Fort Lauderdale · Florida, USA
Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale: Tours, Tickets & Boat Trips
The best things to do in Fort Lauderdale, ranked by real traveller reviews: hop on and off the Water Taxi through the Venice of America, cruise Millionaires’ Row on the Jungle Queen, ride an airboat through the Everglades, parasail off the beach, sail into the sunset, eat through Las Olas on a food tour and stroll the Wave Wall promenade along Fort Lauderdale Beach. Compare 480+ tours, tickets and day trips side by side — most with free cancellation.
517 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Fort Lauderdale
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Fort Lauderdale
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Fort Lauderdale by interest
Whatever brings you to Fort Lauderdale — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Canal cruises
Venice of America.
ExploreEverglades airboat
Alligator wildlife.
ExploreWatersports
Parasail & jet ski.
ExploreFishing charters
Deep-sea action.
ExploreBahamas cruises
Island day trips.
ExploreMiami & Keys
South Florida.
ExploreBeach & city
Sun & fun.
ExploreSunset sails
Evening cruises.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Fort Lauderdale
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Venice of America
Scenic canals.
110+ toursView tours
Fort Lauderdale Beach
Golden sands.
60 toursView tours
Everglades
Airboat wildlife.
80 toursView tours
Watersports
Parasail & jet ski.
80 toursView tours
Water Taxi
Hop-on boats.
70 toursView tours
Key West
Island day trip.
50 toursView tours
Bahamas
Island cruises.
50 toursView tours
Las Olas
Dining & shops.
50 toursView tours
3 days
Fort Lauderdale in 3 days
- 1Day 1: canals & beach
- 2Day 2: Everglades
- 3Day 3: Bahamas or Miami
- 4Sunset sail
On the water
Fort Lauderdale on the water
- 1Canal cruise
- 2Parasailing
- 3Reef snorkel
- 4Sunset sail
With kids
Fort Lauderdale with kids
- 1Water taxi
- 2Everglades airboat
- 3Beach time
- 4Flamingo Gardens
~45 min awayEverglades
Airboat wildlife.
from $60View trips
~45 min awayMiami
South Beach & city.
from $70View trips
Full day awayKey West
Island escape.
from $100View trips
Day cruise awayBimini, Bahamas
Island getaway.
from $130View trips
Local awayOffshore Reef
Snorkel & dive.
from $55View trips
~30 min awayFlamingo Gardens
Wildlife & botanicals.
from $30View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Fort Lauderdale visitor asks before booking.
Winter (Dec–Apr)
The best time, with warm, dry, sunny days — peak season for beaches and cruises.
Spring (Mar–May)
Warm and pleasant, with fewer crowds after the winter peak.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Hot and humid with afternoon storms; great value and warm seas.
Hurricane season
August to October carries the highest storm risk; travel insurance is wise.
Best for fishing
Winter is prime for sailfish, while spring and summer bring mahi-mahi and tuna.
Peak season
December to April is busiest, with the best weather and liveliest atmosphere.
One day
A canal cruise and the beach.
Three days
Add the Everglades and a day trip.
Five days
Add the Keys, Miami and the Bahamas.
Water lovers
Cruises, watersports and fishing.
Nature lovers
The Everglades and Flamingo Gardens.
With kids
Water taxis, airboats and the beach.
Water taxi
The hop-on water taxi is a fun, scenic way to reach waterfront sights and restaurants.
Tours & transfers
Guided tours with pickup are easiest for the Everglades, Miami and the Keys.
Rental car
A car is handy for exploring the wider Gold Coast and day trips.
Beach & Las Olas
The beach promenade and Las Olas Boulevard are pleasant to explore on foot.
Getting there
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is close to the beach and downtown.
Brightline
The Brightline train links Fort Lauderdale with Miami and Orlando quickly and comfortably.
US dollars
Fort Lauderdale uses the US dollar; cards are accepted almost everywhere, with tipping customary.
Book ahead
Everglades airboats, sunset cruises and Bahamas trips fill up in winter — reserve in advance.
Sun protection
The Florida sun is strong — bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and water.
Passport for the Bahamas
For Bahamas day cruises, bring your passport for the international crossing.
Bring a dry bag
A waterproof bag protects valuables on boat, snorkel and watersports tours.
Water taxi pass
An all-day water taxi pass is a great-value, scenic way to get around.
Canal & sunset cruises
Popular sightseeing and sunset cruises sell out — book ahead.
Everglades airboats
Airboat tours fill up in winter — reserve early.
Bahamas cruises
Day cruises to the Bahamas sell out — book ahead.
Fishing charters
Shared and private charters fill up — reserve early.
Key West trips
Long-distance day trips need planning — book ahead.
Winter dates
December to April is busiest — reserve everything well ahead.
Canal cruise
Around $25–45 for a Venice of America sightseeing cruise.
Everglades airboat
About $55–80 for an Everglades airboat tour with transport.
Parasailing
Roughly $50–90 for a parasailing adventure.
