Discover Coral Gables
32 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
Matheson Hammock Park & Marina
Shallow tidal lagoon, mangrove fringes and a small marina framed by mature banyans and Old Cutler Road create varied compositions: glassy water reflections at low tide, dramatic sunsets over Biscayne Bay, intimate mangrove textures and boats at the docks. Best at sunrise and golden hour for soft light and reflections; sunset produces vivid colors behind the marina. Site is public with free entry and a parking lot off Old Cutler Rd (can fill on weekends). Expect mosquitoes in warm months; bring a
Wings of the Tropics Butterfly Conservatory
A climate-controlled tropical conservatory with dozens of free-flying butterfly species, lush host plants, orchids and small water features — ideal for close-up wing detail, backlit translucence and environmental portraits of butterflies in context. Best visited weekday mornings when butterflies are most active and crowds are smallest; diffused greenhouse light is flattering but variable — expect high humidity and check ticketing/entry times (often part of Fairchild property), onsite parking and
Gifford Arboretum
Compact campus arboretum featuring mature tropical trees, palms, palms-lined lanes, specimen collections (bromeliads, cycads), small ponds and birdlife — great for texture, canopy and intimate plant studies. Best at golden hour or after rain for saturated colors; overcast days suit macro and foliage; weekday mornings offer quiet. Located on the University of Miami campus with free access; campus metered lots and street parking nearby. Paths are mostly paved and wheelchair friendly.
R Hardy Matheson County Preserve
R. Hardy Matheson Preserve is a coastal hammock and mangrove-lined wetland offering dense tropical canopy, winding trails and a boardwalk with water vistas and abundant wading birds. Best at dawn or golden hour for soft light and bird activity; weekday mornings avoid crowds and mosquitoes can be active—bring repellent. Small parking lot on Old Cutler Rd; entry is typically free and trails are flat but sometimes muddy after rain. Excellent for intimate nature, bird and waterscape images.
Butterfly Garden
Small conservatory-style butterfly garden in Coral Gables offering close-up shots of colorful native and exotic species, host plants, and immersive foliage. Best mid-morning to early afternoon when butterflies are active; overcast days give even light for macro work. Weekdays see fewer visitors; check for modest entry fee and on-site or nearby street parking. Garden emphasizes conservation and education—respect feeding stations and paths.
Venetian Pool
A 1920s coral rock and Mediterranean Revival public pool with waterfalls, grottoes, tile mosaics and palm-framed terraces. Photograph sweeping pool reflections, arched bridges, cascading falls and textured stonework. Best at weekday early morning for soft light and minimal swimmers, or golden hour for warm tones on the facades. Facility has paid entry, limited parking on site and nearby street parking; check opening hours and photo-permit rules for tripods or commercial shoots. Accessible paths,
WAITING by KAWS
KAWS’ large-scale 'WAITING' Companion offers strong graphic silhouettes against Coral Gables’ Mediterranean backdrop—great for dramatic low-angle shots, environmental portraits, and scale studies. Visit at golden hour or just after sunset for soft light and fewer visitors. Public plaza access with no entry fee; street parking and nearby paid garages. Weekdays are quieter; be mindful of pedestrian traffic and local events.
Lowe Art Museum
Small university museum with Mediterranean-revival architecture, bright skylit galleries and a sculpture garden — good for interior, detail and architectural shots. Visit weekday mornings for soft indoor light and fewer visitors; exteriors work well at golden hour. Check camera/flash/tripod policies and plan for modest admission; on-campus parking and accessible entrances available. Combines historical art, changing exhibitions and landscaped courtyards that reward patient composition.
