Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale

Whether you’re embarking on a family tour, friends-only adventure, or solo me-time escape, Fort Lauderdale would not disappoint you in any case. The city is an underrated tourism gem that awaits to be explored and cherished. With its white-sandy beaches, themed parks, botanical gardens, wildlife sanctuaries, nature preserves, unique museums, intricate waterways, and exciting adventure houses, the city is packed with tons of things to do from its shore to the suburbs. As a matter of fact, you’ll feel like being spoiled for choice with so many available options. To sort it out for you, here’s a list of 29 top things to do in Fort lauderdale that should definitely be on your radar during your next visit

Visit the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

(Credit: Florida State Parks / Official Website)

The first place to visit in Fort Lauderdale should undoubtedly be the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. Here, the tall shady trees would warmly welcome you to the city. Also known as ‘Central Park’ of Fort Lauderdale, this park has so much to do: bike along the 2-mile paved park drive, hike up the Coastal Hammock Trail, go fishing along the seawall, kayak through the park’s dune lakes, bird watch more than 250-plus species that call this park their home, plan a family picnic or friends get together at its pavilions, adore the heavenly feeling of tropical flora, feed the 200-plus feathered hawks that inhabit this park, or simply sit under a tree and watch people.

Get a Natural-Florida Experience at Flamingo Gardens

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Interested in exploring the native Florida landscapes? The famous Flamingo Gardens should be your next destination. Flamingo Gardens boasts itself as home to the largest collection of Florida native wildlife. Here, the lush green gardens and fascinating wildlife would take you back to how Florida looked like back in 1933. The garden is known for its botanical gardens with more than 3,000 different plants and flower species, and for its wildlife sanctuary that houses injured & sick animals. Take a stroll through the city’s oldest botanical gardens and cherish the beauty of the 18 “Champion” trees.

Take in the heavenly beauty of its themed botanical gardens including Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden, Tom Coffey Aranda Garden, Croton Garden, and Bromeliad Garden. Enjoy interacting with the alligators, bobcats, eagles, otters, panthers, peacocks, and flamingos at the wildlife sanctuary. Don’t miss out on a sneak peek into life in South Florida in the 1930s at Wray Home Museum tucked within a hammock of 200-year-old oaks!

Ogle Art at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale

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Got an unending flare for arts? NSU Art Museum has a lot to appease the art-lover in you. Spanning over 85,000-square-foot, this museum is home to more than 7,500 works encompassing all facets of civilizations of South Florida and Cuba, among other places. You’ll find so much to do here. Interact with the exhibits on display at the museum’s 25,000 square feet of exhibition space, take a seat at the 256-seat auditorium and watch visual artistic displays, get caffeinated at the Museum Café, and buy souvenirs from Museum Store for yourself and your loved ones back home. Don’t forget to pose some clicks to let your social media friends know about your visit to this iconic art place!

Take an Airboat Ride at Everglades Park

(Credit: Everglades National Park / Facebook)

Your visit to Florida is incomplete without paying a visit to the picturesque ecosystem at Everglades Park - the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. You’ll come across plenty of things to do here and enjoy your time. Take an airboat ride through the wilderness, and know about the local wildlife in greater detail, including alligators, turtles, panthers, pythons, and storks.

Enjoy the privilege to interact with some of the rare and endangered species here including the manatee, American crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther. A hike along the Big Cypress National Preserve would be a bonus. Excitingly, you may come across the opportunity to hold a baby alligator!

Hop on a Carrie B Sightseeing Cruise

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Feel like Fort Lauderdale has too much to see in a short time? Sightseeing Cruises can help save time, and still see it all! You’ll find plenty of cruise service providers offering different tours through the city’s waterways and canals. Carrie B Boat Cruise is one of the best cruises to hop on and see more in less time.

Hop on a Carrie B and take in all that come along your way through downtown Fort Lauderdale – ranging from Intracoastal Waterway and into Port Everglades through destinations that include Bahia Mar Marina, Hyatt Pier 66, and the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Grande.

Kayak through the Seven Isles

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If you’re seeking enriching places in Fort Lauderdale, Sevens Isles (also known as Venetian Isles) are a no-miss-at-all! As you hop on a kayak trip through these isles unwinding through the heart of the city, you’ll experience the magic of the city from a new perspective. Your trip would be filled with fascinating views of mansions, mega yachts, sailboats, mangroves, and marine & bird life – making it a memorable trip altogether. You can also extend your trip further out of town by adding a snorkeling experience in the waters of the Florida Keys to your kayak tour.

