Things to do in Pompano Beach

Start with the beach, then branch out

Most days here begin the same way: coffee, a short walk, and your feet in the sand. Pompano Breeze is about a 2-minute walk from the beach, so the ocean is the easy default. When you want more than a towel and a book, the city has plenty within a short drive, and a few good day trips a little further out.

This page is the map. Each guide below goes deeper on one thing, with what we confirmed from the city, the state and the venues themselves. Hours, fees and schedules change, so treat every detail as a starting point and check before you go.

On and in the water

The Fisher Family Pier is the city’s fishing pier, reaching nearly 900 feet into the Atlantic. You can walk it to look around or pay a daily rate to fish, and you do not need your own Florida fishing license on the pier. Our pier fishing guide covers the rules, the bait shop and what to bring.

Offshore, the reefs and wrecks are the draw. The SS Copenhagen, a state underwater archaeological preserve in shallow water south of Hillsboro Inlet, is popular with snorkelers, and the city’s Shipwreck Park sits deeper for scuba divers. See snorkeling and diving. If you want to go bigger, the charter and drift-fishing boats run out of Hillsboro Inlet, and calmer paddling waits on the Intracoastal in our water sports guide.

Nights out and seasons worth timing

The Pompano Beach Amphitheater, known locally as The Amp, has a fully covered seating area, so shows go on rain or shine unless conditions turn unsafe. Read our guide to The Amp before you buy tickets, because the bag and chair rules catch people out.

From March 1 through October 31, the beach is also a nesting ground for sea turtles. It changes how the beach works after dark, and it is worth knowing the simple rules. Our sea turtle season guide explains them. The flip side of an east-facing beach is the morning: sunrise at Pompano Beach is one of the best free things to do here.

How to plan a few days here

A simple rhythm works for most guests. Keep mornings for the water, when the light is soft, the wind is low and the beach is quiet. Save the middle of the day for the pool, lunch in your own kitchen or an indoor plan. Head back out in the late afternoon, when the heat eases and the pier and the beach fill with walkers.

In winter and early spring, the weather is drier and the city is busiest, so book tee times, charters and show tickets early. In summer, plan around afternoon thunderstorms and the sea turtle season rules on the beach at night. In every season, check the official source for anything with a schedule before you set out.

With kids, on the course, or under cover

Families have the beach playground, the lifeguarded swimming areas and the city’s aquatic center, plus a strong rainy-day list. Start with family activities, then keep rainy-day ideas handy for the afternoon storms that roll through in summer.

Golfers have two city-owned 18-hole courses, including the Pines, redesigned by Greg Norman’s firm. Golf in Pompano Beach has the details. A short drive west, Butterfly World in Coconut Creek is an easy half day, and our shopping guide covers Pompano Citi Centre, the seasonal Green Market and the big outlet mall in Sunrise.

Hours, fees, schedules and event dates change. Each guide links to the official source, so check before you go.

When the day is done, you come back to a quiet courtyard pool and a kitchen of your own. Families usually take one of our suites for the extra room; couples and solo travelers are comfortable in a studio.