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Orienteering

Orienteering is navigation across terrain using a map and, when needed, a compass. Orienteering skills are useful to outdoor enthusiasts. In deserts and mountains, these skills can and often do save lives, as well as making outdoor adventures less stressful and more enjoyable.

Understand
The orienteering skills needed while hiking differ substantially from those needed in usual orienteering competitions. What you learn at any orienteering club or orienteering event is certainly useful, but you should also train orienteering in a hiking context and get some advice specific for hiking in terrain resembling that which is ahead, before going for demanding wilderness backpacking.

The biggest difference between typical competitive orienteering and wilderness orienteering is the quality of maps and the distances. In the wilderness you will – to a much bigger extent – have to infer the characteristics of any terrain from hints on the map. You will also have to decide where minor streams can be crossed, where to find good water and where to put your tent, in addition to choosing a good path for advancing. On the other hand, you are seldom in a hurry and you need much less precision.

Try it
Orienteering is a fun activity for travellers. Avid orienteers have been known to plan all their vacations (and work related travel too) around opportunities to go orienteering. See the article on New Mexico for information about orienteering there.

There may very well be a hiking club where you live. They often arrange events also for inexperienced non-members and can help you get going.

Just using a map and compass at any hike or walk in the nature will teach you much. Tips on what to look for (read: advice from an orienteer or experienced hiker) will make you learn much quicker.

GPS
While satellite navigators have become affordable and easy to carry and use, the necessity of traditional orienteering skills have in no way disappeared. You need orienteering skills to judge the information offered by the device and converting it to a real life route (and to get along would the device fail).

In many cases the device gives you an exact position and the direction to your next waypoint. But the shortest path is seldom ideal, sometimes even dangerous. Having made a typing mistake (or prematurely assumed your map uses WGS84 coordinates) you may be directed to the middle of nowhere. And in the backcountry you should use batteries sparingly, which means having the device turned off most of the time.

Maps
When abroad, you will probably use maps that differ significantly from those at home; orienteering maps for competitions may be standardised, but other ones may not be. Learn the most important symbols, colours, height between contour lines et cetera, check magnetic declination and the coordinate system (which may have to be used at least when coordinating with GPS devices and to get help) and try to find out how reliable the information on the map is.

Different terrain and kind of orienteering have different requirements on the map. While maps used in orienteering competitions should lead you some metres from a certain small rock, when hiking in open terrain the map getting you a few hundred metres – or even a few kilometres – from the destination might be enough for you to find it. While orienteering maps are often in the scale 1:5,000, outdoor maps may be e.g. 1:25,000, 1:50,000 or even 1:100,000. With smaller scale you need fewer sheets, but in difficult terrain you may need the big scale ones. Depending on terrain different features may be the key for finding and following a good route. Topography (hills, valleys and mountains) is nearly always important, but e.g. water sources, character of swamps, roughness of terrain and denseness of forest are more important in some regions.

Dedicated orienteering maps mark the magnetic north, so using a compass is straight forward (if the map is recent and thus reflecting current declination), but other maps may use geographic north or lines parallel to geographic north at another location (according to map projection quirks). While magnetic and geographic north more or less coincide in some countries, elsewhere they may differ by 15° or more.

Where resources for high quality map making are not available, much coarser maps, e.g. with only mountains, lakes and infrastructure decently marked, may have to be used (as in most backcountry before the time of cheap aviation and satellites). With such maps you have to be able to make sound assumptions on the terrain at your route and find features you will surely recognize. Unless you are confident about your skills, having a guide or only following well maintained trails is a safer option.

Sun and stars
In lack of a compass, the sun, moon or stars can be used to find cardinal directions.

For using the sun, you should know it is in the east in the morning (6 AM) and in the west in the evening (6PM), and where it is at noon (north of the tropics: in the south, south of them: in the north). Interpolate as needed, and remember this is sun time, not standard time (so in Paris, subtract an hour or two from what your watch shows).

On the northern hemisphere you should know how to find the Pole Star, which is constantly nearly exactly above geographic north (near the Equator the Pole Star is low, near the North Pole near zenith, so probably difficult to use in both cases). On the southern hemisphere you have the Crux, but it is quite far from geographic south. You can get a point farther south by extrapolating a line between the stars. If you know when other stars are in certain directions, you can use them too.

Those not confused by geometry can also use the moon: as the moon gets its light from the sun, you could estimate from where the sun beams are coming. Then use the location of the sun to get the compass points. If you face the full moon, you have the sun behind your back, if you face a first quarter half-moon on the northern hemisphere you have the sun to your right. If you are north of the tropics and it is midnight, the sun, in turn, is in the north, and you are turned to the south or the west, respectively.

(South of the tropics, the directions are kind of reversed: the sun still rises in the east, but it is to the north at noon. In the tropics, the situation is more confused, as the noon sun near the equator is in the north in the northern hemisphere summer and in the south in the southern hemisphere summer; in Midsummer and Midwinter this is true for all the tropics, while in mid-spring and mid-autumn the directions are like on the rest of the respective hemispheres.)

If you cannot figure out where the sun, the moon or the stars you are seeing should be, you can still use them to keep an approximate direction. They will move only 15° an hour (360°/24h), so for any short distance they will more or less stay fixed. Keep the celestial body at the same point in your field of view, or your shadow pointing in the same direction. You can use a steady wind in a similar manner: if it's on your right cheek, keep it there. The wind is a bit unreliable; to trust it you need to be able to recognise it shifting or know it won't.

There are also signs on ground level, such as ant nests, moss and the shape of lonely trees, which are directed approximately towards or away from the midday sun. Using them requires some more training and the signs vary between climate zones.

For keeping a direction in fog or snowfall in open terrain one can form a line: the one walking last will see when the one walking first deviates from the course, as those walking in the middle are still walking on the previous course. Practise this both to get it work and to get a feeling for how accurately you can keep the course; you will walk in circles, but very much larger circles than when trying to keep a course alone.

Stay safe
Safety in the natural environment is an important goal of orienteering training. Essential skills taught and developed through organized orienteering events, which apply also to many other outdoor activities, include the following:

 * Know how to read a map. Look at the legend and read the text around the margins.  Know what the different colors, patterns, and symbols mean.
 * Know how to orient the map to the terrain and relate features on the map to features visible in the terrain. This can be as simple as knowing which way is north, and to rotate the map so that north on the map is north.
 * Know how to use your compass. Although you should not need it most of the time, a quick glance on the compass is a valuable double check, and in fog or dense snowfall the compass is invaluable. Note that magnetic compasses react to magnets – which is not surprising, but you may be surprised to find several magnets in your gear, such as in some mobile phone cases. Also, any electronics create a magnetic field. Sometimes a compass may be permanently affected, such that it starts pointing south instead of north.
 * Find your safety bearing. Look at the map, note the locations of roads and populated places, and decide in advance which way to go in the event of serious trouble (you are lost, someone is sick or injured, etc.).  Often, this decision is as simple as "go downhill" or "go uphill" or "go south".  It is important to make this decision in advance, and to make a habit of making this decision, because in an emergency many people's ability to make decisions becomes limited.
 * Know the local terrain hazards, and how to avoid them. Some examples are cliffs or steep slopes or loose rocks; poisonous snakes or sharp rocks or thorns; open pit mines or standing dead trees that may fall in windy weather; risk of lightning strikes on exposed ridges and flash floods in canyon bottoms.
 * Know how to handle accidents, such as a sprain. Have a plan about how to call for help in severe cases (is there mobile phone coverage?).
 * Know out of bound areas. Stay out of private property, posted no trespass government property, shooting ranges, areas closed to public use due to specific dangers (forest fire, severe weather, unexploded ordinance, toxic waste spills, etc.) or to protect resources (municipal water supplies, archaeological sites, endangered species).
 * Don't lose your keys. If you want to orienteer unencumbered, lock your stuff in your car and leave your keys at the registration table.  The person handling registrations should have a communal box for safekeeping of keys.
 * Ask questions. Do you know about attack points, aiming off, collecting features, catching features, and handrails?  If not, ask for someone to give you some personal coaching before you head out on a course.

Famous events

 * Tiomila – Yearly overnight relay (around 100 km) near Stockholm, Sweden. Women only and youth relays in the day. Last weekend in April.
 * Jukola Relay – Yearly overnight relay in Finland (70–90 km), biggest worldwide with some 1,500 teams participating. In the afternoon before the Jukola proper is the women's Venla relay, also with more than 1,000 teams. The weekend before Midsummer.

title: Orienteering


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Orillia

Orillia is a city of about 31,000 people (2016) in Ontario, 35 km northeast of Barrie.

Understand
Known as the "Sunshine City", the city's large waterfront attracts many tourists to the area every year, as do a number of annual festivals and other cultural attractions. While the area's largest employer is Casino Rama, overall economic activity in Orillia is a mixture of many different industries including manufacturing, government services, customer service and tourism.

Orillia sits on the shores of two connected lakes: Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching. Both lakes are part of the Trent-Severn Waterway. Travel north on Lake Couchiching, then through three locks and the only marine railway in North America leads to Georgian Bay on Lake Huron. Travel south-east across Lake Simcoe, through many locks (including two of the highest hydraulic lift locks in the world) eventually leads to Lake Ontario. From either of these Great Lakes one can connect to the St. Lawrence and thence to the Atlantic Ocean.

Orillia draws visitors as a gateway to Lake Country, cottage country in Muskoka, Algonquin Provincial Park, the Trent–Severn Waterway and other natural attractions.

History
The history of the area dates back at least several thousand years. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of fishing by the Huron and Iroquois peoples in the area over 4,000 years ago, and of sites used by First Nations peoples for hundreds of years for trading, hunting, and fishing.

The French explorer Samuel de Champlain visited the area in the summer of 1615. He travelled over a trail used by the Hurons, Ojibways, French and British used as a fur-trading route. It would become the Coldwater Road centuries later. Champlain spent the winter with the Hurons in their chief village of Cahiague (near the current Warminster). A monument to Samuel de Champlain can also be found in Couchiching Beach Park and is a National Historic Site of Canada.

The government made treaties with the Hurons in 1798, 1815 and 1818 to gain land to the north and west of Lake Simcoe and then made grants to military veterans. In 1840, the government bought extra land from the First Nations and laid out the settlement of Orillia.