Go on an Adventure Spree at Gulfstream Park

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One of the best destinations to experience the vibrant Fort Lauderdale life is paying a visit to Gulfstream Park - an open-air retail, dining, horse racing, and entertainment destination. Located at Hallandale Beach, this park has everything from racing tracks to tranquil dining places, and from wagering & casinos to shopping. Don’t miss out on famous South Florida's premier thoroughbred horse race if you happen to visit the park in January.

Head to the park casino for never-ending thrilling fun at state-of-the-art slots and electronic table games! Feeling like a shopaholic? Visit the high-end fashion outlets including Allure Showroom, Atelier Couture, and Envy, and appease your high shopping sense. Other shopping avenues you’ll find here include art pieces, home furnishings, housewares, and health & beauty. With so many fun things to shop for, you’re destined to shop here till you drop!

Feel Heavenly at Butterfly World

(Credit: Butterfly World / Facebook

Eyeing a one-of-its-kind nature experience in Fort Lauderdale? A visit to the city’s famous Butterfly World wouldn’t leave you disappointed. Located in Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, Butterfly World boats itself to be the largest butterfly park in the world with more than 20,000 live butterflies.

As you walk through one of its 6 Free-Flight Aviaries, you’d find yourself surrounded by frolic butterflies of different sizes & colors. Feels like a dream? Turn this heavenly dream into a reality at the Butterfly World.

Shop in at Las Olas Boulevard

(Credit: Las Olas Boulevard / Facebook)

Got a flare for shopping from places you visit? Las Olas Boulevard should be your next stop in Fort Lauderdale. At this 2.5-mile east-west thoroughfare lined with towering palm trees, you’ll find plenty of Shops, art galleries, sidewalk cafes, bars, and restaurants that have everything to appease your shopaholic-ness and foodie-ness.

Explore the shops lined up on each side of the street, browse for souvenirs for yourself and your loved ones, treat yourself with a leisurely brunch at a sidewalk café, shop your dream attire from fashion houses, pick signed posters of famous rock groups, and feel delighted by whatever you discover along the way!

Get Enchanted at Bonnet House Museum and Gardens

(Credit: Bonnet House Museum & Gardens / Facebook)

Would you like a sneak peek into what the beachfront estate of South Florida looked like in the 1930s and 40s? Head to Bonnet House Museum & Gardens! This beachfront estate-turned-museum spanning over 35 acres was once a winter home of American artists Frederic Clay Bartlett and Evelyn Bartlett and takes its name ‘Bonnet’ from the bonnet lily that grows in the slough. With its unique blend of art and whimsy, you’ll have so much to do here.

Feel the quintessential Floridan vibes at the pristine beachfront, explore the decorative and fine art pieces in the Main House, stroll through the annexed art gallery & appreciate the artistic displays, hike up the adjoining ‘natural trail’ to appease your love for nature, get naughty with the monkeys that inhabit museums garden trees, interact with the manatees in brackish wetlands in the west – all in all, brace yourself for an enjoyable and enriching cultural experience at this museum!

Get Sandy at Deerfield Beach

(Credit: Deerfield Beach Florida / Official Website)

Regarded as one of South Florida’s finest beaches, Deerfield Beach is another must-visit beach in Fort Lauderdale. With its expansive golden sandy shore, boardwalk vistas, restaurants, water parks, and historic places, Deerfield Beach has so much to offer to fill your day with exciting stuff. Take a stroll through the beach and let Floridan winds add frizz to your hair. Play beach volleyball, kitesurf, or skim board.

Paddleboard or surf the calm waters adjoining the beach. Spend a day full of water sports at the Island Water Sports. Stroll through the Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier, hang along the pier fence, and take in the beauty of blue waters beneath. Have some water splash at Quiet Waters Park. Explore the Butler House, a 1923 Spanish mission-style home. Don’t miss out on the Renaissance Festival if you happen to visit the place in Feb or March.

Take a Walking Tour to Hollywood Art Murals

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A fun way to explore Fort Lauderdale is by taking a walking tour of the Downtown Hollywood Mural Project (DHMP). Located in Broward County, DHMP invited the world’s most celebrated graffiti artists to showcase their immaculate artistry on this area's alleys, street corners and even parking garages. As you begin your walking tour, you’d be awestruck by the vibrant-colored giant murals.

Gaze upon these murals for a while, and you’d be amazed by your mind’s capacity to give different meanings to the same mural! Don’t forget to pose along these murals offering some killer backgrounds for pictures! A side note: download Florida’s Hollywood app for a self-guided tour with directions if you intend to explore it on your own!

