Pompano Beach, FL: a local guide to the beach town

A beach town named for a fish

Pompano Beach takes its name from the Florida pompano, a fish that runs along this part of the Atlantic coast. The Town of Pompano was incorporated in 1908. In 1947 it joined with the new community on the beach and became the City of Pompano Beach. The first train reached the settlement in 1896, and the railroad, fishing and the inlet shaped the place long before the condos did.

Today it sits in Broward County with Fort Lauderdale to the south and Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton to the north. It is busy enough to have everything you need and quiet enough that families and snowbirds pick it on purpose.

The beach

The city counts about three miles of shoreline, with restored dunes, shaded playgrounds and exercise areas along the way. The sand is soft and pale, and the water on a calm day is the clear green-blue that makes people book the next year before they leave.

From Pompano Breeze the beach is about a 2-minute walk down our street and through the dune path. There is a rinse shower at the path, and we keep beach towels and chairs for guests. See how the beach walk works.

Beach safety

Ocean conditions change through the day. Swim near a lifeguard stand when you can, read the flags and ask a lifeguard if you are unsure about currents.

The pier district

The heart of the beach is the area around the Fisher Family Pier, near the east end of Atlantic Boulevard. The rebuilt pier reaches almost 900 feet into the ocean and ends in a shape that looks like a pompano. Sightseeing on the pier is free, and anglers pay a daily fishing fee. Around it you will find restaurants, a parking garage and the open lawn where the city holds events. Our Pompano Beach Pier guide covers the rules and the best times to go, and our restaurants near the pier page lists long-standing places to eat.

Hillsboro Inlet and the lighthouse

At the north end of town, Hillsboro Inlet connects the Intracoastal Waterway to the ocean. The Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse stands on the north side and was first lit in 1907. It sits on private land, so most visitors see it from the Pompano side of the inlet or from a boat. The preservation society runs member boat tours on set dates. Read our Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse guide before you go.

The inlet is also the reason Pompano is a fishing town. Charter and drift fishing boats use it to reach open water. See fishing charters from Hillsboro Inlet.

Getting around

You will want a car for groceries and day trips, and parking at Pompano Breeze is free, one space per unit. For the beach itself you can leave it parked.

• Water taxi: the Water Taxi runs a Pompano Beach route on the Intracoastal, with stops from the Fort Lauderdale line north to Lighthouse Point Marina. It links to the Fort Lauderdale routes.
• Tri-Rail: the commuter train stops at Pompano Beach station, 3301 NW 8th Ave, west of I-95.
• By car: A1A runs along the ocean, Federal Highway (US-1) runs through the middle of town and I-95 is the fast north-south route.

Water taxi stops, fares and schedules change, so check the operator’s site before you ride.

How guests spend a week here

Most of our guests settle into a rhythm. Mornings on the sand, often early for the sunrise over the ocean. A walk to the pier, or a few hours with a rod. Lunch back in the suite, a swim in the courtyard pool when the kids want a break from the waves, and dinner out once or twice. Then one or two day trips: Fort Lauderdale to the south, Boca Raton to the north.

For a show night, the Pompano Beach Amphitheater, known locally as the Amp, hosts concerts through the year. See our guide to the Amp, or browse more things to do in Pompano Beach.

When to visit

Pompano Beach has two busy seasons. Winter, roughly December through April, brings snowbirds from the North and Canada, drier air and the most popular weeks of the year. Spring break and summer bring families, warm water and afternoon thunderstorms that usually pass quickly. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, so travelers in those months should watch the forecast and read our hurricane season tips.

For a month-by-month view, see our best time to visit Pompano Beach guide.

The neighborhoods you will pass through

Pompano Beach has two sides. East of the Intracoastal Waterway is the beach side, with the pier, the dunes, the condos and quiet residential streets. West of it, along Federal Highway and Dixie Highway, is the mainland town, with grocery stores, the downtown and the Tri-Rail station further west, past I-95. Atlantic Boulevard links the two and runs right to the ocean.

Where to stay

Pompano Breeze is one boutique building of studios and suites around a private courtyard pool at 3217 NE 9th St. Studios sleep 2 to 3 with a kitchenette. Suites sleep 4 to 5, with a bedroom, a living room and a kitchen. There is guest laundry on site, and longer stays are welcome, so ask us about them. When your dates are set, check availability and book direct.