City break (noun): a short holiday spent in a city, such as when on business travel.
Before there was bleisure travel, there was the city break—the short space of leisure time that grants you access to the cultural and culinary amenities that big cities offer. In this series from TripIt, we explore some of the world's best cities for planning a quick getaway or extending a work trip.
Here are our tips for making the most of your city break in Orlando.
Where to fly in
Orlando metro area is served by Orlando International Airport (MCO). Located 10 miles southeast of downtown Orlando, MCO airport is one of the top-15 busiest airports in the U.S. It has one main airport terminal, consisting of four airside concourses.
Once on the ground at MCO, travelers can rent a car to get around the city—Orlando is the largest rental car market in the world, after all—with many of the major rental car agencies located on-airport. Additional off-airport rental car agencies, and their lots, can be accessed via complimentary shuttle. Alternatively, MCO is served by SunRail—Orlando’s commuter rail—or the LYNX local bus system. Taxis and ride shares are also available from MCO.
Where to stay during your city break
Kids aren’t the only ones living their best lives in Orlando. Leisure travelers have loads of entertainment options, including treating themselves to the city’s luxury hotels. Choose from four-star digs like Universal's Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, or Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for your city break.
In Orlando on business? Here are our picks for where to stay:
- If you’re attending an event at the Orange County Convention Center, you can’t beat the convenience of the Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa. You’ll be staying less than a half a mile from the convention center, as well as an easy 10-minute drive to Universal Studios for after-hours fun.
- If a hotel in a prime downtown Orlando location is what you’re after, look no further than the Marriott Orlando Downtown. Business travelers will appreciate the close proximity to Amway Center, plus the hotel’s amenities, including a business center and express check-in and check-out.
- Short on time? Book a stay at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport—located immediately inside MCO airport—to make catching your return flight a breeze.
How to get around
As mentioned above, renting a car is your fool-proof way to traverse Orlando during your city break. Prefer to stick to public transportation? Your options include the city’s LYNX bus system; a single ride costs $2.00 (you can pay when you board) or an all-day pass costs just $4.50. Utilize their system map to plan your journey. Alternatively, you can take the SunRail commuter rail system. With 16 stations serving four counties and covering almost 50 miles, SunRail is your most eco-friendly option for getting around the Orlando metro area.
Alternatively, Lyft and Uber are available in Orlando and are likely your best option for getting around the city in a jiffy if you didn’t rent a car.
Pro tip: Use TripIt’s Navigator feature to search transportation options available to you. It will show you the estimated costs and travel times for each option, so you can decide which works best. You can find Navigator within your flight, hotel and rental car details screens. Plus, if you add a restaurant reservation to your itinerary (more on where to eat below), Navigator also helps you find the best transportation options for getting to your table.
Where to eat
If you only have time for one meal during your city break in Orlando, make it at Knife & Spoon. Award-winning chef John Tesar helms the kitchen, producing not-your-average surf-and-turf dishes that impress from the very first bite.
Craving Asian food? You’ll be spoiled for choice in Orlando. Choose from local favorites like King Bao for gourmet Taiwanese bao buns, Domu for creative ramen, or Kadence for sushi and sake. More in the mood for Mexican? Try Black Rooster Taqueria. We recommend their made-to-order guac to start, followed by their delectable tacos—start with two, though we suspect you might go back for more.
Have breakfast on the brain? Start your day at Se7en Bites, located in Orlando’s Milk District. Breakfast is served all-day long—as is lunch—so pop in for a bacon morning biscuit or skip straight to the 5 Cheese Mac n’ Cheese. You won’t leave hungry. You will leave happy.
What to do on your city break
In a city known worldwide for its entertainment, you’ll surely find something to do, even if you just have a few hours after work to explore. If you’re visiting Orlando during the NBA basketball season, be sure to catch the Magic at Amway Center. More of a soccer fan? The Orlando City Soccer Club play at Exploria Stadium; the Orlando Pride—Orlando’s professional women’s soccer team—share the stadium and team colors with their MLS counterparts. (Hint: Pack purple and white if you want to root for the home team.)
If your family tagged along on your city break, it goes without saying that there are plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Orlando. Choose from any of the world-renowned amusement parks, including Walt Disney World Resort and its many theme parks, Universal Orlando Resort—with its can’t-miss Islands of Adventure and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, LEGOLAND Florida theme and water parks, and more.
Adults only? By day, take an airboat ride through the Florida Everglades to experience the area’s unique fauna and flora. Prefer to stay on dry land? Spend the day at the Orlando Museum of Art. By night, visit Orlando Brewing Company for a free brewery tour or head straight to the taproom to sample their freshly brewed, organic beer.
Note: As cities reopen around the world, be sure to consult and adhere to all local guidelines and travel restrictions, as they vary widely and will continue to change. One way to stay on top of changing guidelines is to consult the COVID-19 travel guidance feature in the TripIt app for destination-specific information, including current infection rates, quarantine rules upon arrival, testing requirements, and other information you need to know before visiting the area.