Spend a Fun Day at the Museum of Discovery and Science

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The Museum of Discovery & Science is a must-visit if you’re accompanied by your little peeps. Spanning over 34,000 square feet, the museum is home to more than 200 dynamic hands-on exhibits. In addition, the museum’s outdoor Science Park has everything to intrigue the young physicist in your little ones. The Hangar, an aviation-themed Makerspace, will be your favorite if you’ve got a flare for aviation. Don’t forget to take your little ones to the Sprouting STEM Early Childhood Learning Lab. You’d also love experiencing the hurricane-force winds in the Storm Center.

Apart from this, you’ll also come across the opportunity to dig & unveil fossils at the giant prehistoric megalodon, experience augmented reality (AR) visualizing Dino Dana and her friends, and interact with a saber-toothed cat. Soar through the skies and travel to Mars in an FA-18 cockpit simulator. Enjoy a unique film adventure at the six-story-high 3D theatre. Don’t miss out on the delightful sights of frolic North American river otters in the museum’s two-story indoor/outdoor habitat.

Spend a Beach Day at Pompano Beach

It would be unjust to conclude your Fort Lauderdale trip without a sandy beach experience. Head to Pompano Beach in the North of Fort Lauderdale for a sandy outing. Though the beach is known for its exciting array of water sports including snorkeling, scuba diving, and paddle boarding, there’s a lot more to do here. Take a stroll through the pompano-fish-shaped Fisher Family Pier, a 900 feet long pier designated for strolling, people-watching, and fishing.

Explore the artificial reefs and art installations at the Shipwreck Park. Charter a fleet for sport fishing at Hillsboro Inlet Fishing Center and go on a deep-sea fishing spree for Sailfish, Mahi, Kingfish, Wahoo, Swordfish, and Bottom Fish. Enjoy some adrenaline-pumping adventures at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. Don’t miss out on a concert at The Amp (depending on your visit time).

Take a Water Taxi through Fort Lauderdale Waterways

(Credit: Carrie B Cruises / Facebook)

While being in ‘Venice of America’ (nickname of Fort Lauderdale), you cannot lose the opportunity to explore heavenly waterfronts aboard a water taxi. Fort Lauderdale is known for its intricate network of waterways with more than 300 miles of canals weaving through the heart of the city. Hop on a water taxi and navigate through these canals to explore Fort Lauderdale from an entirely new perspective. You’ll come across many taxi service providers offering different tours through the city’s waterways.

One of the best tours passing through most of the notable points of the city is the Carrie B. Cruise. This cruise will take you on a 90-minute water tour from downtown Ft Lauderdale’s New River Docks to the Intracoastal Waterway and Port Everglades. As you unweave through the city’s waterways aboard a Carrie B. Cruise, you’ll come across Millionaire’s Row, Bahia Mar Marina, Hyatt Pier 66, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Grande, and much more!

Explore the Magnificent Pembroke Pines

(Credit: Pembroke Pines / Official Website)

Located at a drive of about 20 minutes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Pembroke Pines is a great place to visit. With its thrilling parks, themed gardens, nature preserves and malls, this place definitely has something for everyone, whether you’re traveling with friends, your loved one, or on a solo trip. Go on an adventure spree at the C.B.

Smith Park and/or Paradise Cove Water Park, enjoy a shopping spree at high-end stores at the Pembroke Gardens, spot bald eagles in wild at the Pembroke Pines Bald Eagle Nest, take a nature-filled walk along the Chapel Trail Park Nature Preserve, appease the shopaholic in you at the Pembroke Lakes Mall, skate the Pines Ice Arena, explore and pose along the Pembroke Pines 911 Memorial steel sculptures, and ogle art exhibits & displays in the Frank Gallery. The thrilling Nexus Escape Room should definitely be on-theme if you’re accompanied by your family & friends.

Get All the Energy Out at Xtreme Action Park

(Credit: Xtreme Action Park / Facebook)

Eyeing a spot where you can go on an adventure spree with your family & friends? Head to the Xtreme Action Park located on Powerline Road. Heralded as the Largest Indoor Entertainment Venue in Florida, the Xtreme Action Park abounds in thrilling adventures to test your mettle. Get a “real” racing experience at Pro Kart Racing. Well-versed in racing at higher speeds? Consider Super Cart Racing in special fleet of Super 9HP karts that can reach up to 65MPH. Roll a ball on the Bowling Lanes with designated projection screens, LED lighting, and touchscreen monitors.