Transportation links with Toronto and Georgian Bay stimulated Orillia's development as a commercial centre and summer resort.

In Stephen Leacock's 1912 book Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, Orillia was used as the basis for the fictional town known as "Mariposa". The book was based on Leacock's experiences in the town and since the book's release, the city has attempted to mimic the fictional location in as many ways as possible.

Orillia was the first municipality in North America to introduce daylight saving time and had the first municipal hydroelectric transmission plant in North America.

By car
Highways 11 and 12 combine on to the same road for a few blocks within Orillia. Highway 11 runs north and south, while Highway 12 runs east and west. Orillia can be reached from Toronto (1½ hours) by traveling north on Highway 400 and then either north on Highway 11. Orillia can be reached from Sudbury by traveling south on Highways 69 and 400 and then east on Highway 12. A branch of the Trans-Canada Highway passes through the area, traveling between Sudbury and Kanata (near Ottawa) on Highway 69 and 400, then Highway 12, then Highway 7, then Highway 417.

By bus

 * Operates the following routes to Orillia:
 * Between North Bay and Toronto including stops in Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Washago (some trips), Orillia (stop trips), and Barrie.
 * Between Sudbury and Toronto including stops in Parry Sound, Orillia (some trips), and Barrie.   Travel to Orillia from Toronto is 2 hours.

See

 * The Lightfoot Trail System - including the Millennium Trail which is the longest trail in the world.
 * Orillia's Arts District, on Peter St. S., between Mississauga St. E. and Colborne St. E., is home to a variety of art galleries, fine dining and shops.
 * Orillia's Arts District, on Peter St. S., between Mississauga St. E. and Colborne St. E., is home to a variety of art galleries, fine dining and shops.
 * Orillia's Arts District, on Peter St. S., between Mississauga St. E. and Colborne St. E., is home to a variety of art galleries, fine dining and shops.
 * Orillia's Arts District, on Peter St. S., between Mississauga St. E. and Colborne St. E., is home to a variety of art galleries, fine dining and shops.

Do

 * Spring Boat, Cottage and Outdoor Show: usually the middle weekend in June.
 * Perch Fishing Festival: Perch are netted, tagged, and released into the local lake, to be caught for prize money. This event also includes a large social gathering consisting of a "perch fry".
 * Christmas in June, at the Port of Orillia, includes a boat decorating contest and turkey buffet. Boat and cottage shows are held in June and August.
 * Canada Day - the largest such event in Central Ontario, at Couchiching Beach Park. The day begins with a traditional pancake breakfast served by the Mayor and Council, and ends with a large fireworks display.
 * The Leacock Medal Gala and Award ceremony is held each June at nearby Geneva Park to honour the best Canadian humorous book published the previous year. Tickets are for sale to the public.
 * Scottish Festival at Couchiching Beach Park and Centennial Park in July each year. Marching bands from around the country participate.
 * Other popular annual festivals include the Blues Festival, Jazz Festival, and Beatles Festival.
 * Lake St. George Golf Club is ten minutes north of Orillia.
 * Couchiching Beach Park, Centennial Park, and the Port of Orillia: the city's waterfront has an extensive lakeshore boardwalk, a large park with two beaches, several playgrounds, an outdoor theatre, a touring ferry, and a children's train.
 * Lake St. George Golf Club is ten minutes north of Orillia.
 * Couchiching Beach Park, Centennial Park, and the Port of Orillia: the city's waterfront has an extensive lakeshore boardwalk, a large park with two beaches, several playgrounds, an outdoor theatre, a touring ferry, and a children's train.

Sleep

 * Adleigh House Bed & Breakfast - 149 Peter Street North - +1 705-325-1124
 * Adleigh House Bed & Breakfast - 149 Peter Street North - +1 705-325-1124
 * Adleigh House Bed & Breakfast - 149 Peter Street North - +1 705-325-1124
 * Adleigh House Bed & Breakfast - 149 Peter Street North - +1 705-325-1124
 * Adleigh House Bed & Breakfast - 149 Peter Street North - +1 705-325-1124
 * Adleigh House Bed & Breakfast - 149 Peter Street North - +1 705-325-1124
 * Adleigh House Bed & Breakfast - 149 Peter Street North - +1 705-325-1124
 * Adleigh House Bed & Breakfast - 149 Peter Street North - +1 705-325-1124
 * Adleigh House Bed & Breakfast - 149 Peter Street North - +1 705-325-1124
 * Adleigh House Bed & Breakfast - 149 Peter Street North - +1 705-325-1124
 * Adleigh House Bed & Breakfast - 149 Peter Street North - +1 705-325-1124

Connect
Ontario's Lake Country

Go next
Orillia is a good central location to start with if travelling back and forth to several locations in Southern Ontario. Muskoka, including Gravenhurst, Huntsville, and Parry Sound is nearby to the north continuing up to North Bay and Sudbury. To the south down Highway 400 is Barrie, and Toronto. A few hours along highway 7 to the east is Ottawa.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Orillia


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Orinda

Orinda is a wealthy suburban refuge of most of the lawyers and bankers in Contra Costa County in the state of California.

Understand
Orinda is a wealthy suburb in the Bay Area (California), with 6-figure salaries and million-dollar homes being the norm. Its position on the east side of the Oakland Hills gives it a pleasant eucalyptus-scented atmosphere without the icy fog of the western side in Berkeley and Oakland.

Orinda doesn't cultivate much of a tourist industry. Visitors may not feel unwelcome, but definitely won't be catered to.

Get in
Orinda has a, which is in the middle of town; the BART network goes to Oakland, Fremont, and San Francisco. BART and Highway 24 bisect the town, leaving the Orinda Village to the north and Theater Square to the south.

Get around
Orinda is served by two County Connection buses that go to Orinda and Lafayette Bart, Orinda Library, Orinda Library, Orinda Village, Mt. Diablo State Park, Moraga & St. Mary's college as well as all around Orinda. Bus #106 goes to Orinda Bart, St. Mary's college and Mt. Diablo while bus #206 goes to Laffayete Bart, Orinda Bart, Orinda Library, Orinda Village & St. Mary's College. The Cal Shakes free shuttle stops at Orinda Bart & goes to the Shakespeare Festival ninety to thirty minutes before shows start. Highway 24 is the car highway that goes to Orinda.

Drink
There are very few places to drink in Orinda. Pretty much the only bar in Orinda is The Casa Orinda.

Go next

 * Lafayette - A mostly residential town that offers interesting dining opportunities and is home to the Lafayette Reservoir, a great spot for hiking or jogging.
 * Berkeley - Located on the other side of the hills, Berkeley has a well-deserved reputation as a kooky bastion of liberal activists. More importantly to the traveler, it offers an excellent selection of bars and restaurants.

title: Orinda


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Orini Nafpaktia

Orini Nafpaktia is a mountain region in the Aetolia-Acarnania region of West Central Greece.

title: Orini Nafpaktia


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Orinoquía

The Orinoquía is the "Wild East" of Colombia. Endless plains — Los Llanos — are dotted with livestock, cowboys on horseback pioneering the landscape, and the roadless landscapes go uninterrupted save by some of Colombia's great meandering rivers. Beyond the region's hub Villavicencio, with its pretty farm hacienda weekend rentals and cow roasts, rare is even the domestic tourist who experiences this vast, unspoiled region. The newest exception, though is the River of Seven Colors in the wondrous Serranía de la Macarena, as the receding lines of battle with the FARC open new lands to adventurous travelers.

Cities

 * — the main town and center of El Meta's hacienda country.
 * — the main town and center of El Meta's hacienda country.
 * — the main town and center of El Meta's hacienda country.
 * — the main town and center of El Meta's hacienda country.
 * — the main town and center of El Meta's hacienda country.
 * — the main town and center of El Meta's hacienda country.

Other destinations

 * — most famously home to Caño Cristales, but more generally a natural wonder in every sense, as El Meta's one jungle region, filled with rivers, waterfalls, cliffs, and hot springs.

By car
Cars only get you so far in the Meta, as most roads are not paved—plan on needing a jeep or motorcycle if you are going much farther than Villavicencio. The road from Bogotá to Villavo, though, is fine.

For southern parts of the Meta (e.g., La Macarena), the only real option is fly to La Macarena.

By bus
As with a car, bus routes are generally only helpful as far as Villavicencio and a few towns beyond, and those buses run all day long from Bogotá's main bus terminal (Terminal de transporte) for COP$20,000.

By plane
The two airports most commonly used by travelers are La Vanguardia Airport at Villavicencio and La Macarena Airport. Satena Airlines flies between the two (for some reason their English language website doesn't actually allow you to book many of their flights, so be sure to use the Spanish language site only). As the Satena flights from Bogotá have a layover in Villavicencio, you can save a good deal of money on flights to La Macarena by taking a bus to Villavicencio and doing only the second leg of the flight.

Tour companies generally use the little 4-5 seater planes.

By boat
It is possible to take a boat up the Guaviare river from San José del Guaviare, and it most certainly would be a gorgeous ride. But San José is in a very unsafe region, and this should not be attempted.

See
The most amazing sight in El Meta, and really one of the most amazing sights in all South America, is Caño Cristales, a.k.a. the River of seven colors, a.k.a the most beautiful river in the world. In the period of the year between the rainy and dry seasons, the algae of this always beautiful river turn bright red, leading to an explosion of colors. The hikes in take you right up the river, which you will cross many times. It's way off the beaten path, and most travelers remain pretty wary of traveling in the FARC-heavy region around La Macarena, but it's probably safe to visit just this one place, flying into La Macarena and finding a guide there, or setting up a tour from Bogotá.

title: Orinoquía


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Orizaba

Orizaba is a city in Veracruz, Mexico. The city is very quiet, crossed by many rivers, with many parks and beautiful churches from the 16th to the 18th centuries, monuments and buildings of great history.

Understand
Orizaba is one of the main cities of the Mexican State of Veracruz. The city is also known by locals as "Pluviosilla".

It is located in the High Mountains region, and gives its name to the highest peak in the nation, the Pico de Orizaba. Its origin dates back to the 16th century when explorers made their way to the center of the Aztec empire: Tenochtitlan. Later it became a strategic point for trade due to its location between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz.

