Fort Lauderdale Visitor Guide 2024: Everything you need to know

When you catch a flight to Fort Lauderdale or are flying into Florida to board a cruise sailing out of the terminals at Port Everglades, you'll land at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. FLL as it's known for short is just a convenient five kilometers from the city's Downtown district and the port, so traveling on from there to your final destination won't take long.

The arrival and departure of both international and domestic flights with cruise passengers is one thing that keeps Fort Lauderdale ticking over. While it doesn't rival Miami Airport for passenger and aircraft traffic, there are still over thirty-five million people and several hundred thousand planes using the facility annually.

If you're going on a cruise and have packed everything but the kitchen sink, but have a while to wait before you can embark, don't get stuck with your bags. Stash them in with a luggage storage service near Fort Lauderdale Airport and head into the city to visit some of its interesting sights like the NSU Art Museum or go last-minute shopping on Las Olas Boulevard.

6 Best Ways to Experience Fort Lauderdale in 2024

Florida has no shortage of places to have fun on vacation, and so a city like Fort Lauderdale can sometimes slip under the radar. But for those who make their way to the city, there’s lots to explore. Once you’ve seen all the major sights, a guided tour can help you experience another side to the city. Drop off your unneeded bags at a Bounce luggage storage locker and enjoy one or more of these unique Florida experiences.

Best Segway tour — Segway Fort Lauderdale

Exploring a city on foot has its advantages, but it’s nowhere near as fun as rolling around on one of these unique vehicles. A Segway can let you see more of the city and have fun doing it, and this company provides interesting and informative tours of Fort Lauderdale. They’ll also help you get started on your Segway and learn how to drive it through the streets. As well as offering tours of the local sites of interest, they also offer food tours and other experiences — all on two wheels. You can contact them at segwayfortlauderdale@gmail.com or 19543045746.

Best active tour — SUP PUP Paddleboard Fort Lauderdale

If you’d like to burn some calories while seeing another side of the city, this is the perfect way to do it. SUP PUP lets you head out on a standup paddleboard to explore the waterways of Fort Lauderdale. You’ll be able to enjoy the great Florida weather and some of the local wildlife as you explore the Las Olas canals that act as the arteries of the city. Early birds will enjoy the sunrise tours, whereas night owls might find themselves more suited to the sunset tours. Either way, you’ll get to enjoy the natural beauty of the city while getting a workout. Contact them at info@suppupftl.com or 19542400639.

Best boat tour — Ecoboats

With its famous network of canals, Fort Lauderdale is ideal for aquatic exploration. As a result, there are plenty of companies that will take you on a boat tour of the city and its environment. If you want to minimize your ecological footprint, rent an eco-boat. These electrically powered boats don’t burn gas or emit fumes. Big enough to carry 12 people, you can hire a driver to take you to the best parts or captain the boat yourself. Enjoy the natural surroundings and know you’re doing your part not to contaminate them with an eco-boat. Contact them at hello@ecoboatsfl.com or 19545000326.

Best bike tour — Riverwalk Activities

With its lack of hills and reliably great weather, Fort Lauderdale could be a city designed to explore by bike. Riverwalk Activities can lead you on a variety of bike tours that let you see more of the city than you otherwise would. The classic tour will show you the city’s most famous sites, while the beach tour allows you to see more of the natural splendor of the city. And if you’re pressed for time, the Best of Fort Lauderdale tour is a crash course on the city’s history, culture, and top attractions. Book a tour at info@riverwalkactivities.com or 19545265159.

Best fishing tour — Fish Headquarters

With its location on the Gulf of Florida, Fort Lauderdale is a fisherman’s dream. Fish Headquarters is your local fishing guide to help you reel in the catch of a lifetime. Head out on a drift fishing tour for a couple of hours and try your luck at catching reef fish like snapper and grouper. Or for a bigger thrill, head out into deeper water for a sportfishing experience you’ll never forget. Contact Fish Headquarters at captandy@fishheadquarters.com or 17542147863 to book your trip.

Best jet ski trip — Jet Ski FL

Blast through the waves on a jet ski as you see Fort Lauderdale from a unique perspective. Jet Ski FL rents jet skis for you to play with, but they also lead JetSki tours that combine the thrill of riding over the ocean with an exploration of the city and its surroundings. The hour-long tour explores the coastal waters, while the two-hour tour lets you see more of the ocean that makes Florida such a great place to vacation. Contact Jet Ski FL at jetskifortlauderdalefl@gmail.com or 19543838724.

Bag policy at Fort Lauderdale Airport

After you've spent a fantastic time vacationing in the lap of luxury on a cruise ship where all your whims are catered for, dealing with your own baggage at the airport can bring you back to reality with a bump. You can pick up a luggage cart for a couple of dollars at FLL, but you'll need to wheel your bags around with you at least until your flight check-in opens. If that sounds like too much hard work or too tedious, don't leave your bags unattended, but deposit them with a storage facility instead.

Food policy at Fort Lauderdale Airport

There are four enormous terminals at Fort Lauderdale Airport and all have their own selection of cafes, restaurants, and fast food outlets. Each has its enclave of gastronomical offerings which won't disappoint even the most discerning of foodies. If you've gone health-conscious after leaving a ship, you'll be able to partake of fruit smoothies and vitamin-packed snacks. If you haven't, you'll find enough gourmet cuisine to make you consider spending your next vacation on dry land and in the terminal buildings. There's everything on the menus there from prime steaks to seafood from New England, German food, and of course, burgers galore.

Camera policy at Fort Lauderdale Airport

Inside Fort Lauderdale International Airport is not the place to snap photos unless you're taking them of yourself, someone you're traveling with or people that are dropping you off or meeting you. Including folks you don't know personally, security staff, and areas like check-ins or passport control is in contravention of the privacy protection act unless you have specific permission to do so. If you want to take photographs of aircraft, you'll find an observation point where you can do just that outside the airport on SW 39th Street.

Rules at Fort Lauderdale Airport

Aside from the regular rules applicable to all airports, you should be aware that FLL is a totally non-smoking zone. There are no designated smoking zones anywhere around the installation, inside or outside the terminals. Other than service dogs, no four-legged buddies are permitted in the terminal buildings at Fort Lauderdale Airport unless they are safely confined to a pet carrier. If your dog needs to do its business, you must take it to one of the four pet relief areas. These are located before security in each terminal and all owners are required to clean up after their pooch.

Lockers at Fort Lauderdale Airport

Negotiating the immensity of the terminals in FLL is a nightmare with baggage. If you feel inclined to take a tour around the various levels or decide to go to a different terminal because you like the food on offer there more, you can leave your bags at a luggage storage facility. There are lockers available in all four terminals, but be aware they are only open for bag drop-off and collection between the hours of 9am to 5.30pm.

If the airport luggage storage opening hours aren't convenient or you want to spend time in the city before going there, use a Bounce locker to store your suitcases. Bounce has thirty luggage locker sites in Fort Lauderdale as well as near to the airport and in Port Everglades. There's just a small daily fee to pay for each bag, plus you can collect your bags whenever it's convenient for you.