Attraction
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya is James Deering's early twentieth-century bayfront estate in Coconut Grove, with a furnished Mediterranean Revival villa and formal Italian Renaissance-style gardens.
The Bass Museum of Art
The Bass is Miami Beach's contemporary art museum in Collins Park, with changing exhibitions, a café and free entry for local residents and on set days.
At a glance
- Type
- Contemporary art museum
- Area
- Collins Park, Miami Beach, Miami, United States
- Opening
- Open 5 days a week (closed Monday, Tuesday) · 12:00–17:00
- Official site
- thebass.org
Good to know
- Café
- Free wheelchair
- Assistive listening
- Free family days
Why we recommend it
The Bass is Miami Beach's contemporary art museum, set in Collins Park at 2100 Collins Avenue. It was founded in 1963 and opened to the public in 1964 in a building that had previously housed the Miami Beach Public Library. Over the years it has been expanded twice, first with a wing designed by Arata Isozaki that opened in 2002, and then with a larger renovation that reopened the museum in 2017. The same year saw the opening of the Creativity Center, its education wing.
Exhibitions change through the year, so check the website before you go to see what is currently showing. The museum is a manageable size, which makes it a good choice if you want some culture between beach sessions without committing a whole day, and the Creativity Center runs programmes for children and families.
The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm to 5pm, and is closed on Monday and Tuesday. On Third Thursdays it also opens from 6pm to 9pm with free entry. The last Sunday of each month is a free Family Day. Miami Beach and Surfside residents get in free at all times, as do children aged six and under, and there are reduced rates for seniors, students and young people. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The café keeps the museum's opening days and closes 15 minutes before the galleries.
Allow an hour to an hour and a half. The Bass suits couples and solo travellers interested in contemporary art, and the free Family Day is a good option for children. For accessibility, there are accessible entrances and ramps on 22nd Street and Park Avenue, a free wheelchair on a first-come basis, large-print materials and assistive listening devices on request. ASL interpretation needs at least two weeks' notice.
The museum has no designated parking. The Collins Park Parking Garage at 340 23rd Street is one block north, and there is metered parking around the park. The museum recommends public transport: bus routes 14, 36, 79, 100 and 150 serve the area, and the Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express trolleys stop at Collins Park. Afterwards, Collins Avenue leads south towards the Art Deco district, and the Wolfsonian-FIU on Washington Avenue makes a good second museum stop.
The Bass Museum of Art FAQs
When is The Bass open?
Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm to 5pm, closed Monday and Tuesday, with extra evening opening from 6pm to 9pm on Third Thursdays.
Is entry ever free?
Yes, on Third Thursday evenings and on the last Sunday of each month, and always for Miami Beach and Surfside residents and children aged six and under.
Is there parking?
The museum has no designated parking; use the Collins Park Parking Garage at 340 23rd Street or metered spaces nearby.
Is there a café?
Yes, the café opens on museum days and closes 15 minutes before the galleries.
How long should I allow?
Around an hour to an hour and a half.
Is The Bass accessible?
There are accessible entrances on 22nd Street and Park Avenue, a free wheelchair, large-print materials and assistive listening devices.
When is the museum closed?
Every Monday and Tuesday, plus Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
How do I get there by public transport?
Bus routes 14, 36, 79, 100 and 150 serve the area, and the Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express trolleys stop at Collins Park.