Its fertile soil and pleasant climate make the area suitable for the production of coffee, sugar cane and beer, the main products of the region.

Get in
It's located between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz.

By plane
Being a relatively small city by Mexican standards, it is not possible to get to Orizaba in a commercial flight from a major airline. However, it is possible to reach the city flying to Mexico City International airport and taking a bus directly to Orizaba from the airport.

If you know someone or are alone when travelling to Orizaba, it may be more convenient to fly into Veracruz International Airport in the city of Veracruz. The drive to Orizaba is about 3 hours long, but the roads are fairly well maintained. There are numerous car rental companies in Veracruz.

Flying into Veracruz instead of Mexico City may be better because:
 * 1) Traffic in Mexico City is notoriously horrible. Veracruz traffic is considerably thinner and easier to manage.
 * 2) The mountain overpass between Orizaba and Mexico City is extremely dangerous, with sharp turns and angles of nearly twenty degrees vertical. During the winter it is nearly inaccessible and not recommended for driving.

By car
Getting to Orizaba by car is easy. From Mexico City, take the Mexico-Veracruz highway. Orizaba is about four hours from Mexico's capital.

By bus
Major bus companies (ADO, ADO GL, UNO, AU, etc) offer service to Orizaba. Rates vary according to quality service. Resident Seniors with ID have 50% off when traveling by ADO.

 * UNO Bus service. High end quality.
 * ADO GL Bus service. 1st Class.
 * ADO Bus service. Standard service.

See
In the city:
 * Poliforum_Mier_y_Pesado,_Orizaba,_Veracruz_03.jpg
 * La Alameda. This the central park of Orizaba. Dedicated to Francisco Gabilondo Soler better known as "Cri-Cri" (1907-1990) a popular writer and interpreter of children songs.
 * El Palacio Municipal (City Hall). A building dating from 1905 and originally used as public school. Since 1991 this building is the City Hall. The building has a mural by José Clemente Orozco.
 * State Art Museum (Museo de Arte del Estado)
 * Rio Orizaba (Orizaba stream). A beautiful stream in the middle of the city. The stream is crossed by several bridges. It has been developed as a river-walk with a free linear zoo with many animals to see. Take this walk and check it out. It basically starts behind the City Hall at the cable-car entrance and goes northward about 1.3 miles. At the north end, across the road is another eco-park with Bengal tigers, camels and other animals.
 * Panteón Municipal (Municipal Cemetery)
 * Panteón Municipal (Municipal Cemetery)

Other important buildings include the Spanish Casino, the Maximiliano and Carlota Spas, the Escudero Park, and the I de la Llave Theater.

There are also places of natural beauty that should be visited: the Elephant Waterfall, the Ojo de Agua, the Nogales Lagoon, the Escamela and Borrego Hills, and the Río Blanco Canyon.

Close to the city:
 * Los 500 Escalones (the 500 Steps). A traditional ride for locals. This a very long stair (almost 500 steps) which takes you close to 34-m-high waterfall known as the "Cascada del Elefante" or "Cascada de Barrio Nuevo".
 * Pico de Orizaba National Park - This is the highest mountain in Mexico and the third highest in North America.
 * Puente de Metlac (Metlac bridge). This is a 115-m-tall bridge linking Orizaba to Cordoba by the highway across the Metlac Canyon.

Do
A tram takes guided tours of the most important points of the city. The tour days are Fridays at 16:00 and 18:00 and on Saturdays and Sundays tours from 12:00 to 18:00. On Saturdays at 20:00 there is a musical tour.

Budget
All these are in the city center:

Go next

 * Veracruz

title: Orizaba


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Orkney

There is more than one place called Orkney:

Scotland

 * Orkney Islands - an archipelago north of mainland Scotland.

South Africa

 * Orkney (North West Province) - a town in the North West Province of South Africa.

Antarctica

 * South Orkney Islands - an archipelago of Antarctic islands northeast of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.

title: Orkney


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Orkney Islands

The Orkney Islands are an archipelago of over 70 islands some 10 miles (16 km) off the north tip of mainland Scotland. They've been settled since the Neolithic period and have a remarkable collection of standing stones, early settlements and burial cairns, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Their total population in 2017 was 22,100, with Kirkwall the main town.

Mainland
Mainland is Orkney's largest island, where 80% of the population resides. (To avoid ambiguity, on this and related pages the term Mainland, cap "M", refers to this island, while the landmass of Great Britain to the south is referred to as the Scottish mainland, small "m".) The chief settlements on Mainland are:
 * is the administrative capital of the Orkney Islands and largest town. The airport, and ferry port for Aberdeen and Shetland, are here; it has the most accommodation and is the obvious base for visitors. Its main attractions are St Magnus cathedral, the Earl's and Bishop's Palaces, a couple of museums, and two distilleries.
 * is the second-largest town, and the most attractive, with its narrow flagstone main street. The ferry from Scrabster on the Scottish mainland lands here.
 * is a small village on the main road between Kirkwall and Stromness. Around it is an outstanding collection of prehistoric sites: Maeshowe burial cairn, the Stones of Stenness, and the Ring of Brodgar are all within walking distance. A few miles further north is the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae.
 * is a small village on the north coast of Mainland. Its sights are the Earl's Palace, and Brough of Birsay which is a tidal island with prehistoric remains.
 * Other small settlements include Finstown on the main road between Kirkwall and Stromness. This is the turn-off for Tingwall (ferry for Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre), and eventually the road winds round the north coast to Birsay; Houton south of Stromness is the ferry terminal for Lyness in Hoy, and for Flotta; and Deerness the eastern promontory of Mainland is farmland riven by the sea-chasm of The Gloup.

The Barrier islands
During the Second World War, the "Churchill Barriers" were built between Mainland and four small islands just south, to prevent seaborne attacks on Scapa Flow. So these are now linked by a good road, and for all practical purposes are part of Mainland. Approaching from Kirkwall north to south these are:
 * small and uninhabited, is the site of the Italian Chapel. It was built 1943-45 by Italian prisoners of war who were constructing the Churchill Barriers. It was cobbled together from two Nissen huts and any bits and pieces the Italians could scrape up, and ornately decorated. Mass is still held here, the first Sunday of the month April to September. It's open daily 9AM-5PM, £3.50 (Sep 2022).
 * Glims Holm is also small and uninhabited, just a few sheep. On the causeway to the next island, note the remains of "blockships" - the first attempt to close the eastern channels into Scapa Flow. These sufficed for World War I but proved inadequate at the outset of World War II, when HMS Royal Oak was sunk with the loss of 833 lives.
 * has a small village. It has an excellent fossil and heritage museum.
 * has the village of St Margaret's Hope (ferry from Gill's Bay), and Burwick harbour (ferry from John O'Groats). The Tomb of the Eagle is a Neolithic burial cairn with human and bird bones.

Other islands close to Mainland
Islands that have short ferry rides are:
 * is the closest island to Kirkwall, a short ferry-ride north. Its main attraction Balfour Castle is closed, but there's a well-preserved broch.
 * to the south-west is the second largest island. "Hoy" means high, and it feels more Hebridean than Orcadian: upland heath with poor soil, clouds and drizzle. Its main sight is the sea-stack "Old Man of Hoy", with a hike through the RSPB Nature Reserve to view it. The main village is Lyness.
 * South Walls is linked by a roadway to Hoy. Its main settlement is Longhope.
 * Graemsay is farmland just north of Hoy: the Stromness-Hoy ferry calls here. There's no transport to the uninhabited little islands of Cava and Fara.
 * just east of Hoy is dominated by an oil terminal at its north end, the rest is farmland. The Houton-Hoy ferry calls here.
 * is the largest of a group 2 km north of Mainland and reached by ferry from Tingwall. it has a rich concentration of archaeological sites.
 * Egilsay where Earl Magnus was martyred and Wyre are served by the Rousay ferry. There's no transport to Gairsay or Eynhallow.

North Isles
These islands are quiet places for walks and bird watching. They have long ferry crossings but you can day-trip by air:
 * has a large sea-arch, and stacks such as "Tam's Castle". The islet of Papa Stronsay is a monastic community.
 * is well-named for its fine sandy beaches.
 * has many Neolithic and Bronze Age tombs.
 * has dramatic cliffs and an old castle and church.
 * is home to the oldest site in Orkney, Knap of Howar.
 * is the most northerly island of Orkney.

The Orkney Islands do not include Fair Isle, which is part of Shetland. Nor do they include Stroma and Muckle Skerry, the two uninhabited islands seen to the south from South Ronaldsay. These are considered part of the Highland Region of the Scottish mainland and have no transport. The Orkney Islands do include Swona, seen to the west from South Ronaldsay, but that too is uninhabited with no transport.

Understand
These faraway places were inhabited from the Mesolithic period circa 7000 BC, and archaeologists are still reeling from the 2021 discovery of 5500-year-old objects that appear to be cricket balls. The islands only stumbled into written lore and history with the 9th century AD arrival of the Vikings, who became christianised and penned the Orkneyinga saga, an unreliable early soap opera. The Orkneys are low-lying and fertile upon a bed of bright red old sandstone, and the ocean is harsh but around the next headland is sure to be a bay or inlet enjoying shelter. "Ork" may be from a Norse word for pigs, implying the sort of soft terrain they enjoy fossicking about in, but it's better suited to sheep and cattle. "Ork" also meant "sea-pigs", dolphins and porpoises, and came to mean seals.

Norse or Viking sea power extended in the 8th century, and the Orkney and Shetland Islands became part of the Kingdom of Norway for over 500 years, long after the Norsemen had been ousted from the British and Irish mainlands. In 1290 the Norwegian king's daughter Margaret was heir presumptive to the crown of Scotland, and was betrothed to the son of Edward I of England. She sailed in state from Norway for the ceremony, got as far as Orkney, and died, sparking a succession crisis. Margaret was four years old. Nothing daunted, in 1486 they waited until Margaret of Denmark was 13 before marrying her to James III of Scotland, with Orkney pledged as security for payment of the dowry. This wasn't paid, and Orkney became part of Scotland.

This means that the island culture was Norse and not Gaelic. Its soil, climate and scenery are also different from the Gaelic areas, with green fields, cows grazing and a shimmer of blue from the many lochs and sea inlets. It doesn't draw the clouds, rain and midges of Highland Scotland. The largest island Mainland, together with Hoy and the chain of small islands down to South Ronaldsay, enclose Scapa Flow, which in wartime was an important naval anchorage.

