Best time to travel in Fort Lauderdale?
→ The detailed month-by-month page, with 2015-2024 averages
Best time: December to April
Best avoided if possible: June to October (less pleasant weather or big crowds).
Temperatures and rainfall: 1991-2020 normals from the Fort Lauderdale Airport station, NOAA data (public domain).
Tropical: a dry, sunny winter around 25°C by day, a hot, humid summer at 32°C with late-afternoon thunderstorms from June to September, and a hurricane season from 1 June to 30 November. The best time to visit Fort Lauderdale is January, February, March, April and December, with temperatures reaching 32°C (July-August). By contrast, May, June, July, August, September, October and November are generally less favourable (less pleasant weather or big crowds, depending on the destination), though a trip is still possible with a bit of planning. In high season, book early: prices and visitor numbers climb fast.
Go against the flow. To avoid the crowds without sacrificing too much on the weather, aim for May and November: the crowds thin out, prices drop too, and the climate stays pleasant.
Do these months appeal to you? See what's best elsewhere too: where to go in December · where to go in January · where to go in February · where to go in March · where to go in April.
At a glance
Why go to Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale is a water city before it is a beach city. In the 1920s, developers dredged the marshes to create comb-shaped islands, and every house was given its own dock: today the city has more pleasure boats than almost any other in the United States, hosts one of the world's largest boat shows every autumn, and its port, Port Everglades, is one of the busiest cruise ports on the planet. It is best understood from the deck of a water taxi, gliding between the villas and the superyachts.
It is also a more relaxed beach resort than Miami, 45 minutes to the south. Fort Lauderdale beach, lined with a promenade and a wavy white wall, has calmed down since the rowdy spring breaks of the 1960s, and Las Olas Boulevard offers terraces where you can dine with no dress code. Hotels cost less than in Miami Beach, and the neighbouring small towns, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea to the north and Hollywood to the south, keep a human scale, with reefs you can swim out to from the beach.
Finally, the city serves as a base for south-east Florida. Fort Lauderdale airport, 5 km from the centre, is often cheaper than Miami's for domestic flights, the Brightline train links the city to Miami in half an hour and to Orlando in about 3 hours, and the Everglades begin 30 minutes to the west. You can spend a week on the beach here in winter, with a day in Miami and another on the edge of the marshes.
Tourist map of Fort Lauderdale: what's where?
The map below pinpoints the 6 places covered in this guide: a handy way to picture the distances between each stop and plan your route in Fort Lauderdale.
- Las Olas Beach
- Bonnet House
- Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
- Stranahan House
- Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
- Flamingo Gardens
How much does a trip to Fort Lauderdale cost in 2026? Budget calculator
Estimate your budget for Fort Lauderdale based on your travel style: accommodation, meals, activities and local transport included (flights excluded). Adjust the length and the number of travellers, and the totals update.
Totals for all travellers over the chosen length; the daily amount is per person. Flights extra, indicative amounts to adjust depending on the season.
Cards are accepted everywhere, contactless included, as are app-based parking meters. Prices are shown before tax: 7% on purchases and meals in Broward County, about 13% on rooms, plus resort fees at some hotels. A tip of 18 to 22% is expected in restaurants, except when service is already on the bill, and a few dollars for the Water Taxi captain.
Safety in Fort Lauderdale: should you be worried?
Fort Lauderdale is a safe city for visitors, and the beach, Las Olas and Riverwalk districts can be explored without worry by day and in the evening. Thefts from cars and on the beach are the most common crimes: leave nothing visible and do not leave your belongings unattended while swimming. Avoid walking alone at night in the deserted streets west of downtown. In the sea, swim in front of the lifeguard stations and respect the flags: rip currents and jellyfish, Portuguese men-of-war included, are signalled that way. When snorkelling, a buoy with a dive flag is compulsory, as boats pass close to the reefs. From June to November, follow the National Hurricane Center bulletins; the authorities order the evacuation of coastal areas if a hurricane approaches. The sun burns quickly all year round. Insurance covering medical care in the United States is essential.
Things to see and do in Fort Lauderdale
Our first-hand favourites, and the great classics:
- Fort Lauderdale Beach
- Las Olas Boulevard
- Water Taxi on the canals
- Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
- Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
- Riverwalk and Stranahan House
- Lauderdale-by-the-Sea reefs
- Flamingo Gardens
What to book before you go to Fort Lauderdale →
🧭 Discover the Fort Lauderdale itinerary, day by dayMap, timings, budget and where to stay: free to access, to fit your dates. Create my tailor-made itinerary →The beach and the A1A
The seafront, from Las Olas to Birch park, lines up hotels, beach bars and the promenade along the wavy wall beside the A1A coast road. The Las Olas Beach stretch is the liveliest, with Beach Place, its restaurants and shops. To the south, towards Port Everglades, you can watch cruise ships pass a few hundred metres from the sand. To the north, the beach runs alongside Birch park and Bonnet House, and is quieter. This is the best district to stay facing the sea, with hotels for every budget.
