The essential guide to visiting Orlando

Orlando’s many theme parks might first lure you to the perpetually sunny Central Florida city. But it’s worth sticking around to surprise yourself with all the city offers beyond its ticketed gates, too. Visitors can enjoy the attractions, and then head to the city’s downtown neighborhoods and satellite communities to picnic in sculpture parks, browse art fairs, and experience the lively vibe of street festivals scheduled throughout the year. 

Best time to visit Orlando

Spring: Breathtakingly detailed topiaries pair with live nightly music during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, which kicks off in early March and adds extra value to a Walt Disney World visit during one of the most pleasant weather windows of the year. In downtown Orlando, March is also peak blooming season at Harry P. Leu Gardens, home to one of the largest collections of camellias in the southeast within a 50-acre lake-filled oasis. At the end of the month, one of the country’s biggest art festivals spills onto the brick streets of Winter Park during the annual, juried Winter Park Sidewalk Arts Festival. Come April, it’s all about indie filmmaking as the Florida Film Festival rolls into town. 

Summer: It’s warm in these parts in June, July, and August—the sweet spot of the year for dipping into bracing waters at the area’s freshwater springs, like the ones at Wekiwa Springs State Park and Kelly Park/Rock Springs. They stay cool at 72°F year-round and are perfect for a paddle or swim. Stay cool during after-dark adventures, too, like Gatorland’sGator Night Shine, an after-hours tour through the alligator Breeding Marsh at one of Orlando’s oldest attractions. For family-friendly Fourth of July festivities beyond the parks, consider Fireworks at the Fountain in downtown Orlando at Lake Eola Park or catch Red Hot & Boom in nearby Altamonte Springs. 

Autumn: Come Out With Pride is one of the largest Pride events in the Southeast, bringing the good vibes to Lake Eola Park every October with street performances and a fireworks finale. Also in October, Hispanic heritage takes center stage in the city during Fiesta Calle Orange, a major Florida cultural festival with food and music, including salsa, bachata tunes, and dancing. The theme parks kick into holiday mode in the lead-up to Thanksgiving, with parades, tree-lighting ceremonies, and more.   

Winter: Pleasant temperatures are ideal for hiking the trails and boardwalk at Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve or biking along the 22-mile West Orange Trail. College football fans converge on the city for Florida Citrus Sports Orlando Bowl Week from late December into early January. Later in the month, the community of Eatonville hosts the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities in the town, where many of the Harlem Renaissance writer’s stories were set. 

Key areas to explore in Orlando

Theme Park Corridor: Orlando’s four major theme parks–Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort (which debuted Orlando’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, in 2025), SeaWorld Orlando, and LEGOLAND Florida Resort—are all located to the south of downtown. Lesser-known attractions worth seeking out in this part of town include Nona Adventure Park, with an inflatable aquapark and wakeboarding cable park, Kissimmee’s Old Town entertainment district, and ICON Park Orlando, with its giant 400-foot-tall observation Ferris wheel, the Orlando Eye.

Downtown Orlando/Thornton Park: With Lake Eola Park and its iconic swan boat rides at its heart, downtown Orlando and the quaint neighborhood of Thornton Park mix high-rise condos and hotels with cracker-style Florida bungalows. Locals stroll out for coffee and treats at the Orlando Farmers Market, held every Sunday at the edge of the park, which also has a nearby playground for kids. Orange Avenue and the Church Street District are the heart of downtown’s nightlife. Nearby, in the mellow neighborhood of Thornton Park,  bars and restaurants surround the fountain along Washington Street. The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is home to several theaters and a unique listening space, Judson’s Live, providing theater goers with an opportunity to catch Broadway shows and more.

Mills 50 District: Orlando’s thriving Vietnamese district traces its origins to the 1970s, when refugees fleeing the Vietnam War settled here, just north of downtown. The area is a magnet for must-try culinary experiences, whether you’re craving a bowl of pho with handmade rice noodles, Japanese treats like lychee boba and matcha from Matcha Cage Maiko, Parisian-style pastries, or bánh mì sandwiches to go. From large-scale murals to decorated dumpsters, an indie spirit defines the look in one of Orlando’s oldest neighborhoods. 

Winter Park: Home to Rollins College’s lake-lined campus, Winter Park is an upscale residential area that can feel European at times—particularly along Park Avenue, where Amtrak trains whistle past, and quaint cafes like The Glass Knife lure the brunch crowd. The town is home to several museums, including the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (with its comprehensive collection of Tiffany glassworks) and the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, at the site of the Czech sculptor’s former home and studio on Lake Osceola. Make time for a narrated, hour-long pontoon boat tour through nearby lakes and canals lined with some of Central Florida’s priciest real estate. Keep an eye out for blue herons and anhingas, too. 

Lake Nona: It may be a master-planned community, but Lake Nona, just south of Orlando International Airport, is a great place to go for a stroll or picnic in a sculpture garden,  to enjoy open-air live music gatherings in Boxi Park (with quick-service eateries and bars made of shipping containers) and to shop for goods and snacks from local artists during the weekly Art After Dark street market. 

