If you have an idea to visit Orlando, one of Florida’s most beautiful destinations, we’ll tell you the best places to visit in Orlando, Florida, as well as the most interesting things you can do in there. Tens of millions of visitors from across the world come here every day. The city’s perfect weather is just one reason that able to attract tourists.
Orlando is home to many attractive places like Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. Also, there are limitless hotels, motels, and resorts in Orlando. If you visit there you can easily find dozens of golf courses, many thousands of restaurants, and several things to do in Orlando. You might think of Orlando as only a family destination. But the truth is adults also can find many attractive things here. Then, let’s start our tour of Orlando.
1. Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World Resort, known as “Disney World” is Florida’s most popular family attraction. No list of the best places to visit in Orlando, Florida complete without Walt Disney World Resort. This park was opened to the public in 1971. Since then it were able to attract people from around the world. The park consists of four theme parks, two water parks, a sports complex, a shopping and entertainment district, and an extensive boardwalk. The Magic Kingdom is the most popular place among its theme parks. This iconic Cinderella’s Castle stands at the center of the park.
You can see Epcot’s Spaceship Earth geosphere when you enter this park. It consists of Future World and the World Showcase and allows visitors to see different cultures. You can meet some popular international Disney characters like Belle, Mulan, and Mary Poppins as well. If you visit the Hollywood Studios park, you can enjoy thrilling new film-themed rides like the Star Wars-inspired Star Tours and Rise of the Resistance and see exciting stunts and special effects shows.
Animal Kingdom is here to give you the amazing Kilimanjaro safari experience. You can see the massive Tree of Life that makes the perfect backdrop for family photos and African animals running free in a natural habitat here. If you visit the park at night, you can see night events like fireworks and parades. If you are visiting multiple parks, it will take days to visit all of them. We recommend to allow at least a minimum of one day for each park.
- Official website: disneyworld.disney.go.com
2. Universal Theme Parks
This is the ideal place to explore Universal’s rich world of characters. Universal theme parks consist of three individual parks. These are Volcano Bay, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios Florida. Universal Studios Florida is the first and is a combined theme park and functioning studio that was built in collaboration with Steven Spielberg. Visitors can interact with the filmmaking process through it. The Universal Studio is popular with all ages. If you visit there don’t miss experiencing thrilling roller coasters and wet rides.
Universal’s Islands of Adventure has eight individually designed islands, each of which is based on a certain movie series. They include Jurassic Park, Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Seuss Island, The Lost Continent, Toon Lagoon, and Marvel Superhero Island. The park’s most recent addition is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. With Hogwarts Castle, the Hogwarts Express, and even Hogsmeade when you’re thirsty, this fantastic section of the park stays according to the fantastical universe created by J.K. Rowling. City Walk is also a part of Universal and offers movies, shopping, dining, and other entertainment options throughout the day and night.
3. SeaWorld Orlando
Orlando’s SeaWorld’s massive aquariums, touch pools, dolphin and whale shows, and many exciting rides make it one of the best places to visit in Orlando, Florida. It allows visitors to reach into the interactive dolphin pool and pet them. They also offer an up-close tour with dolphins, sea lions, penguins, sharks, and killer whales. Some other tours include tours of the dolphin nursery, where the park’s youngest dolphins are cared for and tours to the manatee rehabilitation center.
In addition to these tours park also offers some fun activities like several water rides. Mako hyper coaster, the Manta Coaster, and the Kraken Virtual Reality Coaster are some existing roller coaster adventures you can have. If you visit there on a Friday or Saturday night, you can see impressive fireworks display.
- Visit: 7007 SeaWorld Drive, Orlando, Florida
- Official website: https://seaworld.com/orlando/
4. Discovery Cove
Discovery Cove is located next to SeaWorld Orlando. It is one of the best places to visit in Orlando, Florida. Discovery Cove offers plenty of interesting things to do such as swimming with the dolphins, exploring underwater with a full dive helmet, wading among stingrays, and snorkeling along a coral reef.
If you visit the park’s large aviary, you can see exotic birds. The park also has a tropical swimming area. It allows visitors to relax in a lounge chair on the sandy beach and splash in the pools. We recommend you book a reservation well in advance during peak season. Because discovery Cove is one of the top tourist attractions in Orlando, Florida.
- Visit: 6000 Discovery Cove Way, Orlando, Florida
- Official website: https://discoverycove.com
5. Typhoon Lagoon
Typhoon Lagoon is Disney’s biggest water park and one of the best places to visit in Orlando, Florida. You can find plenty of attractions for all ages inside this popular park such as a play area designed for young children, kiddie rides, and swimming and splash areas. There is a huge wave pool and if you like surfing this is an ideal place for you. If you are a newcomer to this subject, you can sign up for surfing lessons.
