While Orlando is well known as a family vacation destination, the city also offers plenty of romantic date spots beyond the theme parks. From strolling hand-in-hand through lush gardens to sharing wine at a cozy bistro, there are many romantic ways to enjoy Orlando as a couple.
Activity | Description |
---|---|
Stroll at Lake Eola Park | Picturesque walks around a beautiful lake. |
Couples Massage at a Spa | Relaxing and intimate spa treatments. |
Enjoy a Show at Dr. Phillips Center | Attend performing arts in a world-class venue. |
Dine at The Boheme Restaurant | Romantic fine dining experience. |
Sunset Boat Tour on Lake Eola | Scenic boat rides at sunset. |
Wine Tasting at Eola Wine Company | Sample a variety of wines in a cozy setting. |
Visit the Orlando Museum of Art | Explore art collections together. |
Explore Harry P. Leu Gardens | Romantic walks in lush botanical gardens. |
Night Out in Thornton Park | Vibrant nightlife and dining options. |
Hot Air Balloon Ride | Unique and breathtaking aerial experience. |
Couples’ Cooking Class | Fun and interactive culinary activity. |
Horseback Riding at Hidden Palms Ranch | Scenic and intimate horseback riding. |
Here are the top 12 most romantic things to do for couples visiting Orlando.
Sunset Kayaking on Shingle Creek
Name and Location: Shingle Creek, Kissimmee, FL
History and Significance: Paddling down this historic Central Florida river is a peaceful way to take in natural scenery.
What to Expect: Kayak together at golden hour, admiring the sun’s reflection on the water and spotting birds and wildlife.
Visitor Information: Book tours with companies like Adventure Kayak. $45-60 per person. Typically 2-3 hours.
Paddle into the sunset together by booking a romantic couples kayak tour along Shingle Creek. Float through lush wilderness where the sounds of the city fade away, replaced by birdsong and gators sliding into the water.
Your experienced guide will paddle you through peaceful backwaters and share facts about Central Florida’s natural beauty. As dusk falls, the sun dipping behind the cypress trees makes for an unforgettable scene. End with raise-a-glass toast before paddling back by moonlight.
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
Name and Location: Scenic Boat Tours, 312 E Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789
History and Significance: These guided cruises have offered views of Winter Park’s lush waterfront estates since 1938.
What to Expect: Glide by peaceful lakeside homes and gardens on an engaging 1-hour narrated tour. Cash bar available.
Visitor Information: Tours daily at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. $16 per adult ticket. Reservations recommended.
Enjoy close-up views of some of Orlando’s most spectacular mansions and gardens aboard an intimate sightseeing cruise designed for two. The captain provides fascinating commentary on the luxurious waterfront homes and famous residents as you cruise along tranquil Winter Park waterways.
Complimentary beverages including champagne set the mood. You’ll feel blissfully immersed in natural splendor while soaking up the opulent scenery and sun-kissed breezes during this special experience.
Leu Gardens
Name and Location: Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando, FL 32803
History and Significance: This 50-acre oasis is one of Florida’s most beautiful gardens, opened in 1961.
What to Expect: Stroll hand-in-hand through rose, butterfly, and tropical gardens overflowing with color. Don’t miss the giant bamboo forest.
Visitor Information: Open 9am-5pm. Admission is $12 for adults. Free on the first Monday of the month.
Wander hand-in-hand through 50 acres of enchanting gardens at Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando. This lush botanical oasis just minutes from downtown features dazzling roses, camellias, and azaleas. The tranquil Japanese garden with arched bridges and koi ponds provides a romantic backdrop for photos.
Stop to smell the flowers in the butterfly and herb gardens. Relax afterward at the Leu House Museum & Cafe while enjoying tea or coffee in an elegant historic home.
The Alfond Inn by Rollins College
Name and Location: The Alfond Inn, 300 E New England Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
History and Significance: This boutique hotel opened in 2013 on the Rollins College campus, known for its charming Spanish Mediterranean style.
What to Expect: Spend a romantic weekend enjoying the inn’s exceptional service, amenities, celebrated restaurant, and artsy surroundings.
