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7 Days · in Fort Lauderdale
Seven Days in Fort Lauderdale: The Complete City Itinerary
A full week lets you experience Fort Lauderdale the way residents do, blending marquee sights with slower waterfront days. The first five days cover downtown and the New River, the barrier-island beach, the creative energy of Wilton Manors, the Everglades and western suburbs, and the laid-back north beaches. Days six and seven then reach the Latin flavors of Hollywood Beach, the parks and piers of Dania, the Museum of Discovery and Science, and the shops of Sawgrass Mills. You'll eat across the region's signature traditions, stone crab, conch fritters, Cuban sandwiches, and fresh mahi-mahi, and see its art, gardens, and canals. Each day stays geographically tight, so a week feels immersive rather than exhausting.
Day 01
The New River, Riverwalk & Las Olas
Downtown galleries, a narrated harbor tour, a historic home, and Las Olas dining.
Morning
Las Olas Boulevard
Start along Las Olas Boulevard, browsing its galleries, boutiques, and sidewalk cafés, the perfect orientation to downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Late Morning
NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale
Spend two hours with the museum's William Glackens collection, its CoBrA holdings, and rotating shows, just off Las Olas.
Lunch
Riverwalk
Lunch along the New River's Riverwalk with yachts and water taxis gliding past, moments from the afternoon dock.
Afternoon
Carrie B Harbor Tour
Board the Carrie B riverboat for the city's best primer on this 'Venice of America,' narrated past the mansions of Millionaire's Row.
Late Afternoon
Stranahan House Museum
Tour the 1901 Stranahan House, the oldest surviving structure in the city, perched right on the riverbank downtown.
Evening
Fresh seafood dinner
Close with a fresh Florida seafood dinner, from stone crab to grouper, toasting your first day.
Day 02
The Beach & A1A
A historic estate, a barrier-island park, and the palm-lined oceanfront promenade.
Morning
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
Tour this 1920s estate and its subtropical grounds, orchids, and resident squirrel monkeys just steps from the ocean.
Late Morning
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
Walk the maritime hammock trails and freshwater lagoon at this green oasis wedged between the Intracoastal and the sea.
Lunch
A1A beachfront
Grab a casual lunch along A1A with the Atlantic and the signature wavy beach wall beside you.
Afternoon
Fort Lauderdale Beach
Relax on the wide sand and swim the calm Atlantic at the heart of the city's famous shoreline.
Late Afternoon
Beachfront promenade
Stroll the palm-lined promenade as the light softens, a leisurely counterpoint to the busy day.
Evening
Seabreeze strip dinner
Dine at a beachfront restaurant along the Sunrise or Seabreeze strip, with options from raw bars to modern American.
Day 03
Wilton Manors & the Middle River
Independent shops, murals, a mangrove park, and a lively dining and nightlife scene.
Morning
Wilton Drive
Stroll Wilton Drive through the heart of Wilton Manors, one of the country's most welcoming LGBTQ+ communities.
Late Morning
Island City boutiques
Browse the independent shops, galleries, and cafés lining the Drive, and spot murals on the side streets.
Lunch
Rosie's Bar & Grill
Grab lunch on Rosie's patio or choose from the neighborhood's many well-loved casual spots.
Afternoon
Colohatchee Park boardwalk
Wander the mangrove boardwalk along the Middle River for a shady, unhurried afternoon by the water.
Evening
Wilton Manors dinner
Dine along Wilton Drive among some of the area's best independent restaurants.
Evening
Cocktail nightcap
End with a drink at a Wilton Drive bar and the district's laid-back, festive energy.
Day 04
The Everglades & the Western Suburbs
An airboat ride, native wildlife, tropical gardens, and a butterfly aviary.
Morning
Everglades Holiday Park
Glide across the sawgrass on an airboat to spot alligators, herons, and turtles at the edge of the River of Grass.
Late Morning
Alligator presentation
Catch the park's live alligator show and learn about the Everglades ecosystem before heading back east.
Lunch
Davie
Lunch in ranch-country Davie, with barbecue and casual spots a short drive from the gardens.
Afternoon
Flamingo Gardens
Explore this 60-acre wildlife sanctuary and botanical garden, home to Florida panthers, flamingos, and a soaring free-flight aviary.
Late Afternoon
Butterfly World
Cap the day at this aviary in Coconut Creek, the largest butterfly park in the country, filled with thousands of species under netting.
Evening
Suburban dinner
Enjoy dinner on the way back, from Latin cuisine to fresh seafood, before returning to the coast.
Day 05
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea & the North Beaches
A shore-diveable reef, historic fishing piers, and laid-back seaside towns.
Morning
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea reef
Snorkel the living coral reef just off the sand at Datura Avenue, one of the few reefs reachable straight from a Florida beach.
Late Morning
Anglin's Fishing Pier
Walk the historic Anglin's Fishing Pier and watch anglers work the surf along the town's low-key beachfront.
Lunch
Commercial Boulevard
Lunch among the casual cafés and seafood shacks clustered where Commercial Boulevard meets the ocean.
Afternoon
Deerfield Beach
Drive north to Deerfield Beach for clear water and a Blue Wave-certified shoreline.
Late Afternoon
Deerfield Beach Pier
Stroll the International Fishing Pier for open-water views and a classic Florida seaside atmosphere.
Evening
Waterfront dinner
Enjoy a north-county dinner of fresh catch and key lime pie before heading back south.
Day 06
Hollywood Beach & Dania
A famous oceanfront Broadwalk, Latin flavors, a state park, and a classic pier.
Morning
Hollywood Beach Broadwalk
Start on the brick Broadwalk, a two-and-a-half-mile oceanfront promenade lined with cafés, shops, and cyclists.
Late Morning
Broadwalk beachfront
Swim the gentle Atlantic and browse the surf shops and ice cream stands along the pedestrian path.
Lunch
Cuban lunch on the Broadwalk
Enjoy a Cuban sandwich, empanadas, or a café con leche at one of the Broadwalk's family-run Latin spots.
Afternoon
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park
Head to this Dania Beach state park for mangrove trails, a jetty, and quiet stretches of protected shoreline.
Late Afternoon
IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum
Visit the International Game Fish Association museum in Dania Beach for its interactive galleries and record catches.
Evening
Dania dinner
Book dinner in Dania Beach or Hollywood, from stone crab houses to Latin kitchens.
Day 07
Museum of Discovery, Sawgrass & Farewell
Hands-on science, historic downtown, outlet shopping, and flexible time for favorites.
Morning
Museum of Discovery and Science
Explore the Everglades habitats, storm exhibits, and hands-on galleries at this downtown museum, then catch an AutoNation IMAX film.
Late Morning
Historic Himmarshee District
Browse the Himmarshee District along Southwest Second Street, one of downtown's oldest and liveliest blocks.
Lunch
Downtown lunch
Lunch downtown near the Riverwalk, with options from tacos to modern American a short walk from the museum.
Afternoon
Sawgrass Mills
Drive to Sunrise for Sawgrass Mills, one of the largest outlet and retail centers in the country.
Late Afternoon
Riverwalk & Las Olas
Return for a final leisurely walk along the Riverwalk and Las Olas, revisiting a favorite gallery or café.
Evening
Farewell dinner downtown
End the week with a favorite Fort Lauderdale meal, stone crab, fresh grouper, or key lime pie, before departing.