Lauderdale by the Sea
A low rise beach village where a coral reef sits close enough to shore that you can snorkel it from the sand.
You snorkel the reef off the beach in the morning, walk to lunch in the square and listen to live music there at night.
The scorecard
Tap any score for the local's take.
Nightlife3
Small but steady. The beach bars around Anglin's Square have live music most nights, and the town runs a Friday Night Music series in season. It winds down far earlier than Fort Lauderdale, which is the point.
Meet people3
A decent small town calendar. A Sunday farmers market at El Prado Park from December into May, classes at Jarvis Hall, Friday Night Music in season, beach yoga, and BugFest each July for divers chasing lobster.
Peace and quiet3
Low rise and slow by Broward standards. Winter and sunny weekends fill the square and the parking, and Commercial Boulevard backs up toward the bridge. Summer weekdays are calm.
Walkability5
The whole village works on foot. From Anglin's Square you walk to the beach, the restaurants, the shops, El Prado Park and the Sunday market in minutes, and Circuit-By-The-Sea rides cover the rest.
On the water2
A snorkel and dive town more than a boating one. There is no marina in the village, and Anglin's Fishing Pier has been closed since storm damage in 2022 with no reopening expected before 2028. Boaters keep boats in Pompano Beach or Fort Lauderdale.
Beaches4
The coral reef starts about 100 yards off the sand, so you can swim out with a mask and fins. The state named this Florida's Beach Diving Capital, and the SS Copenhagen wreck lies offshore as an underwater preserve.
Dining and arts3
A good cluster for a small place. Aruba Beach Cafe and 101 Ocean sit by the sand at the end of Commercial Boulevard, with more spots around Anglin's Square, and Taste of the Beach is the annual food event. Theaters and museums are in Fort Lauderdale.
Outdoors and wellness3
The outdoors here is the water. Shore snorkeling and diving on the reef, long beach walks, yoga on the sand in season and a Sunday market at El Prado Park. Trails and big parks are a short drive south.
Affordability2
Beach village prices. Houses near the ocean run high, and oceanfront condos carry wind insurance and building fees on top. Older low rise condos a few blocks back are the more reachable way in.
Airport access4
FLL is about 25 minutes south on US 1 or I-95. The Palm Beach airport is about 50 minutes north, and Miami (MIA) is close to an hour.
Scores last checked October 2026. Scores rate what the town offers, never who lives there. How we score
Community and social scene
Dinner by the water, then you follow the music on foot. Bands play at the beach bars around Anglin's Square, and in season the town's Friday Night Music series brings a crowd outdoors. Most of it wraps up well before Fort Lauderdale gets going.
Community at a glance
Tap any row for places and times.
PickleballOn the map
See pickleball courts near Lauderdale by the Sea on the mapTennisOn the map
See tennis courts near Lauderdale by the Sea on the mapGolfOn the map
See golf courses near Lauderdale by the Sea on the mapLive musicFriday Night Music +1
Friday Night Music. The town's seasonal outdoor concert series. Dates for the 2027 series had not been posted as of October 2026.BugFest-By-The-Sea. A two day lobster season festival each July, with dive contests, seminars and concerts.See live music near Lauderdale by the Sea on the mapTrivia nightsOn the map
See trivia nights near Lauderdale by the Sea on the mapPro sportsTeams nearby
Florida Panthers (NHL) in Sunrise, 14 miles awayMiami Dolphins (NFL) in Miami Gardens, 18 miles awayMiami Heat (NBA) in Miami, 29 miles awayInter Miami (MLS) in Miami, 30 miles awayMiami Marlins (MLB) in Miami, 30 miles awayMiles are in a straight line, so the drive is longer.Places of worshipOn the map
See places of worship near Lauderdale by the Sea on the mapWe don't list or rate congregations. The map shows what is in and around town.More ways to meet people
Farmers' Market at El Prado Park
Sundays from 9am to 1pm, December 6, 2026 through May 2, 2027.Community Center at Jarvis Hall
Monthly events and classes at 4505 Ocean Drive.Fourth of July Parade
One of the oldest in Broward County, held since 1960, with fireworks off El Prado Park.We write about places and events, never about who lives there. Times and dates change, so confirm before you go.
Things to do
The honest details
- Home prices
- About $629K median sale price, all home types (fall 2026)
- Nearest hospital
- Broward Health Imperial Point, about 1 mile. Nearest trauma center: Broward Health North (Level II), about 6 miles. Straight line distance, so the drive is longer.
- Airport
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL), about 25 minutes
- Season
- Busy winters
- Heads up
- Oceanfront storm exposure
- Insurance
- Florida averages about $10,384 a year for $250K of coverage (MoneyGeek, 2026). Get a quote and check the flood zone for any address. Read more
- Why people love it
- Walkable village scale. Reef snorkeling from the beach.
- Know before you go
- Small, with limited housing. Pricey.
- Schools
- See official grades and district info on the Florida Department of Education site.
Common questions about Lauderdale by the Sea
Is Lauderdale by the Sea walkable?
Yes. It is one of the most walkable towns on the Florida coast. The whole village works on foot. From Anglin's Square you walk to the beach, the restaurants, the shops, El Prado Park and the Sunday market in minutes, and Circuit-By-The-Sea rides cover the rest.
Does Lauderdale by the Sea have a good beach?
Yes, a very good one. The coral reef starts about 100 yards off the sand, so you can swim out with a mask and fins. The state named this Florida's Beach Diving Capital, and the SS Copenhagen wreck lies offshore as an underwater preserve.
Is Lauderdale by the Sea affordable?
It is on the expensive side for the Florida coast. Home prices: About $629K median sale price, all home types (fall 2026). Beach village prices. Houses near the ocean run high, and oceanfront condos carry wind insurance and building fees on top. Older low rise condos a few blocks back are the more reachable way in.
What is the nightlife like in Lauderdale by the Sea?
Good bars and some live music, though it is only busy now and then. Dinner by the water, then you follow the music on foot. Bands play at the beach bars around Anglin's Square, and in season the town's Friday Night Music series brings a crowd outdoors. Most of it wraps up well before Fort Lauderdale gets going.
How busy does Lauderdale by the Sea get?
It is busy in season and calm the rest of the year. Low rise and slow by Broward standards. Winter and sunny weekends fill the square and the parking, and Commercial Boulevard backs up toward the bridge. Summer weekdays are calm.
Is Lauderdale by the Sea good for boating and fishing?
There is some access, but it is limited. A snorkel and dive town more than a boating one. There is no marina in the village, and Anglin's Fishing Pier has been closed since storm damage in 2022 with no reopening expected before 2028. Boaters keep boats in Pompano Beach or Fort Lauderdale.
Which airport is closest to Lauderdale by the Sea?
FLL is about 25 minutes south on US 1 or I-95. The Palm Beach airport is about 50 minutes north, and Miami (MIA) is close to an hour.
What should I know before moving to Lauderdale by the Sea?
The main things to plan for: Oceanfront storm exposure. Florida homeowners insurance averages about $10,384 a year for $250K of dwelling coverage (MoneyGeek, 2026). Get a quote and check the flood zone for any address before you commit.
The closest matches to Lauderdale by the Sea across our ten scores.
Neptune Beach
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Atlantic Beach
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Hollywood
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