In mid-2023, many Orcadians savoured the idea of leaving the UK and joining Norway instead, due to years of underfunding and neglect from Westminster and Edinburgh. Other options that were considered include the islands becoming a crown dependency similar to the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, or to become an autonomous region similar to the Faroe Islands.

Visitor information

 * Visit Orkney Islands website
 * There is a tourist information centre at Kirkwall bus station.

By plane

 * Don't go booking flights to a place IATA coded ORK - that's Cork in Ireland, oddly enough.
 * Don't go booking flights to a place IATA coded ORK - that's Cork in Ireland, oddly enough.

By boat

 * Scrabster to Stromness car ferry, operated by Northlink, makes the 90-min crossing daily. It sails three times a day in peak periods (mid-May to Aug, and some weekends), and twice a day the rest of the year. Scrabster on the Scottish mainland is near Thurso, the most northerly railway station in Britain. Stromness is a 20-min drive to Kirkwall, frequent buses, or a £35-40 taxi (2022).
 * Aberdeen to Shetland car ferry, also operated by Northlink, sails every night year-round, calling at Kirkwall on several nights. Northbound it leaves Aberdeen at 5PM (Apr-Oct: Tu Th Sa Su, Nov-Mar: Th Sa Su not Tu), reaching Kirkwall (Hatston Terminal) at 11PM before sailing on to Lerwick for 7:30AM next morning. Southbound the ferry leaves Lerwick at 5:30PM (Apr-Oct: M W F, Nov-Mar: W & F not M), similarly reaching Kirkwall at 11PM before sailing on to Aberdeen for 7AM next morning. On evenings when it's not calling at Kirkwall, the ferry leaves Aberdeen or Lerwick later. See Shetland and Kirkwall pages for practical info and advice on this ferry.
 * Gill's Bay to St Margaret's Hope car ferry, operated by Pentland Ferries, runs three times every day, and takes an hour. Gill's Bay is on the Scottish mainland on the A836 five miles west of John o'Groats. St Margaret's Hope is a 30-min drive to Kirkwall, bus every hour or so.
 * John o'Groats to Burwick ferry, for foot passengers and cyclists only, is operated by Jogferry. It takes only 40 min and runs May-Sep, three times a day Jun-Aug and twice daily in May and Sep; no winter service. On the Scottish mainland, Jun-Aug a connecting coach runs between Inverness and John o'Groats. (No dogs or bikes on this coach, they're welcome on the ferry.) On Orkney a connecting coach runs between Burwick and Kirkwall: the X1 bus to South Ronaldsay doesn't run as far south as Burwick.
 * Cruise ships often visit Orkney. They may berth at Kirkwall Hatston Terminal, with a shuttle-bus to town, or anchor out in the bay with tenders bringing passengers ashore. The main tourist attractions get mobbed when they arrive.

By plane
Loganair operates short internal flights between Kirkwall and the six northerly islands of Eday, North Ronaldsay, Papa Westray, Sanday, Stronsay and Westray. Frequency varies, e.g., in summer to North Ronaldsay daily, to Westray and Stronsay most days, but to Eday only once a week. Schedules always allow for a day-trip in either direction because these flights are essential for islanders going about their daily business: to get to town, or to a hospital appointment, or even to attend school. Residents therefore have priority, and you can book by calling or  (lines open Su-F to 7PM, to 6PM Sa) or via the Loganair website. The aircraft are rinky-dinky BNF Islanders, suitable for grass-strip landings, and baggage space is limited.

The service between Westray and Papa Westray (and vice versa) is the  world's shortest commercial flight, at just under 2 miles and 2 minutes, shorter than the runways at Heathrow. Pilots have to complete their final landing checks before opening throttle to take off.

By boat
Orkney Ferries sail from Kirkwall to the North Isles of Shapinsay, Stronsay, Eday, Sanday, Westray, Papa Westray and North Ronaldsay. They're all about the same fare: until April 2025 reckon £12 adult return from Kirkwall, £28 car.

They sail from Houton via Flotta to Lyness near the south tip of Hoy, and (for foot passengers) from Stromness via Graemsay to Moaness in the north of Hoy.

They sail from Tingwall to Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre.

By bus
Most buses pass through Kirkwall, so see that page for details. The most useful service is the X1 bus, from Stromness past Stenness Stones to Kirkwall, then south past the Italian Chapel to St Margaret's Hope ferry terminal.

A circular tour bus Stagecoach T11 is advertised but didn't run in 2021.

OCTO are a coach-hire company,. They can provide wheelchair-accessible transport and their own guides for tours.

By taxi
Taxis are a good option for outlying parts of Mainland off the bus routes. Car rental firms are reluctant to hire for a single day, so for a day-trip try negotiating for a taxi to take you round for a few hours. Call ahead for out-of-town pick-ups, as you might have to wait for the car to reach you from Kirkwall, and there are no taxis on the outer islands. Based in Kirkwall and serving the airport, as of 2021, are Orkney Taxis (also trading as Scapa Taxis), and Craigie’s Taxis.

See
Prehistoric Orkney: these islands have an amazing collection of well-preserved prehistoric remains. The finest and most extensive are Neolithic or New Stone Age, dating to around 3000 BC. That makes them 5000 years old, older than the Pyramids of Giza, and among the oldest human structures known. They're recognised as World Heritage sites by UNESCO, the pick of them being the Heart of Neolithic Orkney collection around Stenness. There's less from the Iron Age and Pictish Age. Prehistory in this region shades into history sometime in the first millennium AD, when Viking sagas began to describe local places, rulers and battles.

And lots and lots of people naturally want to see them. The standing stones can absorb the crowds and if you just wait aside for 20 min, the tour bus will depart and you can enjoy the lull before the next group. But in the underground chambers it doesn't take many to cause congestion, and at Maeshowe they've had to limit access; it can be booked out for days ahead. There's no need for this because there are so many other high-quality sites, more than a single trip to the Orkneys could encompass, and those off the "circuit" are seldom visited. So spread out and enjoy. Most of them are free to enter, any time of day or night; pre-view them on Historic Environment Scotland website. Most of them just have a signpost and a grassy path leading to a hole in the hillside; the lesser-known just have the hole. If it's been raining you'll get filthy, but you'll really feel like an explorer as you crawl inside - although Lord Carnarvon and Indiana Jones didn't have smartphones to use as flashlights.

The principal sites are:
 * At Stenness is Maeshowe, Stones of Stenness and Ring of Brodgar, with Skara Brae a few miles north.
 * Birsay has the Brough (plus later Palace and Skaill House).
 * The island of Rousay has Midhowe Broch and Cairn, and Yarso.
 * Less touristy sites near Kirkwall include the Cairns of Wideford Hill and Cuween Hill.

Medieval Orkney: the main structures are St Magnus cathedral and the Earl's and Bishop's Palaces in Kirkwall, and the Earl's Palace in Birsay.

Natural world: Old Man of Hoy, and "The Gloup" at the south-east edge of Mainland, a deep chasm into the sea.

Do

 * Diving: In November 1918 when Germany surrendered at the end of World War I, the German Imperial Fleet was disarmed and brought to Scapa Flow. Peace negotiations dragged on, the captured crews became mutinous, and by the following June the Armistice was about to expire and Admiral Reuter became convinced the British would seize the ships for their own military use. He therefore had the entire fleet of 74 warships scuttled: the greatest mass sinking in history. The British managed to rescue several ships and others were later salvaged, but most remain. Seven are routinely visited by divers: battleships König, Kronprinz Wilhelm and Markgraf, and cruisers Brummer, Cöln, Dresden and Carlsruhe. Being top-heavy with armour the ships sank upside down, and have been down there for 100 years and are now fragile - dive with care. They're beyond the range of novice divers, and far too deep for snorkelers, but there are plenty of shallower dive sites, eg the "blockships" along the Churchill Barriers. Some local diving companies:

Events

 * Orkney Folk Festival is held in May, mostly in Stromness but various other venues.
 * St Magnus Festival includes music, theatre and literature. It's held for a week in June, mostly in Kirkwall.
 * Orkney Science Festival is a week in September, mostly in Kirkwall.

Drink

 * Highland Park and Scapa whisky distilleries are in Kirkwall. Tours available with a free sample of the product, plus gift shop.
 * Orkney Wine is on Lamb Holm by the turnoff for the Italian Chapel, open M-Sa 10AM-4PM. J Gow Rum is distilled next door.
 * Orkney Brewery between Skaill and Birsay is open 10:30AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. There are tours, and tasting flights in the cafe.
 * Deerness Distillery at the east tip of Mainland makes gin, with a whisky distillery under construction.
 * Kimbland Distillery makes whisky on Sanday.

Sleep
All the accommodation on Orkney is independent & family-run, with no hotel chains. Lots of camping, hostels, B&Bs and small hotels dotted across the islands (see individual town listings) with the main concentration being around Kirkwall. There's no stand-out "Splurge" hotel, but prices can be steep in mid-summer peak periods.

Go next
Either continue north to the Shetland Islands, or return south to the Scottish mainland.

 * Travelling to Inverness without a car is possible, but a bit tricky. Take a bus from the Kirkwall Transit Centre M-F at 5:05AM to the Stromness Travel Centre (45 min, no service Sa Su), or a taxi £38 in Oct 2022). Next, take the NorthLink ferry at 6:30AM, which arrives at Scrabster at 8:05AM. From the ferry terminal, take the X99 Stagecoach bus to Inverness (4 hr, £23 in Oct 2022).

title: Orkney Islands


text:
Orland

There is more than one place called Orland:

United States of America

 * Orland (California) - a town in the state of California.
 * Orland (Indiana) - a town in the state of Indiana.
 * Orland (Maine) - a town in the state of Maine.

title: Orland


text:
Orland (Maine)

Orland is a town in Maine.

title: Orland (Maine)


text:
Orlando

 * For the broader urban area including suburbs and other nearby destinations, please see the Greater Orlando article.

