Orlando
United States · Country profile
Orlando is the theme-park capital of the world, the dynamic city of the central Florida where the colossal entertainment kingdoms of the imagination, the amusement worlds and the water parks transform the flat lakes and the orange-grove countryside of the Sunshine State into the greatest holiday magnet of the Americas. The heart of the metropolitan world of the central Florida, whose attractions draw tens of millions of visitors each year, the city itself spreads its lakes, its parks, its arts districts and its historic neighbourhoods around the enormous resort zones to the south-west of the downtown. The great parks of the magic and the stars with their hotels, their shows and their thrill rides anchor the essential holiday days, while the lakes and the historic districts of the city, the crafts and the restaurants of the arts quarter and the springs and the wetlands of the wider region give the balance beyond the attractions. Sunny, tireless and engineered for delight, Orlando is the fantasy-fulfilling engine of the American family holiday.
About Orlando
Orlando is a city in United States. The city's documented population is around 310,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the US Dollar (USD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +1. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Orlando International Airport.
The Kingdoms of the Fantasy and the Parks of the Imagination
Orlando is a sprawling holiday metropolis organised around the great attraction zones, with the parks and the resorts to the southwest running the classic days, and the downtown, the lakes and the arts districts of the city offering the local face of the town. The historic main streets, the museums of the city and the parks of the lakes anchor the quieter visits, while the rivers, the springs and the sawgrass of the surrounding natural world give the outdoor counterbalance of the region. The transport of the resort corridor, the shuttles, the buses and the trams of the district, runs the festival of the visitors, and the whole city works the steady, sunny, ever-moving rhythm of the theme-park capital.
The Lakes and the Districts of the Historic City
The climate of the region is the hot, humid subtropical, with the long, thunderstorm-rich summer, the mild, sunny winters and the bursting spring greenery of the orange groves, while the hurricane season of the late summer and the autumn bears watching for the traveller. The dollar is the currency and the English the language of the city. The parks of the south-west and the lakes of the city make the core of the visit, and the region, with its springs, its wetlands and its coasts, lies within the easy reach of the car. Light clothing, rain protection for the summer storms and comfortable shoes for the enormous parks complete the sensible preparation of the holiday city.
The Springs and the Wetlands of the Region
The great parks of the resort corridor, the colossal kingdoms of the fantasy and the stars with their themed worlds, their parades, their fireworks and their billion-dollar hotels, are the overwhelming engine of the city, and the multi-day planning of the visits, with the early starts and the fast passes of the parks, is the essential art of the Orlando holiday. Beyond the attractions, the city of the lakes keeps its own character: the historic district of the Thornton Park with its vintage houses and its cafes, the arts district of the Mills with its galleries and its diners, and the craft breweries of the old warehouse quarter fill the local life, while the springs of the surrounding central Florida, with their freshwater swimming and their manatees, and the airboat trails of the Everglades fringe give the natural escape of the region. The lakes of the city, with their rose boats and their parks, complete the surprising green balance of the fantasy capital of the Americas.
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- Country
- United States
- Population
- 310,000
- Coordinates
- 28.4312, -81.3081
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1
- Country code
- US
Entry requirements for United States
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting United States for tourism.
Getting to Orlando
Airports we list for Orlando:
Other airports in the area:
- Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International AirportFLL≈ 286 km from Orlando
- Miami International AirportMIA≈ 310 km from Orlando
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International AirportATL≈ 651 km from Orlando
- Charlotte Douglas International AirportCLT≈ 755 km from Orlando
- Washington Dulles International AirportIAD≈ 1,223 km from Orlando
Cities in United States
Other cities we cover in United States:
Frequently asked questions
Is Orlando the capital of United States?
No — the capital of United States is Washington, D.C..
What currency do I need in Orlando?
The local currency is the US Dollar (USD). Languages spoken in United States include English.
What is the dialling code for United States?
The international dialling code for United States is +1.
Which airport should I fly into for Orlando?
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the airport we list for Orlando.
How far is Orlando from the nearest airport?
Orlando is about 286 km from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit United States?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Argentina (visa required), Japan (e-visa), Morocco (visa required), Singapore (e-visa) and South Korea (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Orlando? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.