Flights to Orlando

Orlando International Airport, the country's seventh-busiest, is well-equipped with bars, restaurants, cafes and shops. Unlike at many other airports, the food court is located outside security, so both travelers and non-travelers can enjoy meals together. Orlando International Airport also features a major collection of permanent artwork. Within its broad architectural expanses, most of which are filled with light and green foliage, the public artwork creates a warm welcome for arriving passengers and even helps them wayfind around the airport.

Orlando Theme Parks

Ready your camera for a trip to Orlando because, between Disney World and Universal Studios, you're in for a photo-op filled trip. Beloved characters like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Spongebob Squarepants, Shrek and Curious George are waiting to meet, greet and strike a pose with you.

Walt Disney World is practically a city unto itself, stretching across 40 square miles. This massive park is divided into four main areas: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, the Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. 

Magic Kingdom is the resort’s original park, featuring an iconic Cinderella Castle. Throughout the park, rides and attractions draw inspiration from American cities, far-off lands and different periods throughout history.

Epcot, with its famous world showcase, has been described as a sort of “permanent World’s Fair,” with attractions that celebrate innovation and human achievement. The Animal Kingdom is a 580-acre zoo built around the natural environment and focused on animal conservation. And Hollywood Studios celebrates show business, from film and TV to music and theater.

Orlando’s other major theme park, Universal Orlando, is smaller and more pedestrian-friendly than Disney. It features six themed areas, each centered around a lagoon. One of the most popular is the recently-added Wizarding World of Harry Potter, based on J.K. Rowling's books. 

Downtown Orlando

Beyond Orlando's theme parks, its downtown has become a hot spot for trendy restaurants, bars and cultural events. The scene has gotten so enticing in recent years that Orlando’s movers and shakers have quietly moved themselves out of their suburban homes and into the sky-high condos that circle the iconic Lake Eola Park in downtown.

Swans gracefully glide on the lake, swimming around the giant fountain and up to the Walt Disney Amphitheatre, which was donated to the city in 1989. The loop around the lake is a breezy 0.9 miles, making it easy to plan a daily run; the weather generally complies as well, with lots of sunshine and temperatures hovering in the mid-70's °F in the winter and mid-80's °F in the summer.

Orlando Restaurants

In recent years, the culinary scene in Orlando has exploded with a growing collection of restaurants and award-winning chefs. It’s also, incidentally, the U.S. city with the most food trucks per capita. You’ll find that the city has a number of restaurants serving cuisines including Thai, Indian, Japanese, African and Scandinavian, among many others.

Orlando Arts & Culture

For art lovers, a monthly gallery hop is sponsored by the Downtown Arts District. You’ll also find impressive collections at both the Orlando Museum of Art and the Cornell Fine Arts Museum. For an educational afternoon, stop by the Orlando Science Center for its engaging interactive exhibits. And catch renowned performers from pop, rock and jazz to dance and Broadway at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Orlando has two main seasons each year. Its humid summer season lasts from May through late September and its warm and dry winter runs from October through April. During the summer, high temperatures hover in the low to mid 90's °F. In the winter, humidity is lower and temperatures are more moderate. In January, the average daily temperature is 60°F.