Visitor Information: Room rates from $259/night. Valet parking included. Reservations recommended.
Soak up old-world romance with a stay at the Alfond Inn by Rollins College. This Mediterranean-style boutique hotel features sumptuous suites, fine dining at Hamilton’s Kitchen, and luxury amenities like an infinity-edge pool.
Guests rave about the lavish marble bathrooms, deluxe linens, and individualized service. Stroll downtown Winter Park’s chic cafes and boutiques right outside your door. With its elegant ambiance and pampering touches, the Alfond Inn makes any getaway feel like a fairytale.
Wine Tasting at Lakeridge Winery
Name and Location: Lakeridge Winery, 19239 U.S. 27 North, Clermont, FL 34715
History and Significance: Florida’s largest winery, founded in 1989, offers peaceful vineyards along with wine tasting and tours.
What to Expect: Sample award-winning Muscadine wines at the polished tasting bar. Tour the vineyard and production facility.
Visitor Information: Open daily 10am-5pm. Tastings start at $7 per person. Free winery tours daily at 11:30am and 2:30pm.
Spend a leisurely afternoon sampling award-winning wines together at Lakeridge Winery. This 127-acre vineyard offers complimentary wine tastings showcasing their signature wines like citrus-infused Pinot Grigio and full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.
Relax in a private tasting room or out on the scenic terrace surrounded by vineyards. Pair your wines with a cheese board or take a winery tour and sample directly from the barrel. With its beautiful setting and delicious wines, Lakeridge Winery sets the scene for romance.
The Melting Pot Fondue Dinner
Name and Location: The Melting Pot Orlando, 7549 West Sand Lake Road, Orlando, FL 32819
History and Significance: This romantic fondue restaurant first opened in 1975 and creates a cozy dining experience.
What to Expect: Cooking, dipping and feeding each other while indulging in cheese fondues, salads, meats and chocolate desserts.
Visitor Information: Reservations recommended. Entrees range $26-$50 per person.
Get hands-on making memories over a decadent fondue dinner for two at The Melting Pot. This couples’ favorite eatery lets you cook bites of lobster, steak, and more right at your table in bubbling pots of broth and melted cheese.
Clinking glasses filled with wine while you dip and laugh through a leisurely dinner is guaranteed to spark romance. End the evening by sharing an oozing chocolate fondue with fresh fruit for dessert. From cooking together to feeding each other chocolate-dipped strawberries, it’s an unforgettable dining experience.
Orlando Museum of Art
Name and Location: Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803
History and Significance: This museum exhibits American art and unique traveling collections in a modern building since 1924.
What to Expect: Admire diverse paintings, photographs, sculptures and installations from folk to contemporary works. The gift shop has artistic keepsakes.
Visitor Information: Admission $20 adults. Open Thu-Sun 10am-4pm. Free on Thursdays from 4-9pm.
Immerse yourself in art, creativity, and conversation during a romantic date night at the Orlando Museum of Art. Wander through galleries filled with inspiring works from the ancient Americas, African diaspora, and modern masters.
Dine at the museum’s James Beard-nominated restaurant overlooking Lake Formosa. Don’t miss the First Thursday and Third Thursday evening events with live music, cocktails, and pop-up performances that amplify the artsy romantic vibes.
Morse Museum
Name and Location: Morse Museum, 445 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
History and Significance: This museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
What to Expect: Be awed by Tiffany’s stained glass windows, lamps, vases and jewelry. The centerpiece is a dazzling chapel interior he designed.
Visitor Information: Admission $6 adults. Open Tue-Sat 9:30am-4pm, Sun 1pm-4pm. Closed Mondays.
Be dazzled by an astonishing collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany at the Morse Museum, located in Winter Park’s cultural district. This impressive museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of Tiffany lamps, windows, jewelry, glasswork, and pottery.
The centerpiece is the Tiffany Chapel painstakingly reconstructed with over a million pieces of glass. Admiring these breathtaking works side-by-side makes for an uplifting date experience.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Name and Location: Orlando Balloon Rides, various launch locations around Orlando
History and Significance: Seeing Orlando from a hot air balloon offers breathtaking views and a romantic experience.