Orlando deserves its reputation as the theme park capital of the world. The Greater Orlando area teems with an energetic spirit that almost never slows, and with an estimated 52 million visitors a year, how could it? Of course, many of those tourists are coming for the two pillars that gift the area its reputation: Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando (though Disney is not within the Orlando city limits). But Orlando holds a lot to offer besides those two amusement meccas. Of course, the International Drive area near Universal contains a multitude of independent attractions and smaller theme parks as well as hotels and restaurants galore. Beyond that, however, lies much to be explored. Expansive areas of untouched wilderness, world-class museums and theaters, and unique dining and nightlife in downtown are a few of the things that await the traveller who ventures outside of the constructed worlds of the theme parks.

At the center of the state of Florida, in Orange County, Orlando is about an hour from each coast. The majority of the area attractions are southwest of the city, in Lake Buena Vista (where Disney World is), Kissimmee, Bay Lake, Celebration and other nearby communities.

Understand
The Orlando area contains some of the world's largest and most famous theme park resorts. However, only one, Universal Orlando, is within the city limits. Walt Disney World and SeaWorld are in the immediate area, as are many of the more minor tourist attractions, and as Orlando is most associated with these popular attractions, you will find details and descriptions of them below.

History
Until the Civil War, Orange County was widely considered a rural backwater. However, a Reconstruction-era boom in the area's population and the simultaneous growth of the citrus industry led to the establishment of the city of Orlando in 1885. Ten years later, the "Great Freeze" destroyed much of the citrus crop, forcing farmers to sell and the industry to shift southward.

Around the turn of the 19th century, Orlando became a somewhat popular resort city, and its downtown population grew during the Florida Land Boom of the 1920s. During World War II, the United States Air Force positioned a base in the city, and the military would go on to become Orlando's major industry through the 1950s and 1960s.

In 1965, Walt Disney went on television to announce his plans for "The Florida Project", the most important moment in Orlando's history. Walt Disney World opened in 1971 with one theme park – the Magic Kingdom – and development and population explosion rocketed the city into what it is today. Over the subsequent years, tourism has further entrenched itself as the center of Orlando's economy. SeaWorld Orlando opened in 1973, and Epcot, the second Disney theme park, came in 1982. Disney's Hollywood Studios came in 1989, and Universal Studios Florida a year later. The Universal Orlando resort was born with the opening of the Islands of Adventure theme park in 1999, just a year after Disney's fourth park, Animal Kingdom, opened. With these parks came countless hotels, restaurants, and other tourist attractions spread across the city.

Talk
English is the primary language spoken in Orlando, but Spanish is spoken by a portion of the population as well. Due to the high number of international travelers coming to the city, nearly all of the theme parks and resorts, and many of the hotels and restaurants provide menus, guide maps, and other information in a variety of languages ranging from English and Spanish to French, Chinese, and Portuguese. Many attractions also employ bilingual or multilingual staff.

Orientation
Orlando sits nearly in the center of the state, about an hour's drive from both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, surrounded by suburban towns on all sides. Bordering Orlando to the north is Altamonte Springs, Maitland and Winter Park. Further north, the city of Sanford contains Orlando-Sanford International Airport, a secondary airport serving the city, and DeLand, where Stetson University is. To the southwest of the city lies Williamsburg (where SeaWorld is) and Lake Buena Vista (where Disney World is), as well as the Disney-inspired town of Celebration. The main airport is directly south of the city, as well as the town of Kissimmee.

There are lakes around the city and many of Orlando's suburbs have shorelines. Some of these, such as Lake Monroe, are a few miles across and are popular recreation areas. They form barriers between the otherwise adjacent suburbs.

Climate
Many say Central Florida has two seasons: hot and hotter. Orlando has temperate winters affected by the occasional cold front; hot summers with daily thunderstorms; and warm, balmy springs and autumns.

 * Spring in Orlando has highs in the 80s (27 °C) in March & April transitioning to around 90 °F (32 °C) in May and the low to mid-90s in June. Spring is the driest time of year, and in the past decade some spring months have seen less than a half-inch of rain. This is the time of year in which many small wildfires appear around the region, but this should not affect anyone who stays in the urban areas. March and April are great times to visit with dry days, clear skies, and warm temperatures with no cold fronts. In comparison, late May and early June are filled hot, humid, or dry days.

 * Summer brings daily thunderstorms starting in June. Highs from mid-June to mid-September are in the mid 90s, with 90 °F (32 °C) often being reached by 10 or 11AM, and lows in the 70s (23 °C). Due to Orlando's proximity to two coasts, thunderstorms form everyday in the summer from the humid ocean breezes that cross over land and heat up. Sometimes violent thunderstorms occur, see the "Stay Safe" section. After passing, they will often drop temperatures into the low 80s (28 °C), a welcome relief from the hot temperatures earlier in the day.
 * Autumn varies much more from year-to-year than spring. The daily thunderstorms taper off in September, leaving highs in the mid to upper 80s (29 °C) until mid-October. The first cold front of the season will usually pass by late October, plunging highs into the 70s (24 °C) and lows into the 50s (12 °C) and upper 40s (10 °C). The cooling trend continues into November and December, with highs falling into the 70s (24 °C) by late December and lows into the 50s (12 °C). These temperatures can be affected by the occasional cold front, which can plunge highs into the 60s (18 °C) and 50s (12 °C) and lows into the 40s (7 °C) and as low as freezing (32 °F/0 °C) by mid-December.
 * Winter is much the same as November and December. Highs are in the 70s (24 °C), lows in the 50s (12 °C), affected every week or two by cold fronts. With those fronts, highs can drop into the 50s (12 °C) and lows into the 30s (2 °C). Sub-freezing mornings typically occur two or three times a year. Small changes in latitude make substantial differences to temperature in the area, and every few miles north takes one or two degrees off the temperature on cold days.

Most tourists visit Orlando for summer vacations between June and August, or for spring breaks in March and April. Ironically, the quieter times correspond to the best weather in the Orlando area. Visiting when the weather isn't so hot means fewer people in the area, with emptier parks and more comfortable weather.

Orlando International Airport

 * . The city's primary airport and the busiest airport in the state. It's southeast of downtown, close to the attractions in the area, and is a hub or focus city for Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways & Southwest Airlines. Flights are also offered from many international destinations throughout North America, South America and Europe.

Orlando International has two key components: landside and airside. There is a central landside terminal (one building divided into sides "A" and "B"), containing the airline counters, baggage claim, rental car agencies, and a hotel. It's connected by elevated trams to four other terminals, known as Airside 1-4, where the boarding gates are. There are plenty of shops and restaurants in both the central terminal and the four airsides. A newly constructed "C" terminal isn't connected to the central (A/B) terminal but is accessible via the same elevated tram system. Security lines can become extremely long (1 hr+) during the summer tourist season and near holidays. Combined with long check-in lines, it is advisable to arrive 2–3 hours before your scheduled departure.

Orlando is the "rental car capital of the world" and, as can be expected, there are many car rental agencies at the airport offering a large number and wide range of vehicles for rental. There are also many off-site car rental agencies which provide free shuttles to their location and may offer lower prices (See OIA website.)

Public transportation in the Orlando area is provided by the Lynx bus system. Lynx buses can be found at Ground Transportation (Level 1) of the landside terminal's "A" side, in Commercial Lane spaces A38-A41. Fares are $2/ride with free transfers within 90 minutes. Day passes are $4.50 and a 7-day pass costs $16. Discounted fares for youth and the elderly require riders to present a Lynx-issued ID, available only by applying at the Central Station Terminal with a 5-7 day turnaround and therefore not viable for short-term visitors. Routes from the airport can get you to downtown, International Drive, Walt Disney World, and nearby Apopka.

Almost every mid- to high-priced hotel in the city offers airport transfers. Additionally, there are several shuttle services options that run from the airport to various points, including Kissimmee, the theme parks, the University of Central Florida, and the cruise port at Cape Canaveral. Approximate rates for shuttle vans range from $18–26 depending on your destination (see OIA website for details on local transport). You may wish to contact your hotel to inquire about discounts on certain shuttles or possible free airport transfers. Disney and Universal also offer free shuttles to their on-site resorts.

Taxi cabs/vans may carry up to 9 passengers with luggage and may be found at Ground Transportation (Level 1) of the "A" and "B" sides of the landside terminal. Rates are determined by a taximeter, regardless of the number of passengers, and flat fares are prohibited.

Orlando-Sanford International Airport

Rental car agencies on-site are:

Taxi service is available from Shuttles are available from.

Further airports
Other regional airports within an hour and a half drive include Daytona Beach International Airport ; served by Avelo, Delta and American; and Melbourne International Airport ; served by Allegiant, American Eagle, Avelo, Delta, Sun Country, and TUI (from the UK). In addition, Orlando area visitors who plan on visiting the Gulf Coast can also flying into Tampa International Airport, about west/southwest of Orlando, or just over an hour's drive west/southwest, as it is less crowded and a bit easier to access by car.

If you plan on visiting more than just Orlando and plan on taking international flights, you may want to consider flying in to Miami International Airport, 200 mi (320 km) south, which offers more international flights and is the largest U.S. gateway for flights from South and Central America and the Caribbean. Accessible by Greyhound, Red Coach, Megabus or Amtrak.

General aviation
Orlando Executive Airport and Kissimmee Airport are other options to consider if you are flying in for the theme parks. Orlando Executive and Kissimmee exclusively serves general aviation and some air taxi. Orlando-Sanford International serves also general aviation alongside its commercial use.

Orlando Executive Airport provides 24-hour service through two fixed based operators, SheltAir Aviation Services and Showalter Flying Services. Air taxi and air charter companies such as Orlando Jet Charter fly a variety of private charter aircraft and jets, from charter luxury Gulfstreams down to economical piston twins for small groups and individuals.

By train

Orlando has a downtown Amtrak station that provides service from destinations such as Miami, but also connects to other points as far north as New York City via the Silver Star and Silver Meteor lines. Journey times are about 23 hours from New York and five hours from Miami. While trains are comfortable and includes both seating and sleeper options, delays are quite common.

Also, nearby Sanford is the southern terminus of the Auto Train which carries passengers and automobiles between Sanford and Lorton, Virginia, effectively serving as a car-rail link from Orlando to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The train runs daily with no intermediate stops and takes 17½ hours one way.

