Planning Your Visit

WELCOME TO VIZCAYA

Experience the Gilded Age at James Deering’s 1916 winter estate, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. You’ll be inspired to embrace the cultural vitality and environmental sustainability of the world around us. Connect with the past, understand the present and shape the future by exploring the resources found here.

BUILD YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE

Whether you’re a garden lover or a history buff, you can make Vizcaya your own. Review the tabs below to explore Vizcaya your own way.
Visitor holding a smartphone that displays the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens app, which includes the audio tour and other digital experiences.
 AUDIO TOURS ARE FREE WITH YOUR ADMISSION PURCHASE

The audio tour is available in a Vizcaya Museum and Gardens app, which can be downloaded from the Apple Play Store or used on your web browser.

Get insights on the design and history of the gardens by taking an audio tour during your visit.

Instructions to access the app are included with your confirmation email for your admission purchase.

For visitors looking to dive a little deeper into Vizcaya’s history and design, you can check out mini-tours on our YouTube channel.

You can also go behind the scenes and inside restricted spaces with the Secret Doors Video Tour. Click below to start exploring!

IT’S UNBELIEVABLE THE PLACE AND THE HISTORY IT KEEPS INSIDE IT. NO ONE SHOULD MISS VISITING THIS PLACE.

- Arnoldo, Buenos Aires, Argentina

ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION AT VIZCAYA

Everyone’s welcome at Vizcaya

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is an enduring, inclusive, and innovative place that inspires people to embrace the cultural vitality and environmental sustainability of the world around us. We welcome all guests to engage with us as we connect with the past, understand the present, and shape the future. We want to hear your voice, understand your point of view, and welcome you to our community.

Vizcaya is pleased to welcome visitors identifying as disabled with discounted admission as well as complimentary admission for an accompanying caregiver.

Parking and arrival

If you have accessibility needs for parking, please contact Security in the parking lot upon arrival and they can assist you with locating the accessible parking locations.

Uneven floors and terrain

All visitors should be aware and cautious of the many steps and uneven floors and terrain throughout Vizcaya’s Main House, gardens and grounds.

BEFORE YOU VISIT

PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDELINES

Visitors are welcome to take photos as part of their visit. However, please note that certain photography requires a paid permit.

Are you here to take portraits, or to pose as a subject in photographs to commemorate a special event or holiday? Vizcaya requires a permit if your photography includes the following:

  • A designated photographer and/or staff (professional or amateur)
  • Specific photography equipment and accessories
  • Changing clothing onsite for photography purposes
  • Props or makeup sessions

To learn more about photography permits and related regulations or costs, please visit the Photography and Filming page.

Treatment: Nearly completed repair and restoration of light fixture. Photo of fixture on table.

Please be advised that not all of Vizcaya’s gardens or areas are accessible or available at all times due to restoration, programs, event rentals or unforeseen circumstances. 

For more information on specific areas, contact vizcayainformation@vizcaya.org.

Vizcaya is conveniently located in the north Coconut Grove area of the City of Miami, overlooking Biscayne Bay. You can find directions and guidance on transportation options here.
Young lady in pink ballgown having her photo taken at Vizcaya for her quinceañera.
By entering Vizcaya’s premises, you consent to your likeness being captured in photos, videos or audio recordings as well as the release, publication, exhibition and reproduction of these. This applies to general visitation as well as special events and community programs. The resulting content and media assets may be used to promote Vizcaya Museum and Gardens as a destination. These may be used in news, live streams, telecasts, advertising, websites, social media, or any other promotional endeavors. As such, you waive all rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection to the above mentioned. Please note that, as a popular photography venue and destination, entering the museum also makes you subject to being captured in media created by other visitors and/or photographers exploring Vizcaya.

THINGS TO DO

No Vizcaya visit is complete without a guided tour.

To learn about the different tour options and times, please click the button below.

Visitor holding a smartphone that displays the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens app, which includes the audio tour and other digital experiences.

