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The Venice of America and Its Waterways

Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city in south-east Florida, known as the Venice of America for more than 300 miles of canals and waterways and as a global capital of yachting. Its sparkling Atlantic beach, backed by a landmark wave-shaped promenade, runs for miles and is lined with cafés, hotels and shops. Behind the beach, the New River winds through downtown, where Riverwalk gives access to museums, restaurants and the performing arts.

The water is the city's defining feature. Water taxis ply the canals, passing waterfront homes and superyachts moored at their doors, and the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show draws the marine industry each autumn. Port Everglades is among the world's busiest cruise ports, launching Caribbean itineraries throughout the year. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park offers a green escape of lagoon and hammock forest in the middle of the city, with kayaking and quiet trails.

Las Olas, Everglades and Hollywood Beach

Las Olas Boulevard is the city's stylish spine, lined with boutiques, galleries and restaurants, from sidewalk cafés to chef-led dining rooms, and it runs from downtown almost to the beach. Seafood here is naturally excellent, with stone crab, snapper and Florida lobster featured on many menus. Wilton Manors, just north, adds a lively, welcoming neighbourhood of independent cafés and evening entertainment, while the Fort Lauderdale Beach Park is a favourite for sunrise walks.

Within a short drive, the Everglades offers a different world, with airboat rides across sawgrass and a chance to see alligators and wading birds. A few minutes south, Hollywood Beach and its Broadwalk give a retro-flavoured beach stroll. Beyond them, the Florida Keys and Miami are within easy reach, while Orlando lies a few hours to the north. For a hotel group, this combination of beach, boating, shopping and nature is a great base for travellers who want it all.

Seasons, Cruises and Direct Flights

The warmest and driest season runs from November to April, when the beach days are long and the outdoor tables are full. Spring is particularly lovely, and the autumn boat show adds a glamorous edge to the calendar. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is a convenient entry point, with regular transatlantic services, and many travellers combine a stay with a cruise from Port Everglades, so the city works as both a destination and a gateway.

Fort Lauderdale pairs naturally with the rest of Florida, and also with the island chains offshore: the Bahamas are a short sail or flight away, and the wider Caribbean opens beyond. A name like VisitLauderdale.co.uk gives airlines, cruise partners and boards a clear home for the story, from first arrival at the airport to a last evening on Las Olas under the palms.

Beachfront Resorts, Canal Villas and Las Olas Hotels

Fort Lauderdale has a base for every kind of guest. The beachfront along A1A has a long line of resort hotels with ocean-view suites, pools and spas, so the sand is only a few steps away. Harbor Beach and the Galt Ocean Mile offer a quieter, more residential setting, with elegant high-rise suites and wide views. Downtown and Las Olas Boulevard suit guests who prefer boutique hotels, including the historic Riverside Hotel, open since 1936, close to galleries, restaurants and the Riverwalk. Families often choose a beach resort with a children's club, while couples favour sunset terraces and intimate hotels in the Las Olas area.

For something different, stay on the water. Hotels with their own marina berths welcome yacht owners, and canal-side villas with private docks and pools are popular with groups and extended families. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, a low-rise village north of the city, has a pier, small inns and a laid-back, walkable centre, while Wilton Manors offers a friendly neighbourhood of guesthouses and cafés. Hollywood Beach, to the south, has classic motels and a lively promenade. Cruise passengers often add a night before sailing, which makes the area a natural partner for Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries, as well as for Cayman Islands sailings.

Latin Flavours, Boat Parades and Gallery Evenings

The dining scene reflects Florida's links to the Caribbean and Latin America. Cuban cafés pour strong cafecito, Brazilian steakhouses serve sizzling cuts at the table, and Caribbean kitchens turn out jerk chicken, roti and fresh conch. Seafood restaurants on the Intracoastal Waterway let guests watch boats glide past while enjoying snapper, lobster and stone crab in season. Las Olas Boulevard is lined with sidewalk tables, and Wilton Manors has an energetic evening scene of cafés and live entertainment. Ice cream parlours and key lime pie shops add a sweet finish, and local markets sell tropical fruit and fresh juice.

Culture comes in elegant form. The NSU Art Museum holds an outstanding collection, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens preserves a charming estate of tropical grounds, and Stranahan House, dating from 1901, is the oldest surviving house in the city. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts stages musicals, opera and concerts on the river. Events include the Winterfest Boat Parade in December, when decorated yachts glide through the canals, the Fort Lauderdale Air Show in spring and the Tortuga Music Festival on the beach in April. Winter brings the best weather, and summer offers warm sea and relaxed pace.

Wreck Dives, Canal Cruises and Island Hops

Active guests are spoilt for choice. Offshore, artificial reefs and wrecks make Fort Lauderdale a favourite for scuba divers, and snorkellers join boat trips to the reef lines close to shore. Paddleboarding on the Intracoastal, kayaking in the canals, deep-sea fishing charters and sunset sailing all start from the city's marinas. Cyclists ride the beachfront path, golfers have a wide choice of courses inland, and families enjoy airboat rides and wildlife shows in the Everglades, which begin a short way west. A water taxi is the most scenic way to go from one restaurant or beach to the next.

Day trips are plentiful. Miami's Wynwood murals and Little Havana are under an hour south, Palm Beach and Boca Raton are a short drive north, and the Florida Keys make an ideal weekend. Ferries and short flights reach the Bahamas, and cruise itineraries stretch to the Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico. An airline could showcase Fort Lauderdale as a gateway that lets guests mix beach days, boating and a Caribbean sailing, and a stay at the coast can easily link to the theme parks of Orlando, just a few hours away by road.

Planning your stay

Fort Lauderdale has hundreds of miles of canals and waterways, and water taxis and boat tours are a good way to see the waterfront homes and yachts. Las Olas Boulevard has restaurants and shops, the beach is long and walkable, and nearby Everglades airboat trips show a very different landscape.

Port Everglades is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, so the city is a common start and end point for Caribbean sailings. Miami is about 30 miles south, the Florida Keys are a long drive beyond that, and Orlando and Central Florida are a few hours north. See the Florida guide for the whole picture.

When to go

Winter and spring are warm, dry and busy, and they are the cruise high season, so book hotels early and expect higher prices at Christmas, February half term and Easter. Summer is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, and it is cheaper, with lower hotel rates.

The Atlantic hurricane season normally runs from June to November, which overlaps with trips to Fort Lauderdale.

Getting there and entry rules

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport is close to both the beach and the port, and direct flights from London have operated, so check current schedules with your airline. Orlando and Miami are alternatives with more routes. The airport and the port are only a short taxi ride apart, which makes cruise connections simple.

Apply before you book anything non-refundable.

If you are joining a cruise, check your cruise line's own document requirements as well as the entry rules, and allow time before departure, since flight delays can cost you the sailing.

Costs, law and healthcare

Hotel rates, resort fees and parking vary widely by season, so compare the total cost. In Fort Lauderdale, prices in Fort Lauderdale usually exclude sales tax and tipping is expected.

Before you travel

Entry requirements and official travel guidance are updated regularly, so check the latest position with your government before booking. The sources we used are listed at the foot of this page.

Why Fort Lauderdale matters to the industry

Fort Lauderdale joins a beach city, an airport and a major cruise port, so clear detail on transfers, seasons and entry steps helps airlines, cruise partners and hotels. VisitLauderdale.co.uk lets a hotel group, tourist board or airline publish current answers on cruises, beaches and storms for Fort Lauderdale, and our AI platform carries them to searchers.

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