How to do Tortuga Music Fest — A Guide to the Three-Day Fort Lauderdale Event

Getting around the Tortuga Music Festival without a car is manageable, with several transportation options available throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale. The destination’s focus on sustainability has led to a range of public and environmentally friendly transit choices.

One of the most convenient ways to get around is the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi, easily identified by its bright yellow boats. The service operates 30 stops from Pompano Beach through Fort Lauderdale to Hollywood and offers real-time tracking. Festival pickup locations include Stop 1 at the Riverside Hotel Fort Lauderdale, Stop 4 at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, and Stop 8 at GalleryONE DoubleTree Suites by Hilton.

General admission three-day tickets are $75.

For land-based transportation, the LauderGO Shuttle provides a free community ride service with five routes operating throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale. Two commonly used routes include the Beach Link, which runs daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Las Olas Link, which operates Friday through Sunday from 12:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Another option is the LauderGO Micro Mover, also known as Circuit, an all-electric shared vehicle service serving downtown Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale Beach and surrounding areas. Service runs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Riders can request service through a mobile app, with vehicles accommodating up to five passengers.

For those traveling from outside the area, Brightline provides high-speed rail service from Miami, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Orlando. The Fort Lauderdale station is within walking distance of Las Olas Boulevard, offering a convenient alternative to driving.

With Tortuga Music Festival taking place on Fort Lauderdale Beach, visitors have a wide range of hotel options nearby. Several properties offer packages through Vibee that include perks for festival guests.

B Ocean Resort is located steps from the festival grounds and features on-site dining, two pools and parking. Guests booking the Tortuga package receive a waived resort fee, one welcome drink per guest, private beach access and a room upgrade to a higher floor with an Intracoastal view.

At AC Hotel By Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach, festival guests receive a discounted $25 resort fee per night, plus tax, along with a welcome drink voucher, one AC tote bag per room and a refillable water bottle per guest.

Best Western Plus Oceanside Inn Fort Lauderdale is also located near the festival site and offers a smaller-scale lodging option. The Tortuga package includes a waived resort fee, welcome drink, complimentary breakfast and bike rental.

Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa is a short distance from the festival and offers a resort fee of $47 per night, plus tax, for package guests. Amenities include two welcome drinks per room, beach chairs, watersports, tennis courts, bike rentals and two daily fitness classes.

Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resor offers festival packages that include a waived resort fee, an ocean or partial-ocean-view room, Friday welcome drinks, complimentary Sunday coffee in the lobby and 10% off spa services.

For a higher-end stay, Omni Fort Lauderdale does not offer a Vibee package but provides 801 guest rooms and 82 suites, nine dining concepts, a pool deck, fitness center, open-air yoga deck and the Mokara Spa.

Festival food is a staple of the weekend, but many attendees also explore dining options beyond the festival grounds. Several restaurants, food halls and brunch spots are located nearby.

Directly across from the festival site, Marina Village is an outdoor waterfront food hall offering a range of quick dining options. Vendors include Burgers & Shakes, Blue Steel Pizza Co., Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls and Sushi Song.

For seafood along the Intracoastal Waterway, Coconuts is known for its waterfront setting, while Tequila Jack’s Cantina offers Mexican cuisine in a casual waterside environment.

Beachfront dining options include Bo’s Beach, a two-story oceanside restaurant with wood-fired fare and multiple bars, and Señor Frogs, which serves Mexican-American dishes in a lively beachside setting.

Brunch is widely available in Fort Lauderdale, with many restaurants serving weekend menus on both Saturdays and Sundays.

Burlock Coast at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale offers waterfront dining with breakfast classics, small plates and raw bar selections, along with a rum-focused cocktail menu. Wild Thyme Oceanside Eatery also serves weekend brunch, featuring ocean views and a menu that includes eggs, bowls and brunch boards.

Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale is home to the Mediterranean restaurant Evelyn’s, which offers a brunch menu that includes juices, smoothies, caviar, seafood towers, salads and omelets. The Evelyn’s Brunch Experience is priced at $70 and includes a welcome drink, a shared first course and a main course.

Located on the 27th floor of Beach House Fort Lauderdale, a Hilton Resort, Nubé Rooftop offers brunch with panoramic views of the ocean and city. The menu includes cocktails and brunch dishes such as steak and eggs, French toast sticks and smoked nova flatbread.

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens offers a look at Old Florida history on a 35-acre estate along Fort Lauderdale Beach. The property includes a historic home, extensive gardens, native wildlife and a notable art collection.

Fort Lauderdale’s primary shopping and dining corridor, Las Olas Boulevard, features boutiques, art galleries, sidewalk cafes and a wide range of restaurants.

For a quieter experience on the water, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park offers kayak rentals along the Intracoastal Waterway near East Sunrise Boulevard, providing a peaceful alternative to the festival crowds.

Nightlife continues across Fort Lauderdale after the gates close at 10 p.m. for the Tortuga Music Festival, with several nearby venues offering late-night entertainment.

For live music, Tin Roof, located near Las Olas Boulevard, regularly features rock, alternative and emo bands, particularly on weekends.

Within walking distance, The Wharf Fort Lauderdale offers an open-air setting with a DJ-driven soundtrack, a central bar, late-night food vendors and televisions airing major sporting events.

For a venue closely tied to the destination’s history, Elbo Room, a long-standing beach bar dating to the 1930s at the corner of A1A and Las Olas Boulevard, features live music and a lively local crowd.