AUDIO TOURS ARE FREE WITH YOUR ADMISSION PURCHASE

The audio tour is available in a Vizcaya Museum and Gardens app, which can be downloaded from the Apple Play Store or used on your web browser. 

Get insights on the design and history of the gardens by taking an audio tour during your visit.

Instructions to access the app are included with your confirmation email for your admission purchase.

If you have questions about the man who built Vizcaya, the “Yours Truly” online platform gives you a unique way to get to know him. By visiting the website, you can walk through Main House and explore letters, telegrams and correspondence from James Deering that pertain to different rooms and spaces. Learn more about this secretive millionaire through his own words and discover the obstacles and challenges Mr. Deering faced in creating Vizcaya.

Listen to a Welte Pipe Organ or “Mr. Jimmy’s Records” as you stroll through the gardens. It’s the perfect compliment for a peaceful stroll through the gardens.

A mansion on the water with palm trees in the background.
Each week, there are new ways to enjoy Vizcaya. Check the calendar by clicking below to see what is coming this week. From food trucks and artists to special access activities, there is always something new to discover.

MUSEUM AND GARDENS POLICIES

The following policies apply to Vizcaya’s indoor and outdoor areas:

All visitors must remain fully clothed at all times. Bathing suits, mesh or sheer clothing are not permitted. For your safety, footwear is required while walking around the house and gardens. Recommended footwear is closed-toe, low-heeled shoes. Avoid open-toe sandals and high-heeled shoes.

THE MAIN HOUSE

  • Due to the dimensions of historic arches and doorways, only single strollers and strollers less than 25 inches wide may enter the Main House
  • Larger strollers or wagons for children are only allowed in the gardens. These may be left in the Entrance Loggia or outside the front entrance to the house.
  • Please be careful to avoid contact with doorways, walls or furnishings.
  • Note that the first floor of the Main House features several steps in different areas.
  • No strollers are permitted on the second floor of the house.

THE GARDENS

  • Strollers are welcome throughout the gardens
  • Please note the estate features a variety of different terrains, including coral floors, grass, gravel and sand, among others.
 
For the safety of our visitors and the integrity of our collections, pedal-operated or child-controlled strollers or wagons are prohibited both in the gardens and inside the Main House.

Vizcaya does not offer bag check. Luggage and large bags are not allowed in the Main House. Our security officers reserve the right to review bags upon entry and prohibit large bags that may damage the collections or compromise security. Baby carriers must be worn on your chest.

Please note that all personal items are the sole responsibility of the owner. Staff are not responsible for unattended bags or belongings.

Visitors are not permitted to bring animals on to Vizcaya property. The only exception is for approved service animals that meet the federal government’s guidelines for animals trained to perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Visitors may not bring any other animals onto Vizcaya property, including but not limited to pets or emotional support animals. Please visit the federal ADA website for additional information.

Vizcaya has traditionally served as an inspiration to artists of all mediums, and we welcome artists to sketch, draw, and paint on-site. Because Vizcaya is a National Historic Landmark, policies are in place for such activities that support the preservation and safety of our collections.

Art Policy

Visitors interested in sketching indoors may only use graphite pencils. No other materials are permitted inside the Main House. Visitors may sketch and paint outdoors; no sprayed materials, permanent markers or electrical tools are permitted. Vizcaya reserves the right to prohibit any materials security officers or other staff deem unsafe for the public, estate or collection. Art materials may not be left unattended. Vizcaya is a pack-in and pack-out location. Bathrooms may not be used for cleaning or disposing of art materials.

At Vizcaya we are constantly active in the preservation and conservation of this unique and fragile estate and its extremely varied collections. Please help us in our efforts by not touching museum objects or leaning and climbing on doors, gates and walls. We thank you for not standing or sitting on statuary, fountains or railings.

ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION

Everyone’s welcome at Vizcaya

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is an enduring, inclusive, and innovative place that inspires people to embrace the cultural vitality and environmental sustainability of the world around us. We welcome all guests to engage with us as we connect with the past, understand the present, and shape the future. We want to hear your voice, understand your point of view, and welcome you to our community.