For intercity trips within Florida, Brightline offers fast and frequent connections with Miami (3½ hours) via West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Trains arrive and depart from a station at Orlando International Airport. Convenient if you have a connecting flight, but for other destinations within Orlando a change is needed.

Finally, while SunRail is mainly a commuter rail system within Orlando, it can be used to travel from Kissimmee, through the greater Orlando Metro Area, to Deltona (DeBary Station). There are several SunRail stations within greater Orlando.

By bus
for a list of county operated bus companies serving the Greater Orlando Metropolitan area (Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties) and from the surrounding neighboring counties further out (Brevard, Lake, Polk, and Volusia Counties). Being in the middle of the state, Orlando serves as a de-facto hub for multiple intercity bus companies for intrastate bus services. From here buses go to all directions of the state such as Tallahassee (NW), Miami-Dade (SE), Naples (SW), Jacksonville (NE) and points in between. Locally they have their own separate bus stations and stops in different parts of town that are far from the airports, Amtrak/Sunrail train stations and each other. Some may offer additional local stops in addition to their own bus stations. Check individual bus company websites for specific cities served, schedules, fares and local station/stop locations:

By car
Interstate 4 provides access to Orlando from Tampa and Daytona Beach. Florida’s Turnpike can be used to connect from the Miami area.

By car
The highway is omnipresent in Orlando, and it is a very easy and convenient (if sometimes congested) way to get to your destination. Orlando is a sprawling city, with most attractions lying far to the south of downtown and spreading into adjacent cities like Kissimmee. The roads are all wide and easy to drive on, with all major attractions well-signed. However, traffic jams around downtown are common during the morning and afternoon rush hours, and around the tourist areas when the theme parks close up each night. Orlando ranks 8th in the nation in terms of traffic congestion, and there are numerous ongoing construction projects on area highways. Traffic information is available from electronic signs over roadways, most local radio stations, and by calling 511 (a free, automated service which provides current traffic info).

As with most urban areas in the U.S., there are plenty of drivers who prefer to speed and drive aggressively. The Orlando area receives over 50 million visitors each year, many who drive while in town with little knowledge of the roads, while also home to 2 million permanent residents. The combination of these two types of drivers can make Orlando's roads a bit hectic at times. Speed limits in the Orlando area are higher than some parts of the U.S., around 45-50 mph (~80 km/h) on major roads. The speed limit on highways like Interstate 4 and the toll roads is 65 mph (~110 km/h), with urban sections closer to downtown posted at 55 mph (~90 km/h). Drivers in the left lane tend to drive 5-15 mph faster than the speed limit. While it is the law to keep right except to pass, this is not strictly enforced.

The main highway through Orlando, and the only Interstate serving it, is Interstate 4 (commonly called "I-4") which runs diagonally from northeast to southwest through the Orlando area. Major construction on it has widened the highway through areas south of the Beachline Expressway (SR 528), making it a commuter-friendly highway (except for traffic during rush hours and on weekend evenings). Downtown Orlando; International Drive; the Amway Center; the Mall at Millenia; Arabian Nights dinner theater; and theme parks and resorts such as Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld are all along or near I-4.

Every other highway in the Orlando area besides I-4 is a toll road. While the tolls are modest for short trips within Orlando, they can quickly add up on longer drives. For example, bypassing Orlando on SR 417 is $5.50 for the 55 mi (89 km) drive.

The major highways include:
 * I-4.svg & US 92.svg The main interstate highway through Orlando, between I-95 in Daytona Beach and I-75 in Tampa. Interstate 4 is still toll-free. The section of I-4 through Orlando runs north-south but is signed "east" (going north & east towards Daytona Beach) and "west" (south & west towards Tampa). US 92 closely parallels or is superseded by I-4 in many places between Tampa and Daytona Beach.
 * US 17.svg US 92.svg US Hwy 17-92 run concurrent with each other between DeLand in Volusia County and Lake Alfred in Polk County. It goes from the south of Sanford to downtown Orlando as Orlando Ave. It follows Colonial Dr (SR-50) from Orlando Ave to Orange Blossom Trail (OBT) where it continues south on OBT, concurrent with US Hwy 441, towards Kissimmee.
 * US 441.svg Orange Blossom Trail (OBT) serves as the main north-south thoroughfare through Orlando between Apopka and Kissimmee. OBT runs parallel to I-4 from W Colonial Dr to Kissimmee concurrent with US 92 and US 17. Going north, US Hwy 441 continues into Mount Dora from Apopka. From Kissimmee US Hwy 441 follows US Hwy 192, through St Cloud, to its own turn off at Holopaw to continue south. Orange Blossom Trail is a surface street with multiple traffic lights at slower speeds.
 * Florida_50.svg Colonial Dr goes east-west across the Orlando area including downtown Orlando. Overall it connects US 1 in Titusville ( east of Orlando) in the east coast to US 19 in Spring Hill at west of Orlando. Like the OBT it goes through Orlando as a surface street with multiple traffic lights at slower speeds.
 * Toll_Florida_408.svg East-West Expressway (Toll 408), serves as an auxiliary bypass of SR-50, which starts at Florida's Turnpike in the city of Ocoee west of Orlando, and travels through downtown Orlando before ending near the University of Central Florida at SR 50.
 * Toll_Florida_417.svg Central Florida GreeneWay (Toll 417), which starts at I-4 in Sanford and forms a partial beltway to the west of Orlando, passing both Orlando-Sanford International Airport and Orlando International Airport before ending just west of SR 192 south of Celebration near Walt Disney World.
 * Toll_Florida_429.svg Western Beltway (Toll 429), which starts at U.S. 41 in Apopka and takes you past the Florida's Turnpike and Disney World, ending at I-4 just west of SR 192 and Disney World, near SR 417.
 * Toll_Florida_528.svg & Florida_528.svgBeachline Expressway (Toll 528), which runs east from I-4 (exit 72) to the Space Coast area, ending near Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, home of the Kennedy Space Center.
 * Florida's_Turnpike_shield.svg Florida's Turnpike, which starts in Miami at I-95 and heads north through Orlando, ending in Wildwood at I-75.

In Orlando, the tourist area is centered on International Drive, a strip of road south of downtown that runs parallel to I-4 for about 10 miles (16 km). Many tourist-focused shops, restaurants, hotels, and attractions can be found along "I-Drive". Due to this, it is excruciatingly hard to drive on and find parking in the area on weekends, especially in the summer and from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Trips to this area are best done by bus, taxi, or rideshare app during such times.

Other major roads include: U.S. 192 in Kissimmee (fronted by thousands of small shops and older attractions), Orange Blossom Trail (US 17/92/441, a north–south alternative to I-4), John Young Parkway (which can be an alternative to US-441), and SR 50 on Colonial Dr (east–west route along north side of downtown).

A few local laws to keep in mind:
 * Lights on when raining. It is the law in Florida to have headlights on when it is raining.
 * Seatbelt use is mandatory.
 * Move over when passing stopped emergency vehicles. Florida has a so-called "move over" law, which compels drivers to move out of the lane closest to stopped emergency vehicles (police cars, ambulances, fire trucks). If it is not safe to do so, drivers must slow down 20 mph below the speed limit to pass parked vehicles (this is higher than any other U.S. state with such a law, where it's normally 5-15 mph below the speed limit).

By rental car
If you arrive by plane via Orlando International Airport and pick up a rental car there, you can go through the north exit and head to SR 528 West to get to International Drive, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld. This will require $1.75 in tolls. Alternatively, you can take a direct route to Walt Disney World by going through the south exit and taking SR 417 South, following it to Exit 5, and taking SR 536 straight into Disney. This requires $2 in tolls. Toll booths along this expressway use open road tolling: see note above in box.

By bus
Lynx operates public transportation for the Greater Orlando Metropolitan area in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties with the following routes that are of interest to travelers without a car:

 * Lymmo Bus, 1-841-LYNX. This free service operates frequently in a circuit in downtown, from City Hall to the Centroplex and back. The Lymmo has a dedicated lane and stations with streetcar type control signals and modified buses that allow passengers to enter the bus without climbing. On Google maps and on Lynx's list of routes the Lymmo buses are Link 60 (Orange); 61 (Lime); and 62 (Grapefruit). M-Th 6AM-10PM, F 6AM-midnight, Sa 10AM-midnight, Su 10AM-10PM.
 * The 311 bus, arguably the most important bus route for tourists, connects the Orlando Airport, the Orange County Convention Center, the Florida Mall, SeaWorld and Disney World.

 * Other LYNX buses to places of interest for visitors include Links (routes):
 * Florida Mall: Links 7, 37, 42, 107, 108, 311, FastLink 418, and FastLink 441
 * International Dr: Links 8, 24, 37, 38, 42, 311, 350, I-Ride Trolley
 * Mall at Millenia: Links 24 & 40
 * Orange County Convention Center: Links 8, 38, 42, 111 and 350
 * Orlando International Airport: Links 11, 42, 51, 311, 407, 436S. Sunrail @ Sand Lake Rd Station to Links 11, 42, and 311
 * SeaWorld: Links 8, 311, 350, and NeighborLink 641
 * Universal Orlando: Links 21, 37, 38, 40, 303. SunRail @ Orlando Health Station to Link 40, Lynx Central Station to Links 21 & 38.
 * Disney World Resorts: Links 56, 300, 311, 350. Sunrail @ Kissimmee Station to Link 56, Sand Lake Rd to Link 311, Lynx Central Station to Links 300 & 350

Links 8 and 111 pass by most of the places in the above but not all. Check schedules and maps.

By train
SunRail, (RAIL-411)) runs a limited north–south route through the center of the area, with a northern end in DeBary and an initial southern end at Poinciana. Bus connection is provided from Orlando International Airport to the Sand Lake Road station by Links 11, 42 and 111; and from Orlando-Sanford International Airport to the Sanford station by Link 46E. Cross platform transfer between Sun Rail and Amtrak are only in Winter Park, Orlando Heatlh, and Kissimmee Stations.

Base one-way fare is $2, with an addition of $1 for each county line crossed. An all-day pass costs $9.50.

There is no service on weekends and some federal holidays.

