Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel
SuddenStay may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. We only make money if you find a deal worth booking. How we make money
See live ticket prices.Current availability and options, so you can judge it for yourself.
Check tickets →
Photos: Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Our take
By Matt Spaulding, Founder and writer
Skyviews sits in the middle of Bayside Marketplace, and the ride is exactly what the numbers say: about 200 feet up, four to six revolutions, 12 to 15 minutes from platform to platform. That is short. If you are picturing a slow European style observation wheel with time to settle in and pick out landmarks, adjust expectations, because you will be back on the ground before the novelty wears off. What you get is a clean look at downtown Miami's tower cluster, Biscayne Bay and Bayfront Park below you. This is a working harbor and a skyline, with Miami Beach a distant strip across the water, so anyone boarding for turquoise and sand will come away flat. The gondolas are the strongest argument for going: all 42 are enclosed and climate controlled, which in a Miami summer matters more than the altitude does. Gondolas hold up to eight people, and the loading platform has an ADA lift. The wheel is wrapped in a busy tourist mall, so budget the walk through the food court and a paid garage on top of the ride. Go near sunset if the timing works, when the towers light and the bay stops throwing glare.
Quick facts
- How long
- 12 to 15 minutes, covering four to six revolutions
- Best for
- A quick skyline stop when you are already at Bayside, and families with young children who will not sit through a longer attraction
- Getting there
- Bayside Marketplace on Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami. The Metromover is free, serves Bayside on its downtown loop, and runs 5:30am to 10pm seven days a week
- Parking
- Bayside Marketplace has a paid garage on site and does not publish a rate on its own visitor page, so the free Metromover is the cheaper approach if you are staying downtown or in Brickell
- Included
- One ride per ticket, single use. Standard gondolas seat up to eight. The FAQ says separate parties are never grouped, though the ticket page describes general boarding as shared, so confirm at the booth. A VIP gondola with a glass bottom floor, four leather bucket seats and Bluetooth audio is a separate ticket
- Booking
- No reservation required. The operator sells online or at an on-site booth by the entrance, and tickets are valid one year from purchase, one use only.
- Hours
- Afternoons and evenings, seven days a week. As of August 2026 the operator's own pages disagree on closing time (the FAQ lists 1pm to 10pm weekdays and noon to 10pm weekends, the contact page lists 9:30pm closes Monday to Thursday), so confirm before planning a late ride
Where it is
401 Biscayne Blvd (inside Bayside Marketplace), Miami, FL 33132
Open in Maps →Ready to book?
Time slots and dated tickets sell out on peak days, so it pays to lock yours in before you go. Check current availability and pick your date.
Check tickets →Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel FAQ
How long is the ride on Skyviews Miami?
The operator's FAQ states the ride time is approximately 12 to 15 minutes, covering four to six revolutions. It is a genuinely short attraction, so treat it as one stop in a downtown afternoon.
How high does the wheel go?
Skyviews puts the wheel at approximately 200 feet, and its home page and FAQ both use that figure. Press coverage from the 2020 opening described it as nearly 200 feet tall. At that height you are above Bayfront Park and level with the lower floors of the downtown towers.
Are the gondolas air conditioned?
Yes. The operator states that all 42 gondolas are climate controlled, and coverage from its opening reported interiors held at 72 degrees. Each standard gondola holds up to eight guests. In a Miami summer that is the single best reason to pick this over an open-air viewpoint.
Can you see the beach from Skyviews Miami?
The view is downtown Miami's skyline, Biscayne Bay and Bayfront Park directly below. Miami Beach sits across the water to the east and reads as a distant strip. If a beach view is what you want, this is the wrong attraction.
Where do you park at Bayside Marketplace?
Bayside Marketplace operates a paid garage on site for shoppers and guests, but it does not publish rates on its own visitor page and third-party listings vary widely, so budget for a variable charge. Bayside says rates can vary during events at the Kaseya Center. The Metromover is free, runs 5:30am to 10pm daily, and stops at Bayside, which avoids the garage entirely.
Does it run in bad weather?
The operator says it runs in all sorts of precipitation, so rain alone will not stop the ride. It may close for severe weather, specifically lightning within a five-mile radius, strong hail, or sustained winds of 35 mph. Miami's summer storms are usually brief, so a closure often means a wait.