Ample parking and wide-flung city limits make driving the easiest way to get around Fort Lauderdale. Renting a car is best, and you can often find package deals when you book your cheap flight to Fort Lauderdale. Major car rental companies can be found at the airport. If you’re not a driver, there are plenty of taxis around the city, but they are expensive. The bus is much cheaper, but is very complicated. You can also take a water taxi downtown via the New River and the waterway.
Getting from the airport to the city
The main airport with which travellers to Fort Lauderdale will arrive at is Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport (FLL) (website: www.broward.org), which is located just under 5 km southwest of the city centre.
Other alternative airports include Miami Intl (MIA), which is 48 km from Fort Lauderdale, and also Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) , which is situated 72 km from Fort Lauderdale.
Bus, train and taxi all operate from the Fort Lauderdale airport (FLL) to downtown. The buses run every 20-30 minutes 7 days a week and take approximately 20 minutes.
The Tri Rail train service takes only eight minutes to get to town, but runs only once an hour and finishes around 8pm.
Taxis are available from the transportation podium, located outside the baggage area of each terminal. They take 10 minutes to get to town.
Many hotels in the area also offer free shuttles to and from the airport.
It’s advisable to hire a car when visiting the area. Travellers looking for cheap Fort Lauderdale flights should also look into car hire discounts.
What is good to know if travelling to Fort Lauderdale?- Fort Lauderdale is an affordable alternative to the more expensive Miami. The water is cleaner, the snorkelling is more colourful, the arts scene is growing, and the weather is perfect.
- Don’t miss the water taxi in Fort Lauderdale. If you’re on a tight budget, but have some time on your hands, this is a great way to get around, catch a tour of celebrity homes and yachts, and spend very little money. Consider getting a seven-day pass, which makes this transportation option very affordable.
- If snorkelling or diving is your thing, Fort Lauderdale is a great destination. Not only will you be able to easily view brightly coloured fish and coral through especially clear water, there are abundant opportunities to dive on old wrecks.
- The International Swimming Hall of Fame is another must for water lovers. It houses more than 929 square meters of Olympic aquatic memorabilia, as well as paintings, sculptures and literature dating back as far as the 1880s all on the sport of swimming.