Hollywood Beach
Hollywood, FL
Hollywood Beach runs alongside its famous Broadwalk, a two and a half mile paved promenade for walking, biking, and rollerblading that separates the beach from a strip of hotels, cafes, and shops. It has a noticeably different, more European feel than most South Florida beaches, drawing a mix of longtime locals and snowbirds who return to the same spot year after year.
The Broadwalk gives it a genuinely different character from a typical South Florida beach strip, though the no pets rule on the main beach and the tourist heavy Broadwalk crowd are real tradeoffs for that charm.
How we score beachesRent a bike or rollerblades right along the Broadwalk instead of just walking it, the full two and a half mile stretch is worth covering and rentals are easy to find near either end. The dedicated Dog Beach between Sheridan Street and Hollywood Boulevard is the one legal spot to bring a pet, with a daily permit required.
Metered street parking and beachfront garages are available, paid through the city's own parking app. Garage rates run higher than side street meters, worth seeking out if budget matters.
The Broadwalk itself is flat, paved, and easy for the full two and a half miles, with regular beach access points leading onto sand from it. Rental bikes and beach wheelchairs are available near the busier sections.
Pets aren't allowed on the main beach or Broadwalk, with fines issued for violations, but a designated Dog Beach between Sheridan Street and Hollywood Boulevard allows dogs with a daily permit, 5 dollars for residents and 10 for nonresidents.
Winter and spring bring South Florida's driest, mildest weather and the biggest snowbird crowds. Summer's heat and hurricane season, June through November, thin things out some on weekdays despite the warmest water of the year.
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