Get your game on in the Arcade Game Room and challenge your friends on over 100 interactive games. Climb up the park’s Sky High Ropes Course and test your climbing skills & stamina. Go on a skating spree at the Arena Roller Rink with a cool color light show and a custom DJ booth. Enter the Evolution Escape Room with your travel partners and solve puzzles & unlock mysteries together. Don’t forget to check out different themed events such as Spring and Fall Race Series, Twisted Tuesdays, and Super Smash Ultimate Tournament. With so many things to do & experience, you’ll feel like being spoiled for choice here!

Hop on Sun Trolley for Free City Tour

(Credit: Sun Trolley / Facebook)

Looking for easy-on-budget ways to explore the city? Fare-free Sun Trolley can be a super budget-friendly option! Sun Trolley is a free, fixed-route community bus service offering a fun & convenient trip through the city through Fort Lauderdale Beach, the Galt Ocean Mile, and along historic Las Olas Boulevard. What’s more? You can hop-off the bus at your favorite destination, explore the area, and hop-on the next available Sun Trolley to travel to your next destination – and that too for Free!

Listen to Stories of Time at Stranahan House Museum

(Credit: Historic Stranahan House Museum / Facebook)

Interested in exploring the roots of the city of Fort Lauderdale? Head to the Stranahan House Museum & listen to the tales of Floridan settlement & expansion. Built in 1901 by Fort Lauderdale’s founding father i.e., Frank Stranahan, the Stranahan House Museum is regarded as the oldest surviving structure in Broward County. Over time, the House has served as a trading post, town hall, post office, and bank. Enter its wood-frame vernacular structure and allow yourself to travel back in time. The stunning view of the New River from its pristine windows would awestruck you. You’ll feel like the walls, windows, and doors are telling you the tales of time the Floridan people have survived.

Experience Family Fun at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park

(Credit: Park Recreation – City of Fort Lauderdale / Official Website)

Seeking a family fun-filled day in Fort Lauderdale? Consider Fort Lauderdale Beach Park for a perfect family beach day with a lot more than just lounging and swimming. You and your family members will have so much to do here – from playing basketball at parks designated basketball courts to non-motorized boat ramp & outdoor showers.

Cook a meal together with your family at the grills, and enjoy some quality family time at the park’s pavilions while savoring the food you just cooked together. Build sand castles and pose for perfect family pictures together. You’ll also find plenty of shopping & dining options across the street to refuel yourself and go on a shopping spree!

Connect with Nature at Hillsboro Beach

(Credit: Jeffrey Grunt/Facebook)

There is no better way to explore a coastal city like Fort Lauderdale than visiting its sandy beaches and taking in the beauty of glistening water meeting the skyline. To experience this, make your way to Hillsboro Beach, one of the most calming beaches of Greater Fort Lauderdale. What makes this 3-mile-long beach special is that it is still immune from commercial properties, making it one of the best beaches to commune with mother nature.

Take a barefoot stroll through the serene expanses of sand. You may come across nests of leatherback, loggerhead, and sea turtles along the way (particularly if you visit the beach sometime between March & October). Go for a water splash in the ocean and search for seashells. Take a warming sun-soaked nap under the blue skies. Climb up the 138-foot-tall Hillsboro Lighthouse to take in uninterrupted views of the sea and city skyline. Or simply sit back and take in the beauty of crimson sunset hues in the evening.

Experience Florida’s Best Beach Getaway at Hallandale Beach

(Credit: Sirky Medina/ Facebook)

One of the best ways to experience the authentic Floridan beach vibes is to pay a visit to Hallandale Beach. Located at the southern end of Greater Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach has everything to make your beach escape a perfect one! As you step onto its laid-back sandy swathes, you’ll feel a clear, pristine, peaceful beach vibe. Enjoy a sandy walk along the beach and take in the magnificent beauty of the shoreline.

Spice up your adventure at one of the two beach parks located here: South City and North City. You can also take your adventure to next level at Joseph Scavo Park or Gulfstream Park located at walking distance. Get your game on at the Big Easy Casino. Get sporty at the designated golf & tennis courts on the beach. Once you’re done with these adrenaline-filled adventures, sit back on the sand and rejuvenate yourself with the soothing sunset hues on the beach skyline!