Fishing charter
Around $60–120 for a shared deep-sea fishing trip.
Bahamas cruise
About $130–200 for a Bahamas day cruise.
How to save
Use a water taxi pass, join group tours and travel in summer.
When to visit
Fort Lauderdale through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Winter (Dec–Apr)
Dec–Apr
- Best for
- Beaches & cruises.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book ahead.
Spring (Mar–May)
Mar–May
- Best for
- Warm, quieter.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great time.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Value & warm seas.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Humid, storms.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Sep–Nov
- Best for
- Quiet, cheap.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hurricane risk.
People also ask
Fort Lauderdale travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in Fort Lauderdale?
Ranked by traveller reviews: 1) the hop-on-hop-off Water Taxi through the canals, 2) the Jungle Queen riverboat along Millionaires’ Row, 3) the Fort Lauderdale Segway tour, 4) a drift-fishing trip off the coast, 5) an Everglades airboat tour with hotel pickup, 6) parasailing over Fort Lauderdale Beach, 7) the sightseeing cruise with a sandbar swim, 8) a sunset sailing charter, 9) the Las Olas food and drink tour and 10) Flamingo Gardens’ wildlife sanctuary and the Bonnet House.
How many days do you need in Fort Lauderdale?
Plan two to three days. Day one: the beach and the Wave Wall, then the Water Taxi from the beach stops to Las Olas and the Riverwalk, with dinner on Las Olas Boulevard. Day two: an early Everglades airboat ride, Flamingo Gardens on the way back, a sunset sail or the Jungle Queen dinner cruise. Day three: the Bonnet House and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, a Segway tour, the Museum of Discovery and Science with children or the NSU Art Museum, then Hollywood Beach’s Broadwalk at dusk.
What to do in Fort Lauderdale for free?
Fort Lauderdale Beach and its palm-lined Wave Wall, watching the cruise ships leave Port Everglades from the south end of the beach, Las Olas Boulevard, the Riverwalk and Esplanade Park, the Broadwalk in Hollywood, the Anne Kolb Nature Center’s observation tower, shore snorkelling on the reef at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Datura Avenue, the Dania Beach and Pompano piers (small fees), the FATVillage art walk on the last Saturday of the month and the Guitar Hotel’s nightly light show at the Seminole Hard Rock.
What are the best day trips from Fort Lauderdale?
The Everglades — Everglades Holiday Park and Sawgrass Recreation Park are 30 minutes away (airboat tours with pickup from about $75); Miami’s South Beach, Wynwood and Little Havana (40 minutes); the Bahamas by fast ferry to Bimini (two hours) or a day cruise; Key Largo and the Florida Keys (90 minutes); Boca Raton and Delray Beach (30–40 minutes); Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue and Flagler Museum (one hour); and Butterfly World in Coconut Creek (25 minutes).
What to do in Fort Lauderdale at night?
Dinner and bars on Las Olas Boulevard, the Jungle Queen dinner cruise with its variety show, a sunset sail or the Sea Rocket sunset cruise, the beachfront bars along A1A (the Elbo Room is the spring-break landmark), the Riverwalk and Himmarshee Village, the Seminole Hard Rock’s casino and Guitar Hotel light show, a night airboat tour listening for alligators, the Fallen Frights ghost tour, a show at the Broward Center or Parker Playhouse and Hollywood Beach’s Broadwalk bars.
What is there to do in Fort Lauderdale in winter?
Winter is peak season — sunny highs around 75°F, calm seas and every boat running. The Winterfest Boat Parade lights up the Intracoastal in mid-December, the International Boat Show fills the waterways in late October and early November, snowbirds pack Las Olas, and the Everglades are at their driest and best for wildlife. Book beachfront hotels early for February and March; spring break brings crowds to the beach in March.
What are the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale with kids?
The Museum of Discovery and Science with its IMAX and otters, Butterfly World, Flamingo Gardens’ alligators and flamingos, an Everglades airboat ride, the Water Taxi, the Jungle Queen, the calm swimming at Fort Lauderdale Beach and the Broadwalk in Hollywood, Xtreme Action Park’s go-karts and trampolines, the Bonnet House’s monkeys, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park’s bike trails and Sawgrass Mills’ shopping and the Rainforest Café.
When is the best time to visit Fort Lauderdale?
November to April — dry, warm and comfortable, with the boat parade, boat show and the Everglades’ dry-season wildlife. March is busy with spring break; December to February is the priciest. Summer is hot and humid with daily storms and warm, calm seas; hurricane season peaks in September, when prices are lowest.
Is the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi worth it?
Yes — the all-day pass (about $38) is both a narrated tour of the mega-yachts and Millionaires’ Row mansions and the easiest way to get between the beach, Las Olas Boulevard and the Riverwalk without parking, with more than 4,000 reviews. Ride the whole loop once for the commentary, then use it as transport; the sunset run is the prettiest.
517 Fort Lauderdale experiencesfrom $25 · free cancellation
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