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Orlando

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Theme park magic and sunny vibes

Orlando stands out as a major city in Florida known for its theme parks and entertainment venues. The area features large attractions that draw visitors from across the country and around the world. Beyond the parks, Orlando has neighborhoods with local restaurants, shops and cultural sites worth exploring. The city’s layout includes wide streets and public transit options to help move between destinations. Outdoor spaces such as lakes and trails provide places for walking or biking. Events throughout the year add to the city's lively atmosphere without relying on a single industry.

City in United States
Climate zone: Humid subtropical

Humid subtropical: Warm temperate climates with hot, humid summers, mild winters and evenly distributed rainfall, common on eastern continental margins.

See climate table
Price level: $$$
$Cheap
$$Medium
$$$Expensive, upscale
$$$+Very expensive, luxury
See price details
Safety: 7.9
General Safety:8
Health & medical:8
Accessibility:7
Tap water:8
Read details
Tourist English: 5/5
English is the primary language, and tourists will have no issues communicating. Many service staff also speak Spanish and Portuguese, adding to the ease of travel here.
Last update: 12 Oct 2026
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Orlando Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
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Read how our scores work
World-famous for theme parks and family entertainment. Ride major attractions, visit water parks, explore shopping areas and enjoy large entertainment resorts.
Place score
8.0
Best at:
Theme parks
10
Outlets
9
Luxury shopping
8
Spotless
7
Street food
7
Personal score
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Log in to see how this place matches your personal travel interests.
Suited for
👶 9
Families
🧓 8
Seniors
🛡️ 9
Travel Beginners
🌈 8
LGBTQ+
United States – Quick facts
Power Grid: 120 V, 60 Hz
Plug: Type A , Type B
Type A:
Diagram of a Type A power plug
Type B:
Diagram of a Type B power plug

Read about power adapters
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
£1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info: Rating 5/5
The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used.

Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers: Best value: Saily
Flexibility: Airalo
Read our in-depth comparison
Tipping: Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking: Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking: Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette: Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.
Thanksgiving
(November)
A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day
(July)
Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas
(December)
Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.
Emergency contact: Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps: Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links: Wikipedia
Visa regulations
Customs & border control
Travel with medicine
Other: The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.
Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Orlando, United States
🌤️
Jan
🌤️
Feb
☀️
Mar
☀️
Apr
🔥
May
🌦️
Jun
🌦️
Jul
🌦️
Aug
🌦️
Sep
🔥
Oct
☀️
Nov
🌤️
Dec
High season: March - April, June - July, Dec.
Shoulder season: Jan. - Feb., May, Aug., Oct. - Nov.
Crowdedness: 9 (Very crowded)
Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info
Hurricane season June to November, highest risk August to October
Parks are busiest over Christmas and New Year, spring break in March and Easter week
Afternoon thunderstorms are near daily June to September, so do outdoor rides in the morning

Why travel to Orlando?

Orlando is famously home to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, making it a dream destination for families and thrill-seekers. Beyond the parks, the city offers beautiful lakes, lush golf courses and bustling shopping districts. There’s also a surprisingly rich cultural side with art galleries, gardens and excellent dining options. However, it can get crowded and pricey, so planning ahead is key.

🏯Places worth seeing
  • 1 Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
  • 2 Harry P. Leu Gardens
  • 3 SeaWorld Orlando
  • 4 ICON Park
  • 5 Universal Studios Florida
  • 6 Walt Disney World Resort
  • 7 Orlando Science Center and Dr Phillips Cinedome
  • 8 Wizarding World - Diagon Alley
🎡Places for activities
  • 1 Andretti Indoor Karting & Games
  • 2 The Wheel at ICON Park
  • 3 Orlando Watersports Complex
  • 4 Topgolf Orlando
  • 5 Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
🏞️Natural landmarks
  • 1 Wekiwa Springs State Park
  • 2 Shingle Creek Regional Park
  • 3 Harry P. Leu Gardens
  • 4 Oakland Nature Preserve
  • 5 Mead Botanical Garden
  • 6 Blue Spring State Park
  • 7 Kraft Azalea Garden
  • 8 Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake
  • 9 Lake Eola
🛍️Shopping
  • 1 Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores
  • 2 The florida mall
  • 3 Disney Springs
  • 4 The Mall at Millenia
  • 5 Universal CityWalk Orlando
  • 6 orlando international premium outlets
  • 7 South Park Avenue
  • 8 Dezerland Park Orlando
  • 9 East End Market
  • 10 Ticket Shops
🎈Events
  • Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
  • Orlando Fringe Festival
  • Halloween Horror Nights at Universal
  • Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
  • Orlando Film Festival
  • Florida Music Festival
  • Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
  • Festival of Trees
  • Orlando Caribbean Festival
  • Gay Days at Disney

Knowledge before you go

  • Book theme park tickets early; prices and availability change quickly.
  • Start park days before opening to beat heat and lines, using official apps for wait times, maps and mobile ordering.
  • Factor in driving distances and toll roads between parks, outlets and downtown and plan mid-day breaks to avoid afternoon storms.
  • Schedule at least one non–theme-park day for downtown Lake Eola, nearby springs or Kennedy Space Center to experience Central Florida beyond resorts.

How to travel to Orlando

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the main gateway, with many direct flights. There are also bus connections through Greyhound and Megabus, as well as Amtrak train services. Renting a car is recommended for flexibility.

Access summary

  • From Orlando International (MCO): Taxi, rideshare or shuttle to resorts, about 20–40 minutes.
  • From Miami: Frequent flights to MCO, typically around 1–1.5 hours.
  • From Tampa: I-4 highway drive or bus to Orlando, usually about 1.5–2 hours.

Where to stay in Orlando

Orlando offers a wide range of accommodations, from luxury hotels and themed resorts to budget-friendly motels and vacation rentals. Staying near the parks is convenient but can be more expensive.

How to get around Orlando

Orlando is easiest to explore by car, with a well-connected network of roads. Ride-sharing apps, buses and the SunRail train are also options. Many hotels offer shuttles to major attractions and the I-RIDE Trolley is handy on International Drive.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-2 %
Daily expenses in Orlando are around 2% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %
Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

Backpacker Mid-range Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation
£73
£161
£458
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person
£34
£83
£225
🍝 Food per day
£33
£72
£203
🚕 Transportation per day
£6
£7
£29
Food & Drink
🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person
£28
🍛 Lunch Set, per person
£14
🍟 Fast food combo
£9.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day
£12
☕ Cappuccino
£4.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l
£4.40
Transportation
🚌 Public transport ticket
£1.50
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi
£17
⛽ Petrol, 1 l
£0.65
Other
🎞️ Cinema ticket
£10.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult
£115
🤧 Cold medication
£11.50
💇 Basic haircut
£22

Safety information overview

General safety
8
Orlando is generally safe, especially in tourist areas. However, avoid less busy areas late at night and keep an eye on your belongings in crowded places.
Health & Medical
8
Healthcare facilities are excellent, with many hospitals and clinics. No specific health risks, but hydration is important in the heat, especially for kids.
Accessi­bility
7
Orlando is highly accessible, with theme parks offering extensive services for guests with disabilities. Public transportation is also equipped for accessibility needs.
Tap water
8
Tap water is safe to drink, though it may have a distinct taste. Bottled water is widely available if preferred and most attractions have water refill stations.

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