Fort Lauderdale skyline and yachts on the waterway

South Florida Neighborhood Guide

Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Neighborhood Guide

Canals, Las Olas Boulevard, beachfront condos and one of the deepest boating markets in Florida.

Explore Fort Lauderdale Neighborhood

Fort Lauderdale is a city in Broward County, Florida, about 30 miles north of Downtown Miami on the Atlantic coast.

Known as the Venice of America for its extensive network of canals, Fort Lauderdale is one of the boating capitals of the world. The city combines a revitalized downtown, the historic Riverwalk along the New River and miles of public beach lined with oceanfront hotels and condos.

Las Olas Boulevard links downtown to the beach with restaurants, galleries and boutiques, while Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport make travel easy. Branded residences and waterfront towers have made Fort Lauderdale a major market for second-home buyers and boaters.

Fort Lauderdale Neighborhood Highlights

Best Places to Eat in Fort Lauderdale

  • Steak 954 – an oceanfront steakhouse at the W Fort Lauderdale.
  • Southport Raw Bar – a long-time local favorite for seafood on the water.
  • Las Olas Boulevard – dozens of sidewalk cafes and restaurants.

Where to Shop in Fort Lauderdale

  • Las Olas Boulevard – boutiques, galleries and home stores.
  • The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale – a major shopping mall near the beach.

Best Spas in Fort Lauderdale

  • Auberge Beach Spa – an oceanfront spa at Auberge Beach Residences.
  • The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale – a full-service spa on the beach.

Fort Lauderdale Events

  • Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show – one of the world’s largest in-water boat shows, each fall.
  • Winterfest Boat Parade – a lighted holiday boat parade on the Intracoastal each December.

Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale

  • Walk the Riverwalk along the New River downtown.
  • Tour Bonnet House Museum and Gardens.
  • Take a water taxi through the canals.
  • Spend a day on Fort Lauderdale Beach and the beachfront promenade.

Fort Lauderdale Guides & Insights

New Developments in Fort Lauderdale

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New Development

Viceroy Fort Lauderdale

Explore Viceroy Fort Lauderdale, a 42-story luxury waterfront condo tower on Las Olas Blvd developed by CPR Group and Viceroy…

New Development

The Muse Tower Fort Lauderdale

Explore The Muse Tower Fort Lauderdale, a 30-story pre-construction residential high-rise bringing 112 modern units to the Flagler Village district…

New Development

Sereno Fort Lauderdale

Explore Sereno Fort Lauderdale, a boutique 12-story luxury condo development featuring 60 residences by 13th Floor Investments on S Ocean…

New Development

Sage Intracoastal Fort Lauderdale

Sage Intracoastal Fort Lauderdale is an exclusive 18-story boutique tower by PMG featuring 44 luxury waterfront residences delivering in 2026.

New Development

Riva Residenze Fort Lauderdale

Explore Riva Residenze in Fort Lauderdale, a boutique 20-story waterfront development offering exclusive Italian luxury living along the Middle River…

New Development

Ritz-Carlton Residences Fort Lauderdale

Explore the Ritz-Carlton Residences in Fort Lauderdale, featuring 110 pre-construction luxury condos on the oceanfront, scheduled for completion in 2026.

New Development

Ombelle Fort Lauderdale

Explore Ombelle Fort Lauderdale, a 43-story sculptural glass twin tower development by Dependable Equities coming to Flagler Village in 2027.

New Development

Ocean Harbor Fort Lauderdale

Ocean Harbor Fort Lauderdale is a pre-construction coastal boutique low-rise development located at 3020 Seville St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.…

New Development

Natiivo Fort Lauderdale

NGI Development introduces Natiivo Fort Lauderdale, a 40-story tower offering 384 flexible short-term rental condos designed for modern urban living,…

New Development

EDITION Residences Fort Lauderdale

Discover EDITION Residences Fort Lauderdale, an 11-story modernist oceanfront mid-rise featuring 65 luxury beachfront condos and private Intracoastal access, completing…

Fort Lauderdale Real Estate News

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Neighborhoods Similar to Fort Lauderdale

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Pompano Beach

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A relaxed beachfront Broadwalk, a revived downtown arts district and oceanfront towers.

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Oceanfront and Intracoastal condos between Aventura and Hollywood, often at better value per square foot.

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West Palm Beach

Clematis Street, CityPlace, Brightline and new waterfront towers in Palm Beach County.

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Aventura

Waterfront high-rises, Aventura Mall and resort-style living halfway between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

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Sunny Isles Beach

An oceanfront skyline of ultra-luxury branded towers on a narrow barrier island.

Fort Lauderdale FAQs

Is Fort Lauderdale a good place to live?

Fort Lauderdale is popular with boaters, families and professionals who want beaches, a lively downtown and easier pace than Miami, with a major airport and port nearby.

How far is Fort Lauderdale from Miami?

Fort Lauderdale is roughly 30 miles north of Downtown Miami, about 40 minutes by car or around 30 minutes on Brightline.

What is Fort Lauderdale known for?

Fort Lauderdale is known for its canals and boating, Las Olas Boulevard, wide public beaches and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Header image – Photo: User:Kolossos / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)