data plan and was able to book.

An audio tour comes with the purchase so download the Vizcaya app befoe and ensure you walk with headsets.

For those wondering how to get there, you can take the Train from downtown Miami and stop at the Vizcaya station. From here you can walk just ask someone for directions.

I really enjoyed my visit. The house and the gardens were bigger than I even imagined. There is so much to explore! I definitely would recommend going if you enjoy history and architecture

There is so much to explore here. From the ten acres of beautiful gardens, an Italian Renaissance estate, to a mangrove shoreline. Learn the history of Vizcaya and be inspired by the creativity.

If you're in Miami, Vizcaya is an absolute must-visit. The place is stunning, offering breathtaking views of the city and a ton of hidden gems with wildlife along the way. We actually stumbled upon it because our son saw some videos from an influencer a few weeks before our trip—and we’re so glad we made the detour!

We decided to go early, which was perfect because it was quieter and gave us more time to explore on our own. The estate has such a rich, captivating history, which you learn all about during the tour. And don't skip the little café and shop—perfect for a break from the midday sun, especially with that cool air conditioning. 🌞

If you’re a fan of stately homes and lush gardens, this place is a total recommendation. We’ll definitely be back!

Fun and informative visit! Really enjoyed the Main House tour for an additional small fee which reviewed how James Deering and his guests and staff would have lived and worked at Vizcaya. The main part of the house is air conditioned so one can enjoy admiring the architecture and furnishings.

We discovered this beautiful Italian inspired villa. The rooms have different decorations, so we go from Chineries to baroque style then by the empire style... Nevertheless, it would have been nice to have more explanatory panels.
The garden is also well laid out, we understood that it was a suitable place for wedding photos of de quinceañera! The price is very reasonable considering the amount of things to see.

Absolutely Fabulous! A must when in Miami area. This facility is stunning. So interesting to see how others lived in the early 1900's. Each room is fascinating. Keep in mind that this was built when supplies were not at your neighborhood Home depot, lol. The grounds are equally beautiful.

I didn't spend but about an hour at the location, so is great little side trip and still have time for other things while in Miami.

Spent several hours exploring this beautiful, enchanting home & gardens! Absolutely breathtaking grounds & history. A must see!!

Not great for children, and not well accessible.
Small cafe with sandwiches, coffee, tea & gift shop available.

You could easily spend hours getting lost in the Vizcaya Gardens and museum. The home itself is absolutely breathtaking. And it is amazing to think of the willpower and blood sweat and tears that went into realizing such a massive undertaking.

The gardens are immaculate and so much fun to explore.

And the little cafe, while expensive, has delicious food.

This is definitely a must-see museum in Miami.

Vizcaya is an estate that combines elements of Spanish and Roman architecture in a huge castle-like house plus beautiful gardens. Unfortunately, only the first floor of the house can be visited, but an audio tour comes with admission and it has detailed descriptions of every room and interesting artwork or features. It would probably take an hour to listen to all the content, but it's very much go-at-your-own-pace and spend as much or as little time as you have/interests you.

The gardens are likewise spectacular. The property seems huge, but it's definitely a place you can visit fully in a few hours.

A true modern marvel that feels centuries old. I love all the old gilded age mansions and have been Newport, the Biltmore, Oheka, the Ringling home in Sarasota and many others. Vizcaya absolutely took my breath away. At every turn whatever you were viewing was spectacular.
The gardens are some of the absolute best I've ever had the chance to meander. The story behind each "room" is just so impressive. From the grottos, to the mounds, to the casino, to the theater garden, the secret garden and the former lagoon garden everything was planned out so meticulously.

Once inside the house you literally gasp. To think that the courtyard was literally open to the sky (until the 1980s) was something I just couldn't grasp. How clever of Deering and Chalfin to really blend the entire environment of this property together to magically. In the house, they brought the outside in and in the gardens they brought the inside out. Stunning!
The barge is surely a sight to behold. Oh how it magical it must have been to take a gondola ride around the property and then disembark at the tea house or on the barge for some sun tanning.

At the time of my visit, the indoor/outdoor pool was being refurbished but you can still get a sense of how much fun this amenity was for guests. The rest of the recreation area, bowling alley, card room and billiard room has been recorded into a Cafe and gift shop. That was a bummer for me since I love seeing how the ultra rich used to entertain. The cage was adorable, though, and reasonably priced.
Pictures do not so this property justice. I'm so happy that it was saved from destruction like hundreds of mansions of its time. If ever in the South Florida area be sure to allot an entire day to tour this gem of a property. You won't regret it. Oh and download the app so you can take the audio tour.

Such a lucky find. This place is amazing, offering elegance, history and a look into a fascinating life and achievement.

I didn’t visit the museum as I was at the property for a wedding but the grounds are gorgeous and it would be a lovely place to spend an afternoon wandering around.

Just passing through and a friend told us to stop here. House was lovely ... interesting history. Gardens and outside area was outstanding on a beautiful sunny fall day.

Lovely mansion with gardens European style! Transforming into something of an 19 century Italian palazzo. Lots of pictures

I loved my visit here! There were many rooms in the house, beautifully decorated and the audio guide was interesting and easy to understand. I especially loved the enchanting extensive gardens. I reserved ahead of time but that probably wasn't necessary, there weren't any lines to get tickets.

Went with Scott Cooper Miami - loved vizcaya museum / definitely a top Miami tourist attraction. Can’t wait to see Miami again

We went to this museum and gardens on a rainy day and so glad we did. Not only did we passed time but we enjoyed the views as well as learned amazing things about the place.

Definitely go with the tour guide around the place.

Highly recommend

I’ve always heard about Vizcaya and finally visited this trip! It’s definitely an activity to do when it’s nice outdoors. The actual villa is 2 floors and you can see actual furniture and items used back in the day. Bring your fancy camera if you like photo shoots- this is definitely that type of place. You can take nice shots indoors and outside of the villa. Loved the gardens too.
If you’re looking for a Great family/ friend activity, this is great.

We’ve visited the Biltmore, Stan Hewitt and now Vizcaya. It’s like stepping into a fairytale and hard to believe someone lived and entertained at such a gorgeous property on the ocean. From the architecture, to the original furnishings and art, to the gardens, to the views...it was a dream! Even the renovations didn’t dim its beauty.

We loved the museum and gardens and stayed several hours longer than originally planned. It was like traveling back in time to another time and place.

We visited Vizcaya as a little side trip the day before our cruise. It was beautiful! We enjoyed the scenery and learning the history. Lots of amazing photo opportunities between the house, gardens and ocean. My sons enjoyed seeing the ocean and lizards. Our Lyft driver was able to drop us off really close, which was super convenient.