One Week in Fort Lauderdale
A seven-day Fort Lauderdale itinerary from the nest: beaches, the water taxi, the Everglades, a Keys or Miami day, a reef snorkel and plenty of pool time for a group of ten.
- Length7 days
- Day tripsEverglades, Keys, Miami, Palm Beach
- Best forGroups and families
- Rest daysAt least two
Photo: Aerial view of the Intracoastal Waterway and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in Fort Lauderdale Florida by Don Ramey Logan by WPPilot, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
A week in Fort Lauderdale is when the city stops being a destination and becomes where you live for a while. You can take the beach at your own pace, spend real time on the water, drive to two or three day trips on different days, and still keep mornings that begin and end at the pool. Here is a seven-day shape that keeps a group of ten happy without wearing anyone out.
Day 1 — Arrive and settle
Land, check in, swim. FLL is about fifteen minutes away, so the first day is easy: a grocery run (nearest stores), a pool afternoon, and dinner in or a first walk on Las Olas.
Day 2 — The beach
A full beach day at Fort Lauderdale Beach and the promenade, home for a swim, and a waterfront dinner.
Day 3 — The water
The water taxi for the day, or the Jungle Queen, with paddlers taking a kayak or paddleboard morning and anglers a half-day charter.
Day 4 — The Everglades
An airboat morning in the Everglades, back by mid-afternoon for the pool. It is the most different thing you will do all week.
Day 5 — A rest day
Do almost nothing. A late breakfast, the pool, a sunset drink. Every week-long trip needs one, and this is it.
Day 6 — The big day trip
The Keys or Miami, whichever your group wants more. If you would rather stay local, snorkel the reef at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea or drive up to Palm Beach.
Day 7 — Slow and pack
A last beach or pool morning, a long brunch, and an easy run to the airport.
Settling into a rhythm
Over a week you fall into a routine: a grocery run early on (nearest stores), a few breakfasts and dinners cooked at the house, and eating out for the rest. A mid-week load of laundry means you pack lighter, and the pool becomes the place the group drifts back to between outings.
Why a week suits a house
For ten people in one home, a week is the trip that makes the most sense. You cook some nights and eat out others, you split into a beach group and a pool group without anyone missing out, and the nightly cost usually drops on a longer booking. The complete guide and the map tie the week together, and groups sailing afterward can bolt a cruise onto the end straight from Port Everglades.
Questions people ask
Is a week too long in Fort Lauderdale?
Not for a group or a family. A week lets you take the beach slowly, spend real time on the water, drive to two or three day trips on separate days, and keep mornings by the pool. If you prefer constant motion you might pair it with a cruise or a few nights elsewhere, but a week in one house rarely feels long.
What day trips can you do in a week from Fort Lauderdale?
Comfortably, three: the Everglades (closest), Miami (under an hour) and either the Florida Keys or Palm Beach. Space them out with rest and beach days between, rather than stacking them, so the week stays a holiday rather than a road trip.
How much does a week in Fort Lauderdale cost?
It varies with season and group size, but a whole-house rental usually works out cheaper per person than a week of hotel rooms, and often carries a lower nightly rate on a seven-night booking. Cooking some meals and mixing free days (beach, promenade, pool) with paid outings keeps it reasonable.
Can a group of ten do this itinerary?
Yes — it is built for one. A house that sleeps ten lets the group split into a beach group and a pool group, cook some nights and eat out others, and travel to the port or day trips together. Short distances from a central base keep the logistics simple.
When is the best week to visit Fort Lauderdale?
A week from November to April gives the most reliable warm, dry weather, though it is peak season and books up around the holidays and spring break. Late October to early December and May offer the same weather with fewer crowds and lower rates. See our best-time-to-visit guide.
More Fort Lauderdale guides
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A three-day Fort Lauderdale itinerary from Turtle Nest Bungalow: a beach day, a day on the water and Las Olas, and a day trip to the Everglades or Miami.
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Photo: Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0ItinerariesFour Days in Fort Lauderdale
A four-day Fort Lauderdale plan: beaches, the water taxi and Las Olas, a day trip, and a fourth day for a reef snorkel, a museum or a slow pool day.
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We checked this guide against these sources in September 2026. Hours, prices and schedules change — confirm before you go.
Read it here. Live it from the nest.
A private pool, room for ten, and every one of these guides a short drive away.
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