Three Days in Fort Lauderdale
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, Miami or the Keys.
- Length3 days
- ShapeBeach · water · day trip
- Best forA first visit
- Day-trip rangeEverglades, Miami, the Keys
Photo: Ft. Lauderdale Skyline by ImagePerson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
Three days is the right length for a first Fort Lauderdale trip. It splits cleanly into a beach day, a day on the water and in the city, and a day trip out of town — with the pool waiting each evening. Here is the plan we give first-timers, built around a central base so no day is a long haul.
Day one: the beach and the promenade
Start on the sand. Take the morning at Fort Lauderdale Beach, walk the wave-wall promenade, and cross A1A for lunch. Come home for an afternoon swim — the pool is the point of the house — then head back out for dinner at a waterfront restaurant. If anyone wants a quieter, reef-fronted beach, swap in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.
Day two: the water and Las Olas
Spend the day the way Fort Lauderdale is meant to be seen — from the water. The water taxi runs a hop-on, hop-off loop past the mansions, the megayachts and the New River; the Jungle Queen riverboat is the old-school alternative. In the afternoon, wander Las Olas Boulevard for its shops and galleries, and stay for dinner. Paddlers can trade the boat for a morning of kayaking or paddleboarding.
Day three: a day trip
Pick one. The Everglades are the closest and the most different — an airboat and real wildlife, back by mid-afternoon. Miami is under an hour for South Beach, Wynwood and Little Havana. The Keys are a longer, bigger day. Whichever you choose, come home to a swim and an easy last dinner.
Tacking on a cruise
Plenty of visitors pair a few days in Fort Lauderdale with a cruise, since Port Everglades is about fifteen minutes away and one of the world's busiest cruise ports. If that is your plan, spend these three days on land first, then sail rested — the pre-cruise stay guide explains how the two halves of the trip fit together.
Adjusting the order
Weather decides the order more than anything. Keep the beach for the clearest day, do the water taxi on a calm one, and save the indoor-friendly Miami trip or a museum for a grey morning. The season matters too: in summer, do outdoor things in the morning before the afternoon shower. The complete guide and the map help you slot it all together, and if you have a fourth day, see the four-day plan.
Questions people ask
Is three days enough for Fort Lauderdale?
Yes, three days is the sweet spot for a first visit. It fits a beach day, a day on the water and in the city, and one day trip — the Everglades, Miami or the Keys — with time by the pool each evening. A fourth day adds a reef snorkel or a museum without any rush.
What is the best day trip from Fort Lauderdale?
The Everglades are the closest and most distinctive — an airboat ride and real wildlife, back by mid-afternoon. Miami is under an hour for the beaches and the arts districts. The Florida Keys are a longer, more ambitious day. Pick one for a three-day trip rather than trying to do two.
How should I order a three-day Fort Lauderdale itinerary?
Let the weather lead. Keep the beach for the clearest day, do the water taxi on a calm one, and save an indoor-friendly outing or the Miami trip for a grey morning. Book any fixed-departure tours first and build the flexible pool and beach time around them.
Do I need a car for three days in Fort Lauderdale?
It helps for the day trip, but it is not essential for the city itself: the water taxi, Sun Trolley and rideshare cover the beach, downtown and Las Olas. If you plan to visit the Everglades or the Keys, a rental car for those days is the simplest option.
How far are the beaches from the house?
About ten minutes. Las Olas Beach is the closest, the main Fort Lauderdale Beach and promenade are a few minutes north, and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea's reef snorkel is about fifteen to twenty minutes up the coast.
Can you do the Everglades and Miami in three days?
You can, but it makes for two full driving days out of three. For a first trip we suggest picking one day trip and keeping a full day for the beach and the water in Fort Lauderdale itself. Save the second day trip for a four-day or week-long stay.
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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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