Free things to do in Coral Gables: the Lowe Art Museum, Gallery Night, historic entrances and plazas, dog parks, trails, library story times and free city events.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Sources: the City of Coral Gables attractions, historical landmarks and pet-friendly parks pages and events calendar, the Coral Gables Museum, the Lowe Art Museum and the Miami-Dade Public Library. City Hall: 305-446-6800.
Coral Gables was planned in the 1920s around plazas, entrances and fountains, and many of them stand in public space. Add a free art museum, a free trolley and a calendar of free city events, and much of the city can be seen without paying for admission.
Free at a glance
- Art: the Lowe Art Museum, with a reserved ticket; the Coral Gables Museum on Gallery Night.
- Getting around: the trolley and Freebee rides.
- Outdoors: 60-plus city parks, dog parks and the Old Cutler Trail.
- Kids: library story times every week.
Museums and art
- Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford Drive, University of Miami. Free admission with a reserved ticket (Lowe). Opened in 1952 as the first art museum in South Florida, it holds more than 19,000 objects; open Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the city’s listing.
- Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave. Free from 6 to 10 p.m. on the first Friday of each month during Gallery Night (museum).
- Gables Gallery Night: downtown galleries and art venues open their doors with live music on the first Friday of each month, 6 to 10 p.m. Next: Nov. 6 and Dec. 4 (city listing).
Historic landmarks to see from outside
The city lists these among its nationally recognized landmarks (historical landmarks):
| Landmark | Where | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Coral Gables City Hall | 405 Biltmore Way | Built 1927-28 in native oolitic limestone; designed by Phineas Paist and Denman Fink |
| Douglas Entrance (La Puerta del Sol) | Douglas Road | One of the four completed entrances of the eight planned, and one of the most elaborate |
| Coral Gables Congregational Church | 3010 De Soto Blvd. | The first church built in the city, dedicated on Palm Sunday 1925 |
| Old Police and Fire Station | 285 Aragon Ave. | Coral rock building by Phineas Paist, built by the Works Progress Administration; now the museum |
| Coral Gables Woman’s Club | 1001 E. Ponce de Leon Blvd. | Built 1936-37 as the club’s clubhouse and library |
| Biltmore Hotel | 1200 Anastasia Ave. | The city’s 1926 landmark hotel |
Other public landmarks: the 1924 Alhambra Water Tower, 2000 Alhambra Circle, now a pet-friendly open space, and Catalonia Park, 807 Catalonia Ave., with two giant concrete turtles under its oaks. The Merrick House, 907 Coral Way, home of the city founder’s family, charges a small fee for weekend tours, but children under 6 get in free and its grounds host free events such as the December holiday open house.
Parks, trails and dogs
- City parks: more than 60 parks, plazas and greens on the city’s list; see parks and trails.
- Dog parks: Chewy Bark Park, 4500 Ponce de Leon Blvd., and the Salvadore Dog Run, 1120 Andalusia Ave.; see dog-friendly Coral Gables.
- Old Cutler Trail: 11 paved miles along Old Cutler Road on the county’s map; see walking and biking trails.
- Giralda Plaza: the pedestrian 100 block of Giralda Avenue, free to stroll.
Matheson Hammock Park charges a parking fee per car, but the weekend Matheson Hammock Market hands out vouchers that work as free day passes for the park, according to the city’s market listing.
Library
The Coral Gables Branch Library, 3443 Segovia St., is free with Wi-Fi, 36 public computers and weekly programs: Family Storytime on Wednesdays, a toddler program on Fridays and Homework Help on Saturdays (branch page; 305-442-8706).
Free city events through the year
| Season | Free events (most recent dates) |
|---|---|
| Halloween | Trick-or-Treat on the Mile, 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 31, 2026; Gentle Trick-or-Treat, Oct. 24, 2026 (registration required) |
| Fall | Small Business Saturday free downtown garage parking, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Nov. 29, 2025) |
| December | Tree lighting at City Hall (general admission), Junior Orange Bowl parade, Santa on a Fire Truck, menorah lightings, Merrick House open house |
| Spring | The city’s Eggstreme Egg Hunt at four parks (April 4, 2026) |
| May | Memorial Day ceremony at the War Memorial Youth Center |
Details and dates are on our seasonal pages: Halloween, holiday lights, Christmas parade and tree lighting, Easter and Memorial Day.
Getting around for free
The Coral Gables Trolley is free Monday through Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., along Ponce de Leon Boulevard from the Douglas Road Metrorail station, and Freebee on-demand rides are free too. See our getting around guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lowe Art Museum free? Yes, with a reserved ticket.
When is the Coral Gables Museum free? First Fridays, 6 to 10 p.m.
Is the trolley free? Yes, Monday through Saturday.
What free events does the city hold? Trick-or-Treat on the Mile, the December parade and Santa on a Fire Truck, among others.
What this means for you
- Reserve Lowe Art Museum tickets online before you go.
- Plan a first-Friday evening downtown for free art and music.
- Ride the trolley instead of paying to park on weekdays and Saturdays.
Related: kids’ activities, Miracle Mile and downtown, things to do this month and brunch.
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