Top places to visit in Orlando

• Universal Islands of Adventure

  theme-park · 4.8 rating · about 9 h · check the fee at the gate

  High-thrill Universal park with Hogsmeade (Wizarding World), Jurassic Park, Marvel Super Hero Island and Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.

• SeaWorld Orlando

  theme-park · 4.5 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Marine-life theme park combining animal encounters with major roller coasters like Mako, Manta and Pipeline.

• ICON Park

  entertainment-complex · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Free-to-enter International Drive entertainment complex anchored by The Wheel (a 400-ft observation wheel), Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE Aquarium and many restaurants.

• Volcano Bay

  water-park · 4.4 rating · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate

  Universal's Polynesian-themed water theme park, centered on the Krakatau volcano with wave pools, slides and a TapuTapu wearable virtual queue.

• Discovery Cove

  animal-encounter · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

  All-inclusive reservation-only day resort beside SeaWorld where guests swim with dolphins, snorkel a reef and float a lazy river; price includes meals and gear.

• Lake Eola Park

  urban-park · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Downtown Orlando's signature park around a spring-fed lake, known for its lit fountain, swan-shaped paddle boats, the Walt Disney Amphitheater and a Sunday farmers market.

• Orlando Science Center

  science-museum · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Hands-on science museum near Loch Haven Park with four floors of exhibits, a planetarium, an observatory and giant-screen theater; popular with families.

• Magic Kingdom Park

  theme-park · 4.8 rating · about 10 h · check the fee at the gate

  Walt Disney World's flagship theme park, home to Cinderella Castle, classic dark rides and nightly fireworks. The most-visited theme park in the world.

• EPCOT

  theme-park · 4.7 rating · about 9 h · check the fee at the gate

  Disney park split between Future World innovation pavilions and World Showcase, with 11 country pavilions, Spaceship Earth and seasonal food-and-wine festivals.

• Disney's Hollywood Studios

  theme-park · 4.7 rating · about 9 h · check the fee at the gate

  Movie- and TV-themed Disney park with Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Toy Story Land and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

• Disney's Animal Kingdom

  theme-park · 4.7 rating · about 9 h · check the fee at the gate

  Zoological Disney park blending live animals on the Kilimanjaro Safaris with rides like Avatar Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest.

• Universal Studios Florida

  theme-park · 4.7 rating · about 9 h · check the fee at the gate

  Movie-themed park with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, simulator rides and a working studio backlot feel.

Things to do

• Walt Disney World 1-Day 1-Park Ticket Theme Park Ticket · 10 h · from USD 119 per person
• Universal Orlando 1-Day 1-Park Ticket Theme Park Ticket · 9 h · from USD 119 per person
• Boggy Creek Airboat Ride Airboat Tour · 1 h · from USD 32 per person
• Kennedy Space Center Day Trip Day Trip · 10 h · from USD 75 per person
• Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Dinner Show · 2.3 h · from USD 75 per person
• Pirates Dinner Adventure Dinner Show · 2.5 h · from USD 72 per person
• The Wheel at ICON Park Ticket Observation Wheel · 0.7 h · from USD 32 per person
• Clearwater Beach Day Trip Day Trip · 11 h · from USD 90 per person

Day trips and tours

• Kennedy Space Center Day Trip from Orlando 10 h · from USD 139
• Clearwater Beach Day Trip from Orlando 11 h · from USD 95
• Everglades-Style Airboat & Wildlife Tour 5 h · from USD 99

Where to stay in Orlando

• Lake Buena Vista / Disney Area about USD 280 per night

  Closest base to Walt Disney World. On-site Disney resorts and nearby off-site hotels offer easy park access, early-entry perks and Disney transport, but prices run high and it can feel like a bubble away from the rest…

• International Drive (I-Drive) about USD 150 per night

  Central tourist strip packed with hotels at every price point, restaurants, ICON Park, outlets and the I-Ride Trolley. Roughly equidistant to Universal and Disney; good value and walkable in stretches, but traffic and a…

• Universal Orlando Area about USD 230 per night

  Best base for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. On-site resorts include free park shuttles, early park entry and (premier hotels) Express Pass. Compact and walkable to CityWalk; further from Disney.

• Kissimmee about USD 95 per night

  Budget-friendly base south of Disney along US-192, with vacation home rentals, value hotels and easy Disney access by car. Cheaper rates but spread out and car-dependent; limited walkability.

• Downtown Orlando about USD 140 per night

  The real-city side of Orlando: Lake Eola, museums, dining and nightlife with locals. Authentic and good for a non-park day, but ~20-30 min drive from the theme parks and not a typical tourist base.

