10 Best Beaches in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Beach Park is part of Fort Lauderdale’s most stylish strip of beaches, surrounded by luxury properties. Within a short distance of each other, you can also find chic shops and restaurants serving cuisines of all types, from local seafood to international fare.

A nearby beachfront promenade is a favourite place for people-watching, rollerblading or jogging. The actual beach park itself has sand volleyball courts, a boat ramp, outdoor showers, grills, a playground and a basketball court. If you plan to drive to the beach, make sure to bring some extra cash – parking requires a somewhat hefty fee.

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park has become known as Fort Lauderdale’s version of New York’s Central Park, and for good reason. Amid bustling and somewhat crowded Fort Lauderdale, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is an all-natural oasis, right in the heart of the city. It’s also evidence that not all of Fort Lauderdale’s natural beauty is on the ocean, as the park sits between the Atlantic and the city’s intracoastal waterways, offering access to both.

To reach the beach, you’ll need to take the pedestrian tunnel under A1A. If you prefer to be on the water versus in or looking at it, you’ll find lots of opportunities to fish and paddle both in the cerulean ocean waters and in the intracoastal waterway.

Lauderdale-By-the-Sea Beach is located in Greater Fort Lauderdale. The beach for this small and charming neighbourhood is a bit more laidback and low-key than what you might find elsewhere in the area. There are plenty of vacation rentals and low-rise hotels in the vicinity, but none of the big resorts that can make a destination seem tourist-focused and sometimes unauthentic.

Enjoy the mid-century modern architecture, along with locally-owned and operated shops and sculptures all backing the beach. Lauderdale-By-the-Sea Beach also offers some of the best beach diving in South Florida.

Central Beach offers a high-energy seaside experience in Fort Lauderdale. The shore is backed by a mixture of nightclubs, kitschy bars with tropical themes, and luxury hotels. Because of this, the beach has become popular with those travellers looking to party.

If you want to see some of Fort Lauderdale’s culture, that’s possible near this beach, too, as the surrounding neighbourhood is also home to a fine arts museum and some local restaurants. For Central Beach itself, expect a narrow strip of soft sand, often lined with loungers and umbrellas belonging to the hotels.

Sebastian Street Beach, over the years, has acquired 2 main demographics – the LGBTQ crowd and older travellers. It’s not a beach locale that’s keen on too much partying, so it’s a good place to kick back and relax if that’s the kind of atmosphere you’re looking for. You won’t find too many people on the beach – the crowds you do see are on the subdued side.

Compared to some other beaches in Fort Lauderdale, Sebastian Street Beach doesn’t have quite as many palm trees, so shade is lacking. You’ll want to bring your own umbrella, chair, and other beach gear. 

Las Olas Beach is located east of Olas Boulevard, one of the top streets in Fort Lauderdale for shopping, dining and entertainment. The beach is on the busier side, as it's just north of the popular Fort Lauderdale Beach Park.

The beach is bit small but its crowd is a good mix of all ages. Enjoy people-watching at the boulevard. After you’ve gotten your fill of sand and surf, join the locals for some of Fort Lauderdale’s best eats and drinks.

Fort Lauderdale Jetties is an excellent spot if you like going to the beach, but you don’t care to don a swimsuit and you’d rather enjoy the view in peace than being surrounded by screaming beachgoers. The small, out-of-the-way beach is very popular with those looking to watch the city’s incoming and departing ships.

As the Fort Lauderdale Jetties is located near Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, you can find parking at the latter and make your way to the former on foot. There's metered street parking further inland, too. 

Loggerhead Park Beach is small and secluded, making it more popular with locals – mostly families and couples – than travellers.  It's located between Fort Lauderdale Beach to the south and Commercial Pier to the north. You might see a few kitesurfers out on the water but there's plenty of privacy, especially if you visit the beach during the week instead of the weekend.

Make plans to catch the sunrise or sunset along with locals who live nearby. Bring your camera, too – you’ll be able to get some nice, people-free shots of the palm trees and marine life.

Vista Park is a small, waterfront park with a small strip of beach backing up to a well-tended grassy area with picnic tables, benches and parking. It’s a lovely little spot to enjoy some quiet time in the sand, as well as a picnic under the palm trees later in the day. Make sure to bring your lunch with you, as there are few places nearby to buy something on the spot.

If you’re into scuba diving, you’ll find some beautiful sea life after swimming around 5 minutes off the beach. Vista Park is a popular spot with local divers, who report seeing everything from schools of angelfish and tarpon to sea turtles and octopus.