Las Olas & Riverwalk
One boulevard, one river and a short ride to the ocean, all in the heart of Fort Lauderdale.
See things to do »The Heart of Fort Lauderdale
Las Olas Boulevard is the street most visitors mean when they say they spent the evening in Fort Lauderdale. It starts downtown beside the New River, runs east past a mile of shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants, crosses a string of residential islands on the Intracoastal Waterway and ends at the Atlantic, where the road meets the beachfront promenade on A1A. In one walk or a short drive you can go from a museum and a Broadway show to a sidewalk dinner, a boat ride past waterfront homes and a swim in the ocean.
The New River is the reason the city is here. Seminole and Tequesta people lived and traded along its banks long before Fort Lauderdale was named after a fort built during the Second Seminole War. Frank and Ivy Stranahan opened a trading post on the river at the start of the twentieth century, and their 1901 house still stands beside the Las Olas bridge as the oldest surviving building in Broward County. A few blocks upstream, the 1905 New River Inn is now a history museum, and the walkway along both banks has become the Riverwalk, a chain of parks, docks and paths that ties the old town to the modern downtown towers.
Upriver from the historic blocks is the Arts and Entertainment District. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts sits right on the water and brings touring Broadway musicals, concerts, comedy and dance through much of the year. Next door, the Museum of Discovery and Science is the best rainy-day stop for families, with hands-on exhibits and a giant-screen theater. Himmarshee Village, the blocks of bars and restaurants along SW 2nd Street, keeps the district busy after the curtain comes down.
Water is how locals and visitors get around. The Water Taxi runs a hop-on, hop-off route with stops along the river, on the Intracoastal and near the beach, so you can leave the car at the hotel and use the boat as a sightseeing tour at the same time. The Jungle Queen riverboat, gondola rides, sunset cruises and kayak tours all leave from docks within a few minutes of the boulevard. Port Everglades, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, is a short drive south, which makes the neighborhood a natural place to spend a night before or after a cruise.
This guide covers five areas: Las Olas Boulevard itself, the Riverwalk and the New River, the Arts and Entertainment District, historic Fort Lauderdale and the beach end of Las Olas. Each area page has the places worth knowing and live, bookable tours and tickets from Viator and Tiqets. A dining page lists restaurants we have checked along the boulevard, the river and the beach, and an events page covers the art fairs, holiday parades and boat show that fill the calendar from fall through spring.
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Top-Rated Things to Do in Las Olas and the Riverwalk
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 28, 2026. Las Olas & Riverwalk may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Where to Eat in Las Olas and the Riverwalk
Las Olas Boulevard is lined with restaurants, most with tables on the sidewalk. Louie Bossi's turns out pasta and pizza from its ovens, Rocco's Tacos and Baires Grill keep the shopping blocks busy late, and The Floridian serves breakfast at any hour. Downtown, YOLO and Timpano feed the after-work and theater crowds, and at the beach end Steak 954, S3 and the old Elbo Room look out at the ocean.
Las Olas and the Riverwalk dining guide »
Festivals and Events in Las Olas and the Riverwalk
The neighborhood's calendar fills from fall through spring. The international boat show takes over the marinas in late October, the Las Olas Art Fair returns several times a season, Christmas on Las Olas lights up the boulevard in early December and the Winterfest Boat Parade floats down the New River and the Intracoastal a week or two later. Spring brings the St. Patrick's parade, Tortuga on the beach and the Wine and Food Festival.
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Las Olas and the Riverwalk — FAQ
How long is Las Olas Boulevard?
It runs a few miles from downtown Fort Lauderdale near the New River east to the beach at A1A. The main shopping and dining blocks are the stretch east of Federal Highway, which is easy to walk in an evening. The rest crosses the Las Olas Isles and the Intracoastal Waterway to the ocean.
What is the Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale?
The Riverwalk is a landscaped walkway and chain of parks along both banks of the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It links the Broward Center and the museums with the historic district, Esplanade Park and the western end of Las Olas Boulevard, and it is a starting point for many boat tours.
Do I need a car to visit Las Olas and the Riverwalk?
Not for the core of it. Downtown, the Riverwalk and the shopping blocks of Las Olas are walkable, and the Water Taxi links the river, the Intracoastal and the beach. A car or rideshare is useful for the beach end of Las Olas if you are not taking the boat, and for day trips farther afield.
When is the best time to visit Fort Lauderdale?
November through April has the most comfortable weather and the busiest events calendar, including the international boat show, the holiday boat parade and the Las Olas art fairs. Summer is hot and humid with afternoon storms, and hurricane season runs from June through November.
Is Las Olas close to the cruise port?
Yes. Port Everglades is a short drive south of downtown and the beach. Many cruise passengers stay a night near Las Olas or the beach before or after sailing, and the boulevard makes a good last evening ashore.