Orlando in 7 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

In Orlando, there's no end to the fun on offer. This city has a great tourist offer: theme parks, museums, virtual reality experiences, excursions and much more.

You can visit Disney's Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, be amazed at the Museum of Illusion, sail through the Florida Everglades, among other activities. However, if you don't know how to organise your seven-day itinerary, time could be too short to enjoy the best things to do in Orlando.

On your first day, you'll learn about the city's past at the Orange County Regional History Center, relax at Lake Eola Park and tour the Mills 50 district.

Orange County Regional History Centre

After your transfer from Orlando airport to your hotel and some rest, you can start your first day's itinerary at the Orange County Regional History Center, an 11-minute walk from Orlando. The museum is housed in a five-story building.

Here you can learn about the history of the city from its earliest communities (Seminole) through the Spanish to the present day. It is a cultural site that you can visit on your own or through one of the guided tours of Orlando.

• Price: Admission is about €8 per person.
• Opening hours: Open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Lake Eola Park

Lake Eola Park is about a 10-minute walk from the previous destination. It is a natural lung, considered the heart of the city.

In this park you can have an impromptu picnic, take in the fresh air and enjoy the scenery. You will also have the opportunity to feed the swans and take a boat ride on the lake, ideal if you visit Orlando in spring, as the weather is cool.

• Price: admission is free.
• Hours: daily from 6:00 am to 11:59 pm.

Mills 50 District

Mills 50 District is the next place to visit. This quaint neighbourhood is a 25-minute walk or 10-minute drive from the previous destination and is a must-see stop on any guided tour of Orlando.

In this area, you can take advantage of the prevailing street art culture to take some amazing photographs. You'll also have the opportunity to sample delicious food at Asian restaurants and street food stalls.

The second day can be spent visiting the city's movie theme park Disney's Hollywood Studios. Go and be amazed by all its attractions and shows.

Hollywood Boulevard

Disney's Hollywood Studios is about a 30-minute drive from downtown. When you arrive at the park, you will find Hollywood Boulevard or the main street. You will have to walk to the central plaza next to the facade of the Los Angeles Chinese Theatre.

From here you can orient your route to the different areas of the park. But before you start your tour of one of Orlando's best theme parks, you should take a look at the shops and franchises surrounding the plaza.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

From Hollywood Boulevard you will be able to see the park and select the attractions you want to visit at your own pace and according to your tastes.

For example, some of them are the following:

• Toy Story Land: you will be able to take amazing pictures next to giant statues of Andy, Buzz, the classic green soldiers, a Pixar ball, etc.
• Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: this is a park within the park, dedicated to Star Wars. You will see robots, light sabres and characters such as Chewbacca, Stormtroopers, etc. You will have the opportunity to pilot the legendary Millennium Falcon ship and be part of a passage of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
• Grand Avenue: enjoy the Muppet 3D show and have access to the Baseline Tap House brewery.

For your day 3 itinerary in Orlando the adventure continues at another of its theme parks. This is the Magic Kingdom with its regions Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Liberty Square, Adventureland and Frontierland.

Main Street USA region

The Magic Kingdom is located approximately 40 minutes' drive from downtown Orlando. There, you will come across Main Street USA and see the iconic Walt Disney statue next to Mickey Mouse and Cinderella Castle.

This is a town made up of shops, restaurants, cafes, train stations, a series of 19th century American village-style buildings and more.

Tomorrowland Region

This area is located to the right of Cinderella Castle. Here, you'll enjoy an incredible futuristic scene and have access to a number of attractions such as the Tron Lightcycle Power Run.

You'll be surrounded by spaceships, galactic stars, metallic constructions, robots, neon lights, rocky monoliths and more. Another suitable destination if you're in Orlando with kids.

Fantasyland Region

This region is right next to Tomorrowland, specifically in the backyard of Cinderella Castle. It concentrates a large number of attractions that combine the classic with the innovative.

You will be surrounded by medieval architecture. In addition, you will see places inspired by iconic Disney characters: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' roller coaster, Dumbo's circus, Beast's castle, Ariel's sea world, etc.

Liberty Square Region

Liberty Square is perhaps not the largest region of the park, nor is it the most attractive for tourists. However, this is a place where you can learn about American history.

You will walk through a recreation of the American colonial era, specifically during the Revolutionary War period. You'll find a few attractions and restaurants to hang out in.

