Miami Beach Crime Walk Tour: Al Capone to Mafia

Every building on this walk is a crime scene, and your guide knows the story behind each one.

A private walking tour of Miami Beach's crime history, led by a guide who has researched the city's darkest chapters. You visit Espanola Way, Collins Avenue, Washington Avenue and Ocean Drive, stopping at sites tied to Al Capone's gambling operations, Prohibition-era speakeasies, 1980s cocaine trafficking, and Russian mafia activity. The tour includes bottled water, a curated guide map, and behind-the-scenes access to historic hotel lobbies. It runs 2.5 hours and requires a signed release form.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Miami Beach crime history

• Visit Espanola Way crime sites
• See Clay hotel gambling room
• Stop at restaurant shooting location
• Tour Collins Ave bars including Mac's Club Deuce
• Explore Washington Ave crime stories
• Walk Ocean Drive crime scenes

The Experience

What makes Miami's crime history worth two and a half hours on foot? The sheer density of it. Espanola Way alone holds multiple stories—Al Capone ran a gambling operation out of the Clay Hotel in the late 1920s, and a restaurant on the same stretch saw a chef shot in front of diners. Collins Avenue carries you past Mac's Club Deuce, the oldest standing bar in Miami, which operated as a speakeasy and hasn't changed much since. Every stop is a location where something happened, not a plaque on a wall.

The guide walks you through Washington Avenue and Ocean Drive, the two streets where the city's worst chapters unfolded. Prohibition brought rivers of alcohol and illegal rackets. The 1980s brought cocaine in such volume the streets earned a reputation for it. The 2000s brought Russian mafia control of Washington Avenue itself. You get behind-the-scenes access to historic hotel lobbies—the places where bodies were found, deals were made, deals went wrong. The guide's research and storytelling are the difference between walking past a building and understanding what happened inside it.

This is a private tour, which means the pace and the stories adjust to who is asking questions. You receive a curated guide map made by the tour host, bottled water for the walk, and a guide who speaks English and knows these streets in detail. You'll need to sign a release form before starting—a formality that underscores how unflinching the stories are.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• a personally curated guide map made by your tour host.
• behind-the-scenes access to historic hotel lobbies and semi-public spaces tied to the crimes discussed.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full 2.5-hour walk.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Miami Deco Tours

Is this one for you?If you're staying in Miami Beach or South Beach without a car, the private guide picks up the logistics—you walk the neighborhoods where the crimes happened and the guide handles the route and the stories. A private tour also means the pace adjusts to your questions, so you're not moving through the history at a group's speed.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

5 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What crimes and time periods does this Miami Beach tour actually cover?

The tour spans from Al Capone's Prohibition-era gambling operations in the 1920s through the cocaine wars of the 1980s and Russian mafia activity on Washington Avenue in the 2000s. Stops include sites tied to illegal gambling, speakeasy operations, murders, and organized crime across multiple decades of Miami's history.

Do I get to go inside the buildings where these crimes happened?

You get behind-the-scenes access to historic hotel lobbies and other semi-public spaces where crimes took place, so you're not just looking at exteriors. The guide takes you into the actual locations rather than pointing at them from the street.

How long does the Miami Beach crime tour take?

The tour runs 2.5 hours and covers multiple stops across Espanola Way, Collins Avenue, Washington Avenue, and Ocean Drive in South Beach and Miami Beach.

What's included in the private tour price?

Bottled water, a curated guide map made by your tour host, behind-the-scenes access to historic hotel lobbies, and a live English-speaking guide for the full 2.5 hours are included.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and involves walking through Miami Beach neighborhoods. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need to reach the starting point.

Where does the tour start and how do I get there?

The tour operates in Miami Beach and covers South Beach, Espanola Way, Collins Avenue, Washington Avenue, and Ocean Drive. Public transportation options are available nearby to reach the meeting point if you don't have a car.