Planning a trip to Orlando and want to try something different than all the hassle of the theme parks? We have good news for you! There are so many other things to do in Orlando, like visiting the amazing museums to have a cultural and educational experience. An unconventional plan, but with no waiting lines and more budget-friendly! Read this article and discover the other side of Orlando through art, culture, history, and science.
Scroll down and we assure you that you will become the perfect museologist to guide your family on this adventure. Newbie or expert? It doesn’t matter, because here you will find everything you need to know about museums in Orlando, so if you’re not an expert, you’re about to become one. 🥇🏆
Orlando cultural tour, visit the museums!
If you are one of those travelers looking to explore a destination beyond its main tourist attractions, don’t miss the opportunity to take an educational tour of the museums in Orlando. The city has a varied cultural offer that includes trendy attractions such as art galleries, natural history museums, interactive exhibits, science museums, military museums, observatories, and planetariums. Here is our selection of must-visit museums in Orlando.
Museum of Illusions Orlando
The world upside down! Visit the Museum of Illusions Orlando to be amazed by tons of interactive exhibits that challenge perception to turn reality upside down. Enjoy exhibits that integrate visual effects, holograms, distorted mirrors, lights, and more attractions that will trick your senses and give you an amazing sensory experience with activities such as: walking in tilted rooms, standing in a mirror that will make you appear taller or shorter, holograms, and so much more! Ready to break the law of gravity and turn reality upside down with all sorts of optical illusions? Get your ticket to the Orlando Museum of Illusions now!
Address: 8375 International Drive Icon Park, FREE PARKING GARAGE: Floors 4-7, Suite #250, Orlando, FL 32819, USA.
Tickets: Approximately USD $35.
Kennedy Space Center
A cosmic interplanetary experience! Kennedy Space Center is a stellar research institute and NASA’s primary launch complex for aeronautical flights. Since it opened in 1962 it has been the starting point for numerous space missions starring the historic Apollo program. The base has also been used to launch communications satellites, planetary probes, and space telescopes, among others.
Among the facilities at the John F. Kennedy Space Center are Launch Pad 39A and 39B, which serve as the launch site for the Orion spacecraft. The site also features the Vehicle Assembly Building, where rockets, capsules, and shuttles are prepared before launch, and -specifically for tourists- the Visitor Center: a section that offers exhibits about Apollo 8 and Apollo 14,, interactive simulations such as living in space and walking on the moon, encounters with astronauts to hear their stories first-hand, live launches that can be observed through state-of-the-art screens or from designated areas, and the gift store to buy galactic souvenirs. Visit Kennedy Space Center and take a trip to space without leaving Earth!
Address: Florida 32899, USA. John F. Kennedy Space Center
Tickets: From USD $80.
Madame Tussauds Orlando
Walk the red carpet among celebrities! Madame Tussauds Orlando is a wax museum featuring hyper-realistic figures of singers, actors, legendary celebrities, Hollywood characters, and more entertainment personalities. The museum is divided into different theme rooms where visitors can explore scenarios related to music, sports, cinema, politics, pop culture, and royalty. Visitors can also take pictures with the wax figures and experience interactive activities such as auditioning for a movie or appearing on a magazine cover. At the museum, visitors can also watch how the wax figures are made in a Behind the Scenes experience, which covers the creative process from the creation of the molds to the final painting of the sculptures.
Madame Tussauds Orlando is located at Icon Park Orlando, which means you’ll be near other attractions like the Sea Life Aquarium and The Wheel, Orlando’s most iconic observation wheel. Are you ready to live an all-inclusive experience? Put on your best outfit and go spend an afternoon next to your favorite stars at Madame Tussauds.
Address: 8387 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819, USA.
Tickets: From USD $37.
Wonderworks Orlando
Wonderworks Orlando is a theme park that brings together fun and education. Designed to resemble a structure that has been turned upside down, architecture is a big part of its charm. Inside the museum, visitors will find more than 100 exhibits that focus on topics such as science, technology, space, and nature with attractions such as a hurricane simulator, a climbing wall, a virtual roller coaster, a laser game zone, and more. Here are our top 4 things to do at this quirky Orlando museum:
- 4D Theater: Experience an immersive, multi-sensory experience while watching a movie with special effects like wind, water, and bubbles.
- Magic Show: Enjoy the miraculous tricks of Florida’s most talented magicians.
- Outdoor adventure zone: Play mini golf, ride the waves on the surf simulator, and visit the children’s playground.
- Educational exhibits: Learn about physics, light, gravity, nature, and ecology through scientific exhibits that will stimulate your research skills.
Address: 9067 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819, USA.
Tickets: From USD $27.
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, one of the best museums in Orlando.
Embark on the ship where Rose and Jack fell in love! Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition features authentic artifacts recovered from the wreck of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Among the salvaged artifacts tourists can find jewelry, coins, documents, clothing, tools, and more personal items of the passengers and crew. In addition, the exhibit displays replicas of some of the Titanic’s interiors such as a section of the stairway, a first-class room, and a third-class cabin.
