Is Downtown Orlando a good place to stay in Orlando?

Downtown Orlando is a good base if you want a city break rather than a theme-park holiday, or you're in town for a concert, a game or business. Lake Eola Park, the Kia Center and the Dr. Phillips Center are all within walking distance, and SunRail and the free LYMMO buses run through the centre. It suits business travellers, couples and anyone who wants restaurants and bars outside the door.

The area is a compact grid of towers and older brick buildings around Lake Eola, where swan boats drift past the fountain and a farmers' market fills the park on Sundays. Thornton Park, just east of the lake, has brick streets, cafés and some of the best restaurants in the area, while Orange Avenue and Church Street are lined with bars that get busy on weekend nights.

The downside is the distance from the parks. Disney, Universal and SeaWorld are all a drive away, there's no fast public transport to them, and you'll pay for parking or rideshares every day. Weekend nights around the bars can be loud and rowdy, so families with young children may prefer somewhere calmer.

What makes Downtown Orlando worth considering is that it shows you a side of the city most visitors never see. You can walk around Lake Eola at sunset, eat well in Thornton Park and catch a show or a game, all from a hotel that usually costs less than one in the resort areas.