Stand at the zero milepost marker on Foundry Street in Five Points and you are standing where Atlanta began — the spot where a railroad terminus was surveyed and a settlement followed. The city that grew from it is one of rolling hills and dense tree cover, with a downtown skyline of glass towers and spires rising out of the green.
Atlanta suits travellers who want museums and civil rights history in the same trip as parks, trails and performance venues. The Centennial Park Area packs two of the biggest attractions within two blocks of each other, while Sweet Auburn, Midtown, Buckhead and Little Five Points each hold their own cluster of things to see.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, followed by a one-day plan that strings the best of them together.
Top things to do in Atlanta
1. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site
In Sweet Auburn, this site includes the birthplace home of Martin Luther King Jr., his final resting place, the church where he once gave sermons, and a museum and memorial dedicated to his achievements. It is the essential stop for understanding Atlanta's role as an organising centre of the civil rights movement.
Allow time to move between the separate buildings rather than treating it as a single stop. Pair it with a walk through the surrounding Sweet Auburn streets, which emerged in the early 20th century as a centre of Black commerce.
2. Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium is the largest in the United States by volume of water, and it is where you can swim with the whale shark. It sits in the Centennial Park Area.
Because World of Coca-Cola is directly across the street, the two are natural companions in a single visit. The aquarium is also one of the attractions included in Atlanta CityPASS, which grants admission to five Atlanta attractions within nine days of first use and includes expedited entry in some cases.
3. World of Coca-Cola
This museum tells the history of the world's most iconic brand, with plenty of samples to ensure understanding. It is one of Atlanta's two biggest attractions and sits within two blocks of the Georgia Aquarium.
Combine it with the aquarium and the rest of Centennial Olympic Park on the same day. It is also included in Atlanta CityPASS.
4. Centennial Olympic Park
In Downtown, the park has a man-made river and the Fountain of Rings, where you can splash on a hot summer day or go ice skating in the wintertime. It also hosts concerts, and it is where you pay respects to the victims of the 1996 Olympics bombing.
Use it as the connective tissue of a Centennial Park Area day: the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola are both within a short walk.
5. Atlanta History Center
In Buckhead, this centre holds the largest collection of Civil War memorabilia in the nation, including the Cyclorama, which tells the story of the Battle of Atlanta through a massive, continuous, circular painting. It also has a large exhibit memorialising the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
Set aside a solid block of time here, since the Civil War collection and the Olympic exhibit are both substantial. It pairs well with the mansions of Buckhead if you want to see more of that part of the city.
6. High Museum of Art
In Midtown, the High Museum displays fine art from the last two centuries as well as modern and contemporary pieces. The building itself is one of Atlanta's notable pieces of architecture.
Midtown rewards a walking afternoon: the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) with its rotating design exhibits and the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center with rotating contemporary art exhibitions are both here. The Margaret Mitchell House & Museum is also in Midtown.
7. Margaret Mitchell House & Museum
This Midtown museum preserves the Tudor Revival mansion where the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel Gone with the Wind was written. It is the stop for anyone with an interest in the book or the 1939 film, whose premiere was held in Atlanta.
Pair it with the High Museum of Art and the other Midtown museums on the same afternoon.
8. Piedmont Park
Piedmont Park in Midtown is the largest park in Atlanta. It hosts the Dogwood Festival in the spring and many musical events through the year.
The Beltline runs near Piedmont Park, and on weekends with good weather you will see dozens of people every minute crossing the street at popular intersections such as near the park. Combine a park walk with a stretch of the trail.
9. The Beltline
The Beltline is a multi-use trail whose plan calls for a 22 mi (35 km) loop around Atlanta, of which only some portions are complete. Many sections of the former railway corridor have already been renovated with paved walking paths, while others are still au naturel but hikeable.
It has been a big hit with locals, so expect company on a fine weekend. Founders Green at Centennial Yards is a public park on the route in downtown.
10. Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Atlanta is in Grant Park, the oldest city park in Atlanta. It is one of the attractions included in Atlanta CityPASS.
Historic Oakland Cemetery is also in Grant Park, so the two fit into one outing. The cemetery is the final resting place of Margaret Mitchell, golfing legend Bobby Jones, six Georgia governors and 25 Atlanta mayors, as well as more than 3,900 Confederate soldiers.
11. Fox Theatre
The historic Fox Theatre in Midtown is worth a visit just to see its grandiose interior, and it hosts many plays and concerts throughout the year. The Atlanta Ballet presents its annual season here, including the holiday season favourite The Nutcracker.
Check what is on during your dates rather than simply passing by — the building is the draw as much as the programme.
12. Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Near Little Five Points, Fernbank features a humbling display of the largest dinosaur ever unearthed. It is one of the attractions included in Atlanta CityPASS.
The Jimmy Carter Library & Museum, the permanent home of the former president's Nobel Peace Prize, is also near Little Five Points and makes a natural second stop.
13. Jimmy Carter Library & Museum
Near Little Five Points, this is the permanent home of the former president's Nobel Peace Prize, with exhibits covering both ancient and modern history in the surrounding area.
Combine it with Fernbank Museum of Natural History, and with the alternative line-up of shows at Dad's Garage improv and Seven Stages in Little Five Points if you are staying into the evening.
14. Michael C. Carlos Museum
On the campus of Emory University, this museum houses the largest collection of Greek, Egyptian and Near Eastern artifacts in the Southeast. It is an excellent stop for anyone interested in Greek and Egyptian cultures.
It sits away from the main downtown cluster, so give it its own half-day rather than trying to squeeze it between Midtown stops.
15. Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel and the Sundial
The construction of this icon helped steer Atlanta in a more urban direction. It was designed by the home-grown architect John Portman, who also designed the Hyatt Regency, the Marriott Marquis and AmericasMart.
The Sundial atop the Westin Peachtree is one of the viewpoints where you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the city in Downtown. The Polaris atop the Hyatt Regency Atlanta is another, though its view is becoming obscured by the growing walls of glass around it.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in Sweet Auburn at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, taking in the birthplace home, the church, the museum and the memorial. Walk the surrounding streets before moving on.
Afternoon: Head to the Centennial Park Area and spend the middle of the day between the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola, which are within two blocks of one another. Finish the afternoon in Centennial Olympic Park itself, by the man-made river and the Fountain of Rings.
Evening: Go up to the Sundial atop the Westin Peachtree for a 360-degree view of the Downtown skyline, then check what is playing at the Fox Theatre in Midtown. If nothing suits, the High Museum of Art and the Margaret Mitchell House & Museum are both in Midtown for a late-afternoon alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a pass that covers several Atlanta attractions?
Yes. Atlanta CityPASS grants admission to five Atlanta attractions within nine days of first use for a much reduced rate, and includes expedited entry in some cases. The included attractions are the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and Zoo Atlanta, plus two out of three of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the College Football Hall of Fame and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Where can I see a view over the city?
Two viewpoints in Downtown offer a 360-degree view: the Sundial atop the Westin Peachtree, and the Polaris atop the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. The Polaris view is becoming obscured by the growing walls of glass around it.
Can I walk or cycle around Atlanta on a trail?
Yes. The Beltline is a multi-use trail whose plan calls for a 22 mi (35 km) loop around Atlanta, of which only some portions are complete. Many sections of the former railway corridor have already been renovated with paved walking paths, while others are still au naturel but hikeable.
Where can I see the Cyclorama and Civil War collections?
The largest collection of Civil War memorabilia in the nation, including the Cyclorama, is at the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead. The same centre has a large exhibit memorialising the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
Pick the cluster that matches your interests — Sweet Auburn, the Centennial Park Area, Midtown or Buckhead — and start building your days around it.