Fort Lauderdale, Florida Travel Guide: Things to Do, Attractions, Restaurants & Places to Stay

Fort Lauderdale Florida

Welcome to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a South Florida destination where beautiful Atlantic beaches, palm-lined streets, waterfront restaurants, boating, shopping, arts, and outdoor adventures come together. Fort Lauderdale gives you countless ways to experience the water, whether you're relaxing on the beach, cruising the Intracoastal Waterway, kayaking through a park, fishing offshore, or enjoying dinner overlooking the New River.

There is much more to Fort Lauderdale than its famous coastline. You can stroll and dine along Las Olas Boulevard, explore the Riverwalk, tour historic homes and gardens, visit museums, spend the day boating, discover local restaurants, or use Fort Lauderdale as your home base for exploring the Everglades and other destinations throughout South Florida.

Whether you're planning a family beach vacation, romantic getaway, boating trip, group vacation, or an extended stay, this Fort Lauderdale travel guide will help you discover some of the best things to do, attractions, restaurants, beaches, and places to stay during your visit.

About Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Lauderdale is located along Florida's southeastern Atlantic coast in Broward County, between Miami and Palm Beach. Water is central to the city's identity, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and an extensive system of canals, rivers, and Intracoastal waterways running throughout the area.

The combination of beaches and waterways has made Fort Lauderdale one of Florida's best-known boating destinations. Yet the city also offers lively entertainment districts, historic neighborhoods, cultural attractions, shopping, restaurants, parks, and residential communities that give you plenty to explore away from the beach.

Where to Stay in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale offers accommodations ranging from luxury beachfront resorts and boutique hotels to condos, waterfront homes, and professionally managed vacation rentals.

If you're traveling with family or friends, staying for an extended period, or simply want more privacy and space, a Fort Lauderdale vacation rental can provide advantages such as multiple bedrooms, full kitchens, private pools, outdoor living areas, laundry facilities, and waterfront access.

Fort Lauderdale Vacation Rentals

Vacation rentals throughout Fort Lauderdale include waterfront homes, beach-area condos, luxury estates, family vacation homes, private pool homes, and properties with boat docks. The right location depends on whether you want to prioritize the beach, boating, Las Olas Boulevard, downtown attractions, or a quieter residential neighborhood.

When possible, consider booking directly with a professional Fort Lauderdale vacation rental manager. A local property manager can provide detailed information about the property and destination, assist you before and during your stay, and help you find a vacation rental that fits your group and travel plans.

Book Direct. Book Local. Avoid the Extra Fees. Enjoy Expert Service.

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Best Areas to Stay in Fort Lauderdale

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

Just north of Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea offers a smaller beach-town atmosphere with restaurants, shops, a walkable center, and snorkeling opportunities close to shore. It's worth exploring even if your vacation rental is located in Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale Beach

Stay near Fort Lauderdale Beach if being close to the Atlantic Ocean is your priority. You'll have convenient access to the beach, promenade, restaurants, watersports, and beachfront entertainment.

Intracoastal & Waterfront Neighborhoods

Fort Lauderdale's waterfront neighborhoods are especially appealing if you're looking for a private home, swimming pool, dock, or easy access to boating. The city's extensive canal system provides a selection of waterfront vacation homes that offer a different experience from staying in a traditional beachfront hotel.

Las Olas & Downtown Fort Lauderdale

Downtown and the Las Olas Boulevard area put you close to dining, nightlife, shopping, galleries, Riverwalk, museums, and cultural attractions. This area is a good choice if you want an urban setting while remaining only a short trip from the beach.

Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale

Explore Las Olas Boulevard

Las Olas Boulevard is one of the most recognizable streets in Fort Lauderdale and an excellent place to experience the city's dining, shopping, art, and nightlife. The boulevard stretches from downtown toward the beach and features restaurants, sidewalk cafes, boutiques, galleries, bars, and entertainment.

Visit during the afternoon for shopping and lunch, return for dinner, or spend an evening exploring the restaurants and nightlife. Its central location also makes Las Olas a convenient starting point for exploring downtown Fort Lauderdale and the nearby Riverwalk.

