Miami has a reputation as a driving city, and for much of the metro that is deserved. But the neighborhoods closest to downtown are served by a rail system many newcomers overlook: Metrorail, which runs north-south through the city, and Metromover, the free automated people mover that circles Downtown, Brickell and the Omni area. For renters, the right building can mean a much smaller transportation budget.
Short answer: Eight of the fifteen neighborhoods in this directory have Metrorail stations: Downtown Miami, Brickell, Overtown, the Health District / Civic Center, Allapattah, Liberty City, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables / Coral Way. Together they account for 90 of the 157 buildings listed. Metromover, which is free, adds dense coverage in Downtown and Brickell and reaches the southern edge of Edgewater. Wynwood, Little Havana, Little Haiti, Flagami and the beach neighborhoods have no rail.
The two systems in brief
- Metrorail runs on an elevated guideway from Dadeland in the south, through Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Brickell and Downtown, then north through Overtown and the Health District before splitting into a Green Line toward Palmetto and an Orange Line to Miami International Airport.
- Metromover is free to ride. Its three loops cover the Downtown core, the Brickell financial district and the Omni area at the south end of Edgewater, connecting with Metrorail at Government Center and Brickell.
- Brightline and Tri-Rail both use MiamiCentral downtown, a short Metromover ride from most Downtown and Brickell buildings.
Rail access by neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Buildings | Rail |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Miami | 21 | Metrorail and Metromover; Brightline at MiamiCentral |
| Brickell | 13 | Brickell Metrorail station plus the Metromover Brickell loop |
| Edgewater / Midtown | 19 | Metromover Omni loop at the southern edge only |
| Allapattah | 16 | Metrorail |
| Coral Gables / Coral Way | 12 | Metrorail along US-1 |
| Coconut Grove | 9 | Coconut Grove Metrorail station |
| Overtown | 8 | Metrorail and Metromover |
| Liberty City | 6 | Metrorail Green Line |
| Health District / Civic Center | 5 | Metrorail |
Brickell: the most transit-rich neighborhood
Brickell station, at SW 1st Avenue and SW 11th Street, serves Metrorail and connects to the free Metromover’s Brickell loop. Below the Metrorail guideway, the first stretch of The Underline linear park opened in 2021, giving residents a walking and cycling path south from the Miami River. For a Brickell or Downtown office worker, a car is optional.
Tips for car-light renters
- Ask whether parking is bundled into the rent. In many Downtown and Brickell towers, a parking space carries a separate monthly fee you can skip.
- Check the walk to the station from the building door, in August heat, not just the neighborhood.
- Test your commute once at rush hour before you sign.
- Plan for the beach. There is no rail to Miami Beach; most residents use buses, rideshare or a car-share for those trips.
Browse any neighborhood above to compare buildings by floors, year built, parking and amenities.