Adventureland Region

If you walk to the left in front of Cinderella Castle, you will come to the area known as Adventureland. There, you'll quickly get caught up in an atmosphere reminiscent of the jungle and Caribbean islands, thanks to the immersive animal sounds.

Whether you visit Magic Kingdom Orlando in January or December, you can enjoy yourself to the fullest by joining a cruise, climbing a tree, becoming a pirate and much more.

Frontierland Region

Right in the middle of Liberty Square and Adventureland, you'll enter the Frontierland region. This is an area inspired by westerns and is notable for its wooden buildings.

In Frontierland you will find the popular Big Thunder Mountain. Also, the river area and Tom Sawyer's Island, Country Bear Jamboree and the restaurant and shopping area.

On day four you can experience a different kind of adventure at Universal Studios that will transport you to the Harry Potter universe. You will stroll through the streets of Springfield, experience the speed of Fast & Furious, among others.

Production Central Region

To get to Orlando Universal Studios you will have to drive approximately 20 minutes from the city centre. Once in the park, the first region is Production Central, made up of movie sets with different attractions.

Some of them are:

• The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, considered the biggest roller coaster in Universal Studios.
• The Shrek 4D experience, aimed at children and adults.
• Monsters Café, a restaurant with a privileged panoramic view of the park.

Hollywood Region

From the park entrance, turn right to reach the Hollywood region. There, you will enjoy all the splendour and glamour that characterises Beverly Hills.

In this area you will find Mel's Drive In restaurant, whose design was created from the film American Graffiti. There are also a couple of shows at Orlando Universal Studios: Bourne Stuntacular and Universal Orlando's Horror Make Up Show.

New York Region

In this region of the park, you'll feel like you've been transported to the Big Apple. You will be able to live a 3D experience exploring the city. Also, if you like adrenaline, you will have the opportunity to ride "The Mummy", an indoor roller coaster, which will make you vibrate.

And, if you want to eat something delicious and rest a little bit, you will be able to do so. In the New York region there is Finnegan's Bar & Grill, with a menu suitable for adults and children.

San Francisco Region

If you go a little further from the New York region, you will find San Francisco. This area is home only to the Fast & Furious Supercharged attraction, which is ideal if you're a fan of the blockbuster saga.

There's also Steven Spielberg's Jaws, where you can have your picture taken. You'll also find several restaurants along the way, such as Lombards Seafood, where you'll have a great dining experience.

Harry Potter Universe

Around San Francisco, you'll find the Harry Potter region. The Harry Potter Universe has King Cross Station, which is the departure point for the Hogwarts train to the Isle of Adventures.

You'll also have access to Diagon Alley, where the region's main attraction is located. You can also visit the magical souvenir shops and eat at the Leaky Cauldron restaurant.

World Expo Region

If you're a fan of The Simpsons, then the World Expo region (along with Harry Potter) is a must-visit destination at Universal Studios. You'll take a stroll through Springfield and see many iconic sites from the TV series such as Moe's Tavern and more.

In this area, you'll have the opportunity to have your picture taken with the iconic DeLorean car from Back to the Future. You can also hunt for aliens in the Men in Black attraction , inspired by the comic book of the same name by Lowell Cunningham.

Your day 5 in Orlando will be spent in the futuristic atmosphere created by the Epcot theme park. You will visit the World Celebration, World Discovery and World Showcase neighbourhoods.

World Celebration

This area of Epcot features the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival and Spaceship Earth as the main attraction.

You can also visit the Coca Cola shop and enter the magical world of this iconic franchise. You will have the opportunity to take pictures with their polar bear and try some of their products.

World Discovery

This region is undoubtedly one of the best activities in Orlando for classic space adventure enthusiasts. You will see attractions related to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Mission: Space, among others.

In addition, you can stop at the Space 220 Restaurant where you can recharge your batteries while eating and drinking. You will also have the opportunity to take pictures, taking advantage of the aesthetics of the place.

World Showcase

This place is ideal to learn about the traditions and culture of the world. You will find attractions and exhibits inspired by countries such as Japan, China, Mexico, Germany, France, Morocco, etc.

In addition, the region is dotted with a number of restaurants and cafes. You can embark on an international gastronomic tour on your own.

Icon Park Orlando is a place dotted with popular attractions: SEA LIFE Aquarium, Madame Tussauds and Illusions Museum, the Big Ferris Wheel and more.

Visit the SEA LIFE Aquarium

For this day you can buy tickets for the Sea Life Aquarium in Orlando, located in Icon Park, about 18 minutes drive from downtown Orlando.