Alhambra Water Tower
A small, ornate municipal water tower in Coral Gables with Mediterranean/Spanish-inspired detailing, arches and tile accents framed by palms and manicured streetscapes. Great for architectural studies, wide-angle compositions incorporating palms and sky, and twilight shots when streetlights warm the facade. Easily reached from Alhambra Circle; street parking and short sidewalks make it accessible. Best at golden hour or blue hour for contrast between textured masonry and colorful sky; weekdays/m
DeSoto Plaza
Small, leafy civic plaza in the heart of Coral Gables framed by Mediterranean‑style buildings, mature trees and pedestrian promenades — great for architectural details, street scenes and intimate urban landscapes. Visit at golden hour or early morning for warm light and soft shadows; weekday mornings are quieter. The plaza is public with nearby street parking and municipal garages; fully accessible and no entry fee. Part of Coral Gables’ historic downtown fabric, it offers compositional repeats:
Coral Gables Merrick House
Merrick House is the restored late‑19th-century family home of George E. Merrick, founder of Coral Gables. Photograph its preserved period exterior, mature garden plantings, ornate porch details and intimate interior rooms during guided tours. Best at golden hour or soft overcast light for even color; weekdays and guided-tour times reduce crowds. Check opening hours and small admission fee; street parking and nearby public lots are available. Interiors may have lighting constraints and limited-1
Coral Gables - Alhambra Entrance
The Alhambra Entrance is a photogenic Mediterranean-Revival gateway with ornate archways, wrought-iron gates, tile accents and flanking palms set on a circular brick drive — ideal for architectural details, symmetrical compositions and street-context shots. Best at golden hour or blue hour for warm tones and dramatic skies; weekday mornings are quieter. Easily accessible from Alhambra Circle with street parking and nearby public lots; no entry fee. Respect private residences and traffic when on‑
Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park
Small waterfront park on a Coral Gables canal offering palm-lined banks, calm water reflections, and Miami-style residential architecture. Ideal for sunrise/sunset color and mirror reflections, casual long-exposures of passing kayaks, and close-up plant/texture shots. Open public park with level paths and street parking; best visited at golden hour or weekday mornings to avoid local foot traffic. No entry fee; typical subtropical weather—bring shade and bug spray in summer.
Little Deering Island
Tiny mangrove islet in Biscayne Bay offering intimate coastal scenes, birdlife and clean water reflections with Miami skyline and passing boats as background. Best at golden hour for warm light and color; accessible only by kayak, smaller boat or guided tour. No facilities or marked trails—check weather, tides and local regulations (protected habitat). Launch from nearby marinas or public ramps; weekdays and early mornings are least busy.
Ponce Circle Park
Small, leafy roundabout park in Coral Gables offering framed street scenes, Mediterranean-style buildings, palms and sculptural elements—good for intimate urban compositions and golden-hour light. Easy street parking and nearby paid lots; wheelchair accessible with no entry fee. Visit at sunrise or late afternoon for soft directional light and fewer pedestrians; weekends are busier with locals.
Chapman Field Park flag football
Open grassy athletic fields on Deering Bay ideal for dynamic sports shots, sideline portraits, and waterfront golden-hour panoramas. Best light at sunrise/sunset for warm side lighting; weekdays and early mornings avoid crowds. Public park with on-site parking; no entry fee. Expect community leagues and casual play—good for storytelling images of local sport culture.
Rotary Park
Small waterfront park on Biscayne Bay with mangrove fringes, boardwalks and open bay vistas — excellent for sunrise/sunset colors, reflections and local shorebirds. Easy, free access from Ponce de Leon Blvd with street parking and accessible paths; best light at golden hour and quieter on weekday mornings.
Banyan Drive Park
Small waterfront park framed by mature banyan and palm trees with clear views across Biscayne Bay — great for intimate nature compositions, shoreline reflections, and golden-hour color. Easy, free access from Banyan Drive with street parking; no entry fee. Best at sunrise or sunset for soft light and boat silhouettes; weekdays are quieter. Watch for sea breeze and mosquitoes in evening.
Ferdinand Park
Small, leafy neighborhood park offering tree-lined paths, manicured lawns and intimate vignettes of palms and benches — ideal for quiet environmental portraits, green details and golden-hour light. Best visited at sunrise or late afternoon for warm side-light and long shadows; weekdays are least crowded. Easy street parking and flat, wheelchair-friendly paths; no entry fee. Nearby Coral Gables architecture provides complementary urban frames and backdrops.
Phillips Park
Quiet neighborhood park with shady trees, winding paths and lawn areas that work well for environmental portraits, family shoots and intimate landscape compositions. Visit at golden hour or after rain for richer colors; weekday mornings are least crowded. Easy street parking and walkable from Coral Gables neighborhoods; no entry fee. Expect typical South Florida light and seasonal high humidity—bring lens cloths.
Duck Lake
Small urban lake with calm water, waterfowl, palms and residential backdrops—great for reflections, bird portraits and intimate nature scenes. Best at sunrise or golden hour for warm light and mirror-like surfaces; weekday mornings offer fewer walkers. Easy street parking in Coral Gables, no entry fee; expect mosquitoes in warmer months and bring insect repellent.
