Miami Beach is making it easier for locals and visitors to hit the shores and explore other destinations by launching a free commuter water taxi service that connects the city with downtown Miami.
After a successful run among tens of thousands of Art Basel attendees for two straight years, City Commission voted to approve an agreement with Water Taxi of Fort Lauderdale LLC to operate a permanent route. It aims to help to ease traffic congestion and provide an efficient mode of transit.
Set to begin on January 20, 2026, the 40-foot vessels will run Monday through Friday between Venetian Marina & Yacht Club (Downtown Miami) and Maurice Gibb Memorial Park (Sunset Harbour). A press release notes that the service will not initially operate on weekends.
Here is the schedule:
- 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Vessels operate every 60 minutes.
- 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Vessels operate every 30 minutes.
“l’ve been actively working to bring a free water taxi system to Miami Beach — a game-changing initiative that can alleviate traffic congestion through cleaner more efficient transit,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner in a statement. “It’s an exciting time to move forward with mobility projects that truly improve the quality of life for our residents and visitors.”
Officials anticipate a potential future north-south expansion of the taxi service along the Indian Creek waterway if future funding permits.
In addition to the water taxis, the city will continue to run its free trolley system and on-demand Freebee service in parts of Mid Beach and North Beach for seamless transit connections. Visit the City of Miami Beach official website for more information.