You can interact with some starfish, walk through a 360º ocean tunnel, see ponds with fish, rays and turtles. You will be amazed by the variety of sea creatures in this aquarium.

• Price: admission to the aquarium is around €35 per person.
• Opening hours: from 11:00 to 19:00 (every day).

Meet Hollywood celebrities at Madame Tussauds Museum

About a minute away from the SEA LIFE Aquarium, you'll find the Madame Tussauds Museum. This is a place where you can meet dozens of celebrities and fictional characters.

Take pictures with actress Zendaya, Brazilian footballer Neymar, TV host Jimmy Fallon and more. Also, if you buy tickets to Madame Tussauds in Orlando, you can pose with Batman, Superman and many more.

• Price: from €35 per person.
• Opening hours: daily from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Marvel at the Museum of Illusions

For your next stop, it's a five-minute walk to the Orlando Museum of Illusions. At this destination, you'll test your senses and defy the laws of gravity through a series of optical tricks.

In addition, you'll enjoy more than 50 illusion rooms. For example, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Willy Wonka's disproportionate corridor and the Chocolate Factory, among others.

• Price: Tickets to the Orlando Museum of Illusions start at €24 per person.
• Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday (10:00 to 22:00) and Thursday (10:00 to 17:00).

Have fun at Max Action Arena

Whether you visit Orlando in December, January or any other month, you can have a fun and different experience at the Max Action Arena.

This is an entertainment arcade that you can enjoy by purchasing tickets to Icon Park in Orlando. You will have the opportunity to play with virtual reality, do axe throwing, solve cases in an escape room, among other experiences. You will also have the opportunity to taste a select variety of wines and beers.

• Price: the cost of the experience is around €45 to €80 per person.
• Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday (11:00 to 23:00) and Friday and Saturday (11:00 to 00:00).

Climb The Wheel and get a different view of the city

To end the day, you can buy tickets for the Ferris wheel at Icon Park in Orlando. You'll climb to a height of 122 metres and get a different view of the city.

During this experience you'll be in an air-conditioned glass-walled cabin, which gives you a 360° view. You'll be able to take amazing pictures of the sunset and, if you're in Orlando at night, you'll see the city light up.

For your last day the plan is simple. You should connect with a guided tour that will allow you to discover new destinations: Florida Everglades or Kennedy Space Center.

Option 1: Take a guided hovercraft tour of the Florida Everglades

If you don't know how to get to the Everglades from Orlando, a good option is to take a guided tour. You'll drive about 45 minutes to these famous wetlands and then cruise through miles of protected wetlands.

This is definitely an airboat ride in Orlando that will allow you to discover the flora and fauna of the Central Florida Everglades. You will enjoy a peaceful atmosphere and will be amazed to see alligators in their natural habitat.

• Price: This tour, considered one of the best airboat tours in Orlando, is priced at approximately €89 per person.
• Duration: The experience usually lasts around 6 hours.

Option 2: Join a Kennedy Space Centre tour from Orlando

Joining one of the Kennedy Space Center day tours from Orlando is another great option for your last day in the city. Together with a professional guide, you'll take a 60-minute minibus ride to the attraction to learn about the history of the space programme.

On this Kennedy Space Centre tour from Orlando, you'll enter the Astronaut Hall of Fame and the IMAX theatre. Then, at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, you'll see a recreation of the lunar landing, a life-size Saturn V rocket, and more. And, in the Space Shuttle Atlantis, you'll find the Space Shuttle Atlantis where, in a space simulator, you'll experience liftoff.

• Price: the value of the experience is around 66€ per person.
• Duration: The duration of the experience is about 12 hours.

The Orlando sightseeing bus is a good alternative for travelling long distances. You will be able to get on and off as many times as you want in the approximately 15 stops assigned.

This way, with just buying a ticket valid for 1, 3, 5, 7 or 14 days, depending on your convenience, you will be able to travel comfortably to places such as Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, among other tourist destinations.

The Tourist Card is an essential tool for your 7-day trip to Orlando. You will save up to 35% on entrance fees to a number of attractions: NASA Kennedy Space Center, Icon Park, Madame Tussauds Museum, airboat ride, etc. You can create your own itinerary and avoid the queues at the ticket office.

You only need to purchase the Orlando Explorer Pass and select between 2, 3, 4 or 5 attractions, according to your tastes and needs. This electronic pass is valid for a maximum of 60 days, starting from the moment it is activated, i.e. when you scan it at the ticket office of a specific attraction.