Things to do for free in Orlando

See the beautiful city of Orlando without spending a cent.

Public art
Orlando is a city that takes art quite seriously, and those who enjoy and appreciate interesting works will be thrilled by the proliferation of public art displayed throughout the city. Take a stroll around Orlando to see a variety of sculpture and other works integrated into the city's architecture. All in all, there are 26 major works of art located in the city. A few examples of these major works are the Tower of Light in front of the Orlando City Hall, the Tile Wall at the NW Community Center and the Folks in my Neighborhood painting at the James Smith Community Center. Art lovers can also visit The Terrace Gallery to view exhibits from local Florida artists as well as those from national and international artists. Works from Central Florida artists are housed in the Mayor's 2nd and 3rd Floor Gallery in the City Hall. The Cornell Fine Arts Museum and the Charles Morse Homer Museum of American Art are also worth visiting. Entrance to these galleries and museums is free to the public.

Lake Eola Park
Find a spot on the sprawling lawns and watch the Orlando locals move through their days. Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando is a beautiful oasis of tranquility in the city, a popular spot for nine-to-fivers to take their lunch breaks and for runners and walkers to take on the 14.5km circuit around the lake. Enjoy a picnic, take the kids to the playground there or feed the ducks along the lake's shore.

Ocala National Forest
No matter what time of the year, this national forest is a great place for fun recreational activity while getting in touch with Mother Nature. The dry winters are perfect for camping and the summer days are well-spent canoeing along the many streams and lakes. Spend the day fishing, taking dips in the refreshing springs or snorkelling. While the forest itself is free and open to the public, visitors should check which activities require permits.

Old Town
Rock it out (free of charge!) at Old Town, one of Orlando's biggest shopping and dining attractions. Enjoy a free rock 'n roll concert every Saturday night and ogle the collection of vintage cars also brought out for display. On Friday nights, the classics rubs shoulders with sparkly exotics at the Friday Night Cruise, and bikers get their kicks on Thursday nights. If petrol flows through your veins, make a point of cruising by Old Town.

Hit the beach
When in Florida, it's absolutely imperative that you get your body bronzed and beautiful on one of its beaches. Orlando's Cocoa Beach is just an hour from the city, and with those perfect all-year-round summer temperatures, any day of the week is a great day for the beach. Pack your surfboards and bodyboards to take advantage of the Cocoa Beach swells.

Catch a movie
Yep, you can watch movies for free in this town. Winter Park Popcorn Flicks screens family classics in two parks, Central Park and Shady Park, on the second Thursday of every month. Bring blankets and a picnic baskets, and enjoy the warm Florida evening with a good movie and good company.