Things to Do in Orlando, United States: Walking Guide

Looking for things to do in Orlando? Beyond its famous theme parks, the city offers museums, historic buildings, cathedrals, performance venues, sports stadiums and lakeside neighborhoods. Orlando is also a useful base for exploring more of Florida, with a cultural and historic side that is easy to discover on foot or by bike. Neywo has a free audio guide for Orlando with 21 narrated places.

What to See in Orlando

The most important places to see in Orlando range from downtown landmarks to major entertainment destinations. The following route through the city brings together local history, art, science, religion, sport and the attractions for which Orlando is best known.

Orange County Regional History Center

The Orange County Regional History Center occupies the historic Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando. This five-story building is itself part of the city’s architectural heritage, while the museum’s exhibitions explore the history of Central Florida as far back as 2,000 years.

It is one of the best places to begin understanding the region beyond its modern tourism industry. The museum is a private nonprofit institution dedicated to local and regional history.

Orlando Museum of Art

Founded in 1924 by a group of art enthusiasts, the Orlando Museum of Art serves Orlando, Orange County and the wider Central Florida community. The nonprofit museum adds a visual-arts dimension to a city often associated mainly with entertainment.

Its place in the city’s cultural landscape makes it a natural stop for visitors looking for things to do in Orlando beyond the theme parks.

Orlando Science Center

The Orlando Science Center offers hands-on ways to explore science and technology. Its interactive exhibitions are designed to encourage curiosity and deepen public understanding, making the center a particularly engaging choice for visitors who prefer participation to passive sightseeing.

The center also houses the Dr Phillips Cinedome, where immersive films complement the museum’s exhibitions.

St. James Cathedral and the Cathedral Church of St. Luke

Orlando has important religious landmarks from different Christian traditions. St. James Cathedral is the seat of the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Orlando and serves as a spiritual center for the local Catholic community.

The Cathedral Church of St. Luke, meanwhile, is an Episcopal cathedral and the seat of the Diocese of Central Florida. Together, these buildings help reveal the city’s role as a regional religious center.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is Orlando’s main performance venue. Located downtown, it opened on November 6, 2014, and joined the city’s contemporary cultural scene with the historic Bob Carr Theater, which first opened as the Orlando Municipal Auditorium in 1927.

Locals often use the shorter name, Dr. Phillips Center. Its location also places it within easy reach of several downtown landmarks and arenas.

Kia Center

The Kia Center is a multipurpose indoor arena in downtown Orlando. It is home to the Orlando Magic basketball team and the Orlando Solar Bears hockey team.

The building was originally known as the Amway Center and took its current name in December 2023 after Kia acquired the naming rights. In addition to sports, it has hosted graduations, WWE events and major basketball fixtures, including the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.

Inter&Co Stadium

Inter&Co Stadium is the downtown home of Orlando City and Orlando Pride. The soccer-specific venue opened on March 5, 2017, in the Parramore neighborhood, just west of the city center.

With 25,500 seats, it became the first stadium to permanently host Major League Soccer, National Women’s Soccer League and United Soccer League teams in the same location. It has also hosted national-team matches and other major events.

Camping World Stadium

Camping World Stadium is a historic multipurpose venue in downtown Orlando’s West Lakes neighborhood. It opened in 1936 as Orlando Stadium and later became known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl.

The stadium has hosted college bowl games, international soccer, WrestleMania and other sporting events. It remains associated with several prominent bowl games, including the Citrus Bowl, the Cure Bowl, the Pop-Tarts Bowl and the Florida Classic.

Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort is one of the city’s largest entertainment destinations, bringing together theme parks, a water park, hotels and the Universal CityWalk promenade. Its network of water taxis, pathways, buses and moving walkways connects the different parts of the resort.

The resort began with Universal Studios Florida in 1990. Universal Islands of Adventure and CityWalk followed in 1999, Volcano Bay opened in 2017, and Universal Epic Universe joined the resort in 2025.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter stretches across two theme parks. Visitors can also find attractions such as Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, while CityWalk includes venues such as the Rising Star karaoke bar. The resort’s history also includes the Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre, a stand-alone CityWalk venue that hosted the group from 2007 to 2021.

Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios Florida opened on June 7, 1990, originally combining a theme park with the idea of an active studio lot. As filming interest in Orlando declined, the park moved away from that concept and focused on rides and shows.

Today, Diagon Alley is one of its major attractions. Universal Studios Florida is also home to E.T. Adventure, the oldest ride still operating in the park, and hosts Halloween Horror Nights each fall on select nights.

Menello Museum of American Folk Art

The Menello Museum of American Folk Art stands in Loch Haven Park beside Lake Formosa. The city-owned museum opened on November 22, 1998, in the historic Howard Phillips’ house.

Its exhibitions include the Cunningham works as well as displays by traditional and contemporary American artists. The setting makes it a natural stop when exploring Orlando’s museums and green spaces.

A place of remembrance: Pulse

The former site of Pulse nightclub is connected to the tragic events of June 12, 2016, when 49 people were killed in an attack during Latin Night. Pulse had been founded in 2004 by Barbara Poma and Ron Legler as a gay nightclub, hosting themed evenings and educational programs for the LGBT community.

The site is part of Orlando’s recent history and is approached as a place of remembrance. Its story is an important, painful part of the city’s identity.

Explore Orlando with a Self-Guided Audio Tour

A self-guided visit makes it easier to connect Orlando’s downtown landmarks, cultural institutions and entertainment districts at your own pace. Neywo’s Orlando audio guide includes 21 narrated places, with narration available in 11 languages.

There are three routes:

• Two walking tours, including a 4.69 km, 112-minute downtown walk with 9 stops, and a 1.15 km, 36-minute walk through Universal Orlando with 4 stops.
• One bike route, covering 5.2 km in 26 minutes, with 4 stops between downtown and Loch Haven Park.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it. You choose your pace, with no group and no schedule. Download Neywo and explore Orlando with an audio guide that accompanies your walk from one landmark to the next.