There, visitors can explore the exhibit at their own pace and learn about the history of the Titanic and its tragic maiden voyage. You can also hear some passenger stories, and even touch a scale model of the iceberg that according to experts, was the cause of the monumental tragedy.
Address: 7324 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819, USA.
Tickets: From USD $23.
Orlando Science Center
The Orlando Science Center is a science museum that combines learning and entertainment to provide an educational experience for people of all ages with exhibits covering a wide variety of scientific topics such as physics, chemistry, biology, technology, and more. The center is divided into four levels and features several temporary and permanent exhibits, including the following:
- Dr. Dare’s Laboratory: Interactive exhibit that explores the science behind roller coasters and amusement park rides.
- Our Planet: Exhibit that delves into biodiversity, ecology, and environmental conservation.
- Kinetic Zone: Exhibit that introduces physics concepts such as gravity, energy, and motion.
- KidsTown: Exhibition for children under 5 years old that offers educational and playful activities on science and technology.
Besides the exhibits, the Orlando Science Center also provides educational programs like workshops and talks on current scientific topics. In addition, the museum features a state-of-the-art digital planetarium where visitors can enjoy giant-screen projections of films and presentations on astronomy and science.
Address: 777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803, USA.
Tickets: Approximately $24.
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Orlando
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Orlando is an entertainment museum that exhibits peculiarities and curiosities from 5 continents; they have tons of extravagant objects such as animals dissected from taxidermy and statues made of toilet paper, natural phenomena such as a suit made of human hair or people with unique qualities such as the man with the world’s largest arms.. Without a doubt, this is one of the most fascinating museums in Orlando!
Address: 8201 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819, USA.
Tickets: From USD $27.
The Orange County Regional History Center
The Orange County Regional History Center is a museum that exhibits the history of the Orange County region from its founding to the present. The museum is housed in a historic building that was originally a courthouse and jail. After falling into disrepair, the site was restored and renovated to become the museum it is today. Some of its most notable exhibits include:
- Florida Historic Train: Discover the locomotive and cars that tell the story of railroad development in Florida.
- The First Floor: Discover the timeline that tells the history of Orange County, from the first indigenous inhabitants to the European settlers and the arrival of the theme parks.
- The Earthquakes of 1886: Learn about the earthquakes that shook Central Florida in 1886 and their respective geographic, social, and economic consequences.
Address: 65 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801, USA.
Tickets: From USD $8.
Orlando Museum of Art
The Orlando Museum of Art is a museum focused on exhibiting the greatest art representations from Florida, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The cultural center opened in 1924 and is housed in a modernist building designed by architect Nils Schweizer. The museum’s permanent collection features more than 2,400 pieces of art, including works by renowned artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Robert Rauschenberg, Ansel Adams, and Dale Chihuly. The gallery also offers guided tours, art workshops, children’s activities, lectures, conferences, concerts, and special events. Buy your tickets today!
Address: 2416 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803, USA.
Tickets: Approximately $20.
Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream
Get up close and personal with the creator of Mickey Mouse: Walt Disney, the eternal mayor of the city of magic! Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream is an exhibit at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park in Orlando, Florida. The exhibit pays tribute to the company’s founder by showcasing his life story, career, and legacy with photographs, personal items, and a biographical film. Don’t miss this attraction on your Orlando museum tour!
Address: 745 Stage Ln, Orlando, FL 32830, USA.
Tickets: From USD $109.
Other Museums in Orlando
For a complete guide to Orlando museums, here is a list of other popular cultural centers for a family day trip to the Orlando art scene. Select the place you are interested in and go explore it:
- Military History Museum.
- Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens.
- Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art.
- Art and History Museums – Maitland.
- Fort Christmas Historical Park.
- Orlando Science Center.
- Skeletons: Museum of Osteology.
- Cornell Museum of Fine Arts.
- Orlando Fire Museum.
- Mennello Museum of American Art.
- Bijut-sy Kan Gallery.
- Wycliffe Discovery Center.
- Stave Church Gallery.
- Bronze Kingdom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best family-friendly museums in Orlando?
These are the best family-friendly museums in Orlando:
- Orlando Museum of Illusions.
- Kennedy Space Center.
- Wonderworks Orlando.
- Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.
What are the best museum options in Orlando for groups?
The top museums in Orlando to visit with your friend group are:
- Orlando Museum of Art.
- Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Orlando.
- Orlando Science Center.
- Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.
- Wonderworks Orlando.
Which museums in Orlando are free?
Here are some of the Museums in Orlando you can visit for free:
- Mennello Museum of American Art.
- Leu Gardens o Garden House.
- Outdoor Art in Downtown Orlando.
Thanks for making it this far! If you’re into museums and culture, you will probably like our article Best museums in Miami, check it out!
