5 AMAZING Areas – Where to Stay in Fort Lauderdale

Welcome to Fort Lauderdale! Do you remember drooling over postcards with a white sand beach lined with palm trees? It is time for you to have that photo with you in it!

Fort Lauderdale is located in South Florida and is known for its beautiful beaches, great seafood restaurants, and fun night scene. Thanks to the Intracoastal Waterway, Fort Lauderdale is also called “the Venice of America” (they even have water taxis!). The city also has many nice museums, art galleries, and lush green parks to be discovered with stunning waterfront areas like port everglades!

In this blog post on where to stay in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, I will talk about the 5 best areas to stay in the city and give you the best of the best hotels for all budgets.

Before we start, I just want to remind you that in order to get better deals on hotels and secure your place, do not forget to make a reservation in advance. Many of the hotels in Fort Lauderdale have free cancelation, so don’t worry if you change your mind! 

Let’s start to discover Fort Lauderdale!

If you are in a hurry

Here are the best places to stay in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with hotels from luxury to budget. They all have great reviews and central locations!

Here is a map for where to stay in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with the best 5 areas I will be talking about in this blog post so you can easily visualize their locations:

1. Downtown & Fort Lauderdale Beach – where to stay for the first time

Thanks to its great number of restaurants, bars, shops, and stunning beaches, the area surrounding the city’s downtown beach, also called Central Beach and it is the most popular neighborhood to stay in. Sun, sea, sand, mouth-watering foods, and fun attractions. What else do you need? I’m sure you will have a great time in Fort Lauderdale Beach!

Start your day by heading to the beautiful Fort Lauderdale Beach to relax and enjoy the picturesque views of palm trees lining the white sand. When you get hungry, head to the beach bars and restaurants in the surrounding streets to have a meal and watch the sunset. 

I know you won’t want to leave Fort Lauderdale Beach but you should also check out the nice museums, art galleries, and parks in the rest of Downtown, so make sure to allow some time for some sightseeing as well!

You will find many nice hotels in Fort Lauderdale Beach but in order not to miss the best hotels that I carefully picked for you, make sure to make your reservation in advance. And since you are in Florida, if you want to add another nice beach destination to your itinerary, I recommend you check out the best places to stay in Key West too!

Other options in Fort Lauderdale Beach & Downtown

Things to do in Fort Lauderdale Beach & Downtown

2. Hollywood Beach – the best place to stay for those on a budget

Hollywood Beach is located 15 miles (25 km) south of Fort Lauderdale Beach and is the best neighborhood to stay in if you are a budget traveler. Being a bit further away from the city center, Hollywood Beach offers relatively cheaper accommodation options compared to other parts of Fort Lauderdale. But the best part is that you will still be near the beaches!

Hollywood Beach is a very relaxed and beautiful beach where you can lay on the powdery sand, swim in the turquoise water, and have a walk along the picturesque boardwalks. By the beach, you will find numerous shops, seafood restaurants, and bars so really, you don’t even need to go Downtown if you don’t feel like it!

Here you will be able to find all kinds of hotels and to make your job easy I found the top 4 ones for all budgets. Just make sure to book your hotel in advance to not miss them and get better deals. If you plan to continue your trip to South Florida, check out the best places to stay in Miami.

Other accommodation in Hollywood Beach

Things to do in Hollywood Beach, Fort Lauderdale

• Spend time suntanning and people watching at Hollywood Beach 
• Go for a stroll at Harry Berry Park
• Take the Hollywood Trolley Downtown for some sightseeing 
• Play with dogs at the Hollywood Dog Beach
• Enjoy beach time and relax at Charnow Park
• Have a delicious seafood meal at Billy’s Stone Crab Restaurant
• Visit the Anne Kolb Nature Center
• Take a day trip to Dania Beach 

3. Las Olas – where to stay in Fort Lauderdale for sightseeing

Las Olas is located 2 miles (3 km) west of Fort Lauderdale Beach and thanks to its beautiful landscapes and cultural attractions, it offers great sightseeing opportunities. This neighborhood is also famous for its lively night scene so whether you are a culture buff or nightlife lover, there is something for you in Las Olas! 

Here the main street called Las Olas Boulevard is the place where you will find many shops, a great selection of restaurants, and trendy bars. Las Olas Boulevard ends at Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard so if you follow it you will be able to see most of the attractions and reach downtown. You see, there is no better location than Las Olas to stay for sightseeing!

Let’s check out the best places to stay in Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale 

Other accommodation in Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale

Things to do in Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale

4. Wilton Manors – the coolest neighborhood to stay in Fort Lauderdale

When you go 3 miles (5 km) northwest of Fort Lauderdale Beach you will reach the coolest neighborhood, Wilton Manors. Here you will be able to have a local experience, find very cool cafes, restaurants, and designer boutiques to explore.

The best way to discover this neighborhood is simply to stroll along the beautiful streets, check out the art galleries, shops, and hipster cafes. Apart from the amazing food scene, in Wilton Manors you will have the chance to explore so many nice parks such as Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve, Island City Park Preserve, and Fern Forest Nature Center. 

Thanks to its proximity to Fort Lauderdale beach and the city center, Wilton Manors is a great place to stay in Fort Lauderdale to get a little bit of everything. 

Here are the best hotels in this cool neighborhood:

Other accommodation options in Wilton Manors

Things to do in Wilton Manors

5. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea – where to stay for families and relaxation 

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is located 4 miles north of Beach Fort Lauderdale and the best area to stay if you would like to have a relaxed holiday. Here you will find stunning, quiet beaches which are also great for snorkeling and diving. 

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea offers many beautiful boardwalks where you can go on sunset walks, nice fish restaurants, and green parks. I also recommend this neighborhood for families thanks to its laid-back beaches that enable kids-friendly water sport activities. 

Here you will be able to find a great selection of accommodations for all budgets. Let’s check out the best hotels in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea for an unforgettable holiday. 

Other options in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

Things to do in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

Frequently asked questions about Fort Lauderdale

 Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this tour of Fort Lauderdale and have already decided on your ideal hotel. In this blog post, I talked about the best places to stay in Fort Lauderdale and gave information about the vibes of each neighborhood with the activities you can do there to try and help you find the one most suited to you. 

As I’ve said earlier I recommend you to stay in Fort Lauderdale Beach if you are visiting for the first time but each neighborhood has its own vibe, so pick your favorite one according to your taste!

I would like to remind you again that in order not to miss your favorite place and get better deals on hotels in Fort Lauderdale, Florida do not forget to make a reservation in advance!

I know I’ve already given so many options to stay in Fort Lauderdale but to sum up, here are the 2 best hotels. Each has central locations and reviews and I can definitely recommend them for a pleasant stay in Fort Lauderdale!

• Pelican Grand Beach – One of the best hotels to stay in Fort Lauderdale by the beach
• Hotel Sheldon – a great place to stay that is located right on Hollywood Beach 

Do not forget to take your beach essentials and have a lot of fun in Fort Lauderdale!

If you have any other suggestions or questions about Fort Lauderdale, Florida please do not hesitate to leave a comment below. I’ll be glad to leave a reply to them!

Enjoy your time in Fort Lauderdale,

Eylul