Last updated: October 10, 2026.
Fort Lauderdale — the “Venice of America” — is all about water: canals, the Intracoastal, and wide sandy beaches. It is an easygoing South Florida base, 30 minutes north of Miami and connected to Orlando by Brightline rail. See our Florida travel guide for the full statewide picture.
A quick note before you plan: this guide contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, which helps keep our launch coverage free.
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1. Top Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale
Book these top-rated Fort Lauderdale tours in advance:
- Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood Hop-On Hop-Off Water Taxi Tour — from $38 Rated 4.4/5 from 4,102 reviews.
- Fort Lauderdale Riverboat Narrated Sightseeing Cruise — from $33 Rated 4.6/5 from 1,908 reviews.
- Fort Lauderdale Segway Small-Group Tour From Riverwalk — from $69 Rated 4.9/5 from 1,074 reviews.
- #1 VENICE OF AMERICA TOUR – Cold A/C 115′ LARGEST IN LAUDERDALE! — from $32 Rated 4.7/5 from 2,298 reviews.
- Everglades Nature Tour by Cruise, Hike, and Airboat with Lunch — Full-day Everglades adventure with a Ten Thousand Islands cruise, Big Cypress nature hike, airboat ride, and lunch. Rated 4.9/5 from 752 reviews.
- Fort Lauderdale Small-Group Everglades Adventure — Small-group full-day safari from Fort Lauderdale with an airboat ride, wildlife drive, cypress forest nature walk, and lunch. Rated 4.8/5 from 511 reviews.
- Fort Lauderdale Food & Drink Tour — from $104: Three-hour guided tasting tour along Las Olas Boulevard with eight food tastings, two alcoholic drinks, and sights like Stranahan House.
- Fort Lauderdale: Party Boat, Swimming, and Sightseeing Cruise — BYOB party boat cruise from Fort Lauderdale Beach with a sandbar swim stop, floats, coolers, and mansion views. Rated 4.8/5 from 508 reviews.
🛰️ Browse more Fort Lauderdale tours and attractions on Viator
2. Where to Stay: Top Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
These well-reviewed hotels cover the main areas visitors choose — book early around major launches and events, when rates spike and availability tightens:
- W Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale Beach) — Design-forward beachfront hotel with two rooftop infinity pools, the AWAY Spa, and ocean-view rooms.
- Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach (Fort Lauderdale Beach) — Luxury all-suite beachfront hotel with private balconies, a rooftop pool deck, and the Terra Mare restaurant.
- Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa (Harbor Beach) — Quarter-mile private beach, lagoon-style pool, and full-service spa in the Harbor Beach neighborhood.
- Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club (Harbor Beach) — Family-owned beachfront resort with a private beach, lagoon pool, tennis, and tropical gardens.
- Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale (Downtown Fort Lauderdale (Las Olas)) — Boutique downtown hotel steps from Las Olas Boulevard with a rooftop pool and harbor views.
3. Getting to Fort Lauderdale: Airports
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) — Minutes from downtown (~10-15 min). South Florida’s low-fare gateway with heavy Spirit, JetBlue, and Southwest service.
- Miami International Airport (MIA) — ~26 miles south, ~35 min. American Airlines’ Latin America hub with the most international routes; Tri-Rail and Brightline both link FLL to MIA.
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) — ~47 miles north, ~1 hr. A smaller, calmer alternate if flight times or fares beat FLL.
4. Getting Around Fort Lauderdale: Rental Cars & Transit
A car is handy for the beaches and day trips, though the water taxi and Brightline cover a lot of ground car-free:
- Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Sixt, and Thrifty — FLL Rental Car Center, counters on Level 4 (Terminal 1 via covered pedestrian bridge, Terminals 2–4 via free 24-hour shuttles)
Save up to 50% on your Fort Lauderdale rental car
Book in advance — restrictions may apply.
🚗 Compare rental car prices in Fort Lauderdale on Booking.com — free cancellation on most cars, no prepayment needed.
Tip: many beach hotels charge steep daily parking fees — factor that into the rent-vs-rideshare math. Brightline’s downtown station is the car-free alternative for Miami, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, or Orlando. Book well ahead for winter cruise season.
5. Best Time to Visit Fort Lauderdale
Mid-December through April is prime time — sunny, dry, and ideal for the beach and water taxi, with peak prices to match. May through November is hotter and wetter (hurricane season June–November), but you’ll find real deals and fewer crowds. Winter visitors should book beachfront hotels well ahead.
6. Where to Eat in Fort Lauderdale
Las Olas Boulevard anchors the dining scene, from bistros to upscale seafood. Being a boating town, waterfront restaurants serving fresh-caught fish, shrimp, and stone crab (in season) are everywhere — arrive by water taxi for the full effect. The city also does excellent casual: fish sandwiches, key lime pie, and dockside bars.
- For honest, detailed restaurant reviews from a local, check out Monkey Vacations — new Central Florida and Space Coast reviews are added regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best area to stay in Fort Lauderdale?
The beach strip along A1A for classic Fort Lauderdale, or Las Olas Boulevard for dining and galleries. The water taxi connects many waterfront spots, so staying near a stop is a plus.
Why is Fort Lauderdale called the Venice of America?
Its 165 miles of navigable canals and Intracoastal Waterway — best explored by water taxi or boat tour.
How far is Fort Lauderdale from Orlando?
About 200 miles southeast — Brightline rail makes it a scenic ~3-hour ride.
Is Fort Lauderdale family-friendly?
Very — calm beaches, the water taxi, and easy day trips make it a relaxed family base.
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