Hotels

• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa 5-star · USD 700 to USD 1,300 per night
• Loews Portofino Bay Hotel 5-star · USD 450 to USD 800 per night
• Waldorf Astoria Orlando 5-star · USD 500 to USD 900 per night
• Loews Sapphire Falls Resort 4-star · USD 230 to USD 380 per night
• Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort 3.5-star · USD 230 to USD 360 per night
• Rosen Centre Hotel 4-star · USD 150 to USD 260 per night

Where to eat

• The Boathouse Seafood, American, Steakhouse · about USD 50 per person
• 4 Rivers Smokehouse Barbecue, American, Southern · about USD 20 per person
• The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar American, Sushi, Burgers · about USD 35 per person
• Boma - Flavors of Africa African, Buffet, International · about USD 62 per person
• California Grill American, Sushi, Californian · about USD 95 per person
• Yard House American, Gastropub · about USD 30 per person
• Hash House A Go Go American, Breakfast, Southern · about USD 25 per person
• The Capital Grille Steakhouse, American · about USD 90 per person

Getting to Orlando

Airport: Orlando (MCO)

How visitors arrive in Orlando

• Fly into Orlando International (MCO) By air from Orlando International · common

  The main airport, southeast of downtown, and a hub for several low-cost carriers. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Drive via I-4 and Florida's Turnpike By road from Florida highways · common

  I-4 is the main interstate through the area; the Turnpike links from the Miami side. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Fly into Orlando Sanford (SFB) By air from Orlando Sanford · possible

  Smaller secondary airport to the northeast, used by some budget carriers. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Brightline or Amtrak train By train from Miami · possible

  Brightline runs from Miami to the airport; Amtrak serves a downtown station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Metered taxi from MCO

  Taxis and vans wait at Ground Transportation on Level 1, sides A and B. Fares are metered and flat fares are not permitted. Source: flymco.com

• Shared shuttle vans and resort shuttles

  Shuttle vans serve Kissimmee, the theme parks and UCF. Disney and Universal run their own shuttles to on-site resorts, and some hotels offer airport transfers. Source: flymco.com

• LYNX bus

  LYNX buses stop on Level 1, A side, with routes to downtown, International Drive and Walt Disney World. Route 311 links the airport with the convention centre and SeaWorld. Source: flymco.com

• Brightline from Miami

  Brightline trains serve a station at the airport's intermodal terminal, connecting with Miami. Other Orlando destinations need a transfer. Source: flymco.com

• Ride-hail pickup at MCO is from the Express Pickup Tunnel on Level 1 near the rental car counters, for some service tiers. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  LYNX buses serve Orlando and the surrounding counties, with routes reaching the airport, International Drive, Universal Orlando and Disney Springs.

• Car Rental Self main way to get around

  Attractions are spread over a wide area, so a rental car is a common way to move between parks and hotels.

• Ride Hail useful for some trips

  Uber and Lyft can take you almost anywhere in the Orlando area, including the airport and the theme parks.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Fake discount theme-park tickets

  International Drive, US-192 Kissimmee, roadside kiosks

  Roadside booths and "ticket brokers" advertise heavily discounted Disney/Universal tickets. Some are partially used multi-day tickets, expired media, or are bundled with a high-pressure timeshare presentation you must attend first.

  How to avoid it: Buy tickets only from the official Disney/Universal websites/apps or authorized resellers (e.g. Undercover Tourist). Avoid any "free/cheap tickets" that require attending a sales talk.

• Timeshare / vacation-club presentations

  Welcome centers, hotel lobbies, I-Drive kiosks

  You're offered free or deeply discounted park tickets, dinner, or attraction vouchers in exchange for attending a "90-minute" tour. These run for hours with high-pressure sales tactics to sign a costly vacation-club contract.

  How to avoid it: Treat "free tickets for a quick presentation" as a sales trap. Decline, or only attend if you're firm about not buying and budget several hours.

• Unofficial "official" ticket & info websites

  Online (search ads)

  Lookalike websites and sponsored search ads pose as official park ticketing or "Orlando tourist info," charging inflated prices or fees for tickets, dining reservations, or park reservations that are free or cheaper directly.

  How to avoid it: Go directly to disneyworld.com and universalorlando.com. Check the URL carefully and avoid paying third-party "reservation" or "booking" fees for free services.

• Vacation home rental scams

  Online listings (Kissimmee / Davenport rentals)

  Fraudulent listings for cheap Orlando-area vacation homes ask for wire transfers or off-platform deposits, then the property doesn't exist or is already booked.

  How to avoid it: Book through reputable platforms, never pay by wire/gift card/crypto, and verify the property and host before sending any deposit.

Best time to visit Orlando

• Jan 21°C
• Feb 23°C
• Mar 26°C
• Apr 29°C
• May 32°C
• Jun 32°C
• Jul 31°C
• Aug 31°C
• Sep 30°C
• Oct 28°C
• Nov 25°C
• Dec 23°C

More in United States

• New York City
• Los Angeles
• Las Vegas
• San Francisco
• Miami
• Chicago

Frequently asked questions about Orlando

What are the top-rated places to visit in Orlando?

The highest-rated places in our Orlando guide are Universal Islands of Adventure, Discovery Cove, Magic Kingdom Park, Lake Eola Park, EPCOT.

Where should I stay in Orlando?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Orlando: Lake Buena Vista / Disney Area, International Drive (I-Drive), Universal Orlando Area, Kissimmee.

How do I get around Orlando?

Ways to get around Orlando covered in our guide: City bus, Self-drive car, Ride-hailing app, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Orlando?

Scams reported to us for Orlando include Fake discount theme-park tickets; Timeshare / vacation-club presentations; Unofficial "official" ticket & info websites. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Orlando?

Average daytime highs in Orlando run from 21°C in Jan to 32°C in May.

Which airport is nearest to Orlando?

The nearest airport to Orlando has the code MCO.