Orlando Travel Guide

While most visitors come to Orlando for the outrageously good theme parks, there’s another side to the city, one that’s packed with leafy neighbourhoods, a flourishing food scene that’s getting better by the day and a long list of world-class museums and art centres. It’s a spread-out city though and the public transport lacks somewhat. To make the most of your time, nab an Orlando car rental and scoot between the things to do and places to eat. Whether you’re coming on a romantic break or an adrenaline-pumping family getaway, you’ll always find something which fits the bill in the Floridan city.

Dining in Orlando

Dining out in Orlando doesn’t need to break the bank. You can bag a bargain on everything from smoky baby back ribs to wood-fired pizzas if you know where to look. With so much good grub, this is a place to leave your diet back home, loosen the belt a couple of notches and get stuck into mouth-watering American pancakes slathered in maple syrup, cayenne mac ’n’ cheese, loaded fries and creamy shakes. There’s some fine Asian food to be found in Mills 50 District and plenty of pan-Latino eats, many coming from the city’s food trucks.

Attractions in Orlando

Downtown Orlando is awash with things to do and attractions. You can take your pick from top museums to art centres or give your credit card a bruising at the shops. A good starting point is driving your Orlando car hire over to the Orange County Regional History Center where you’ll find exhibits showcasing more 12,000 years of history. Afterwards, catch one of the productions at the Mad Cow or Bob Carr Theater. If you’re in town at the right time, try to score some tickets for an Orlando Magic or Solar Bears game in the Amway Center.

Orlando driving routes

If you’re bringing kids to Orlando it’s almost criminal not to spend at least a day in one of the world-renowned theme parks. There’s more than 10 to choose from like Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Universal Island of Adventure, Universal Studios and SeaWorld Orlando. They are all located outside the city centre, so if you’re staying in one of the Downtown hotels your best bet is nabbing a car rental in Orlando. Head out to watch the colourful parades, ride the adrenaline-pumping rides or catch one of the magical shows.

Orlando car rental

If you're set on getting around the city with your own transport, the most convenient place to pick up a car rental is at the international airport. It doesn’t matter how big your group is, you’ll always find a suitable sized vehicle to rent. It’s surprisingly quick to get to most Downtown hotels, with the journey taking less than 30 minutes. It’s worth doing your homework on Floridan driving laws before you pick up your Orlando car rental. It’s legal to take a turn right even at a red traffic light and the state has some of the toughest laws when it comes to drink driving.