Atlanta, GA Visitor Guide
Atlanta is one of the most visited cities in the United States, attracting tens of millions of travelers per year. Atlanta’s position as one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities in the South makes it a popular vacation and short break destination for people across the southeast and from further afield.
There are so many things to do in Atlanta that you will never be short on activities. There are some of the best museums and cultural attractions in the South; concerts, nightlife and performing arts; a burgeoning food scene; hundreds of festivals and outdoor events; historic cemeteries and parks; and a variety of state parks and nature reserves within an easy drive.
Atlanta might not itself have the moss-draped live oaks or the oldest architecture of Georgia’s most historic cities, but if that is what you want, it is within easy reach of the city, with places such as Madison or Athens within day trip distance. Further away, but still accessible, are the natural charms of the North Georgia mountains and beaches and barrier islands of the coast.
Attractions & Events
Atlanta’s huge range of things to see and do is what brings so many people to the city. Whether you are visiting for a weekend or vacation or have a few hours to spare whilst in the city on business, you should be able to find something that fits your interests.
Atlanta’s key sights are its new Center For Civil and Human Rights, the Martin Luther King, Jr National Historical Park, the Atlanta History Center and the World of Coca-Cola museum, and the High Museum of Art. The city is also home to Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium.
Atlanta also has many smaller museums exploring topics as varied as the history of paper, the work of the Center for Disease Control, puppetry arts, the history of Delta Air Lines, and more. You can also see the workings of the Federal Reserve Bank. Several of these attractions are free to visit.
Historic houses include the former homes of Gone With The Wind author Margaret Mitchell, and of Joel Chandler Harris, who wrote the Brer Rabbit stories; a recreation of an antebellum farm at the Atlanta History Center; and the historic mansion built by one of Atlanta’s wealthiest African-American families, the Herndons.
Outdoor attractions in Atlanta include Midtown’s Piedmont Park and its neighbor the Atlanta Botanical Garden, along with several modern additions to the city’s parkspace: Centennial Olympic Park, in the heart of downtown; Historic Fourth Ward Park; and the encircling BeltLine, which connects dozens of Atlanta’s most interesting neighborhoods.
Oakland Cemetery is another must-see outdoor sight in Atlanta, and architecture fans will also enjoy a trip out to Westview Cemetery, with its Medieval European style abbey.
Atlanta hosts many of the largest events in the country, including one of the biggest film festivals, one of the biggest free jazz festivals and one of the best attended Pride festivals. It also has dozens of smaller, more local events, year-round, and a full calendar of music festivals.
→ See Atlanta’s events by month: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Atlanta’s excellent nightlife is another draw, with local music venues hosting everything from international names to emerging performers; a vibrant bar and club scene; and dozens of theaters showing plays and the other performing arts.
Atlanta also enjoys one of the best food and restaurant scenes in the southeast, with places to eat ranging from decades-old establishments to up-and-coming chefs, contemporary southern and international cuisine, and a growing selection of vegetarian and vegan restaurants.
Food halls in Atlanta include the big new Ponce City Market and Inman Park’s Krog Street Market. The city also offers several very popular farmers markets, and dozens of annual food and beer festivals from big to small.
History & Heritage
In 175 often-turbulent years, Atlanta has grown from a tiny 1840s outpost to the regional center of the Southeast that it is today.
Famously burned to the ground by Sherman’s army, Atlanta expanded out of its ruins into a vibrant commercial city. By the early 20th century, the economic course it would follow had been set. Atlanta had grown into a true metropolis, but it had a profound inequality at its core.
Decades of active discrimination and segregation prompted Atlanta’s African-American citizens to develop a distinct and successful society of their own. Through their efforts, Atlanta would become the location of one of the nation’s foremost Black business districts, Auburn Avenue, and a center of Black education, religion, and the Civil Rights movement.
Present-day Atlanta has a wealth of Black heritage sites, including the birthplace of Martin Luther King, Jr, an African-American built and owned mansion, galleries, art museums, and several heritage districts.
Gateway To The Southeast
Atlanta’s excellent transportation links – by air, road, bus and train – make it both easy to get to and a good starting point for a wider tour of the southeast. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is one of the busiest in the world, making Atlanta easily accessible by air from many domestic and international destinations.
Within easy reach of Atlanta are dozens of scenic state parks and conservation areas for outdoor activities and wildlife viewing. The mountains of north Georgia and North Carolina are 3-4 hours or less northeast of Atlanta. Georgia also has one of the best-preserved coasts in the United States, with beautiful salt marshes and barrier islands around 4-5 hours or so away.
For a contrast to Atlanta’s busy pace and modern landscape, go to Savannah or Charleston. The most-visited of the southeast’s many historic cities, both are within 300 miles of Atlanta and less than 5 hours away by road, or around 1 hour by air. Alternatively, within day-trip distance of Atlanta are the smaller cities of Macon, Madison, Milledgeville and Athens.