Cheap flights to Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fort Lauderdale Travel Guide

The Venice of America, Fort Lauderdale is built around thousands of canals and inland waterways. Getting around is an experience like no other in America, and cheap water taxis carry you downtown from the beach to shopping and dining opportunities on Las Olas Boulevard.

About 45 minutes north of Miami and four hours south of Orlando, in the middle of South Florida’s Gold Coast, Fort Lauderdale used to be Spring Break central, thanks to the 1960 movie, Where the Boys Are. College students landed cheap flights to Fort Lauderdale and partied for a week nonstop. But starting in the 1980s, the city of Fort Lauderdale made efforts to change its image and started to put limits on the mega-party scene, hoping to ensure a family-friendly experience. In recent years, with older, cheaper motels demolished and hotels such as the St Regis and Hilton springing up, Fort Lauderdale has grown up. Now couples and families visit for the beaches, cultural and historic sites, and social events.

There’s plenty to see in Fort Lauderdale. Along with the blue wave beaches are the Museum of Discovery and Science, Museum of Arts, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and Stranahan House, all within walking distance along the New River.

Today, the city still draws plenty of college kids in March, but the energy is not quite so wild. In fact, Fort Lauderdale has moved upmarket and Port Everglades is now one of the largest cruise centers in the world. The T-shirt shops and souvenir stores that once overwhelmed the waterfront have given way to trendy shops, nice restaurants, and a two-mile promenade that offers unobstructed pedestrian access along one of the city’s nicest beaches.

The water is what attracts most travelers to book a flight to Fort Lauderdale – the area boasts more than 20 miles of powdery sand beaches and 300 miles of waterways, making it truly the “Venice of America”.

Getting to and around the city of Fort Lauderdale

Local Airports

Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International (FLL) is located 25 miles north of Miami and 5 miles from the beaches of Fort Lauderdale.

Alternative Airports (distances in miles): Miami International, 21 miles; West Palm Beach International Airport 42 miles.

Getting from the Airport to the City

The main airport for flights to Fort Lauderdale is Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Bus, train and taxi all operate from the airport to the city center. 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 in the early evening.

Taxis are available from the transportation podium, located outside the baggage area of each terminal. They take approximately 10 minutes 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.

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 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.

Tips for your stay in Fort Lauderdale

• Popular with residents and visitors is the Riverwalk After taking cheap flights to Fort Lauderdale, its tropical landscape and views of the city, outdoor cafes, gazebos and park benches make it a wonderful place for an evening stroll.
• Stranahan Houseis Fort Lauderdale’s most historic building. It was built by Frank Stranahan in 1901 as a trading post for settlers and the Seminole Indians. Over the years it evolved into the post office, community center and town hall as Stranahan became a postmaster, banker and businessman. He married Ivy Julia Cromartie, a fellow pioneer and the area’s first school teacher. In 1906, it became the Stranahans’ personal residence and remained so until Ivy’s death in 1971.
• At Hugh Taylor Birch State Park,you can camp, hike, bike, skate or Segway around the park. A day at the beach, picnicking, or getting fresh air and some exercise costs just $1 for pedestrians and up to $4 for a car load of up to eight people.
• Butterfly Worldin Tradewinds Park, 10 miles north of Fort Lauderdale has one of the world’s largest collections of butterflies.
• Fort Lauderdale is an affordable alternative to the more expensive Miami. The water is cleaner, the snorkeling is more colorful, the arts scene is growing, and the weather is perfect.
• Don’t miss the water taxi. 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 snorkeling or diving is your thing, Fort Lauderdale is a great destination. Not only will you be able to easily view brightly colored 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 10,000 square feet of Olympic aquatic memorabilia, as well as paintings, sculptures and literature dating back as far as the 1880s all on the sport of swimming.

Finding Flights from Fort Lauderdale

Explore beyond the beautiful beaches with a flight heading out of Fort Lauderdale. Jump a flight on American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest or United heading out of town.

Consider these flight options:

Cheap flights from Fort Lauderdale to Austin

Cheap flights from Fort Lauderdale to Las Vegas

Cheap flights from Fort Lauderdale to Philadelphia

Cheap flights from Fort Lauderdale to Cancun 

With more than 325 departures and 325 arrivals each day, the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport can get quite busy. Arrive early to sail though security smoothly. Courtesy shuttles carry passengers between terminals and from parking lots and the rental car center to the terminals. If you prefer not to drive, catch a ride on a Broward County Transit bus, or take Tri-Rail to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Station, where you can take a quick shuttle ride to the airport.

Fort Lauderdale, FL airport overview

One of the busiest airports in Florida, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is an important hub for cruise passengers headed to the Everglades, and for connections between the Caribbean and North America.

Second only to Miami International Airport for southern Florida traffic, you’ll find flights to Fort Lauderdale International Airport from cities such as Chicago, New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Boston, Montreal, Port-au-Prince, Cancun, Guatemala City, Nassau and Kingston.

A sprawling structure serving more than 22 million passengers each year, the airport’s four terminals are only accessible by shuttle, but friendly staff members are always on hand to help you get where you need to go.

Facilities and entertainment are adequate and many frequent fliers love its efficient processing times and budget airlines, choosing Fort Lauderdale as a convenient alternative to the bustle of Miami International.