Where to stay 

Lake Nona Wave Hotel: Filled with art and within a short stroll of Lake Nona’s restaurants, bars, and entertainment, this tech-forward property stages themed seasonal events in a sculpture garden lined with benches and swinging chairs. Spend some time relaxing at the rooftop pool and be sure to book in at the hotel’s Michelin-recommended, fine-dining restaurant, BACÁN, influenced by the cuisines of Central and South America. 

Evermore Orlando Resort: You’re miles from East Coast and Gulf beaches in Orlando, but you might forget it during a stay at this sprawling property with a Conrad Hotel and condos fronting an eight-acre manmade lagoon-style pool, where guests can paddle a SUP or swing in a hammock by a white sand beach. A favorite among multi-generational groups, the multi-bedroom villas set just off the lagoon are also available for overnight stays. Book a mineral bath wellness treatment at the Conrad Spa, where the ritual replicates healing properties found in Florida’s natural springs. 

Taste of Orlando 

Visitors are often surprised by just how well you can dine in Orlando, and that extends well beyond Michelin-starred, theme park-area restaurants such as Victoria and Albert’s and Capa Steakhouse. A hub for the Asian-American community, the Mills 50 District impresses with everything from the street food-style offerings at Mills Market (an erstwhile Asian supermarket turned trendy food hall) and Laotian-fusion fare at Sticky Rice to Filipino ice cream favorite, Sampaguita, which features cult flavors like soy sauce butterscotch and ube latte (think purple yam and espresso). 

Add to that Latin fare like the Cuban-inspired menu at Otto’s High Dive and the hideaway Ethiopian and Eritrean favorite, Selam, and Orlando has one of Florida’s most diverse dining scenes, which might even rival Miami’s. Fresh produce selections abound during weekly farmers markets here, too, most notably the Winter Park Saturday Farmers’ Market and the Winter Garden Farmers Market. Both have scores of vendors selling gourmet provisions, crafts, and locally grown citrus, berries, and more. 

Getting around Orlando 

By bus: Download the LYNX Paw Pass App for mobile pay options and to access routes, schedules, and real-time tracking for the city’s LYNX public bus network. Routes cover downtown and extend to areas, including Winter Park, Lake Nona, Kissimmee, the theme parks (Disney and Universal), International Drive, and the Orlando International Airport. 

By car: With one of the most active public charging networks in the Southeast, Orlando has more than 1,000 charging stations, making it easy to get around by EV or in a standard rental. Information on downtown parking garages and lots can be found on the city’s website. 

Here’s what you should know

Wildlife awareness: Orlando brims with natural and manmade freshwater lakes as well as natural springs and canals—all of them fair game for alligator habitat. Avoid walking near the water’s edge, particularly at dusk and dawn, and make sure to keep children and pets away at all times. Remember that it is illegal to feed or harass animals such as alligators and manatees. 

LGBTQ+: A cornerstone of the city’s LGBTQ+ community, The Center Orlando has two locations in downtown Orlando and an ongoing calendar of events. The most LGBTQ+-friendly neighborhoods in the city, including in Thornton Park, College Park, Ivanhoe Village, and Winter Park, are found in and around the city’s downtown area. Every June, over four days, GayDays comes to town.  One of the country’s premier LGBTQ+ events, it debuted in 1991 in Orlando with a plea to “Wear Red and Be Seen” and continues to gather, celebrate,  and uplift the community. Events like karaoke, drag bingo, and a pageant are just a few events and activities staged at the official host hotel and beyond.  

How to visit Orlando sustainably 

Outdoors: Whether walking on boardwalks, biking trails, or enjoying a self-drive audio tour along the Lake Apooka Wildlife Drive, always stick to designated routes to avoid impacting fragile areas.  When swimming, snorkeling, or tubing in the area’s beautiful freshwater springs, opt for non-toxic, eco-friendly, and mineral-based sunscreens. 

Shopping: Sustainable shops and those selling upcycled, reworked, and second-hand clothing and furnishings abound in Winter Park and downtown Orlando neighborhoods like Thornton Park, Ivanhoe Row, and The Milk District. Vintage fans love Etoile Boutique and The Owl’s Attic. Art festivals held throughout the year are a good way to show your support for Florida-based artists and crafters. 

Dining: Seek out restaurants and markets that serve locally sourced and sustainably caught seafood, such as Lombardi’s, a market known for responsibly harvested, seasonal Florida specialties, such as stone crab, as well as grouper and snapper. In the Mills 50 District, Filipino restaurant Kaya received Florida’s first-ever Michelin Green Star for its focus on locally-sourced ingredients and waste reduction. Always pass on plastic straws.

Transportation: Orlando is at the forefront of U.S. cities testing autonomous vehicles, and Waymo officially launched here in late February 2026. The city’s free autonomous operates a one-mile loop around downtown. About 350 miles of bike lanes and urban trails in the area, as well as bike and scooter-share programs downtown and on International Drive, also provide other ways to help reduce your carbon footprint when visiting Orlando.