Orlando

Roller coasters, fairy-tale castles and magical worlds – for millions of families, a trip to Orlando is the very definition of a theme park vacation. But around the parks lies a pleasant city with lakes full of swans, brick-paved streets and springs where you can swim with manatees. A vacation in Orlando is therefore also worthwhile for anyone who wants to discover the "other Florida" between roller coaster rides.

From Orange Grove to Theme Park Capital

Orlando began in the mid-19th century as an army outpost and grew with cattle ranching and citrus groves. The decisive change came with Walt Disney, who secretly bought up huge tracts of land southwest of the city in the 1960s. The Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, followed by Universal, SeaWorld and many other attractions. Today Orlando is one of the most visited destinations in the world; the space center at nearby Cape Canaveral and a growing technology sector complement the tourism industry.

Orlando Attractions

Walt Disney World, with the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, is as big as a city, and you'll need several days to get an overview. Universal Orlando, with its Harry Potter worlds, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe, which opened in 2025, is the second big world. SeaWorld, the water parks and International Drive, with its giant Ferris wheel and indoor skydiving, round out the offerings. In the city itself, Lake Eola Park, with its illuminated fountain and swan-shaped paddle boats, is a lovely spot for an evening stroll, and camellias and roses bloom in the Harry P. Leu Gardens.

Neighborhoods and Dining in Orlando

The Central Business District around Church Street and Lake Eola is the nightlife district, with bars and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. College Park and Colonialtown, with 1920s bungalows, brick streets and small cafés, show the charm of old Orlando, while South Eola and Thornton Park are good for brunch. In the Florida Center area around International Drive, hotels and chain restaurants dominate. Orlando's restaurant scene is becoming more diverse all the time: on Mills Avenue in the Mills 50 district you'll find Vietnamese pho kitchens, West Colonial has Latin American eateries, and in neighboring Winter Park, Park Avenue is lined with restaurants, boutiques and the Morse Museum, with its glass art by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Nature Around Orlando

Central Florida is dotted with hundreds of lakes and clear springs. In Wekiwa Springs State Park you can swim in crystal-clear spring water and go canoeing, and on airboat tours on Lake Tohopekaliga you can spot alligators and waterbirds. In Winter Park, a boat tour winds through the lakes and narrow canals past magnificent mansions. If you're looking for a break from the theme parks, you'll find a peaceful bell tower amid azaleas in the Bok Tower Gardens near Lake Wales.

Getting Around, When to Go and Day Trips

Orlando International Airport is southeast of the city; from there, the Brightline train takes about three hours to Miami. Within the region, LYNX buses and the SunRail commuter train run, hotels often offer shuttles to the parks, and a rental car is handy for day trips. The best time to visit is between October and May, though school vacations fill the parks. Summer is hot, with thunderstorms every afternoon. Day trips take you to the Kennedy Space Center, to the springs in Blue Spring State Park, where hundreds of manatees gather in winter, and to the beaches of Cocoa Beach.