A peaceful ride along the lazy river, thrill rides like Humunga Kowabunga, and whitewater adventures on Miss Adventure Falls are just a few other highlights of the park. In addition to them, the park features a sandy beach where kids can play while parents relax and multiple waterslides for various age levels. You can also visit Disney’s Blizzard Beach and have water rides for the whole family.
- Visit: 1145 East Buena Vista Boulevard, Orlando, Florida
- Official website: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/typhoon-lagoon/
6. Volcano Bay
Volcano Bay is Universal’s newest water theme park and one of the best places to visit in Orlando, Florida. It is opened in 2017 as the replacement for the original Wet ‘n Wild. The park offers a variety of things to do. You can go to the Krakatau sits at the center of the park and get a popular Aqua Coaster thrill ride. If you visit Waturi Beach, you can swim in the large wave pool and relax on a sandy beach. Here you have the opportunity to rent a cabana, use provided lounge chairs, or upgrade to padded loungers. There is a zero-entry wading area that is specially designed for younger kids. Some other attractions include waterslides, thrill rides, and tubing.
- Official website: www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/theme-parks/volcano-bay/index.html
7. Kennedy Space Center
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is one of the best places to visit in Orlando, Florida. It allows you to see one of NASA’s popular operations centers. The Heroes and Legends exhibit introduces visitors to the careers and lives of those who made the space program possible. It also features the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. The Rocket Garden features some of NASA’s most famous flights such as flights of Apollo and Gemini programs. The original Space Shuttle Atlantis is another main highlight of the Space Center.
- Official website: www.kennedyspacecenter.com
8. Gatorland
Gatorland home to the thousands of alligators, crocodiles, and other reptiles. Every year millions of guests come here to see these incredible creatures. If you visit there, you can watch daily shows and demonstrations like the “Alligator Jumparoo” show and “Gator Wrestlin'”. An observation tower offers views of the breeding marsh and the surrounding area, and a tiny train travels a linear path around the site. The Gator Gauntlet and the Screamin’ Gator are two recent additions to Gatorland. Both of them run above the alligator and crocodile pens.
- Visit: 14501 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, Florida
- Official website: www.gatorland.com/
9. Disney Springs
Disney Springs is an exquisitely designed entertainment, shopping, and dining district. The most important fact about this area is you don’t have to pay for a wander. Disney Springs is home to more than 103 places to shop here. You can find numerous chic fashion stores from leading brands such as Anthropologie, Johnson & Murphy, and Coach here. If you are traveling with your kids, you should visit the iconic World of Disney store. There is plenty of dining and entertainment as well. Disney Springs boasts 25 unique attractions and 64 dining options.
- Visit: 1486 Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista
- Official website: www.disneysprings.com
10. Lake Eola Park
Lake Eola Park is located in the heart of downtown Orlando. If you are looking for something outside of the theme parks, you should visit there. This area is originating as a sinkhole and later in 1888, it turned into a public park. This large green space offers visitors plenty of fun things to do. If you visit there you can go along the nearly mile-long paved pathway that circles the lake. You also have the opportunity to enjoy rides in swan-shaped paddleboats and catch live music performances at the Walt Disney Amphitheater.
- Visit: 512 East Washington Street, Orlando, Florida
11. Science Center
The Orlando Science Center is one of the best places to visit in Orlando, Florida. It is located in Orlando’s superb Loch Haven Park. We recommend exploring this lovely green space on foot. If you visit there, you can learn several branches of science, from mechanics to biology and applied technology. “Kids Town” is one of the top attractions here. Kids under 48 inches tall can go there and see interesting and stimulating interactive exhibits.
The Dr. Phillips CineDome offers visitors the to experience large format films and laser shows. In addition to the exhibit galleries, the Science Center features touring exhibits from across the whole world. The Loch Haven Park offers numerous walking trails that connect other major attractions, including the Mennello Museum of American Art and Sculpture Garden, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Fire Museum, and Orlando Repertory Theater.
- Visit: 777 East Princeton Street, Orlando, Florida
- Official website: www.osc.org/
12. Harry P. Leu Gardens
If you are bored with crowded and noisy theme parks, you can visit the beautiful Harry P. Leu Gardens to relax. You can reach there within a short distance from downtown Orlando. If you visit there you can see fountains, ponds, and gardens, with walking trails winding their way through the various areas. These gardens spread out over 50 acres and if your visit there don’t miss the extensive rose gardens and the large collection of palms and bromeliads.
