Fort Lauderdale itinerary: 1 to 3 days
Plans for one to three days in Fort Lauderdale, day by day: Las Olas Boulevard, Riverwalk, Stranahan House, the Museum of Discovery and Science and South Beach first, then Bonnet House, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, the Museum of Art and South Pointe Park as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Fort Lauderdale in 1 day
Day 1
Museum of Discovery and Science
Science museum downtown with hands-on exhibits, an aquarium, a flight simulator and an IMAX theatre.
New River Inn
Historic 1905 building on the New River, once an inn and now part of the Fort Lauderdale History Center museum.
Riverwalk
Paved path along the New River downtown that links museums, theatres, parks and restaurants, and is a good place for a walk.
Stranahan House
Fort Lauderdale's oldest surviving building, a 1901 trading post and home of pioneers Frank and Ivy Stranahan, shown on guided tours.
Las Olas Boulevard
Main shopping and dining street running from downtown to the beach, with boutiques, galleries, restaurants and canal views.
South Beach
The southern end of Miami Beach, known for its Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, the wide beach and busy nightlife.
Fort Lauderdale in 2 days
Day 1
South Pointe Park
Waterfront park at the southern tip of Miami Beach with a pier, a promenade and views of the ships entering Port Miami.
South Beach
The southern end of Miami Beach, known for its Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, the wide beach and busy nightlife.
International Swimming Hall of Fame
Museum and pool complex on Fort Lauderdale beach honouring swimmers, divers and water polo players, with a large aquatics centre.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
Park between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway with a freshwater lagoon, walking trails, kayak rental and picnic areas.
Las Olas Boulevard
Main shopping and dining street running from downtown to the beach, with boutiques, galleries, restaurants and canal views.
Riverwalk
Paved path along the New River downtown that links museums, theatres, parks and restaurants, and is a good place for a walk.
Day 2
Bonnet House
1920s estate of artists Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett, with a house museum, gardens and wildlife near the beach.
Stranahan House
Fort Lauderdale's oldest surviving building, a 1901 trading post and home of pioneers Frank and Ivy Stranahan, shown on guided tours.
Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale
The NSU Art Museum on Las Olas, with modern and contemporary art, Latin American work and the Cobra movement.
Museum of Discovery and Science
Science museum downtown with hands-on exhibits, an aquarium, a flight simulator and an IMAX theatre.
Fort Lauderdale in 3 days
Day 1
Museum of Discovery and Science
Science museum downtown with hands-on exhibits, an aquarium, a flight simulator and an IMAX theatre.
New River Inn
Historic 1905 building on the New River, once an inn and now part of the Fort Lauderdale History Center museum.
Las Olas Boulevard
Main shopping and dining street running from downtown to the beach, with boutiques, galleries, restaurants and canal views.
Stranahan House
Fort Lauderdale's oldest surviving building, a 1901 trading post and home of pioneers Frank and Ivy Stranahan, shown on guided tours.
Riverwalk
Paved path along the New River downtown that links museums, theatres, parks and restaurants, and is a good place for a walk.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
Park between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway with a freshwater lagoon, walking trails, kayak rental and picnic areas.
Day 2
Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale
The NSU Art Museum on Las Olas, with modern and contemporary art, Latin American work and the Cobra movement.
Bonnet House
1920s estate of artists Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett, with a house museum, gardens and wildlife near the beach.
International Swimming Hall of Fame
Museum and pool complex on Fort Lauderdale beach honouring swimmers, divers and water polo players, with a large aquatics centre.
South Beach
The southern end of Miami Beach, known for its Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, the wide beach and busy nightlife.
Day 3
South Pointe Park
Waterfront park at the southern tip of Miami Beach with a pier, a promenade and views of the ships entering Port Miami.
Watch: Fort Lauderdale
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Fort Lauderdale
November to April is the best time, with warm, dry and sunny weather, though it is also the busiest and most expensive season. Summer is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, and hurricane season runs from June to November. The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in late October or early November fills hotels.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Fort Lauderdale on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Fort Lauderdale on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Fort Lauderdale on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in Fort Lauderdale with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Fort Lauderdale with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Fort Lauderdale
- Water taxis and boat tours on the New River and Intracoastal Waterway are a relaxed way to see the canals and waterfront mansions.
- Stranahan House and Bonnet House are visited on guided tours at set times, so check the schedule and book ahead in busy months.
- Miami Beach is roughly 40 km south; allow for heavy traffic on I-95 and the coast roads, or take the Brightline train to Miami.
- Many museums in the Las Olas area are closed on Mondays, so check opening days before fixing the order.
- Sun is strong all year; carry water, sunscreen and a hat, and do outdoor stops early or late in the day.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Bonnet House: Dtobias, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hugh Taylor Birch State Park: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- International Swimming Hall of Fame: unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Las Olas Boulevard: Chaplin62, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Museum of Discovery and Science: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- New River Inn: Dtobias, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Riverwalk: Richard Mc Neil, CC BY 3.0
- South Beach: Miamiboyz ( talk ), Public domain
- South Pointe Park: iJammin, CC BY 2.0
- Stranahan House: Phillip Pessar from Miami, USA, CC BY 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