Vizcaya is pleased to welcome visitors identifying as disabled with complimentary admission as well as complimentary admission for an accompanying caregiver.

If you have accessibility needs please contact a security officer upon arrival and they can assist you with accessible parking locations and other information.

There are accessible parking spaces in the main parking lot and in the service area on the south side of the Main House. Drivers who need to drop off visitors with limited mobility near the wheelchair lift, please alert the security officer in the main parking lot and proceed to the service area. However, you will need to purchase your tickets at the Admissions Booth.

All visitors should be aware and cautious of the many steps and uneven floors and terrain throughout Vizcaya’s Main House, gardens and grounds. For your safety, footwear is required while walking around the house and gardens. Recommended footwear is closed-toe, low-heeled shoes. Avoid open-toe sandals and high-heeled shoes.

Wheelchair lending services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Upon arrival, please notify the Admissions attendant of your request to borrow a wheelchair, and they will promptly assist you.

For more information about accessible areas at Vizcaya, please email vizcayainformation@vizcaya.org.

Map of the Vizcaya estate

Visitors who are unable to climb approximately 20 stair steps or walk approximately 750 feet may not be able to access portions of the Main House and gardens.

Please email us at vizcayainformation@vizcaya.org for more information, or speak to an Associate at Admissions upon arrival.

Many areas of the gardens are accessible and a Visitor Experience staff member can gladly direct you to accessible routes once you arrive at the Admissions Booth.

Visitors with mobility limitations, preventing them from ascending approximately 20 stair steps or traversing approximately 750 feet, may encounter challenges in accessing certain areas of the Main House and gardens.

To access the Main House, kindly utilize the ramp located in the gardens on the southern side. Upon reaching the Upper Terrace, please proceed to the Staff Entrance and utilize the button on the black Ring alarm positioned to the right of the entrance door. A member of our Security team will promptly meet you to facilitate access to the first floor. Please note that while the first-floor rooms, excluding the Entrance Loggia and East Loggia, are wheelchair accessible, regrettably, wheelchair access to the second floor is unavailable.

For more information about accessible areas at Vizcaya, please email vizcayainformation@vizcaya.org.

 

Sign Language interpreters are available to accompany a guided tour of the Main House. We require at least five working days’ advance notice. To make arrangements for a Sign Language interpreter, email vizcayainformation@vizcaya.org
Close-up of east side of Main House showing the weather vane.

The first floor of the Main House is mostly accessible to visitors using wheelchairs, with the exception of the East Loggia and the Entrance Loggia. Please enter through the ramp and lift on the south side of the house (to the right of the main entrance, through the arched gateway), with assistance from a security officer.

An interactive Virtual Access Tour located next to the Flower Room on the first floor of the Main House allows virtual access to the second floor, tower rooms and non-accessible areas of the gardens. Information for the Virtual Access Tour is offered in English and Spanish.

A statue sits on top of a tree in a cemetery.

The central portions of the formal gardens are accessible, but visitors should be aware that the paths are primarily dirt and gravel, rather than paved. In addition, the Garden Mound, Maze Garden, Theater Garden, Tea House, Boat Landing, Secret Garden and the west statuary walk have limited or no access.

Vizcaya has fully accessible restrooms located on the south side of the Main House and Oval Plaza near the Garden Mound. Visitor restrooms (men’s and women’s) include changing tables (diaper changing is not permitted inside the Main House). Gender-neutral restrooms are located behind the men’s and women’s restrooms on the south side of the Main House.

BECOME A MEMBER

Become a member today! You’ll enjoy members-only events, world-class lectures, unique programs and more.

GOT QUESTIONS?

You can email us at vizcayainformation@vizcaya.org or call 305-250-9133.

You can also check out the Online contact form and submit your question directly to the corresponding department.

We look forward to your visit!