By trolley
The I-Ride Trolley,, runs along International Drive and Universal Boulevard and primarily serves tourists in the attractions area, operating daily from 8AM to 10:30PM. While the service is advertised as a trolley, they are in fact modified buses traveling in traffic with many stops making for a slow ride. There are 85 stops along the main (Red) route on International Drive and 22 stops on the (Green) route that serves the less-congested Universal Blvd. The fare is $2 per ride for adults, $1 for children ages 3 to 9, 25¢ for seniors, and free for toddlers younger than 3; exact change is required. There's also an unlimited 1-day pass available for $5 per person. These 1-day passes, as well as multi-day passes, are not sold on the bus but are available in many locations around International Drive. However, because of the very limited route coverage of I-Ride (it goes nowhere near Disney) the better choice for many visitors is to use LYNX buses (e.g., bus 8, 42, 50, or 111).

By taxi
With all of the tourists, it's no surprise dozens of taxi companies operate in the region. It's not be a problem to find a taxi from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to your hotel or from the hotel to a theme park, restaurant or mall. Mears Transportation Group,, dominates taxi service in Orlando and operates several different brands (Yellow Cab Company, Checker Cab Company, and City Cab Company) with identical rates and yellow color. Taxi fares and rates are determined by the taximeter (no flat rates). Beware of taxis without meters, which are widely reported to be rip-offs. Plan ahead and know your route and never hail a cab off the street. Always call, or have your hotel call, to arrange for a cab to collect you.

Rideshare services, like Uber and Lyft, can be hailed and can drop you off anywhere in Orlando (including at MCO and the theme parks). However, MCO limits pickups to the high-end services, e.g. Select XL and Uber Black. They pick at the Express Pickup Tunnel on Level 1 directly next to the rental car counters, and they probably translate to a rate comparable to, or higher than, the regular taxi services at MCO.

See
The Go Orlando City Pass is very useful to pay one price to visit many of these attractions.

Major attractions
Orlando is one of the biggest tourist destinations on the planet because of the nearby theme parks and resorts. Close to International Drive is Universal Orlando, which includes two theme parks, a water park, several hotels and a shopping and dining district. Not far from Universal lies the small Fun Spot America Orlando, home to the only wooden coaster in the area. South on International Drive lies SeaWorld Orlando, a marine theme park featuring several thrilling roller coasters and a rapidly dwindling amount of animal shows. About 25 minutes southwest of downtown Orlando is Walt Disney World. Comprising four theme parks, two water parks, dozens of hotels, a large shopping and dining complex, and four golf courses, it is the largest privately managed tourist destination anywhere. Not far from Disney World lies the "Alligator Capital of the World": Gatorland. If you have limited time, you have to choose between quality and quantity. Do you go to fewer parks and see all of them? Or do you see a little bit of most of the parks?

Sports teams

Downtown

Despite the proximity of the theme parks and other tourist attractions, the city center has a lot to offer on its own. Downtown Orlando is a growing area around Orange Avenue that is packed with bars, clubs, restaurants, theaters, and concert venues. The main strip on Orange Avenue is closed down to cars most nights because of the large number of pedestrians. Just a few blocks over is Lake Eola, a picturesque park situated around a swan-filled lake with a lighted fountain that has been established as an icon of Orlando. On one side of the lake stands the historic outdoor shell theater, where tourists and locals alike can watch a production of the Nutcracker every December. Swan-shaped paddle boats are available for rental as well. Meanwhile, Wall Street, a small pedestrian-only alley off of Orange Avenue that houses several restaurants and bars, has been taking over for Church Street as the main nightlife hotspot. There are frequent concerts there, providing an area for bands to play during everything from Cinco de Mayo to the Capital One Bowl and Citrus Bowl celebration weeks.

Ethnic enclaves
Little Saigon, East Colonial Dr (around N Mills). Here you will find Vietnamese grocery stores, gift shops, and a few herbal healing stores, which stock items from China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, etc. Also home to many good inexpensive Vietnamese and other East Asian restaurants.

Little India area - This area is a bit spread out. You will find many Indian stores in the South Orange Blossom Trail area on the main streets and side roads. Starting with Lancaster Road, which houses a video store and Indian restaurant, and then traveling south you will see a few Indian shops in clusters every mile all the way to 417 where you end at the local Indian movie theater

Little Brazil, the north end of International Dr. Several Brazilian restaurants, bakeries, stores, hairdressers, imports and exports shops. Some are hiding on the back of strip malls, some others are easy to find right up front flying the Brazilian flag.

Eat
A wide variety of restaurants can be found in CityWalk at Universal Orlando, including Margaritaville and Hard Rock Cafe. Parking is $20 during the day and free after 6PM (except during holidays or special events, such as Halloween Horror Nights). Much choice can also be found in Disney Springs, including Rainforest Cafe, Planet Hollywood, and Wolfgang Puck Cafe. Texas de Brazil, is a Brazilian steakhouse in the heart of downtown, serving beef, chicken, lamb and pork in many preparations.

Brazilian

Asian fare

Magical Dining
Visit Orlando partners with many restaurants in the Orlando area to offer a promotional Magical Dining month. During the promotion, partner restaurants offer three-course, prix fixe dinners for $35 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Typically the event is held in late August through September, which tends to be a slow season for the local attractions and restaurants are looking to bring in additional guests.

Drink
Orlando nightlife away from the theme parks is centered mostly around Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando. Here you can walk and find many bars. A short walk away is the tiny Thornton Park District, near the intersection of Washington and Summerlin. Among the dozens of cafes and pubs, you might stop in for a drink and a quick bite at Dexter's on Washington. For local flair head across the street to Burton's Frosty Mug, or sample the hip urban environment at the trendy HUE at the corner of Washington and Central.

Although most of the downtown Central avenue crowd is comprised of the "twentysomething" generation, for a more 30s-and-over entertainment experience, one can enjoy live jazz on many nights in the lounge of the Grand Bohemian Hotel, downtown on Orange Avenue. The jazz is excellent and the ambiance is quite comfortable, although drinks tend to be pretty pricey here.

Also, for a more professional crowd with a Latin twist, there is the Samba Room, on Sand Lake Road, about 3/4 west of I-4. This is a lively restaurant and happy hour type of place. The look is chic and the locals and tourists alike gather here for a quality food, beverage and people watching experience. You should ditch the shorts and flip-flops for a more casual chic look, but if you do you will be rewarded with a nice experience here. If you are traveling west on Sand Lake Road, after passing I-4, The Samba Room is on the left in a large shopping plaza. Latin food, music and mojitos are just some of the specialties here.

Across the street from the Samba Room, on Sand Lake Road, is the Old Vines wine bar, featuring live jazz usually from Thursday through Saturday nights. The wine selection is extensive and the live jazz is some of the best in town. The jazz is performed in the front of the room by the entrance. There is a divider that separates the more intimate rear portion of the establishment, which is the main dining area.

There are quite a few places to enjoy quality dining and drinks along Park Avenue in Winter Park, an adjacent suburb which is just northeast of Orlando. Winter Park is known for its many older grande homes that dominate the more historic sections of this suburb affectionately referred to by many as the center of Orlando's "old money." Park Avenue is an active pedestrian street featuring trendy shoppes, galleries, restaurants and nightspots. It has grown from a one-street attraction to more of a district, as several nearby streets have now added similar attractions.

Of particular interest and uniqueness on Park Avenue is the Wine Room, a converted bank featuring hundreds of wines available for self-serve sampling. The mode of purchasing here is to pre-load a wine "credit card" supplied by the Wine Room. You are then at liberty to peruse the entire building and select any wine you wish to try, merely by inserting your "credit card." Each wine station automatically deducts the value of your current purchase and advises you of your card balance. Dress is very casual here and you are likely to meet both locals and visitors, all sampling and enjoying their vinos of choice throughout the night.

At the theme parks, CityWalk at Universal Studios. For a nominal admission fee, both sites offer numerous venues for libations and entertainment. If you're staying along International Drive, there are plenty of bars, pubs, and clubs.

Sleep
With a hotel around virtually every corner (actually 4 or 5 around every corner) it seems impossible to throw a rock and not hit a hotel. There are hotels to meet every traveler's need, whether it be a hostel or a 5-star resort, although many visiting families often prefer to rent a private villa as they usually provide much more personal space and have their own private facilities. There are also a lot of lodgings in the surrounding cities and towns.

Mid-range

Stay safe
Like most cities in America, there are certain areas of Orlando which are more dangerous than others. Some areas travelers should be cautious of are:
 * Parramore District, area in downtown Orlando is a location where a lot of the area's homeless population congregates and crime rates are higher in this area.
 * Orange Blossom Trail, north of Sand Lake Road is known to be a bit of an unofficial red light district. Drug and prostitution-related crime is common here. Prostitution is not legal in Orlando, so you could spend a night in jail if you decide to indulge.
 * Pine Hills, around Silver Star Road and Pine Hills Road west of John Young Parkway. This is a lower income area that has struggled with high crime rates. The Greyhound bus station is in Pine Hills and is a place to use caution.

While it is unlikely that any one individual would experience serious crime in these areas, tourists stand out in these areas, and can unwittingly do things that can make them targets for criminal behavior, so it is sensible to stay away.

While crime in the Orlando area is not particularly high, with the annual tourists far outnumbering the regional population (~2 million), a substantial amount of local crime ends up being directed at tourists. The most common crimes are theft of items from cars and hotels, so following common sense travel precautions are particularly important in an area like Orlando.

 * Never leave valuable items in your car unattended, and get any purchased items to your hotel room as soon as possible. Consider utilizing the hotel room safe.
 * Never leave small children unattended for any length of time, especially at a pool. Most hotel pools do not have lifeguards.
 * Hotel room invasions do occur, especially open-air hotel and motel rooms when the victim leaves their hotel room unlocked and not dead-bolted. When you are in a hotel room, always lock your doors behind you, even if you expect someone in a minute or two.

While hurricanes attract most of the attention, the proximity to two coasts also brings frequent, and sometimes dangerous, thunderstorms. These occur nearly every day during the rainy season from mid-June through September. While some days it may only rain for 10 minutes, other thunderstorms can last for hours and its not unheard of for one location to remain dry while another spot 10 miles away gets a couple inches of rain on an afternoon. The summer thunderstorms are the main reason that Florida is the lightning capital of the western hemisphere. During these storms it is best to remain indoors due to the danger posed by frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. Golfers are especially vulnerable. A couple of dozen people are killed each year by lightning in Florida and many more spend much time receiving treatment for lightning strikes.

