Search bus tickets to Orlando

A couple of great neighborhoods to stay in Orlando are the Park Central and Millenia areas. They’re near Orlando’s Orange Blossom Center bus station, which means you can take a bus or take a quick ride in an Uber or Lyft to get there. The neighborhoods have an assortment of restaurants in walking distance, and most AirBnBs in the area average between $25 and $55 per night.

A little further afield (but closer to Orlando’s downtown), you might consider staying in the Griffin Park Historic District, which is about a 12-minute drive from Orange Blossom Center. From there you can easily commute into the city, and will be near all the exciting dining and nightlife that downtown Orlando has to offer.

If you’re looking to stay closer to Disney World, take a look at the neighborhoods surrounding Lake Ruby. You can find a reasonable price on accommodations while still being just 10 minutes away from the resort. The area surrounding Lake Ruby also has a number of reasonably priced restaurants, and some places where you can purchase snacks (if you don’t want to spend $6 on an in-park churro).

The public transit provider in Orlando is called LYNX, and is mostly made up of city buses. LYNX covers more than 2.500 square miles through multiple counties. You can either buy a bus pass for a single ride (which starts at $2) or you can buy a 7-day standard pass for $16. These buses have fixed routes, so it would be wise to look in advance to see which route(s) you will need before purchasing bus passes. From Orange Blossom Center, you can board a bus that heads directly to the Lynx Central Station in downtown Orlando (about a 25- to 30-minute ride).

Another option provided by LYNX is the LYMMO, a bus rapid transit service that has dedicated lanes to avoid traffic congestion. LYMMO service runs Monday–Friday, 6 a.m. to 10:45 p.m., and on Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Even better, LYMMO service is free. Each LYMMO bus has its own color, indicating which routes it provides.

Orlando is well-known for its outdoor theme parks, with multiple to choose from. A few of the best include the famous Walt Disney World Resort (which includes the Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot and more), the Universal Orlando Resort (which includes The Wizarding World of Harry Potter) and Gatorland. All of these parks are a bit pricey — however, they are a great way to spend the day with family and friends.

If you’re looking for something a bit more gentle on the wallet, Orlando has many other fun activities, some of which are free. The East End Market is a terrific place to walk around and browse products from many local artisans. Lake Eola Park and Bill Frederick Park are also awesome if you want to spend some time outdoors.

Another good spot, just outside of Universal Studios, is the Universal Citywalk. It’s an exciting place to grab a bite to eat, as well as just enjoy the energy and atmosphere (even if you don’t actually visit the theme park). Oftentimes you’ll come across street performers or live music.

In the Millenia neighborhood, Sushi Katana is also an excellent choice. Here you can find mouth-watering maki rolls and fresh fish, as well as some noodle dishes if raw fish isn’t your jam.

Another nice place to grab a bite to eat is Nikki’s Place, a fun and friendly soul food restaurant. The restaurant is situated near the Griffin Park Historic District, and serves up tasty specials like meatloaf, and shrimp and grits.