Nov 19, 2025 - Transit

For Art Basel crowds, free water taxis offer car-free solution

Martin Vassolo

Miami, Florida, Art Basel, Art Miami Context show, person seated wearing pink flamingoes shirt. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) — Art-crazed crowds bring traffic headaches to Miami. Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Miami Beach's free water taxi service will return for Miami Art Week next month.

Why it matters: If you don't want to sit in traffic getting from, say, Art Miami to Art Basel, you could take a complimentary ferry connecting downtown Miami to South Beach.

Zoom in: The water taxi service will run every 10–15 minutes between Maurice Gibb Memorial Park, at 1790 Purdy Ave., Miami Beach, and the Venetian Marina & Yacht Club at 1635 North Bayshore Dr., Miami.

Up to seven water taxis will operate from 10am to midnight Monday, Dec. 1, to Saturday, Dec. 6, according to the city's website.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, the boats will run 10am-10pm.

Free shuttles will also connect passengers to several art fairs across the area, running every 15 minutes.

The Dedicated Water Taxi Shuttle will operate between Maurice Gibb Memorial Park and the Miami Beach Convention Center, where Art Basel is located.
The South Beach Art Shuttles will travel between the Convention Center and Collins Avenue between 10 and 11 streets.
Mid Beach Art Shuttles will travel between the Convention Center and Mid Beach, with several stops.
Miami Beach - Design District Shuttles will travel between the Convention Center and NE 38 St. and NE 1 Ct. in the city of Miami. (These shuttles will be allowed to run on the inside shoulders of the Julia Tuttle Causeway to reduce travel time.)

Visit Miami Beach's website for more details

Add Axios on Google

For Art Basel crowds, free water taxis offer car-free solution

More Miami stories