Venetian Islands

The Venetian Islands are a chain of small artificial islands strung across Biscayne Bay between the Florida mainland and Miami Beach, linked to both by the Venetian Causeway, one of the oldest causeways in the area. Created by dredging in the early twentieth century, they form one of the most sought-after residential enclaves in greater Miami, a quiet, low-rise contrast to the towers and beach clubs a few minutes away.

Each island in the chain, from Belle Isle at the Miami Beach end through Rivo Alto, Di Lido, San Marino, San Marco and Biscayne Island, has its own leafy streets of waterfront homes, most with private docks opening straight onto the bay. The appeal is the combination of seclusion and access: gated calm and open water on one side, the Art Deco district of South Beach and the restaurants of downtown Miami a short drive away on the other. Palm-lined, walkable and centred on the water, the islands are built for a life lived partly by boat, with the Miami skyline as the backdrop across the bay.

The high season mirrors the region’s, from December to April, when the weather is warm, dry and reliable and the boating is at its best; summer is hotter and quieter, with the Atlantic hurricane season worth keeping in view. Days here revolve around the bay, whether that means a morning on the water, a run along the causeway, or dinner across the bridge in South Beach.

For families and groups who want a private dock, a pool and space on the water within reach of the city, luxury villa rentals in the Venetian Islands sit among the most requested addresses in Miami Beach.

For a closer look, read our guide to luxury villas on the Venetian Islands.