Florida · Guided Tours
Fort Lauderdale Tours & Things to Do — 2026
The Venice of America — sun-soaked canals and Atlantic breezes
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Fort Lauderdale Boat & Water Cruises
Fort Lauderdale calls itself the Venice of America — more than 300 miles of navigable canals and waterways behind the beach — and the best way to see it is from the water. Narrated sightseeing cruises run the New River and the Intracoastal past Millionaire's Row, where the mega-yachts and waterfront mansions line the channel, and out along Las Olas Isles, with the history of the city and its yachting scene narrated as you go. The city's hop-on water taxi links the waterfront stops all day, and sandbar and party-boat cruises turn the trip into an afternoon on the water. Most cruises run several times a day; the late-afternoon departures catch the light on the water best, and weekends book up first.
Fort Lauderdale Everglades Airboat Tours
The Everglades start just west of Fort Lauderdale, and an airboat ride out across the sawgrass is the classic half-day trip from the city — skimming the marsh, spotting alligators and wading birds, with a wildlife exhibit and the park's naturalists on hand. The nearest airboat parks sit in west Broward, close enough to reach on your own; full-day safari and express tours add round-trip transport from Fort Lauderdale so you can leave the driving to someone else. Morning departures usually have the calmest water and the most active wildlife.
Fort Lauderdale Snorkeling & Diving Tours
The reef starts close to shore here — Fort Lauderdale sits on a three-tiered coral reef system that runs just off the beach, some of it shallow enough to reach on a short boat ride or even from the sand. It's one of the easiest places in Florida to snorkel a reef, with warm, clear water and easy, rewarding snorkeling for first-timers and families, plus deeper ledges and artificial reefs offshore for divers. We're lining up vetted reef operators here; check back soon, and in the meantime the boat cruises and Everglades airboat trips are ready to book.
No tour here has met our standards yet.
Fort Lauderdale Food Tours
Fort Lauderdale's dining has grown up well past the beach-bar cliche, and the walkable Las Olas Boulevard and downtown scene is where a food tour would take you — pacing tastings on foot across a handful of kitchens, with the neighborhood's history filled in between stops. The mix leans coastal and international, from fresh Florida seafood to Latin and Caribbean cooking. We're lining up vetted food-tour operators here; check back soon, and in the meantime the boat cruises and Everglades airboat trips are ready to book.
No tour here has met our standards yet.
Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale
Beyond the guided tours, Fort Lauderdale packs the Venice of America canals and their mega-yacht cruises, a coral reef that starts close to shore, a wide beach and the walkable Las Olas dining scene, and the Everglades a short drive west into one easygoing coastal city. Here is how to make the most of a trip — from the water and the reef to Las Olas and the day trips.
On the Water
The water is the whole point in Fort Lauderdale — the Venice of America, with 300-plus miles of canals behind the beach. A narrated sightseeing cruise up the New River and the Intracoastal past Millionaire's Row and Las Olas is the signature outing, the hop-on water taxi links the waterfront all day, and sandbar and party boats turn it into an afternoon out. Offshore, the coral reef starts close to the beach for easy snorkeling and diving.
Everglades Airboat Trips
The Everglades are the big trip from Fort Lauderdale, and the airboat parks sit just west in Broward County — close enough to reach on your own, or on a full-day safari or express tour with round-trip transport from the city. An airboat ride skims the sawgrass for alligators and wading birds, usually with a wildlife exhibit and naturalists along the way.
The Beach, Las Olas & After Dark
Back on land, the wide Fort Lauderdale Beach and its promenade are the draw by day, and Las Olas Boulevard is the walkable heart of downtown for dining and galleries. Yacht-and-mansions segway tours cover the waterfront on wheels, and after dark, ghost and history walks work the older downtown. For a different angle, helicopter flights run short loops over the beach, the yachts, and the coastline.
Best Time to Visit
Winter and spring (December–April) are peak — warm, dry, and the calmest, clearest water for the reef and the cruises, but the busiest. Late spring and early summer are quieter with good water before the summer heat and afternoon storms set in. Fall is hurricane season and the quietest. Boat cruises and Everglades airboat trips run year-round but are best on the calmer mornings, and high-season weekends book up ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best tour to do in Fort Lauderdale?
For most visitors it's a sightseeing boat cruise — Fort Lauderdale is the Venice of America, and a narrated cruise up the New River and the Intracoastal past Millionaire's Row and the Las Olas mansions is the signature way to see it. Close behind is an Everglades airboat trip out to the sawgrass just west of the city, on your own or with round-trip transport. The hop-on water taxi is the easy way to work the waterfront, and the coral reef offshore makes for easy first-timer snorkeling.
What is a Millionaire's Row or Venice of America cruise?
It's the classic Fort Lauderdale sightseeing cruise. The city has more than 300 miles of navigable canals behind the beach, and the tour runs the New River and the Intracoastal Waterway past 'Millionaire's Row' — the stretch lined with mega-yachts and waterfront mansions — and around the Las Olas Isles, with the history of the city and its yachting scene narrated along the way. It runs from relaxed riverboat and water-taxi rides to sandbar and party-boat runs, several times a day, and the late-afternoon departures catch the best light.
Can I do an Everglades airboat trip from Fort Lauderdale?
Yes — it's one of the signature trips from the city. The airboat parks sit just west in Broward County, close enough to reach on your own, and an airboat ride skims the sawgrass for alligators and wading birds, usually with a wildlife exhibit and naturalists along the way. If you'd rather not drive, full-day safari and express tours add round-trip transport from Fort Lauderdale. Mornings usually have the calmest water and the most active wildlife.
Can I snorkel or dive in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes — this is one of the easiest places in Florida to reach a reef. Fort Lauderdale sits on a three-tiered coral reef system that runs just off the beach, with the inner reef shallow enough for a short boat trip or even a swim from shore, and deeper ledges and artificial reefs offshore for divers. The calmer morning water usually has the best visibility. We're still lining up vetted reef operators to book through us — check back soon; the boat cruises and Everglades airboat trips are ready now.
Curated by Darko Marsalek · Updated
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