Villas in Orlando

Things to do in Orlando

Orlando is a destination full of excitement, exploration, and enchantment – where stretching on pristine beaches is mixed with adrenaline-fueled rollercoaster adventures. Let your imagination roam wild at Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, where the white-knuckle rides, lively parades, and beloved characters brings out everyone’s inner child. If thrills and spills aren’t for you, master your golf game on fast fairways and internationally renowned courses. Whether you’re after budget buys or high-end designer fashion, get your hands on characterful merchandise at Disney Springs or find big names at the Florida Mall. Connect with nature in mangrove-twisted wetlands and pine-tree coated nature reserves - just keep your eyes peeled for manatees, gators, and crocs. Based just an hour from the coast, blend visits to the parks with lazy beach days on the white sand strips at Daytona, New Smyrna, and Cocoa Beach.

Check out our Top 10 Family Friendly Attractions in Orlando!

Beaches in Orlando

With endless water parks, splash pads, and refreshing springs, sometimes nothing beats the feeling of sand between your toes. While nestled inland, there are inviting golden beaches and surf-perfect waves just an hour’s drive away. Cocoa Beach is perfect for people who love all things space. It's close to the Kennedy Space Center Complex, so you can see rockets lift off right from the beach. Known as the surf capital of Florida, there are plenty of water sports schools to get stuck in the waves. Restaurants and shops spill over the thriving broad walk that laps the sands of New Smyrna Beach, while the sandy strips at Canaveral National Seashore let you escape the crowds. You’ll find all the action at Daytona Beach, as during the summer it comes to life with concerts and carnivals.

Nightlife in Orlando

After a busy day of thrills at the parks, Orlando comes alive after the sun goes down with its live music, scenery-wrapped rooftop lounges, and side-splitting comedy. In downtown Orlando, music events spill out onto the streets on the weekends at Wall Street Plaza’s, or you can relive your childhood with some cocktails and 1980s arcade games at Joysticks. The hub of nightlife is around International Drive, where sing-a-longs go late into the night at Rising Star Karaoke and people dance to live music at Howl at the Moon. Cool off from the Florida heat in the Ice Bar, billed as the largest in the world, with its sub-zero temperature, chilled drinks, and impressive ice sculptures. Kissimmee takes a more relaxed approach, with cosy bars flanking its historic streets and serving up craft beers with games of pool. If you’ve got kids in tow, there are nightly family-friendly events at the parks, or you can laugh together at the Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show.

Food and Drink in Orlando

Orlando’s food scene has moved on from the traditional theme park fodder of corn dogs and candy floss and has flavours that will take you all around the world. From Michelin-starred hotspots to global cuisines to farm-to-table goodness, you can find just about every kind of food here. Budget bites come in the form of sizzling street food at the Mills 50 district, with hawker stalls and food trucks serving up homemade Asian and Latino staples. Have a dose of family fun at Disney Springs, where you can tuck into dinner with a show while staring in awe at impressionists, comedians, and mimes. There’s chef-driven creativity written all over downtown Orlando, with restaurants tied to big-name chefs. Winter Park is Orlando's serious restaurant hub, with everything from locally loved eateries to beloved American chains. Known for its craft beer and cocktail scene, you can’t go home without a visit to a local brewery or distillery for a tour and tasting.

Family-fun activities

Showcased as the theme park capital of the world, holidays to Orlando are all about family-friendly thrills and spills. From mini golf to rollercoasters, discover the magic of Walt Disney World with miles of exciting parks to get lost in. Meet much-loved characters, stare at awe-inspiring parades, and jump into hair-raising rides. Your favourite films are brought to life at Hollywood Studios, while at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, you can join the resistance and battle against the dark side. In Universal Orlando Resort, choose your wand with a butterbeer in hand at the World of Harry Potter, or marvel at superheroes and the ground-breaking rollercoasters.

Soak up the fun at a water park shooting down daring plunge slides at Universal’s Volcano Bay or Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Become an astronaut for the day at Kennedy Space Center, with interactive exhibitions, mind-blowing stimulators, and a real NASA space shuttle. Little inquisitive minds will be spellbound at the WonderWorks, with hands-on attractions, light shows, and fascinating science exhibits. Make an ocean of memories as you meet bottlenose dolphins up close at Discovery Cove, where you swim side by side with these fascinating critters.

For an added touch of adventure, take a look at our best themed villas in Orlando!

Shopping

In Orlando, you can shop 'til you drop, from high-end splurging to budget bargain hunting, there’s something to suit every style. Splash the cash at the glittering displays at the Mall at Millenia, filled with upmarket designer fashion. For some wallet-saving shopping, hunt for bargains at the discount and thrift stores at Orlando Premium Outlets. Soak up the bustling energy at the Orlando Flea Market, where you can rummage for vintage finds and handmade trinkets. Get a taste of the classic American shopping scene at the famous Florida Mall, with a whopping 250 stores to delve into. Stock up on some Disney merchandise at Downtown Disney, where you can buy souvenirs from a galaxy far, far away to wands that unlock surprising secrets.

Natural wonders

Although people are drawn to the thrill-seeking parks, you can’t ignore Orlando’s breath-taking natural beauty. Plunge into the cool and crystal-clear waters of Wekiwa Springs, wrapped in lush nature and backed by the sounds of wildlife. Surround yourself with fauna and flora at the Harry P. Leu Gardens, uncovering exotic plants and flowers that fill your senses with fragrance. Get up close to eagles, owls, hawks, and falcons at the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, where your imagination can soar as high as the birds above. Connect with the nature of the Sunshine State at the Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve, with waves of green at every turn and covered in a longleaf pine forest blanket, which rubs shoulders with bayhead swamps and cypress-lined lakes. Hit the water on an airboat tour, cruising through the unspoiled landscape of the Everglades, passing wetlands, mangroves, and green trees that alligators, manatees, and panthers call home. Snorkel with Florida’s favourite underwater resident at Crystal River, where warm springs flow, making it a favourite with manatees.

Golf

Ready to master your golf game? The courses here are more than just vast landscapes of undulating greens and manicured fairways. Golf lovers can challenge themselves on courses designed by iconic international players and renowned course architects that are made to test human creativity and imagination. The region is filled with world-renowned golf courses, including the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, ChampionsGate Golf Club, and Shingle Creek Golf Club. Take the Bay Hill Club for example, designed by Arnold Palmer. It’s a true marvel with rolling hills and sparkling lakes where golfers come from all over to test their mettle. Then there’s the Grand Cypress Resort, with 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature-designed golf with a link-style layout and subtle undulations that offer a unique and awe-inspiring game. Don’t worry if you’re just a beginner; there are plenty of smaller 9-hole courses and adventure-based mini golf courses to practise your swing.