What to Expect: Float peacefully above Orlando for an hour, taking in panoramic vistas of the city, lakes and theme parks.
Visitor Information: Book flights in advance for around $175-225 per person. Plan for 3-4 hour outings.
Soar to new romantic heights on a magical sunrise hot air balloon ride. Float up and watch the city lights fade as the sun peeks over the horizon, painting the sky in dazzling hues. Toast an unforgettable experience with mimosas after you land.
Many companies offer private rides for just you and your special someone to maximize the romance as you admire sweeping vistas of Orlando hand-in-hand from your private balloon.
The Spa at the Ritz-Carlton
Name and Location: The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, 4012 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, FL 32821
History and Significance: This award-winning spa provides indulgent pampering services and luxury amenities in a relaxing atmosphere.
What to Expect: Choose from massage, body, facial and salon treatments. Couples can enjoy side-by-side services.
Visitor Information: Open daily 9am-7pm. Reservations required. Packages $275-$450 for two.
Pamper yourselves with an indulgent spa day for two at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando. Choose from luxurious massages, facials, body treatments and aromatherapy experiences tailored to relax and rejuvenate tired bodies and minds.
Continue the bliss lounging in plush robes in the adults-only relaxation lounge or unwinding together in the therapeutic whirlpool. With its emphasis on organic ingredients and customized services, the Ritz’s spa cultivates pure romance.
Nighttime Paddle at Shingle Creek
Name and Location: Shingle Creek, Kissimmee, FL
History and Significance: Kayaking Shingle Creek after dusk provides a peaceful chance to see the waterway under the moon and stars.
What to Expect: Paddle under the night sky and stargaze together. Listen for nocturnal wildlife sounds. Romantic atmosphere.
Visitor Information: Offered select nights monthly. Book through Adventure Kayak Tours. $55 per person.
Experience Shingle Creek’s beauty from a moonlit perspective on an evening kayaking tour for two. Your guide supplies everything needed for a magical glow-in-the-dark paddle under the stars. The bio-luminescence and sparkling reflections on the creek create a fairy tale-like paddling experience.
Bring a blanket and picnic basket for a post-tour treat on a private beach. Under the starry skies and natural canopy of cypress trees, Shingle Creek’s soul-stirring beauty feels worlds away from Orlando’s bustle.
Cirque du Soleil Amaluna
Name and Location:
Cirque du Soleil Amaluna is a touring show by Cirque du Soleil, a renowned contemporary circus performance troupe. As a touring show, Amaluna visits various cities around the world, setting up its iconic big top tent in each location. The specific location would depend on its current tour schedule.
History and Significance:
Amaluna is one of Cirque du Soleil’s many thematic shows. It was first premiered in 2012 and is known for its storyline that loosely draws inspiration from William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” The show is significant for its focus on female strength and empowerment, featuring a predominantly female cast and an all-female band.
What to Expect:
Attendees of Amaluna can expect a spellbinding combination of circus arts, acrobatics, and theatrical storytelling, all set to a captivating musical score. The show is renowned for its spectacular costumes, imaginative set design, and high-energy performances that include aerial stunts, juggling, contortion, and dance.
Visitor Information:
Tickets should be purchased in advance, and attendees are advised to check the schedule and location of performances on the Cirque du Soleil website. It’s important to arrive on time, as late entry may not be permitted. The show is suitable for all ages, but the length and style of the performance should be considered for very young children. Food and merchandise are often available at the venue.
Be dazzled by world-class acrobatics and a love story for the ages at Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna, playing under the big top at Icon Park. This classy yet thrilling show blends stunning aerial stunts, graceful balancing acts, fierce warrior queens and Shakespearean whimsy into an unforgettable spectacle.
From a kiss floating on silks high above the stage to an epic battle for love on the Teeterboard, Amaluna’s romance-filled theatrics will amaze.
Conclusion
From picturesque gardens and sleek boutique hotels to private mixology classes and sunset kayaking, Orlando offers truly unique date activities beyond the theme parks. Making time for exclusive experiences and intimate moments will ensure couples create treasured memories together in Orlando.