Las Olas and downtown
Las Olas Boulevard links the beach to the centre, crossing the residential islands and then the shopping district, between SE 15th Avenue and SE 6th Avenue. Beyond that begins downtown, with its office and apartment towers, the Riverwalk on the New River, the NSU art museum and the science museum. The Himmarshee district, around 2nd Street, concentrates bars and music venues for nights out. The Brightline station is north of downtown, a few streets away.
The canals and the Intracoastal Waterway
Hundreds of kilometres of canals cut the city into islands and peninsulas. The Las Olas Isles, Rio Vista and Harbor Beach are the most spectacular residential districts from the water, with their villas and yachts. The Water Taxi runs there all day, but you can also hire an electric boat, a kayak or a paddleboard at several marinas. At the end of October, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show takes over the marinas of Bahia Mar and the surrounding area.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and the north
To the north, the small town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea limits the height of its buildings and keeps low-rise hotels, a fishing pier and beach restaurants. The reefs begin a few dozen metres from the beach, at the end of Datura Avenue, making it the best place in the county for snorkelling without a boat. Further north still, Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach extend the coast with their piers, and the Butterfly World garden, in Coconut Creek, appeals to families.
Hollywood and the south
South of the airport, Hollywood, founded in 1925, has the Broadwalk, a 4 km seafront promenade reserved for pedestrians and cyclists, lined with cafés and small hotels. The Water Taxi runs there from Fort Lauderdale. Dania Beach, between the two, is home to John U. Lloyd State Park, a wild beach facing the Port Everglades channel, from where you can watch the cruise ships go by.
Day trips: the Everglades and Miami
The Everglades begin 30 minutes to the west: Flamingo Gardens, in Davie, showcases Florida's wildlife, and the bases along the US 27 and the Sawgrass Expressway offer airboat rides in the marshes, privately run and outside the national park. Miami is reached in half an hour on the Brightline train, for a day in South Beach, Wynwood or Little Havana, with no car or parking to worry about. Palm Beach, an hour north on the same train, shows off the billionaires' mansions and Worth Avenue.
How many days, and which itinerary in Fort Lauderdale?
Three days are enough for the beach, Las Olas, the Water Taxi and Bonnet House. Five days add the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea reefs, Flamingo Gardens and a day in Miami by train. A week allows a real beach holiday in winter, with Palm Beach or the Everglades as a day trip.
🗺️ Day-by-day Fort Lauderdale itinerary · 📓 Printable Fort Lauderdale travel guide (PDF) · 🌍 Discover all of the American West
The long weekend (3 days)
Day 1: Las Olas beach in the morning, Bonnet House with the audio guide in the afternoon, dinner on Las Olas Boulevard. Day 2: the Water Taxi on a day pass, a complete loop and then stops for lunch on a waterfront and for the Riverwalk and Stranahan House, sunset on the water. Day 3: Hugh Taylor Birch State Park by bike or kayak in the morning, the beach via the tunnel under the A1A, a last drink at Beach Place.
Beach and nature (5 days)
The three days of the weekend, then a morning of snorkelling at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, at the end of Datura Avenue, with lunch facing Anglin's Pier, and a day to the west: Flamingo Gardens in the morning, then an airboat ride in the marshes on the edge of the Everglades. A hire car is useful for these two days.
South-east Florida (10 days)
Four nights in Fort Lauderdale for the beach, the canals and the reefs, a day in Miami by Brightline for South Beach and Wynwood, then the car heading north: one night in Palm Beach for Worth Avenue and the Flagler Museum, two nights in Jupiter or Stuart for the wild beaches and the Jupiter lighthouse, returning via Boca Raton. Alternative heading south: two nights in the Keys from Fort Lauderdale, about 2 hours' drive to Key Largo.
How to get to Fort Lauderdale and get around?
From Europe, the simplest route is a direct flight to Miami, such as Air France's from Paris, about 10 hours, then 45 minutes by road or the Brightline train. You can also fly into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport with a connection in New York, Atlanta or Charlotte. This airport lies 5 km south of the centre and 8 km from the beach hotels.
The Brightline train links Fort Lauderdale station, north of downtown, to Miami in about half an hour, to Boca Raton and West Palm Beach to the north, and to Orlando in about 3 hours. The Tri-Rail commuter train, cheaper and slower, serves the airport and runs to Miami.
In town, Broward County buses serve the beach and downtown for less than $3 a ride, about €2.50, and the Water Taxi acts as tourist transport between downtown, Las Olas and the beach. Ride-hailing cars are plentiful and cheap over short distances.