- Visit: 1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando, Florida
- Official website: www.leugardens.org/
13. ICON Park
ICON Park is an interesting mix of open-air shopping, entertainment, dining options, and tourist attractions. This park is one of the best places to visit in Orlando, Florida. The park has spread across 20 acres and you can find many fun activities to do here such as riding the Orlando StarFlyer and visiting the SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium and Madame Tussauds Orlando waxworks. There is a 400-foot-tall Ferris wheel at ICON Park which offers beautiful views over the area. At night, this wheel is illuminated by 64,000 lights that regularly change color and it makes an incredible view to see. The park offers toddlers a ride around the park on the Pearl Express.
- Visit: 8375 International Drive, Orlando, Florida
- Official website: https://iconparkorlando.com
14. Winter Park
You can visit Winter Park within an easy 15-minute drive from downtown Orlando. It is one of the best places to visit in Orlando, Florida. The park is home to several world-class art galleries, first-rate dining opportunities, and the best luxury shopping opportunities along ritzy Park Avenue. Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens and the Cornell Fine Arts Museum which features both contemporary and antique artworks are some highlights of the park.
15. Exotic Animal Experience
Orlando’s Exotic Animal Experience offers tourists the to interact with some of the world’s most interesting creatures. Many kangaroo and lemur species, owl monkeys, kinkajou, two-toed sloths, and deer reside in the park. All visits must be scheduled in advance. Visitors can choose between a group experience, a private visit, and special packages that allow them to spend more time with the animals.
- Visit: Quinlan Street, Orlando, Florida
- Official website: http://exoticanimalexperience.net/
Those are the most attractive places in Orlando, Florida. If you plan to tour Orlando, don’t forget to visit these places. You will be able to get an amazing experience in Orlando.
Hotels to stay in Orlando
If you visit Orlando, you can stay in the below highly rated hotels. They are close to the most attractive places in Orlando.
Luxury Hotels
- Waldorf Astoria Orlando: A luxury hotel, including a three-acre lazy river pool and waterslide, a five-minute complimentary shuttle ride from Walt Disney World
- Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress: Close to the Disney theme parks, as well as outlet shopping malls, a family-friendly, an affordable luxury option
Mid-Range Hotels
- Drury Inn & Suites: A good value mid-range option
- Marriott’s Cypress Harbour: Close to Walt Disney World and outlet shopping, has two-bedroom suites and villas with fully-equipped kitchens
- Homewood Suites Orlando/International Drive/Convention Center: Located in a convenient location only 10 minutes by car from Universal Studios and SeaWorld and 15 minutes by car from Walt Disney World
Budget Hotels
- Hampton Inn Orlando/Lake Buena Vista: Located about four minutes by car from Walt Disney World, offers free parking and a complimentary shuttle to the park
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Orlando Near Universal Orlando Resort: Offers free shuttle to Universal Studios
- Comfort Suites: Located near Universal Studios and within walking distance of restaurants, offers large, clean rooms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Orlando location receives the most visitors?
With more than 50 million yearly visitors, Walt Disney World is not only the most popular attraction in Orlando but also the most popular holiday destination worldwide. The four main parks each offer a distinctive experience: at Magic Kingdom, fairy tales come to life; at Epcot, visitors can get a taste of many international cultures.
What has made Orlando so well-known?
Orlando, Florida is recognized for a lot more than just Disney World and Universal, however, those two attractions maybe its two main attractions. The warm weather, world-famous theme parks, shopping centers, golf courses, and nightlife attract almost 60 million people annually to this area of central Florida.
Why is Orlando a good destination for a getaway?
Orlando, Florida is referred to as the world’s theme park capital. Orlando, which is home to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and numerous more amazing parks, exudes fun continuously. The location is famous for its best shopping, performances, outdoor adventures, and much more.
Which month is ideal for visiting Orlando?
Orlando is best visited from the middle of September to the beginning of November. The summer highs of 90°F (32°C) have been dropped during this admittedly very brief period into a more comfortable range of about 75°F (23.9°C).
How long should you stay in Orlando?
With a park-to-park pass, three days is the best possible amount of time to spend because you can completely explore each park and go back to your favorite attractions. It is possible to do a highlights tour of both parks in one tiring day, but you would miss many lovely little things.
Orlando is it costly or cheap?
Housing costs in Orlando are 11% more expensive than the national average, but utilities costs are 7% less expensive. Gas prices and other transportation costs are 1% more than the national average. The cost of groceries is 3% more expensive in Orlando than it is elsewhere.