Spend the Day at Fort Lauderdale Beach

Fort Lauderdale Beach is the centerpiece of a vacation here. The wide Atlantic shoreline is complemented by the Fort Lauderdale Beachfront Promenade, where you can walk, jog, bike, dine, shop, and enjoy views of the ocean.

Spend your day swimming, sunbathing, playing beach volleyball, snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, or simply relaxing in the sand. Restaurants, hotels, shops, and watersports are conveniently located throughout the beachfront district, making it easy to spend an entire day near the ocean.

Cruise Fort Lauderdale's Waterways

You haven't fully experienced Fort Lauderdale until you've seen it from the water. The city's canals and Intracoastal Waterway have helped earn Fort Lauderdale its nickname, the Venice of America.

You can explore by sightseeing boat, yacht charter, Water Taxi, paddleboard, kayak, or private boat. Along the way, you'll pass waterfront homes, marinas, yachts, restaurants, bridges, and some of Fort Lauderdale's most beautiful neighborhoods.

Ride the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi

The Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi combines sightseeing with transportation, allowing you to explore portions of the city's waterways while traveling between popular areas. It's an especially enjoyable way to experience Fort Lauderdale if you'd rather leave the car behind.

Use your day on the water to explore restaurants, shopping areas, downtown attractions, and waterfront neighborhoods while enjoying a completely different perspective of the city.

Walk Along the Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk

The Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale follows the New River through the heart of downtown and connects parks, cultural attractions, restaurants, historic sites, and entertainment. You can walk 2.5 miles, follow the new river and reach the historical home. There are ten parks in the route of riverwalk passes. Every park has unique attractions like workout stations, a wonderful garden, and a playground.

Take a leisurely waterfront walk, stop at one of the nearby museums, visit historic Stranahan House, or continue toward Las Olas Boulevard. The Riverwalk is particularly enjoyable in the late afternoon and early evening when downtown begins transitioning into its nightlife scene.

Explore Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Located between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park provides a peaceful natural escape just minutes from Fort Lauderdale's busy beachfront.

You can walk or bike beneath tropical vegetation, paddle on the park's coastal dune lake, picnic, look for wildlife, and access nearby Fort Lauderdale Beach. The park preserves coastal hammock and mangrove environments that provide a glimpse of the natural landscape that once dominated this part of South Florida.

Go Boating or Charter a Yacht

Fort Lauderdale is one of America's great boating destinations. Marinas, canals, the Intracoastal Waterway, and easy access to the Atlantic make boating an important part of the local lifestyle.

Depending on your plans, you can book a sightseeing cruise, fishing charter, sailing excursion, private yacht charter, or sunset cruise. Renting a waterfront vacation home with dock access can make the boating experience an even bigger part of your Fort Lauderdale vacation.

Go Deep-Sea Fishing

The Atlantic waters off Fort Lauderdale provide opportunities for offshore and sport fishing. Local fishing charters offer trips for anglers ranging from beginners to experienced fishermen, with opportunities to pursue a variety of South Florida game fish depending on the season and conditions.

Fishing charters are available for half-day, full-day, and private excursions, making it easy to add a day on the ocean to your vacation itinerary.

Explore the Everglades

A Fort Lauderdale vacation also puts you within reach of one of Florida's most remarkable natural environments: the Everglades.

Airboat tours and wildlife excursions provide opportunities to experience wetlands, sawgrass landscapes, alligators, birds, and other native wildlife. An Everglades excursion makes an excellent contrast to a day spent along Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Top Fort Lauderdale Attractions

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens combines Fort Lauderdale history, art, architecture, and nature on a historic estate near the beach. The property was the winter retreat of artists Frederic Clay Bartlett and Evelyn Fortune Bartlett and remains one of the city's most distinctive cultural attractions. It covers thirty-six acres and remains the practical sanctuary of coastal backwoods. In addition, it consists of five ecosystems: maritime forest, mangrove wetlands, beach, and dunes. 

Explore the historic home, artwork, gardens, and tropical landscape while learning about the people who helped shape the property. Its location near Fort Lauderdale Beach makes Bonnet House easy to combine with a beach day or visit to Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.

