There’s so much to see and do in Atlanta that it’s no wonder it’s the capital of the state of Georgia. Particularly famous for having the busiest airport in the world, this southern US city is a tourist and cultural gem not to be missed.
As well as being the largest city in the state of Georgia, Atlanta is an idyllic blend of natural and metropolitan environments, offering some of the state’s most iconic buildings and natural parks. If you want to know more about this amazing city, keep reading our post!
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Things to do in Atlanta
Martin Luther King National Historical Park
This museum is dedicated to Martin Luther King, the spokesman for the African-American civil rights movement. It consists of several buildings located in the neighbourhood where he was born, where you can learn more about his life and activism depending on the building you enter.
Among all the buildings you can visit, don’t miss the Visitor Center Museum, where you can learn about the development of American civil rights and Martin Luther King’s activist movements. You should also see the Martin Luther King Birthplace to learn about the environment in which he grew up, and finally, don’t hesitate to enter the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where both Martin Luther King and his father once pastored.
Piedmont Park
Considered Atlanta’s Central Park, Piedmont Park is located in the heart of downtown Atlanta. This expansive park offers a striking natural setting, allowing you to escape the hustle and bustle of the city without having to leave.
As well as offering large green and wooded areas, from inside you can see the skyscrapers intermingling with nature, creating breathtaking views. You can take a stroll after a long day of sightseeing or even pack a picnic and enjoy the tranquillity of the area. We recommend visiting this place in autumn, when the trees take on those beautiful orange tones – you won’t regret it!
Georgia State Capitol
One of the top sights to see in Atlanta is undoubtedly the impressive infrastructure of the Georgia State Capitol. This government building is one of the most imposing in the city and is considered an architectural gem.
In addition to its spectacular façade, you can step inside the Capitol and watch the proceedings of the Georgia General Assembly from a public gallery. If you want to know more, inside this building you can also access the Georgia Capitol Museum, where you can see some of the most important historical elements of the state, as well as various works of art. Admission is completely free!
High Museum of Art
The Hight Museum or Art is one of the most interesting places to see in Atlanta. Originally an art association, it has evolved into a museum, an architectural work by Renzo Piano and Richard Meier.
Inside, it houses a number of collections specialising in ancient and contemporary art. You can stroll through the Family Pavilion, where most of the European works and some of the American works are on display. If you are looking for contemporary art, you will have to go to the Wieland Pavilion. You’ll no doubt be fascinated by the depth and beauty of the collections on offer at this Atlanta museum.
Little Five Points neighbourhood
Little Five Points is probably the most iconic and well-known place to see in Atlanta. This neighbourhood offers a totally alternative atmosphere, where art and picturesque reigns supreme. In addition to finding all kinds of services, you can enjoy a pleasant stroll through its colourful streets.
This neighbourhood is characterised by the life it exudes thanks to its small shops and flashy shop windows, as well as its graffiti-filled murals. The area is also home to some of Atlanta’s most interesting bars and restaurants, where you can stop for a bite to eat after a morning of exploring the city.
Fox Theatre
Today, the Fox Theatre is not only an entertainment venue but one of the most iconic places to see in Atlanta. Whether you’re going to see a show or not, it’s worth a visit inside this building.
The architectural appearance of this place reflects a curious mix of Egyptian and Spanish styles, and the interior still maintains its original 1930’s style. Besides being the oldest theatre in the whole city, you can attend one of its shows while enjoying an unbeatable visual and acoustic experience. You can get your tickets at a very affordable price!
Centennial Olympic Park
Centennial Olympic Park is one of the most beautiful parks to see in Atlanta. This large green space occupies an area of up to 22 hectares and is located in the southern part of the city. Its name honours the Olympic Games that took place there in the summer of 1996.
This park is the ideal place if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city while you walk through one of the most beautiful natural spots in the city. Along the walk, you will find different symbolic elements of the place such as the Fountain of the Rings, the Centennial Square or the Paralympic Legacy. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
CNN Studios
One of the activities you can’t miss on your trip to Atlanta is a visit to the studios of CNN, one of the most important news channels in the world. The tour consists of a guided tour of the studios that lasts approximately one hour, depending on the type of tour you choose.
