Orlando is famous in the world for its theme parks, but it does not mean that it has to be expensive. This city is full of budget-friendly experiences that make you feel the adventures, culture, and environment of Florida without being expensive. Whether you’re a culture lover, an art lover, or a sunshine person, Orlando can give you all of it without being heavy in your pocket. The below list shows 25 things to do in Orlando that will give you lifetime amazing experiences on a budget!
1. The beautiful Lake Eola Park
Downtown Orlando is the best to relax for the day. You can enjoy a beautiful walk, and see swans, and you can also get a swan boat on rent for a little fee. It is free for picnicking, and you can also find free concerts or farmer’s markets on weekends.
2. Tour the Orlando Museum of Art
It provides free entry days. Check their schedule one day prior and grab the opportunity to see local and international art pieces without spending a dollar.
3. Travel to the Leu Gardens
Harry P. Leu Gardens provides discounted entry for adults and even free entry days throughout the year. It is a 50-acre botanical garden and is perfect for a peaceful, pocket-friendly outing with beautiful plants and sceneries.
4. Visit the Audubon Park Garden District
Enjoy the vibrant Audubon Park Garden District with its amazing restaurants, shops, and markets full of art. Here you can find free events that the neighborhood sometimes hosts, which makes the place a perfect budget-friendly spot.
5. Explore the CityArts in Downtown Orlando
If you’re an art-loving person then it is the perfect place for you. CityArts, full of local galleries in downtown Orlando, offers free entries to its rotating art exhibitions. From contemporary art to unique pieces, you can surf the creative art of Orlando for free.
6. Grab a Free Show at Disney Spring
At Disney Spring you can enjoy free music shows, and occasional performances. Explore the cafes, buy affordable snacks and enjoy the environment without a ticket.
7. Tour the West Orange Trail
If you’re a nature lover then you will love walking or biking along the West Orange Trail, a 22-mile path that is full of beautiful landscapes. You can use it for free and take advantage of the scenic views for picnic purposes.
8. Visit the Disney Wilderness Preserve
A little far from the city, the Disney Wilderness Preserve provides trails and wildlife viewing spots. Entry is free and the preserve offers views of Florida’s natural beauty, far from the city crowds.
9. Rocket Launch from the Kennedy Space Center’s
It provides a free viewing space. If you schedule your visit perfectly, you can witness a rocket launch from a free viewing place near the Kennedy Space Center. Go through NASA’s schedule and experience an unforgettable sight from a pocket-friendly vantage spot.
10. Experience Winter Park’s Scenic Boat Tour
This you can enjoy for a small amount, the Scenic Boat Tour in Winter Park is an inexpensive way to witness amazing mansions, beautiful landscapes, and gorgeous canals.
11. Visit Disney’s Boardwalk
Disney’s Boardwalk offers entry to the public and is free to wander. You can enjoy carnival games, and unique shops with a pretty backdrop of Crescent Lake to witness.
Also Read: Things to Do in New Zealand in 7 Days: A Complete Travel Itinerary
12. Fireworks from Outside the Parks
Have fun watching the nightly fireworks at Disney World from free spaces like the beach at the Polynesian Village Resort or the Ticket and Transportation Centre (TTC). You get the experience without the ticket amount!
13. Visit the Icon Park
Icon Park on International Drive is famous for some attractions like restaurants and shops. You can explore it for free, and you can find pocket-friendly food, snacks, and activities here.
14. Tour Orlando’s Murals and Street Art
Orlando’s vibrant street art views make for an amazing, no amount of walking tour. Places like Mills 50 and Thornton Park are famous because of murals and offer the perfect backdrop for pictures.
15. Kayaking or Paddle Boarding on Lake Fairview
Have fun doing a peaceful outdoor adventure. It provides kayak and paddle boarding on rent, also with the boat lessons. Lake Fairview is a 405-acre Public lake located in Orange County that provides scenic views of the Orlando skyline. You can also find there relaxing sand bars, where kayaks and boats will raft out and beach up together. It is one of the best things to do in Orlando.
16. Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
The Morse Museum in Winter Park has the largest assembly of Tiffany glass in the world. The museum is not very expensive and offers an entry fee of under $10.
17. Visit the Tibet-Butler Preserve
If you’re a hiking lover, the Tibet-Butler Preserve provides scenic trails and you can also get an opportunity to spot native wildlife. You can visit it for free, making it an amazing, affordable things to do in Orlando for nature lovers.
18. Witness the Dr. Phillips Center’s Free Events
Visit the Dr. Phillips Center to enjoy the Performing Arts hosts several cost-free events throughout the year, which also include outdoor concerts and performances.
19. Tour the Greenwoods Urban Wetlands
Greenwood Urban Wetlands is a calm park with walking areas, picnic spots, and an attractive lake. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy and admire Orlando’s natural beauty cost-free.
20. Visit the “Greetings from Orlando” Mural
This colorful mural in the Milk District is free of cost to explore and is great for capturing photos. It’s one of the famous spots to grab a piece of Orlando for travel memories.
21. See a Movie in the Park
During winter, some Orlando parks host free-of-cost outdoor movie nights. Carry a blanket and enjoy a movie under the stars without spending any money.
22. Visit the Winter Park Farmers’ Market
Located in an old train depot, this amazing market in Winter Park offers free entry and features baked goods, fresh produce, and local craft items.
23. Tour the Fort Christmas Historical Park
There you can learn about Florida’s history free of cost at Fort Christmas Historical Park. This place adds a full-scale replica of an 1837 fort and historic homes that showcase pioneers of life.
24. Visit the Cornell Fine Arts Museum
Rollins College’s Cornell Fine Arts Museum provides free entry. It houses a wide collection of art spanning various centuries and provides a calm setting for art lovers.
25. Explore the Shops of Old Town
Old Town in Kissimmee is a retro-themed space with amazing and classic shows and free-of-cost entertainment options. It’s a merrymaking throwback experience just outside Orlando.
Orlando doesn’t have to be a heavy-on-pocket destination. With these 25 inexpensive things to do in Orlando, you can wander the city, observe nature, and submerge yourself in local culture without being heavy on the pocket. From beautiful parks and historic museums to amazing and vibrant districts and beautiful trails, Orlando provides a mix of experiences and memories for every kind of travel lover–all while being pocket-friendly.