Visit Flamingo Gardens

Flamingo Gardens is 60 acres with a combination of Everglades’s wildlife sanctuary and botanical garden. It is a good option for animal lovers because they can see more than three thousand plants and flower species in the garden. It is the home to sick and injured animals that cannot fly back into the wild. Also, you can see Florida panthers, black bears, and river otters in the garden. 

Historic Stranahan House Museum

The Historic Stranahan House Museum provides a window into Fort Lauderdale's early history. Located along the New River near Las Olas Boulevard, the historic home is associated with pioneers Frank and Ivy Stranahan and the early development of the community.

It's an especially worthwhile stop if you want to understand how Fort Lauderdale developed from a small settlement into one of South Florida's major coastal cities.

Museum of Discovery and Science

Families looking for an indoor attraction should make time for the Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Interactive exhibits explore science, technology, animals, aviation, ecosystems, and other subjects through hands-on experiences.

Its downtown location also makes it easy to combine with Riverwalk, Las Olas Boulevard, and other Fort Lauderdale attractions.

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale

Located downtown near Las Olas Boulevard, the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale is one of the city's leading cultural attractions. Its collections and exhibitions include modern, contemporary, Latin American, and other forms of art.

The museum makes an excellent addition to a downtown itinerary and offers an indoor alternative when you want a break from South Florida's sun and beaches.

Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Located along the New River, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts hosts Broadway productions, concerts, theater, dance, comedy, and other live performances throughout the year.

Check the performance calendar before your trip and consider combining a show with dinner downtown or along Las Olas Boulevard.

Museum of Discovery and Science

It is home to rotating exhibits, which will entertain and educate the complete family without difficulty. Besides, tourists can meet dinosaurs and the biggest living coral reefs in the museum. They can experience plenty of nature and the everglades airboat adventure. 

Las Olas Oceanside Park

Located across from Fort Lauderdale Beach, Las Olas Oceanside Park adds another dimension to the beachfront experience. The park hosts markets, community activities, fitness events, live entertainment, and seasonal events throughout the year.

Its location makes it easy to move between the beach, promenade, restaurants, and activities without traveling far.

Where to Eat in Fort Lauderdale

Dining is a major part of the Fort Lauderdale experience. You'll find everything from casual seafood restaurants and beachfront cafes to steakhouses, Italian restaurants, international cuisine, chef-driven dining, and upscale waterfront restaurants.

Three areas are especially useful when deciding where to eat: Fort Lauderdale Beach for oceanfront dining, Las Olas Boulevard for restaurants and nightlife, and the Intracoastal and New River for waterfront dining.

Lobster Bar Sea Grille

Located on Las Olas Boulevard, Lobster Bar Sea Grille offers an upscale seafood and steakhouse experience. Its downtown location makes it convenient for dinner after shopping, exploring Las Olas, or spending time along the Riverwalk.

Steak 954

Located at the W Fort Lauderdale, Steak 954 is an upscale steakhouse near Fort Lauderdale Beach. The restaurant combines steaks, seafood, cocktails, and an oceanfront setting, making it a popular option for date nights and special occasions.

Heritage

Heritage in Flagler Village is a popular choice when you're looking for Italian-inspired food in a more casual contemporary setting. Pizza, house-made pasta, and creative dishes make it a worthwhile stop away from the beachfront dining scene.

Casablanca Cafe

For a meal near the ocean, Casablanca Cafe offers a distinctive Fort Lauderdale Beach setting inside a historic beachfront home. It's a popular option for combining coastal atmosphere with lunch, dinner, or evening drinks.

La Fuga

Located near Fort Lauderdale Beach, La Fuga focuses on coastal Italian cuisine with pasta, seafood, and a relaxed South Florida setting. It's a good choice for couples and anyone looking for an Italian dinner near the beach.

More Fort Lauderdale Dining Experiences

Don't limit yourself to a short list of restaurants. Part of the fun is exploring Fort Lauderdale's different dining districts. Look for fresh seafood near the beach, brunch spots, sidewalk cafes along Las Olas Boulevard, waterfront restaurants accessible by boat, neighborhood Italian restaurants, international cuisine, cocktail bars, and casual places favored by locals.

