Fort Lauderdale

The questions people ask first about Fort Lauderdale, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

• Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
• SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
• Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
• TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
• Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
• SafetyCentral tourist areas are busy and generally safe by day; use normal city sense at night, especially around the beach bars.

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

• Coffee$4–6
• Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, main courseAdd 18–22% tip and sales tax.$20–40
• Street or quick mealBeach-bar lunch (burger or tacos)$15–25
• BeerDraught beer at a bar$7–10
• Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Water taxi day passcheck$35–40
• Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Bonnet House, Museum of Discovery and Science)check$15–25
• Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personUS$45
• Mid-range bedDouble room, chain or boutique hotel, a night, per roomUS$200
• High-end bedDouble room, chain or boutique hotel, a night, per roomUS$420

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$170 · High US$320

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Airports

FLL Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International (About 3 km (1.9 mi) south of downtown; the closest and most convenient airport, with heavy low-cost and domestic service plus Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean routes.) · MIA Miami International (About 40 km (25 mi) south; the region's main long-haul gateway. Tri-Rail or a 40-min drive north, longer at rush hour.) · PBI Palm Beach International (About 70 km (43 mi) north; least convenient, but Tri-Rail links it to Fort Lauderdale.)FLL Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International (About 1.9 mi (3 km) south of downtown; the closest and most convenient airport, with heavy low-cost and domestic service plus Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean routes.) · MIA Miami International (About 25 mi (40 km) south; the region's main long-haul gateway. Tri-Rail or a 40-min drive north, longer at rush hour.) · PBI Palm Beach International (About 43 mi (70 km) north; least convenient, but Tri-Rail links it to Fort Lauderdale.)

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Budget

$90–150 excl. bed

Mid

$150–250 excl. bed

High

$250+ excl. bed

• Summer is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms; hurricane season runs late Jul–early Nov.
• The US 1 does not meet Las Olas Boulevard — it runs in a tunnel under the river and resurfaces at Broward Boulevard. Many maps get this wrong.
• Parking at the beach is expensive and fills early on weekends.
• Prices are shown before sales tax; tipping is expected (18–22% at sit-down restaurants).