5 days in Fort Lauderdale

Day by day

1. Day 1: Fort Lauderdale Beach and the A1A promenade and Jungle Queen Riverboat

   Fort Lauderdale Beach and the A1A promenade, Jungle Queen Riverboat and Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, then Las Olas Boulevard in the evening.

   1. Breakfast

      Breakfast: Cafecito and pastelitos

   2. Morning

      Fort Lauderdale Beach and the A1A promenade

      Head north towards Sunrise Boulevard and beyond for more space; the stretch near Las Olas is the busiest. (Half a day, free).

   3. Late morning

      Jungle Queen Riverboat

      Choose the shorter sightseeing cruise for children; the evening dinner cruise is longer. (1.5–4 hours, mid-priced).

   4. Lunch

      Lunch: Stone crab claws

      Seafood restaurants in season, roughly mid-October to early May.

   5. Afternoon

      Bonnet House Museum and Gardens

      Take the guided house tour, then walk the nature trails; it is a cool, shaded break from the beach across the road. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   6. Snack

      Snack: Smoked fish dip

   7. Evening

      Las Olas Boulevard

      Walk the boulevard in the early evening, then cross to the Isles for sunset over the canals.

2. Day 2: Water Taxi and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

   Water Taxi, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and Riverwalk and Stranahan House, then Fort Lauderdale Beach in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Water Taxi

      Buy a day pass and use it as your transport between the Riverwalk, Las Olas and the beach; sit outside on the upper deck. (2–4 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

      Paddle the park's freshwater lagoon by kayak or canoe for gopher tortoises, herons and iguanas. (2 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Grouper or mahi-mahi sandwich

      Beach bars on A1A, marina restaurants and dock-and-dine spots on the Intracoastal.

   4. Afternoon

      Riverwalk and Stranahan House

      Time your walk for a drawbridge opening, when megayachts squeeze up the narrow river. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Snack

      Snack: Conch fritters

   6. Evening

      Fort Lauderdale Beach

      Open-air bars facing the sand on A1A, often with live music, busiest on weekend nights.

3. Day 3: Museum of Discovery and Science and NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale

   Museum of Discovery and Science, NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale and Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, then Las Olas Boulevard in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Museum of Discovery and Science

      Use it as your rainy-afternoon or hottest-hour plan; it is on the Riverwalk next to a Water Taxi stop. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale

      Combine it with lunch on Las Olas, two minutes' walk away. (1–1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Jamaican jerk chicken and beef patties

      Family-run Caribbean restaurants and bakeries in Lauderhill and Lauderdale Lakes, west of downtown.

   4. Afternoon

      Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park

      Come in the late afternoon at weekends to watch cruise ships sail out through the inlet. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   5. Café break

      Café break: Key lime pie

   6. Evening

      Las Olas Boulevard

      Wine bars, cocktail lounges and late restaurants along the main strolling street.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Miami and Miami Beach

   About 35 minutes by Brightline; 45–60 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Brightline train to MiamiCentral, or car via I-95.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Miami and Miami Beach

      About 35 minutes by Brightline; 45–60 minutes by car (Brightline train to MiamiCentral, or car via I-95); about 45 km.

   2. Day

      Miami and Miami Beach

      Miami's Art Deco Historic District on South Beach, the Wynwood Walls street-art district and Little Havana's Calle Ocho are all reachable in a day. Best for first-timers, culture, nightlife and food lovers.

   3. Evening

      Back in Fort Lauderdale

      Dinner: try Cuban sandwich.

5. Day 5: Lauderdale-by-the-Sea snorkelling and Everglades airboat ride

   Lauderdale-by-the-Sea snorkelling, Everglades airboat ride and Butterfly World, then Himmarshee and the Riverfront in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Lauderdale-by-the-Sea snorkelling

      Go on a calm morning with little wind; always tow a dive flag, as required by Florida law when snorkelling away from the shore. (2 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Everglades airboat ride

      Book a morning ride, when the wildlife is more active and before afternoon storms; bring ear protection for small children. (Half a day, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cuban sandwich

      Cuban cafés and bakeries; the further south towards Miami, the more choice.

   4. Afternoon

      Butterfly World

      Visit on a sunny morning, when butterflies are most active, and wear bright colours. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Himmarshee and the Riverfront

      A downtown cluster of bars and clubs near the New River with a younger crowd.

Before you go

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Fort Lauderdale Beach keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Las Olas and Downtown ($$$) suits couples, food lovers, shopping and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 26–37 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.5 hours in December to 13.8 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Fort Lauderdale
• 2 days in Fort Lauderdale
• 3 days in Fort Lauderdale

Questions travellers ask