Pets are better off left with a friend or in a kennel. If you choose to bring your pet, note that most theme parks and hotels prohibit pets but may provide kennels for a fee. Under the ADA laws, businesses are required to accommodate service animals, which are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities; however, emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not covered by the ADA so be prepared to find alternate accommodations if they are refused entry. Also note above about interior temperatures in parked cars.

Connect

 * Ten-digit dialing is in effect in the Orlando area. All calls from or within the area, even local calls, require dialing the area code. There are some public pay phones scattered around the city, but they are becoming increasingly rare with the predominance of cell phones. It is not safe to assume you will be able to find a pay phone at any given time.
 * Telephone Area Codes in and around the city of Orlando begin with 407, 321 or 689.
 * It is common for many of the larger hotels and lodgings in the area to offer free internet access for their guests.
 * It is common for many of the larger hotels and lodgings in the area to offer free internet access for their guests.

Consulates
Most consulates are honorary which means they offer limited services to travelers and their nationals living in the area and usually available by appointment only. They are located in different parts of the city rather than in a certain area. The nearest cities for additional foreign consulates for Florida and the Southeastern US, are in Miami and Atlanta. The consulate of Greece is in Tampa while the consulates of Panama and Peru are in both Miami and Tampa:

 * 🇦🇹 Austria
 * 🇨🇱 Chile
 * 🇨🇴 Colombia
 * 🇭🇹 Haiti
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands

Go next
Walt Disney World, about 35 minutes southwest of Orlando, is so expansive that it needs its own travel guide.

Also within an hour of downtown Orlando:
 * Altamonte Springs - home of the Altamonte Mall, several parks including Crane's Roost Park, numerous chain restaurants, and many furniture stores.
 * Celebration - the Disney-designed and -operated community
 * Kissimmee - Large suburb close to Disney World.
 * Winter Haven - About 30 miles south of Disney off US27. Home to Legoland Florida.

A bit further, but good day trips or next destinations include:

 * Cocoa Beach - Closest beach to Orlando it boasts world-famous surfing.
 * Cape Canaveral - Home to the Kennedy Space Center and its large visitor's complex, which showcases many space-related artifacts (including some large rockets). While the space shuttle that once attracted tens of thousands of onlookers for lift-off no longer flies, there are occasional rocket launches throughout the year.
 * Daytona Beach - Home of NASCAR's famous Daytona 500 race, "Bike Week", and a popular beach.
 * Canaveral National Seashore 24 miles of undeveloped shore; central Florida's only nude(in one spot) beach; over 1000-year-old Indian relics; 58,000 acres for hiking, horseback riding, and biking; but no camping or concessions.
 * Melbourne/Melbourne Beach - Historic downtown and a great but "less touristy" beach than most on the Space Coast, beachfront camping nearby.
 * New Smyrna Beach - Popular beach destination.
 * Ocala National Forest - Great hiking and camping. Home to much fauna, including black bears and the Florida panther.
 * Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and much of the Treasure Coast - great boating spots and an awesome opportunity to find sunken treasure from the 1715 wrecks, an hour or two down the Turnpike.
 * Tampa and St. Petersburg - At the west end of I-4. Tampa is home to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the Florida State Fairgrounds and the famous Ybor City historic district. St. Petersburg hosts, among other things, Sunken Gardens and the Salvador Dalí Museum, and has its own well-known beaches.

title: Orlando


text:
Orléans

Orleans (French: Orléans) is the capital of the Centre-Val de Loire region of north-central France, located some 120 km (75 miles) south-west of the French capital, Paris. The city has just above 100,000 citizens, with a total of 400,000 in the metropolitan area.

By plane
The best way to get to Orleans by plane is to fly into either one of the two Paris Airports.

Most international carriers will service Charles De Gaulle Airport, but most low-cost carriers will service Orly. Orly Airport is slightly closer to Orleans if you are driving, but neither airport provides direct services to Orleans and one will most likely have to transfer in Paris.

By train

There are plenty of trains from Paris (Gare d'Austerlitz, 1 h) and other cities in Northern France, including high-speed TGV services. Notice that most long-distance trains does not call at the central station but rather at Les Aubrais railway station north of the city centre. The station is connected via tramway to the city centre.

Regional trains call at both Les Aubrais and at the central Orléans railway station.

By car
Take the A10 motorway south-west from Paris. The trip will be slightly one hour and a half.

You can also drive along the N20, which is a toll free road, and goes straight from Paris to Orleans. The route can is a bit longer than the highway as the road takes you through a number of villages.

By boat
Loire river is the main river in the city. It used to be navigable at the beginning of the 20th century.

Get around
The best way to travel around the historic centre of the city is by foot or bike. The city is not large so by foot is the best way. Many bike rental stations allow you to use a bike from point A to B for a small fee. For attractions further away (in particular the Parc Floral), the tram and bus service are useful.

Local transit is operated by [https://www.reseau-tao.fr/index.php? TAO Orléans]: Tram, Bus, Bike rental, Car parking and Park and Ride services. Their website has automatic translation by Google and the English translation is usable. Downloadable transit route maps and a journey planner are provided on the TAO website. Google Maps does not know about the trams or buses in Orléans (as of summer 2020) so do not rely on it for transit information.

Ticketing

 * Cash is accepted on board buses (and payment cards are not).
 * Cards and cash are accepted at ticket machines found at every tram stop.
 * Tickets can be purchased ahead of time and validated at the start of journey (including 24 hour tickets).
 * The same tickets are valid on bus, tram, etc.
 * Ticket types
 * Single journey ticket €1.60
 * Return journey ticket (two singles) €3.20
 * 10-journey ticket €14.30
 * 24 hour ticket. In practice these are often valid for longer periods, for example from 14:00 on one day to 23:00 the next day. €4.00
 * Group tickets, student discounts, etc, are available. The TAO website has a full list of ticket types.

By tram

 * TAO Orléans (Keolis) operates two tram lines. Line A runs roughly north-south (to the university and the nearby suburb of Olivet) and Line B runs east-west, crossing at the de Gaulle stop in the center of the city. Trams run every 10 minutes during the day and every 20-30 minutes in the evening until about 23:30.

By bus

 * TAO Orléans operates a bus network centered on the Gare d'Orléans (main train station). Buses do not go through the historic centre and mainly serve the residential areas of the city. Tourists may find them useful to get to outlying attractions or hotels outside the historic centre.

By car

 * The historic centre of Orléans is largely pedestrianised, driving is difficult, and parking is near-impossible.
 * Outside the historic centre, paid parking is available on main streets.
 * There are several large parking garages near the historic centre and cheaper park and ride facilities further out.

See

Do
Walk around the center of town, or along the banks of the river Loire. Visit some of the city's great boulangeries.

The city celebrates Joan of Arc during the first week of May with parades, demonstrations, a "medieval market" and sound and light shows.

Billiards (pool) can be a fun way to unwind from a busy day. Orleans has many pool salons and even the bowling alley has a billiards section. Billiards is popular among teenagers on Fridays after school, but finding an open table should not be a problem.

Learn
The université d'Orléans (10 miles south of downtown- well served by the tram line) has partnerships with many foreign universities. French classes for foreigners are available during a semester, year, or summer program. Information at www.univ-orleans.fr.

Buy
Most stores do accept credit cards. The local chocolate factory, Chocolaterie Royale, makes many interesting and delicious souvenirs. Even if you aren't in the mood to buy chocolate, stopping by their store near the town square will amaze you at the way they can mold chocolate.

Many large French and international stores fill Orleans including H&M and Les Galeries Lafayette.

During August many bakeries are closed because the owners are on holiday. Carrefour and Intermarché shops are open reliably during holiday periods.

Drink
The Rue de Bourgogne is home to the majority of bars, pubs and nightlife of Orleans. Le bord de la Loire (the Loir river bank) is popular among young highschool students as a place for weekend drinking. There are also several concerts held along the Loire River during the summer.

Budget
Around 40 km south of Orleans on the way to Bourges is the Parc des Alicourts 4-star campsite and spa, a holiday centre with a fishing lake, an aqua park with 4 pools, a plush health spa with hydrotherapy centre, camping pitches, chalets, cottages and a villa for rent. Special offers on family holidays, camping weekends and spa breaks.

The Parc des Alicourts has several treehouses, some suitable for family holidays, some for cozy couple weekends.

Go next

 * Visiting the castles and houses along the Loire river is a great day trip from Orleans. A must see is Chambord, near Blois.
 * Germigny-des-Prés, where you can see a Carolingian church with Byzantine mosaics, is also an excellent day trip or stopover on the way to seeing castles.

title: Orléans


text:
Orleans (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Orléans:

Canada

 * Île d'Orléans (Québec) - a rural island downriver from Quebec City
 * Orleans (Ontario) - an east-end Ottawa suburb, split between Gloucester and Cumberland

France

 * Orléans - A town in Centre-Val de Loire.

United States of America

 * Orleans (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts on Cape Cod.
 * Orleans (Vermont) - A town in the state of Vermont.
 * New Orleans - A large city in the state of Louisiana.

title: Orleans (disambiguation)


text:
Orleans (Massachusetts)

Orleans is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod, and includes the villages of East Orleans and South Orleans. With the Rock Harbor sunsets and the Nauset surf, Orleans has the best of both Cape Cod waters.

By car
Highway access is by Route 6 from the Cape Cod Canal in Bourne which is about 55 minutes away.

 * From Boston take I-93 south to Route 3 south to the Sagamore Bridge (Becomes Rt. 6). Exit onto Route 6A at Orlean's landmark rotary (or roundabout) on Route 6, approximately 55 minutes from the Sagamore Bridge and 1.75 hours from Boston.
 * From Providence or points south take I-95 north to I-195 to Route 25 south to the Bourne Bridge (I-495 also becomes Route 25). At the rotary (traffic circle) on the Cape side, go almost all the way around and travel along the Canal to Route 6 east.

By bus

 * Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway, 17 Elm Av., Hyannis, +1 508-771-6191,.

title: Orleans (Massachusetts)


text:
Orleans County

There is more than one place called Orleans County:

Orleans County

 * Orleans County (New York)
 * Orleans County (Vermont) - see Newport (Vermont)

title: Orleans County