Shopping in Fort Lauderdale

Las Olas Boulevard

Las Olas Boulevard combines shopping with restaurants, galleries, cafes, and nightlife. Spend a few hours browsing boutiques and galleries before stopping for lunch, cocktails, or dinner.

The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale

Located close to Fort Lauderdale Beach and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale offers traditional shopping and dining in a convenient location between the beach and mainland neighborhoods.

Sawgrass Mills

If serious shopping is part of your vacation plans, Sawgrass Mills in nearby Sunrise is one of the region's major shopping destinations, with hundreds of stores and outlets. It's an easy day trip from Fort Lauderdale and especially popular when you want a break from the beach.

Fort Lauderdale for Families

Fort Lauderdale works well for families because you can easily mix beach time with educational attractions and outdoor adventures. Spend the morning swimming, visit the Museum of Discovery and Science in the afternoon, take a Water Taxi ride, explore Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, or plan a day trip into the Everglades.

A vacation rental can be particularly convenient for families because you can choose additional bedrooms, living areas, kitchens, private pools, outdoor spaces, and other amenities that make longer stays more comfortable.

Fort Lauderdale for Couples

Couples can build an entire getaway around Fort Lauderdale's water and dining scene. Start with a morning walk on the beach, explore Las Olas Boulevard in the afternoon, take a sunset cruise or Water Taxi ride, and finish with dinner overlooking the ocean or Intracoastal Waterway.

For a quieter day, explore Bonnet House and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park before returning to your vacation rental for an evening by the pool or waterfront.

Day Trips from Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale's South Florida location also makes it an excellent base for exploring the surrounding region.

Hollywood Beach

Head south to Hollywood Beach and explore its famous oceanfront Broadwalk, where you can walk, bike, dine, and enjoy another of South Florida's distinctive beach communities.

Miami

Miami makes an easy addition to a Fort Lauderdale vacation. Spend a day exploring Miami Beach, South Beach, Wynwood, Little Havana, museums, restaurants, and other attractions before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

Pompano Beach

Located north of Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach offers another stretch of Atlantic coastline along with fishing, boating, snorkeling, diving, and waterfront dining.

The Florida Everglades

Travel west from Fort Lauderdale and the urban coastline quickly gives way to the vast wetlands of the Everglades. Take an airboat tour, look for wildlife, and learn about one of the world's most distinctive subtropical ecosystems.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Fort Lauderdale?

Fort Lauderdale is a year-round destination, but the experience changes with the seasons. Winter and early spring are especially popular because of warm South Florida weather and lower humidity compared with summer. This is also one of the busiest periods, so popular accommodations may book well in advance.

Late spring and fall can provide a different balance of weather and crowds, while summer brings hotter temperatures, higher humidity, and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. If you're traveling during Atlantic hurricane season, monitor weather conditions and understand the cancellation and travel insurance policies associated with your accommodations.

Getting Around Fort Lauderdale

How you get around depends largely on where you're staying. If your vacation rental is near Fort Lauderdale Beach or Las Olas Boulevard, you may be able to walk to many restaurants, shops, and attractions. Rideshare services and rental cars are useful for exploring destinations farther away.

Fort Lauderdale also gives you a transportation option that few cities can match: traveling by water. Water Taxi service, boat charters, and other water-based transportation allow you to experience the city while moving between popular waterfront areas.

Plan Your Fort Lauderdale, Florida Vacation

Fort Lauderdale combines many of the experiences that make South Florida special in one destination. You can wake up near the Atlantic Ocean, spend the morning on the beach, cruise the Intracoastal Waterway in the afternoon, shop along Las Olas Boulevard, and finish your day with dinner overlooking the water.

Add historic attractions, museums, parks, fishing, boating, nightlife, shopping, family activities, and easy access to the Everglades, and it's easy to understand why Fort Lauderdale continues to be a popular Florida vacation destination.

When you're ready to plan your stay, explore Fort Lauderdale vacation rentals and professional vacation rental managers to find a property that matches the way you want to experience South Florida. Booking directly with a professional vacation rental manager gives you a direct connection to the people who know the property and destination and can help you make the most of your Fort Lauderdale vacation.

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