A car is useful for Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Flamingo Gardens and the Everglades. Beach hotels charge $25-45, about €22-39, a night for parking, and the parking meters along the A1A are paid by app. Motorways with electronic tolls are billed by the hire company.
Where to stay in Fort Lauderdale?
The seafront, between Las Olas and Birch park, concentrates most of the hotels: large oceanfront chain hotels at €180-350 a night in winter, small hotels and renovated motels in the streets behind the A1A at €120-180. Add about 13% in taxes and often daily resort fees.
Las Olas and downtown suit those who prefer restaurants and the Riverwalk to the beach, with a few historic hotels and recent places at €150-250 a night, 10 minutes from the sea by ride-hail.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Pompano Beach, to the north, offer low-rise, family-friendly hotels on the waterfront, often cheaper for the same standard, 20 minutes from the centre. Hotels near the airport and Port Everglades are mainly used for a night before or after a cruise.
Prices follow the season: they rise from December to April and during the boat show at the end of October, and fall by 30 to 50% from June to September, in the full heat and hurricane season. On the eve of cruise departures, on Saturdays and Sundays, the port hotels fill up.
Our picks stop by stop, in three price ranges →
What to eat in Fort Lauderdale?
Seafood dominates the menus: mahi-mahi grilled or in a sandwich, grouper, Florida shrimp, and stone crabs, the claws served cold with a mustard sauce, from mid-October to early May. The waterfront restaurants, reachable by Water Taxi, serve these fish facing the boats for $25-45, about €22-39, a dish.
Las Olas Boulevard lines up bistros, steakhouses and Italian and Latin American restaurants with terraces, for $30-70, about €26-60, for dinner. The Las Olas Riverfront market and the downtown food halls offer quicker meals.
Key lime pie is found everywhere, as are Caribbean and South American influences: Haitian and Jamaican food in the western districts, empanadas and Cuban coffee. The weekend beachside brunch is an institution.
Beach bars serve local beers and cocktails for $8-16, about €7-14, and some restaurants add an automatic service charge to the bill: read it before leaving a tip. Tap water is safe to drink.
Which kind of traveller is it for?
Fort Lauderdale lends itself to a relaxing, festive and nature-focused trip. Whether you travel as a couple, with family or even solo, everyone finds their own pace. For accommodation, you will mostly find classic hotels, resorts and boutique hotels.
Entry requirements & practical info
UK, Australian and most EU passports need an ESTA, applied for online before departure, for stays of up to 90 days; a few EU countries sit outside the Visa Waiver Program and need a full visa. Canadians need neither, only a passport. Anyone who has been to Cuba since January 2021 cannot use an ESTA and must apply for a visa.
Rules change: before you leave, check your country's official travel advice.
Once there, to stay online without paying roaming charges, an Fort Lauderdale eSIM activates in a few minutes and works as soon as you land (plans from €3.99). Remember suitable travel insurance too.
Frequently asked questions about Fort Lauderdale
When is the best time to visit Fort Lauderdale?
From December to April, the dry season, with 24 to 28°C during the day and the sea around 24°C. It is also the most expensive period. From June to September, it is 32°C with high humidity and late-afternoon storms, and the hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, but hotel prices drop considerably.
How do you fly to Fort Lauderdale from Europe?
The simplest option is a direct flight to Miami, such as Air France's from Paris, about 10 hours, then 45 minutes by road or half an hour on the Brightline train. The other option is a connecting flight to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport, 5 km from the centre.
Fort Lauderdale or Miami: where should I stay?
Fort Lauderdale is better for a quiet beach holiday, with family or as a couple, with cheaper hotels and a city that is easy to get around. Miami offers more museums, nightlife and districts to explore. The Brightline train links the two in half an hour: many travellers stay in Fort Lauderdale and spend a day in Miami.
Can you go snorkelling in Fort Lauderdale without a boat?
Yes, at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, at the end of Datura Avenue, south of Anglin's Pier. Three lines of reef begin about a hundred metres from the beach in 3 metres of water, with an underwater trail marked by cannons and an anchor. Come when the sea is calm, with a buoy and a dive flag, both compulsory.
Do you need a car in Fort Lauderdale?
Not for the beach, Las Olas and downtown, which are linked by the Water Taxi, buses and ride-hailing. It becomes useful for Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Flamingo Gardens, the Everglades and the beaches to the north. Beach hotels charge $25-45 a night for parking, about €22-39.
How many days should I plan in Fort Lauderdale?
Three days for the beach, the canals by Water Taxi, Bonnet House and Las Olas. Five days to add the reefs, Flamingo Gardens and a day in Miami. Fort Lauderdale is also the departure port for many cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas: two nights before embarkation are enough to enjoy it.
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