Enjoy Valentine’s Day in Orlando ❤️

When it comes to those special days throughout the year, Orlando is superbly geared up for making the most of them. From St Patrick’s Day to July 4, this is the place to make the most of a celebration.

And that is most certainly the case with this month’s standout event, Valentine’s Day. In fact, Orlando has just been ranked the top US city for the most romantic day of the year by travel authority Allianz Partners, a major American travel agency.

This set us thinking about all the ways it is possible to have a memorable and immersive day in our favourite city on February 14, and we discovered that there are quite a few, and many are quite unique.

From spending a day on the water to a truly romantic evening meal, our little part of Florida is just bursting with Valentine’s Day opportunities. Here are the top recommendations to make the most of YOUR opportunity to have a special day with your loved one.

Dates on the Water

With the wonderful warm weather we’ve been experiencing in Central Florida recently (which is practically a guarantee year round!), couples can experience fun on the water even in February, and it doesn’t need to be anything grand (although if you want that, it’s on tap, too).

Take a trip to downtown Orlando, where Lake Eola Park is the iconic heart of the city and look for the signature paddleboats that are based on the west side of the park. These eye-catching swan-shaped paddleboats cost $15 for half an hour (credit cards only) and make for a truly original experience.

Alternatively, you might like to try a clear-kayak adventure through the picturesque waterways of Winter Park, which makes for a truly adventurous way to explore nature and possibly encounter majestic manatees. Want more? Try the tour at sunset for an unforgettable end to the day.

Of course, if you’re firmly in the theme park mood, SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove offers an all-inclusive tropical retreat, complete with unique romantic add-ons like private cabanas and the Premium Proposal Celebration Package (although, in our view, Discovery Cove is special enough in its own right to make a wonderful Valentine’s Day occasion. Just don’t forget to get your tickets on this link!).

Romantic Live Arts & Events

It’s probably the least well-known feature of Orlando these days, but The City Beautiful is actually a world-class home of the live performing arts, notably at the new Dr Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown, but also at other major venues.

This month is a classic case in point, with all the main hot spots featuring headline acts. Take your pick from the following (not necessarily all on February 14, but definitely still a romantic opportunity):

QuinTango: ValenTango! at the unique Timucua Arts Foundation: This Washington DC-based Tango quintet invites you to embark on a captivating journey through the soulful and evocative world of tango (Feb 11).

SAK Comedy Lab: The downtown improv comedy club will be presenting its own special Valentine’s Day show at 7 and 9pm (Feb 14).

Orlando Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts: One of the world’s most famous ballets, performed at Florida’s most advanced and high-tech theater (Feb 15-18).

Andrea Bocelli’s Valentine’s Tour at the Kia Center (formerly the Amway Center): See the world famous Italian tenor in his only Florida appearance this year (Feb 18).

Dining & Nightlife

When it comes to dining out and that essential romantic dinner, Orlando is positively loaded with choices for a Valentine’s night to remember, with a great choice of restaurants and bars throughout the destination.

Take your pick from this little selection:

Each of AVA MediterrAegean (Winter Park), Cafe TuTu Tango and Mia’s Italian Kitchen (both International Drive), and Paddlefish (Disney Springs) are offering an intimate prix-fixe menu with Valentine delights, while the unique ICEBAR Orlando (International Drive) will feature various enticing packages during its Cupid & Cocktails Valentine’s Weekend (Feb 9-11).

There is also a trio of one-night-only specials from the dinner shows of Teatro Martini, offering a ‘Love is Chaos’ couples’ package including tickets, a bottle of champagne and special dessert; Country Nights Live , featuring a ‘Heart Strings & Honky Tonk’ package for two; and Pirates Dinner Adventure, with a Valentine’s Day couples upgrade (of $40/person) that includes champagne, special dessert and a commemorative scroll.

It all adds up to a package of memorable Valentine’s Day treats that are sure to go down well with you and your significant other. Just tell them that Debbie’s Villas sent you!

Do you have a favourite Valentine’s Day tradition? Tell us about it on Facebook, X and Instagram pages… and don’t forget to interact with us on Pinterest and now TikTok too!