From museums and river floats to music and more, there are plenty of free things to do in Orlando
A trip to Orlando often means expensive theme park visits and pricey meals. Plus, some of the best things to do in the city beyond the theme parks can also be budget breakers. If you’re trying to find something that will keep cash in your pocket, there are plenty of free activities everywhere you turn in the city. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing day floating down one of Florida’s most beautiful springs, exploring the hallways of a museum or want to take in some live music, you can do it all on the cheap. And if you really want to spend some time at Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort, there are some free activities there too. Keep reading to make the perfect nearly-free day in Orlando.
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Just outside the city in Clermont is Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, which is Orlando’s largest premium winery. Every day the winery offers guided tours and tastings, starting from 10am to 4pm. The free activity is typically 45 minutes long and includes a view of the vineyard and winemaking area, plus a guided wine tasting. Of course, you can buy bottles to take home too. Just be sure to have a designated driver.
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Orlando’s Lake Nona neighborhood is home to the USTA National Campus. Tennis and pickleball fans will love being able to hit a few balls on the courts. If you’ve never played tennis, you can get a free 30-minute hitting session with one of the teaching pros. And if you want to play pickleball, there is free community play throughout the week, you just need to register your attendance in advance.
Add a little Disney magic to your day of free fun, minus the park admission prices. Disney Springs is Disney’s expansive shopping and dining district, where parking is free and it doesn’t cost anything to soak up the enchanting atmosphere. I like to watch the live entertainment at the lakeside stages, which can be everything from local high school bands to culinary demonstrations. While it’s not a mouse or a princess, you can meet and pose for a photo with a famous character: The seven-foot-tall Coca-Cola Polar Bear is camped out on the second floor of the Coca-Cola Store for bear hugs and selfies.
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On the Rollins College campus, in the posh Winter Park neighborhood, is the Rollins Museum of Art, which boasts more than 6,000 works. The impressive collection includes Renaissance and Baroque paintings, Restoration-period portraitures, early American modernism and even abstract works. There’s never a charge for admission, and exhibits change seasonally, so this is a spot that you can go to over and over again without seeing the same things.
If you’re a Universal fan looking to get a taste of your favorite characters without entry into one of the two Universal Orlando Resort theme parks, head to Universal CityWalk. The outdoor promenade is home to restaurants, bars, shopping, live music and more. One of my favorite places to hang out is the Epic Universe preview center, where you can see the full-scale model of Universal’s newest theme park opening next year. Parking at Universal Orlando Resort is free after 6pm.
Speaking of Universal Orlando Resort, the posh Loews Portofino Bay Hotel hosts the Musica della Notte concert. Beginning at sunset from a balcony overlooking the property’s Harbor Piazza, classically trained singers belt out opera standards mixed with pop tunes. The Italian-themed hotel is accessible via a lush walking path or a free water taxi service from Universal CityWalk.
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Every Saturday from 8am until 1pm the Winter Park Farmers’ Market takes over the Central Park West Meadow. Browse stalls filled with fresh fruits and veggies, snacks, flowers, and more. I love to grab breakfast or lunch here, then walk around listening to live music, seeing cute dogs, and enjoying the lively neighborhood atmosphere.
Orlando isn’t exactly known as a bike-friendly haven, but on the last Friday of each month, cyclists swarm downtown’s Lake Highland Park for Critical Mass. With roads blocked to traffic, the community-organized ride provides bikers the chance to safely pedal through downtown. Everyone from kids with training wheels to professional cyclists are encouraged to get out on the street and promote the use of alternative transportation.
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Ditch the crowds and the high prices at Wekiva Island. Just 20 minutes from downtown Orlando, the amenity-laden park is free from September through the holiday season. During peak times, which include weekends through September, and weekdays and weekends in the high season until 5pm, the cost is $5. The centerpiece is the Wekiva River, where the water is a constant 72 degrees throughout the year. Volleyball courts are free to play, and there’s an option to rent canoes, kayaks and paddleboards for nominal fees.
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Every Saturday night in Kissimme’s Old Town—a retro destination lined with shops, eateries and amusement rides—a classic car show takes over the streets. Resembling a scene out of American Graffiti, owners of cool cars put them on display on Margaritaville Boulevard. Besides the display of museum-worthy vehicles, you can take in some live music and shop along Sunset Walk.
The Enzian Theater, Maitland’s popular independent cinema, hosts free movie screenings once a month in Winter Park’s charming Central Park. In the past, screening selections have included Willow, Captain America: The First Avenger and Men in Black. Movies begin at sunset and attendees are encouraged to bring their own snacks and beverages, along with blankets or chairs to sit on. As always, check the weather before plopping down for the feature presentation because Florida’s evening rains can be unpredictable, especially during the summer.
Walt Disney World boasts one attraction that won’t cost a penny to ride. The Disney Skyliner is a gondola that shuttles visitors from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios to seven hotels across the sprawling 40-square-mile resort. The Skyliner soars over man-made lakes and reaches heights of 60 feet, so it’s more thrilling than a regular bus ride. While onboard, listen for fun facts about Walt Disney World. Just know that it can be hard to access the Skyliner if you aren’t staying at one of the Disney hotels it services, so make a dining reservation at one of our favorite Disney World restaurants to dine, then fly above the crowds of the parks.
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