Lines of honking cars outside the Versailles Restaurant, long a centre of the city's exile community, passed hundreds of cheering revellers who defied occasional rain to rejoice at Castro's death on Friday at age 90.
"This is the happiest day of my life, Cubans are finally free!" said Orlidia Montells, 84, who said she had been waiting for Castro to die for more than 50 years.
Hugo Ravelo, an 83-year-old former casino employee, said he hoped change would come to the Caribbean island, though he's not sure how much. "The other one is still there," he said, referring to Cuban President Raul Castro, Fidel's brother.
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Miami's streets had often been filled in celebration before on false reports of Castro's death but Saturday morning was fuelled by relief that the longtime leader was truly gone, revellers said.
Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado said the partying among the area's more than 1 million Cuban-Americans would go on for days. The celebration would cross political party lines after a bitterly fought presidential election won by Republican Donald Trump, he said.
"His passing closes a very painful chapter for Cubans on the island and Cuban-Americans throughout the world, including for thousands of Miami-Dade County residents who were personally affected by his cruel and brutal dictatorship," said Carlos Gimenez, mayor of Miami-Dade County, which includes the city of Miami.
Gimenez, who was born in Cuba and emigrated to the United States around the time Castro came to power, said in a statement he hoped any demonstrations would stay peaceful and there were no immediate plans to activate the county's Emergency Operations Centre.
Luis Torres, a 28-year-old medical student, said Castro was still admired by some people for defying the United States and demolishing Cuba's rigid class system.
"A lot of people see him as a hero, that he stood up to the US," he said.
In a Cuban-American neighbourhood in Hialeah, residents thronged the streets, waving Cuban and US flags and clanging on pots.
One man, carrying a shovel, told NBC 6 television that "I'm digging a hole for him. He did a lot of damage to my family."
He said Castro's government had taken away his father's businesses and imprisoned relatives.
"I'm so happy," he added about Castro's death.
World reacts to Castro's death
The death of Cuba's Fidel Castro prompted reaction across the spectrum Saturday with some world leaders describing him as a friend and ally, while rights groups recalled his repression of basic freedoms.
Here are some responses to the death of the 90-year-old Cold War icon, whose life was defined by his resistance to the capitalist United States.
Barack Obama
"History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him," said the US president, who made a landmark visit to Cuba in March after diplomatic ties between the two nations were restored.
Donald Trump
The US president-elect called Castro a "brutal dictator", but made no overt mention of earlier threats to roll back a historic rapprochement.
"Fidel Castro's legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights," Trump said in a statement.
Vladimir Putin
"The name of this distinguished statesman is rightly considered the symbol of an era in modern world history," the Russian president said.
"Fidel Castro was a sincere and reliable friend of Russia."
Xi Jinping
China's president hailed Castro in a message read out on state television. "The Chinese people have lost a good and true comrade," he said.
"Comrade Castro will live forever. "
Nicolas Maduro
The Venezuelan president, Cuba's main ally in the region, said on Twitter: "It is up to us to continue his legacy and carry his flag of independence."
Bashar al-Assad
"The great leader Fidel Castro led his people's and his country's struggle against imperialism and hegemony for decades," said the Syrian president, hailing Castro's "legendary resistance" to the US embargo against Cuba.
Syria has faced a barrage of US and EU sanctions over its brutal civil war.
Pope Francis
The Catholic world leader sent a message saying he was "praying to the Lord that he may rest in peace".
Ban Ki-moon
"Under former president Castro, Cuba made progress in the areas of education, literacy and health," the UN secretary-general told journalists.
Mikhail Gorbachev
"Fidel stood up and strengthened his country during the harshest American blockade, when there was colossal pressure on him and he still took his country out of this blockade to a path of independent development," Interfax news agency quoted the former Soviet leader as saying.
Jacob Zuma
The South African president gave one of the warmest tributes, saying: "President Castro identified with our struggle against apartheid. He inspired the Cuban people to join us in our own struggle.
"As a way of paying homage to the memory of President Castro, the strong bonds of solidarity, cooperation and friendship that exist between South Africa and Cuba must be maintained and nurtured."
Francois Hollande
Castro embodied Cuba's revolution in both its "hopes" and its later "disappointments", the French president said in a statement.
Narendra Modi
India's prime minister sent his "deepest condolences" to Cuba.
"Fidel Castro was one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century. India mourns the loss of a great friend," Modi tweeted.
Mohammad Javad Zarif
Castro was "a unique figure who fought against colonialism and exploitation" and was "a model of the fight for independence by oppressed nations", said Iran's foreign minister, the Fars news agency reported.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
Brazil's once hugely popular leftist president Lula mourned Castro's death as equivalent to losing a brother.
"His spirit of combativeness and solidarity nourished dreams of liberty, sovereignty and equality," he said.
Rodrigo Duterte
For the Philippines' president, Castro distinguished himself by "standing up against the West and imperialism".
Communist Vietnam
Vietnam's official Communist news agency hailed Castro as "a great leader" who was "the shining reflection of the independence and revolutionary movements of countries in Latin America and around the world".
Mahmud Abbas
"He was a fierce defender ... of justice in the world," said the Palestinian president.
Diego Maradona
The Argentine football legend lamented Castro's death saying, "I'm terribly sad as he was like a second father."
Amnesty International
The London-based human rights organisation said the state of free expression in Cuba was Castro's "darkest legacy".
"Castro's achievements in improving access to public services for millions of Cubans were tempered by a systemic repression of basic freedoms," Amnesty said.
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