You can choose between three different tours; among them is the CNN Studio Tour, which allows you to visit the network’s studios and learn about the process of writing, producing and broadcasting news, as well as going behind the scenes. Then there is the CNN VIP Tour, which also gives you the opportunity to meet CNN’s editors, producers and technicians. Finally, if you buy the Morning Express Tour, you can go behind the scenes of the morning show and enjoy a Meet&Greet with anchor Robin Maede. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Things to do in Atlanta with children
Georgia Aquarium
All children are fascinated by animals, and if they are aquatic, even more so. That’s why, if you’re travelling with kids, you can’t miss a visit to the impressive Georgia Aquarium. Not only is it one of the largest aquariums in the world, but it also houses a huge number of water animals.
You can stroll through its different rooms and see all the species found in this aquarium, from the smallest fish to the most impressive sharks. You can also enjoy different activities such as the Ocean Voyager Spotlight, through which you can learn more about the care of sharks, or watch productions about these incredible animals as if you were in a movie theatre. The kids will have such a good time that they won’t want to leave!
World of Coca-Cola
One of the must-see places in Georgia if you’re travelling with children is the World of Coca-Cola. This huge museum is explicitly dedicated to the world-famous drink that is a favourite with young and old alike.
In this museum, founded in 1990, you will discover the history of the drink and the secret ingredients that are hidden in its acclaimed taste. You can take a tour behind the scenes of the bottling of this product, continue to experience a 4-D journey around the world and finish the visit by tasting more than 100 Coca-Cola drinks. It will be a place that you and the little ones will love.
Stone Mountain Park
Stone Mountain Park is located just 15 kilometres from the city and is undoubtedly one of the most incredible natural sights to see in Atlanta. In addition to its beneficial proximity to the city, this park will become a favourite spot for the little ones.
In addition to its extensive forest, the most characteristic feature of this park is its gigantic granite rock, considered to be the largest known to exist, measuring more than 8 kilometres in diameter. You can choose between different excursions depending on the difficulty you want to tackle, as well as climb to the top of the rock by cable car and enjoy spectacular views of the entire park. You’ll have an incredible family day out!
Itineraries for your trip to Atlanta
Things to do in Atlanta in 1 day
- Stroll through Piedmont Park
- Visit the Georgia State Capitol
- Tour the Little Five Points neighbourhood
- See Centennial Olympic Park
- Visit Martin Luther King National Historical Park
Things to do in Atlanta in 2 days
- Take a tour of CNN Studios
- Visit the Georgia Aquarium
- See the World of Coca-Cola
- See a show at the Fox Theatre
- Visit the High Museum of Art
- Take a hike to Stone Mountain Park
Frequently Asked Questions about the things to do in Atlanta
To get to the park from downtown Atlanta, you will need to rent a car and take US-78 E for a 30-minute drive.
An adult ticket to the World of Coca-Cola costs US$17 (equivalent to £14.03), while for seniors over the age of 65 it costs US$15 (equivalent to £12.38).
Atlanta is a generally safe city, although it has some neighbourhoods that are best avoided due to gang-related crime. Otherwise, it is a safe city in which to travel.
The price of a ticket to the Georgia Aquarium is a single ticket for all ages from 3 years and upwards and costs $35 USD (equivalent to €29.71).
How to plan the things to do in Atlanta?
Download the Passporter app to plan your Atlanta itinerary in the most convenient and intuitive way. You can draw inspiration from the experiences of other travellers, as well as archive websites that can help you. You can also save tickets and create routes easily with the help of Google Maps. Finally, you can choose the means of transport that best suits your needs and, the best part, you can post photos of your trip to France so that other people can visit your traveller profile.
If you want to know more about the Passporter app, don’t hesitate to check out the details in our post: How to create a travel itinerary on Passporter.
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