Food, history, music, sports: whatever you enjoy, Atlanta has you covered.
Even better, this vibrant city is also an especially green one. Nearly half of Atlanta is covered in tree canopy, so you can appreciate the perks of big-city living without missing out on nature.
These are 16 things you can do in Atlanta that you can’t do anywhere else.
1. See the changing street art in the Krog Street Tunnel
Street art lovers can get close to the latest from local creators at the Krog Street Tunnel. The graffiti and street art present inside the passage changes regularly; check the walls just outside for commissioned works that tend to stay for a while. The display is one of Atlanta’s best free things to do.
Advertisement
Planning tip: The Krog Street Tunnel lies along the Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail, so you can continue walking from this street art haven to local shops and restaurants, particularly in the nearby Krog District.
2. Stroll or cycle the Atlanta Beltline
Since work first began on the Atlanta Beltline network in 2006, it has quickly become the city’s most popular trail system. Today, at just about any hour of the day, you can find people biking, riding scooters, exercising or simply socializing along the trail. The project is ongoing; when finished, the Beltline trails will connect around the city in a full, 22-mile loop. The Eastside Trail is currently the most popular.
3. Consider an incomparable legacy at the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Park
Celebrate the storied legacy of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and his wife, Coretta Scott King, both Atlanta legends. The Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Park – an essential stop for anyone interested in the fight for civil rights in the USA – includes a large complex that tells stories of his childhood, his work as a preacher and his leadership of the civil rights movement.
Detour: Once you complete your visit at the National Historic Park, walk across the street to get a beautiful skyline view of Downtown Atlanta from the Jackson St Bridge.
4. “Shoot the Hooch” on the Chattahoochee River
If you really want to get a local experience, make sure you go tubing on the Chattahoochee River – or what Atlantans call “shooting the Hooch.” You can bring your own tube and enter the river from one of the more common entrance areas inside the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area. Alternatively, you can hire a tubing company to bring gear and arrange drop-off and pick up points for you.
Planning tip: The river is gentle, especially in the stretches used for tubing. Still, local laws require that you have a life jacket with you during your tubing adventure, and people aged 13 and younger must wear their life jackets while afloat.
5. Hear Atlanta’s hip-hop legacy at the Trap Music Museum
When rapper T.I. named his 2003 album Trap Muzik, a subgenre of hip hop that he and other Atlanta rappers were innovating burst into the mainstream. There’s no better place to learn about Atlanta’s contributions to hip-hop than at the Trap Music Museum, which T.I. also founded. It’s full of photos and keepsakes from T.I. and other Atlanta artists, including 21 Savage and 2 Chainz.
6. Fill up at the Sweet Auburn Municipal Market
Filled with artisanal shops, this indoor market caters to hungry visitors, or anyone simply looking for a casual stroll. Dozens of vendors keep the spirit of this historic market – which dates back to the early 20th century – going strong.
Advertisement
Local tip: Don’t miss the delicious sweet potato cheesecake at the Sweet Auburn Bread Company. The family-owned bakery has been a staple in the city since 1997.
7. Catch an indie classic at the Plaza Theatre
Atlanta’s only theater for indie movies, foreign films, classic movies and documentaries, the Plaza has screening flicks since 1939. Locals love that it maintains its vintage charm while giving moviegoers an opportunity to see films not shown anywhere else in the city.
8. Sip some soda at the World of Coca-Cola
In Atlanta, the brand of hometown icon Coca-Cola is so ingrained that “a Coke” is the generic term for any soda – so locals ask for the hometown beverage by its full name. So any fan of the world’s most famous beverage – or anyone interested in American history and culture, really – should visit this museum. After learning about the history of Coca-Cola and how it got its start in Atlanta in 1886, a tasty exhibit lets you sample Coke products from around the world.
Planning tip: The World of Coca-Cola is part of a larger tourist complex that includes the Georgia Aquarium and the Center for Civil and Human Rights, all in the same square.
9. Get some retail therapy at Ponce City Market
After sitting empty for decades, this former warehouse building is now a central shopping hub for both locals and tourists. Ponce City Market also has dining options that are quintessentially Atlantan (make sure you try a King of Pops popsicle). On the market’s rooftop, you’ll find mini golf, drinks and cool skyline views.
Planning tip: Ponce City Market is located on the Beltline Eastside Trail, if you’re planning to walk; the building has deck parking if you prefer to drive.
10. See more than a baseball game at The Battery Atlanta
Baseball fans will enjoy a game at Truist Park – as well as the shopping area around it, called The Battery. You can enjoy southern food at the Garden & Gun Club, then see live music at an old Atlanta venue that’s been brought back to life as the Coca-Cola Roxy Theater. What’s more, families (including four-legged family members) can enjoy the area’s plenty of parks and fountains.
Planning tip: The area gets busy on baseball game days, but the shops and restaurants remain open even when Truist Park is closed.
11. Smell the flowers at Atlanta Botanical Garden
If you like your outdoor landscapes highly curated, you’ll enjoy the 30 acres of living exhibits at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The institution has a calendar of events geared toward different demographics, including children and families, as well as adults and cocktail-drinkers.
Planning tip: Most of the outdoor paths are wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available for free, and scooters available to rent.
12. Feel the spirit at Centennial Olympic Park
Though official Olympic venues and courts left over from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics are slowly being torn down or repurposed, the Downtown park commemorating the games remains. Take a picture of the Olympic rings at the Fountain of Rings Plaza, then take a ride on the SkyView Atlanta Ferris wheel.
Planning tip: Centennial Olympic Park is a short walk away from the World of Coca-Cola and other Downtown tourist attractions. You can easily tack on a stroll in the park while waiting for your timed entrance at nearby sites.
13. Watch a doubleheader at Starlight Drive-In
Atlanta’s only remaining drive-in movie theater gives film lovers a nostalgic way to watch two back-to-back movies for the price of one. On the weekends, the Starlight Drive-In parking lot turns into a massive outdoor flea market, with vendors selling everything from tacos to plants and household goods.
14. See world-renowned works at the High Museum of Art
The largest visual art museum in the southeast US, “The High,” as locals like to call it, features artwork from around the world, in both permanent and traveling exhibitions. The permanent collection is especially rich in American art, with works by John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, John Frederick Kensett, William Wetmore Story and other masters.
Planning tip: Every second Sunday of the month, the High Museum of Art offers free admission, with a special focus on family-friendly activities.
15. Uncover the story of the city at Atlanta History Center
Nine permanent exhibitions narrate the history of the city at Atlanta History Center. Located on the lower level of the museum, The Battle of Atlanta cyclorama a hand-painted, nearly 360-degree artwork created in 1886 (and one only two cycloramas – a panorama on a curved surface – that exist in the US today). Step outside to enjoy several trails and to stroll the gardens, which teach visitors about botanical history.
16. Go people-watching in Piedmont Park
Piedmont Park is Atlanta’s most popular green space. In the spring and summer it plays host to well known annual events such as Atlanta Jazz Festival – and it’s also perfect for an impromptu dance party among friends. Walk along the park’s paved trails to enjoy beautiful views of the city – and (even better) take part in some people-watching.
