Walk the Museum Quarter and Centennial Park
Start in the heart of downtown where two world-class attractions sit within two blocks of each other. The World of Coca-Cola guides you through the history of the planet's most recognizable brand, with tastings woven through the exhibits so you understand the company's evolution by sampling its past. Across the street, the Georgia Aquarium—the largest by volume of water in the United States—holds creatures that demand your attention, especially the whale shark gliding through its tanks.
Between and around these anchors, Centennial Olympic Park itself is a place to breathe. The man-made river runs through it; the Fountain of Rings invites you to splash on hot days; in winter, an ice rink operates. The park also memorializes the victims of the 1996 Olympics bombing and hosts concerts throughout the year. The park was built for the 1996 Summer Olympics, an event that reshaped Atlanta's development and left behind lasting public spaces.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Civil Rights History in Sweet Auburn
The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Sweet Auburn assembles the essential places of his life in one walkable area. You can visit the home where he was born, stand in the church where he preached, and pay respects at his final resting place. A museum and memorial dedicated to his achievements provide context and depth to his legacy. This neighborhood was a center of Black commerce and culture in the early 20th century, and walking these streets connects you to a transformative chapter of American history.
Civil War and Atlanta History
The Atlanta History Center in Buckhead houses the largest collection of Civil War memorabilia in the nation. Its centerpiece is the Cyclorama, a massive continuous circular painting that tells the story of the Battle of Atlanta—a work of art and historical document combined. The center also displays a large exhibit dedicated to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and their impact on the city's development.
Museums for Specific Interests
The city spreads its cultural institutions across several neighborhoods, each rewarding a detour:
- Near Little Five Points, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History features the largest dinosaur ever unearthed and exhibits spanning ancient and modern natural history.
- The Jimmy Carter Library & Museum, also near Little Five Points, houses the former president's Nobel Peace Prize and documents his post-presidency work.
- The Michael C. Carlos Museum on the Emory University campus holds the Southeast's largest collection of Greek, Egyptian, and Near Eastern artifacts.
- In Midtown, the High Museum of Art displays fine art from the last two centuries alongside modern and contemporary pieces. Nearby, the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) rotates design exhibitions, and the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center offers rotating contemporary art shows.
- The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA), positioned between Midtown and Buckhead, features a permanent collection and temporary exhibitions centered on Georgia artists.
- At Georgia State University's Rialto Center for the Arts in Downtown, free visual art exhibitions are on view.
- The Margaret Mitchell House & Museum in Midtown preserves the Tudor Revival mansion where the Pulitzer Prize–winning author wrote Gone with the Wind.
Many travelers visiting multiple attractions benefit from the Atlanta CityPASS, which grants admission to five Atlanta attractions within nine days for a reduced rate and includes expedited entry at some venues. The pass covers the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta, and two of three choices among the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, College Football Hall of Fame, and National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Outdoors: Parks and the Beltline
Piedmont Park in Midtown is Atlanta's largest park and draws crowds year-round—attend the Dogwood Festival in spring or catch one of many musical events held across the grounds.
Grant Park, the oldest city park in Atlanta, is home to Zoo Atlanta. Within Grant Park, Historic Oakland Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 3,900 Confederate soldiers, author Margaret Mitchell, golfer Bobby Jones, six Georgia governors, and 25 Atlanta mayors—a walk through its grounds reads like a history of the city itself.
The Beltline is a multi-use trail following a 22-mile loop around Atlanta on former railway corridors. Many sections have been renovated into paved walking paths, while others remain unpaved but hikeable, offering a leisurely way to move through different neighborhoods. On weekends with good weather, the Beltline near Piedmont Park fills with walkers, runners, and cyclists. Founders Green at Centennial Yards in downtown provides a public gathering space along the trail.
Performing Arts and Architecture
The Atlanta Ballet, founded in 1929, is the oldest professional dance company in America. Its season at the historic Fox Theatre (Midtown)—a venue worth visiting for its grandiose interior alone—includes The Nutcracker as a holiday favorite and contemporary works year-round.
The Fox Theatre and nearby venues anchor Midtown's performing arts scene. The Shakespeare Tavern (Midtown) is the first troupe in America to complete all 38 of Shakespeare's plays. The Alliance Theatre (Midtown), Center for Puppetry Arts (Midtown), and Seven Stages (Little Five Points) round out the city's more than 65 active performance groups, which range from Broadway productions to avant-garde work.
Atlanta's skyline reflects generations of building. The Bank of America building in Midtown reaches 1,023 feet, making it the tallest office building in the country outside New York or Chicago. The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel and the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, both designed by architect John Portman, have become icons; the Sundial atop the Westin and the Polaris atop the Hyatt each offer 360-degree city views from Downtown. Victorian architecture survives in Inman Park, while Buckhead's mansions and Highland Avenue's historic homes showcase residential grandeur across different eras.
Plan a trip around the experiences that draw you—whether it is the immersive museums of Centennial Park, the walking trails of the Beltline, or the performing arts venues scattered through Midtown. Atlanta offers enough variety to fill a weekend or to anchor a longer stay in Georgia.