Where to Stay in Fort Lauderdale (2026)

Top tips for Fort Lauderdale

Image from Pixabay

The Quick Answer

• The best neighbourhoods for a beach break: Central Beach, Coral Ridge, Wilton Manors, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
• The best neighbourhoods for families: Central Beach, Coral Ridge, Rio Vista, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
• The best neighbourhoods for fun: Las Olas, Central Beach, Wilton Manors

Table of Contents

Fort Lauderdale is a buzzy beach destination in Florida, popular with the yachting set, families and groups. It’s a city that’s spread out, to encompass some of the smaller surrounding beach towns, and close to Central Beach and the centre of town are a series of canals that give the city even more of a waterfront vibe. The palm-lined promenade and long stretches of sandy beach are the stuff of classic beach breaks, great for surfing, swimming and beach volleyball. Back from the beach are the shops, restaurants and bars that give Fort Lauderdale its reputation as a good place to let your hair down. And offshore are the opportunities to sail, fish, or sea kayak.  

A Visitor’s Guide to the Neighbourhoods of Fort Lauderdale

Via Googlemaps

Fort Lauderdale’s expansion means its neighbourhoods are really varied. Central Beach has a huge stretch of sand, and numerous accommodation choices, while downtown neighbourhood, Las Olas, has the shopping, entertainment and galleries. Family-friendly Lauderdale-by-the-Sea sounds like it’s the same place, but is actually three miles north of Fort Lauderdale Beach, and feels even further: it’s an undeveloped gem of a beach town, with lots of independent accommodation. If you like a more residential feel, consider Victoria Park, which is one of Fort Lauderdale's oldest districts, or quirkier Wilton Manors, which has lots of green space, and a great independent shopping and restaurant scene.  If you’re a golfer consider Coral Ridge.

Central Beach

Image by Rolando Otero from Pixabay

Central Beach is known for its miles of sand; there are about seven miles in total. It's close to one end of Las Olas Boulevard, which is where many of Fort Lauderdale’s most luxurious shops, restaurants, bars and clubs, and art galleries can be found. Strolling the palm-lined promenade is a good way to pick your perfect stretch of beach without getting your feet too hot, and is lined with cafes, restaurants and beach shops. Some of the tiki bars and hotel bars turn into nightclubs as the evenings progress, but there are plenty of more relaxed entertainment options too, and lots of seafood restaurants. If you stay in the Central Beach area, local attractions include the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens (which is a large, historic estate of 35 acres) and the International Swimming Pool Hall of Fame. You'll also find a range of boat tours, pirate experiences, watersports providers and galleries. 

Las Olas/ Isles 

Image by Andrew Becks from Pixabay

The neighbourhood of Las Olas surrounds the Las Olas Boulevard, the mile-and-a-half-long main street which runs between downtown Fort Lauderdale and Central Beach. The Boulevard is where you’ll find much of Fort Lauderdale’s luxury shopping, dining and entertainment. it may be long, but it's very walkable, with elegant shaded areas and plenty of places to stop for a break. However, some of the neighbourhood’s nicest features are off the Boulevard: Fort Lauderdale’s canal system and some of the incredible real estate, floating and not, that line their banks. 

Coral Ridge

Image by Valerii Iavtushenko from Pixabay

Coral Ridge is a lovely neighbourhood for families. It's a good place to start if you want to rent an entire holiday home; you may even find some with waterfront views, because some bits of Coral Ridge have direct ocean access. It also has a public boat launch in George English Park, a 100-acre expanse with a pond and tennis courts. Coral Ridge’s second park, Birch State Park, is even larger and wilder, with hiking and biking trails, a fishing pier, a butterfly garden and opportunities to hire watercraft. The area also features a golf course and country club.

Victoria Park

By Flickr user Pascal VERSACI

Victoria Park is next to Central Beach and Las Olas, and is one of Fort Lauderdale’s most historically significant neighbourhoods; around 30% of the city’s historically significant properties are here. Some of these are the area’s original holiday cottages, as well as major mansions and estates. This is certainly the neighbourhood for “Old Florida” charm, luxury and mature-tree-lined streets. Victoria Park is also known for Holiday Park, a major public park with tennis courts, sports fields, running and cycling tracks, and the Parker Playhouse. Confusingly, the area also has a “Victoria Park”, which is tiny, but definitely the one to go to for watersports.  Victoria Park has a couple of local attractions too: the Stonewall National Museum and Archives, and the Museum of Discovery and Science. 

Wilton Manors

By Flickr user Elvert Barnes

Wilton Manors is often referred to as “Island City” because it’s almost completely surrounded by the Middle River and its canals. This is a great neighbourhood for visitors because it has a fantastic food and drink scene, it’s close to the beach, and it’s got a great range of accommodation that includes entire holiday homes and villas, but also small resorts, boutique hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses. Wilton Drive is the area’s main street where you'll find art galleries and independent boutiques, as well as cafes, bars and restaurants. The other local attraction is Colohatchee Park, a community park with a mangrove forest.  

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

By Flickr user julie corsi

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a fishing town on a barrier island 15 miles north of central Fort Lauderdale. At under two metres above sea level, the town is pleasingly flat, and there are no high-rise buildings on the beachfront to block the view, either.  In fact, there’s a strict limit on building here, with nothing allowed over three storeys, and plenty of midcentury architecture.  The barrier reef is under a hundred metres from the shoreline, so you can dive right from the shore, which is why Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is also known as the “Shore Diving Capital of Florida”. Just off the beach is the wreck of the SS Copenhagen, a 19th century British steam ship wrecked in 1900. The shoreline itself is long and relatively pristine, so this is a wonderful place for a family beach break. It’s also a great place to try sea-kayaking or paddleboarding, as well as diving or snorkelling. There are plenty of parks, great places to eat and drink, and a relaxed shopping scene.