Enjoy Performance at Broward Center for Performing Arts

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To get more out of your Fort Lauderdale visit, add Broward Center for Performing Arts to your to-visit-list! Overlooking the New River, this multi-venue performing arts center presents more than 700 performances each year ranging from Broadway Musicals & Operas to Ballets & Concerts, and from plays & cultural performances to educational events. Pick your favorite genre of performing arts, have a seat at its performance hall, and brace yourself for some of the finest art performances! Let yourself get lost in the scene until the curtain drops to being you back to reality!

Have a Blast at Bluefoot Pirate Adventures

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A fun way to spend a day in Fort Lauderdale is to get into pirates’ shoes for a treasure hunt at Bluefoot Pirate Adventures. The place is a must-visit especially if you’re on a Fort Lauderdale trip with your little peeps – though the adventure is equally fun for youngsters and adults. As you arrive here, you’d be dressed up in pirate attire. You’ll also have the opportunity to take lessons in pirate slang and get your faces painted to make the pirate feel more authentic.

As you hop on the cruise and set sail, you’d be given a briefing about the local history. Along the way, you’ll discover a message in a bottle with clues about the key to the treasure. The adventure ends with a battle on the high seas with real water cannons. All in all, you’d surely hop off the Bluefoot Cruise with an experience that will not soon be forgotten.

Go off the Beaten Path Dania Beach

Looking for a nature-filled beach experience? The unhurried and laid-back Dania Beach should be your destination in the town. Located a mile away from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, this 8-square-mile beach has everything you’d be having on-list for a fun beach day. Stroll the Dania Beach Fishing Pier and drop a line into the ocean for sportfish like tarpon and snook. Alternatively, enjoy a surf fishing on a cruise. Go for a variety of watersports at the Dr. Von D.

Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park including paddling, swimming, shore diving, and boating. Check out the antique shops at the Federal Highway and hunt for promising souvenirs. Enjoy the craft pours at the nearby located Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts. With its famous steakhouses, bakeries, ice cream parlours, cafes, restaurants, and breweries, the beach is also a food lover’s paradise. Don’t miss out on the authentic Holocaust artifacts at the Holocaust Documentation & Education Center!

Shop Till You Drop at Sawgrass Mills

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Shopping is always on top of list, no matter what city you’re visiting – so is the case with Fort Lauderdale visit. Sawgrass Mills, a premier outlet shopping mall in South Florida has it all you might be having on your Fort Lauderdale shopping list. What’s more? You’ll come across amazing discount offers at name-brand outlets and value stores here, making your shopping spree an easy-on-budget.

For luxury shopping, explore the Colonnade Outlets featuring full-price retailers. Have some movie time at the mall’s Regal Sawgrass & IMAX theatres. Treat your taste buds with some of the yummiest cuisines in the town at the mall’s exquisite dining options. Altogether, your day at Sawgrass Mills will be fun-packed with shopping, dining, movie-watching, and entertainment!

Take Fire & Safety Lesson at Fort Lauderdale Fire and Safety Museum

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A unique way to explore Fort Lauderdale is to get some fire safety lessons at its iconic Fire and Safety Museum and pay tribute to Fort Lauderdale Fire Department heroes. Located on West Las Olas Boulevard, this museum highlights nearly 100 years of history, tradition, advancement, and service of the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department. Explore the photos, videos, and historic uniforms on display. Get up & close with the historic equipment & historic vehicles.

Listen to the tales of some of the most challenging fires and emergencies faced by firefighters. Engage in exciting Special Group Fire Safety Education Programs that abreast the participants about fire, medical, and severe weather preparedness. Don’t forget to pose along the historic equipment & vehicles and let your social media friends know about your unique adventure here!

Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum

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Got a flare for antique car collections? Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum should be your next stop. This museum has everything to appease the motor enthusiast in you! Originally a reproduction of a Packard showroom from the 1920s, this museum is dedicated to showcase the advancement of American automotive industry during the pre-war era. Packed with vintage pre-war Packard automobiles and other memorabilia ranging from 1909 Packard Model 18 Speedster to a 1947 Packard Model 2111, you’ll find this place emanating some authentic pre-war era vibes. Check out the art galleries dedicated to late President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Don’t forget to pose for photos with vintage cars in the background! 

To put it all together, your visit to the Venice of America will surely be a not-so-easy-to-forget visit! With its never-ending list of to-do things & to-explore destinations, you’d always feel like missing out on something worthwhile! So, invest all your time & energy in exploring the city and enjoying its tourism wonders. Our guided tour can help ensure you see it all without losing time in arranging conveyance, tickets, reserving slots etc. Explore our Fort Lauderdale Tours Now and select from our top-rated tours now!