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Destinations / United States

Atlanta

Civil rights history, Southern food and leafy neighbourhoods

historyfoodfamiliesmusicfirst-timers
Plan your trip to AtlantaSee the top 10
520,070Population
6.4 millionMetro area
English, SpanishLanguage
USDCurrency
4 daysIdeal stay
$200-320Typical day

Atlanta is the capital of Georgia and the economic heart of the American South, a green city of hills and tall trees around a modern skyline. It was the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a centre of the civil rights movement, and it is home to Coca-Cola, a giant aquarium and a thriving music and food scene. The BeltLine trail links lively neighbourhoods. It suits history lovers, families and food fans.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. One of the largest aquariums in the world, famous for its whale sharks and manta rays. The city's most visited attraction.

    3 to 4 hoursTime needed
    about $55-70Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    2026 fixed-date tickets start around $55; anytime tickets about $70.

    Tip. Buy a dated ticket online for the best price.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. A museum of Coca-Cola's history with a tasting room of drinks from around the world.

    2 hoursTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Go early to avoid lines.
    Official siteSee on the map

  3. Dr. King's birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church and his tomb along Auburn Avenue.

    2 to 3 hoursTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Birth home tours are limited; check the NPS site.
    Official siteSee on the map

  4. Gardens next to Piedmont Park with a canopy walk and orchid house.

    2 hoursTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Timed tickets sell out on weekends.
    Official siteSee on the map

  5. Atlanta's central park with a lake, lawns and skyline views.

    1 to 2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free public park.

    Tip. Link it to the BeltLine.
    Official siteSee on the map

  6. A moving museum linking the US civil rights movement to global human rights.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Try the lunch counter simulation.
    Official siteSee on the map

  7. A huge granite dome east of the city with hiking trails, a summit cable car and a lake.

    Half a dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Hike up early for cooler temperatures.
    Official siteSee on the map

  8. A trail on an old railway loop, lined with murals, restaurants and the Ponce City Market food hall.

    2 to 3 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free to walk.

    Tip. Walk the Eastside Trail from Piedmont Park to Krog Street.
    Official siteSee on the map

  9. The Southeast's leading art museum in striking white buildings.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Take MARTA to Arts Center station.
    Official siteSee on the map

  10. Natural history with giant dinosaurs and outdoor forest trails.

    2 to 3 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Allow time for WildWoods outside.
    Official siteSee on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Atlanta in three days

Day one covers the King site and BeltLine, day two downtown attractions, day three Midtown museums, Botanical Garden, Piedmont Park and Fernbank.

  1. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park2 to 3 hours
  2. Atlanta BeltLine and Ponce City Market2 to 3 hours · Free
  3. Georgia Aquarium3 to 4 hours · about $55-70
  4. World of Coca-Cola2 hours
  5. National Center for Civil and Human Rights2 hours
  6. High Museum of Art2 hours
  7. Atlanta Botanical Garden2 hours
  8. Piedmont Park1 to 2 hours · Free
  9. Fernbank Museum2 to 3 hours
Beyond the city

Day trips

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

River trails and tubing.

16 mi · Car, about 30 minutes

Helen and the North Georgia mountains

Alpine-themed town, waterfalls and wineries.

87 mi · Car, about 1h45

Athens

College town famous for its music scene.

71 mi · Car, about 1h30

Helen, Georgia

Alpine-style village in the Blue Ridge foothills.

84 mi · Drive, about 2h each way

Dahlonega

Gold rush town with wineries and mountain views.

71 mi · Drive, about 1h30 each way

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield

Civil War history and hiking trails.

22 mi · Drive, about 45 minutes

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: March to May and September to November. Mild weather, spring blossoms and autumn colour.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.5JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

50°F
Typical daily high
Average40°F
Rain4.2 in
About13 rainy days
Sun strength2.8 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Jan

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Third Monday in January

Commemorations centre on Ebenezer Baptist Church and the King Center.

Jul

Independence Day

July 4

National holiday with fireworks; check local listings.

Apr

Atlanta Dogwood Festival

Usually April

Spring arts and music festival in Piedmont Park.

Jul

AJC Peachtree Road Race

July 4

Large 10K held on Independence Day.

Oct

Atlanta Pride

Usually October

Parade and festival in Midtown; verify dates.

Year

Peach Drop

New Year's Eve

Downtown countdown with a large peach.

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Know before you go

At a glance

3/5
Safety

Based on UK FCDO advice for the USA, which says violent crime rarely affects tourists; downtown has pockets of crime and car break-ins are common, so stay in busy areas and use rideshare at night.

3/5
Walkability

Midtown, the BeltLine Eastside Trail and downtown's attraction cluster are walkable, but the metro sprawls.

3/5
Public transport

MARTA trains link the airport, downtown and Midtown, paid with a Breeze card or contactless; buses fill gaps.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
12345

1. Midtown

$$$WalkabilityWalkable with good transit.

Best for: first-timers, couples

Near Piedmont Park, the High Museum and MARTA.

See on the map

2. Downtown

$$WalkabilityAttractions cluster together.

Best for: families, first-timers

Steps from the aquarium, Coca-Cola and Centennial Olympic Park.

See on the map

3. Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park

$$WalkabilityBeltLine makes walking easy.

Best for: food lovers, nightlife

On the BeltLine near Ponce City Market and the King site.

See on the map

4. Buckhead

$$$WalkabilityCar-oriented outside the main strip.

Best for: luxury, shoppers

Upscale hotels and malls.

See on the map

5. Old Fourth Ward and BeltLine East

$$WalkabilityEasy walks along the BeltLine to dining and sights.

Best for: food, young travelers

Home to Ponce City Market, the BeltLine and Sweet Auburn history.

See on the map

Getting there and around

Main airportHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), 10 mi from the center
To the centerMARTA trains run from the airport station straight to downtown and Midtown; taxis and rideshare are also available.
Around townUse MARTA for the airport, downtown and Midtown, walk the BeltLine, and rideshare to other neighbourhoods. A car helps for Stone Mountain.
Ride appsUber, Lyft
Taste it

What to eat

Fried chicken

Southern classic, often with waffles.

Lemon pepper wings

An Atlanta favourite.

Peach cobbler

Georgia is the Peach State.

Shrimp and grits

Creamy Southern comfort dish.

Southern barbecue

Smoked pork and sides in many local spots.

Coca-Cola

The drink was created in Atlanta in 1886.

Good to know

PlugsType A and B, 120 V, 60 Hz
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingTip 18 to 20 percent at restaurants.
PaymentsCards are accepted nearly everywhere.
EtiquetteSouthern hospitality is real; be polite. Dress respectfully at the King sites and churches.
  • Traffic is heavy, so use MARTA when possible.
  • Georgia Aquarium prices vary by date; buy ahead.
  • The aquarium, Coca-Cola and civil rights centre are side by side.
  • Never leave items visible in cars.
  • Summers are hot and humid with storms.
  • Traffic is heavy, so allow extra time between sights.
  • Summers are hot and humid; carry water.
  • Book Georgia Aquarium timed tickets ahead.

A short history

Atlanta began in 1837 as Terminus, the end point of a railroad, and grew as a rail hub. Union troops under General Sherman burned much of the city in 1864. It rebuilt quickly as a symbol of the New South, and Coca-Cola was invented here in 1886. Dr. King was born on Auburn Avenue in 1929, and the city became a centre of the civil rights movement. It hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics.

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Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Atlanta