Free & Cheap Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale

Beaches

Seven miles of golden sand backed by the city's signature wave-wall promenade — a palm-lined, brick-paved path along A1A that's perfect for walking, jogging, and people-watching. Calmer and more relaxed than Miami Beach, with the same clear Atlantic water, public showers, lifeguards, and easy access to the Las Olas oceanside strip of cafes.

Address: Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd (A1A), Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Tip: Metered street and garage parking only along the beach — the LauderGO! Community Shuttle's Beach Link is a cheap way to avoid it. Quietest stretches are north toward Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. Public restrooms at Las Olas Oceanside Park.

Parks & Waterfront

A free 1.5-mile linear park winding along the New River through the heart of downtown, shaded by oaks and royal palms and connecting Esplanade Park, the arts-and-science district, and a string of riverside restaurants. Run by the Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale nonprofit, it hosts free events, art installations, and a Sunday market throughout the year.

Address: Riverwalk, SW 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Tip: Combine with the free LauderGO! Water Trolley, which stops at Esplanade Park and Riverfront Plaza. Check goriverwalk.com for the free Riverwalk Market (usually first Sunday) and live-music nights before you go.

Shopping & Strolling

Fort Lauderdale's vibrant main street, a walkable stretch of boutiques, galleries, sidewalk cafes, and historic mansions running from downtown toward the beach. Window-shopping, gallery-hopping, and people-watching are all free, and the boulevard's monthly art fairs and seasonal events add live entertainment at no cost.

Address: E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Tip: Free street parking is scarce; the LauderGO! shuttles connect Las Olas to downtown and the beach. Time a visit for a monthly Las Olas Art Fair (free admission) for crafts, food, and music along the boulevard.

Parks & Nature

A 180-acre slice of old Florida tucked between the beach and the Intracoastal — one of the last maritime hammock forests in Broward County. Walk or bike the 1.9-mile loop road, paddle a rented canoe on the freshwater lagoon, picnic under the sea grapes, and cross the pedestrian bridge to the beach. A peaceful, shaded escape minutes from the strip.

Address: 3109 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Tip: The entry fee is per carload (2-8 people); walk or bike in for just $2. Sunday food-truck roundups and ranger-led walks are seasonal. The Terramar Visitor Center has exhibits on the hammock ecosystem.

Arts & Culture

A striking modernist building on Las Olas housing one of the South's strongest collections of contemporary, Latin American, and Northern European art, including the world's largest holding of works by William Glackens and a deep CoBrA collection. Rotating exhibitions and a sculpture-filled atrium make it downtown's cultural anchor.

Address: 1 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Tip: Free for everyone the first Thursday of each month (11 a.m.-7 p.m.) under the Sunny Days/Starry Nights program, with free Mini Muse art-making 4:30-6:30 p.m. Bank of America cardholders get in free the first full weekend monthly.

Historic Sites

A 35-acre barrier-island estate where artists Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett built a whimsical winter home surrounded by five ecosystems, themed gardens, and one of the Southeast's largest orchid collections (3,000+ specimens). Nature trails wind past the Atlantic, resident monkeys, and swan ponds — a tropical sanctuary hidden behind the beach high-rises.

Address: 900 N Birch Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Tip: Gardens-only admission ($15) is the budget pick and includes the grounds, trails, and orchid houses — just not the main house interior. Museums for All cuts it to $3 with an EBT card. Parking is always free; plan 90 minutes.

Historic Sites

The oldest surviving structure in Fort Lauderdale, this 1901 pioneer home on the New River was a trading post, post office, and town hall before becoming a museum. Docent and self-guided tours tell the story of city founders Frank and Ivy Stranahan and the Seminole trade that built early Fort Lauderdale.

Address: 335 SE 6th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Tip: Fort Lauderdale residents tour free every Wednesday; EBT cardholders pay $3 for two people. Guided tours (about $13) run on the half-hour and last 45 minutes. Sits right on the Riverwalk and Water Trolley route.

History & Heritage

A riverside campus of historic buildings — the 1905 New River Inn, the 1907 King-Cromartie House, and a replica schoolhouse — that brings Broward County's pioneer past to life along the Riverwalk. Self-guided and docent tours cover early Fort Lauderdale, and the upstairs galleries host rotating free exhibitions and artist studios.

Address: 231 SW 2nd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Tip: Free admission with a SNAP/EBT card and photo ID. Many ground-floor exhibits (recent shows on the county judiciary and textile arts) are free to browse. Docent-guided New River walks run daily at 1, 2, and 3 p.m.

Science & Discovery

Downtown's giant hands-on science center — an Everglades ecosystem with live otters and gators, a Florida storm center, an aviation gallery, an early-learner Discovery Spot, and a five-story AutoNation IMAX theater. The region's marquee STEM attraction and a rainy-day staple for families.

Address: 401 SW 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Tip: Admission tops $20, but the Museums for All program drops it to just $4 per person (up to four) with an EBT or WIC card. Watch mods.org for free general-admission days, when an IMAX upgrade is only $5. On the Riverwalk and Water Trolley route.

Parks & Nature

A free 57-acre Broward County preserve on the New River, laced with boardwalk nature trails through mangrove and laurel-oak hammock, a pollinator garden, and public art installations. The quietest patch of wild Florida close to downtown — good for birding, butterflies, and a shady escape from the beach crowds.

Address: 2701 W State Rd 84, Dania Beach, FL 33312

Tip: Nature trails are open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; the exhibit-hall building is currently closed for work, with a mobile restroom on site. No entry fee. Not pet-friendly. Bring bug spray — the boardwalks run through mangrove.

Sightseeing & Tours

A free, bright-yellow boat shuttle that hops the New River with eight downtown stops — Esplanade Park, Riverfront Plaza, the Downtowner, and more. Run by the City of Fort Lauderdale with Water Taxi, it's both genuinely useful transport and a free mini river cruise past yachts, mansions, and the skyline.

Address: Esplanade Park dock, SW 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Tip: Operates daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m. with a vessel every 20-30 minutes; no ticket needed — just hop on. Pet-friendly for leashed dogs. Pair it with the Riverwalk and downtown museums for a no-cost afternoon.