Ingraham Park
Small neighborhood park with mature shade trees, open lawns and tree-lined paths—good for intimate landscape, environmental portrait and golden-hour shots. Visit at sunrise or late afternoon for warm side light through canopy; weekdays are quieter. Public, no entry fee; on-site and street parking available. Easy access, stroller-friendly paths; pair park scenes with nearby Coral Gables architecture for context.
The James and Sallye Jude Park
Small neighborhood park in Coral Gables offering mature shade trees, manicured lawns and quiet paths—ideal for intimate nature and environmental portraits, close‑up plant detail and tranquil park scenes. Best light is early morning or late afternoon for warm side light and long shadows; weekdays are quieter. Easily accessible by car with street parking and short walk from nearby neighborhoods; no entry fee. Expect casual local activity—respect privacy and keep gear compact for walking paths.
Lisbon Park
Small, tree-lined neighborhood park in Coral Gables offering mature shade trees, manicured lawns, walking paths and pockets of ornamental planting — good for intimate landscape, portrait and street-style shots. Best at golden hour and blue hour for warm light and soft shadows; weekday mornings are quieter for compositions without people. Easy, free street parking nearby and flat, accessible paths; no entry fee. Compact size means short visits work well — combine with nearby Coral Gables streetsc
Enrique “Henry” Cepero Memorial Park
Small memorial park in Coral Gables with mature shade trees, manicured lawns and a focal memorial plaque — offers intimate portraits, parkland compositions and close-up details of foliage and textures. No entry fee; accessible sidewalks and street parking. Best light at sunrise or late afternoon; weekdays are quieter. Comfortable year-round but harsh midday sun in summer.
William H. Kerdyk, Jr., and Family Park
Small neighborhood park with mature trees, manicured lawns and walking paths—good for intimate landscape, environmental portraiture, and leafy close-ups. Best at golden hour or early morning for warm side-light and low crowds. Easy street parking, flat and wheelchair-accessible paths, no entry fee. Weekdays are quiet; expect typical South Florida heat and afternoon showers in summer.
J. Fritz and Frances Gordon Park
A small neighborhood park offering lawns, mature shade trees and palm silhouettes — good for environmental portraits, quiet landscape frames and candid community scenes. Visit at golden hour for warm side-light and at sunrise or weekday mornings to avoid locals. No entry fee; limited on‑site parking and street parking on Country Club Prado. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer; accessible paths and picnic areas make it easy to scout compositions.
Fewell Park
Small, leafy neighborhood park offering live-oak canopies, winding paths, open lawns and a playground—great for intimate nature scenes, environmental portraits and golden-hour backlight through branches. Easy access with street parking and short paved trails; no entry fee. Best at early morning or late afternoon for soft, low light and fewer people; weekdays are quieter. Expect dappled shade midday—bring a reflector for faces.
Dolphin Basin
Dolphin Basin in Biscayne Bay is a wildlife-rich spot for photographing Atlantic bottlenose dolphins surfacing against turquoise water and Miami skyline backdrops. Best at golden hour or calm mid-morning when dolphins are active and waters reflect light. Access by boat/kayak or charter; no formal entry fees but follow local wildlife regulations. Expect chop on windy days—park in nearby marinas (Matheson Hammock, Coconut Grove) and plan for sunscreen, water, and sea-sickness precautions.
James H. Smith Park
Small coastal community park with shaded lawns, mangrove-lined shoreline and native tropical vegetation—good for intimate landscape, waterscape and bird photos. Best at golden hour for warm light and reflections; weekday mornings quieter. Easy on-street parking on Marlin Dr, no entry fee, and mostly flat, walkable paths with some shade. Expect ibis, herons and local anglers; bring mosquito repellent in warmer months.
Majorca Park
A small, leafy urban pocket in Coral Gables with manicured lawns, mature shade trees, benches and nearby Mediterranean‑Revival buildings. Good for intimate environmental portraits, architectural details, and soft light through foliage. Best visited at golden hour (sunrise or late afternoon) for warm tones and long shadows; weekday mornings have fewer people. Street parking and short walks from Coral Gables shops; fully public and accessible.
Venetia Park
Small, leafy neighborhood park with mature live oaks, shaded walking paths, a playground and nearby Mediterranean‑style Coral Gables architecture. Shoot closeups of textured bark and palms, environmental portraits under dappled light, and wide-angle park scenes with residential facades. Best at golden hour or blue hour for warm light and long shadows; weekday mornings are quiet. Easy street parking and flat accessible paths; no entry fee.