The capital of the American South, the civil rights movement and Coca-Cola
Atlanta
LanguageEnglish
CurrencyUSD
TimezoneGMT-5
Temperature5-30 °C
Dial Code+1
Population335M
Area9,833,520 km²
SocketsType A / Type B
Tap waterDrinkable
Discover Atlanta
Atlanta is the economic and cultural hub of the American South, a city that rebuilt itself after being burned down in the Civil War. Martin Luther King Jr. was born here, and his birth home, the church where he preached, and his tomb together form a national historic park — Atlanta was the centre of the civil rights movement and remains one of the most important cities for African American culture, music and business. Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta, CNN and Delta are headquartered here, and its airport is the busiest in the world, so a direct connection reaches here from almost anywhere. For visitors the city is sprawling and built around cars, but its most interesting spots sit close together: Centennial Olympic Park, built for the 1996 Olympics, with its giant aquarium and the Coca-Cola museum, and, east of downtown, the BeltLine — a former railway line turned into a walking trail lined with markets, breweries and murals. Southern cooking is eaten in force here: fried chicken, barbecue and Georgia peaches. There are so many trees that Atlanta is nicknamed the city in a forest.
What to see
The places worth your time in Atlanta, and what to expect at each
Georgia Aquarium
Downtown
One of the largest aquariums in the world, with a tank holding over 23 million litres, home to 4 whale sharks, the largest fish in the world. It also holds beluga whales, manta rays, otters and dolphins, which have their own dedicated show.
Tip: Arrive right at opening at 9am, or after 3pm; between those times school groups pour in. The tunnel under the big tank is slow going, but right after it is the giant Ocean Voyager window with benches, where you can sit and watch the sharks for as long as you like.
Admission:
admission fee
Time needed:
3 h
World of Coca-Cola
Downtown
A museum of the brand born in Atlanta in 1886 as a pharmacy remedy. It displays vintage adverts and bottles, a vault said to hold the secret recipe, and, at the end, a tasting room where you can try over 100 Coca-Cola drinks from around the world.
Tip: The Taste It tasting room comes at the end, and by then people have had enough — don't start with the bitter Italian Beverly, notorious for tasting the worst. Anyone in a hurry can get through in an hour. Tickets can be bought combined with the aquarium across the street.
Admission:
admission fee
Time needed:
1.5 h
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
Sweet Auburn
Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth home on Auburn Avenue, the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he preached alongside his father, and the tomb of King and his wife Coretta beside a reflecting pool with an eternal flame. The visitor centre traces the history of the civil rights movement.
Tip: Tours of the birth home are free but ranger-led with limited spots — tickets are handed out at the visitor centre from 9am and go quickly. The historic church has free entry, and King's sermons play over the speakers there.
Admission:
free
Time needed:
2 h
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Downtown
A museum next to Olympic Park that tells the story of the fight for civil rights in America alongside today's fight for human rights worldwide. Its most powerful exhibit is an interactive lunch-counter protest simulation, where you put on headphones and hear the abuse protesters had to endure.
Tip: The lunch-counter simulation lasts 2 minutes and leaves many visitors shaken — it's not suitable for children under 12. The collection includes King's personal documents, which rotate, so a second visit shows different items.
Admission:
admission fee
Time needed:
1.5–2 h
The BeltLine
Midtown to Old Fourth Ward
A 35-kilometre loop of former railway around the centre, gradually being converted into a walking and cycling trail. The most complete section is the Eastside Trail, with street art, restaurants, breweries and people on bikes and scooters.
Tip: The best stretch is the Eastside Trail from Piedmont Park to Ponce City Market and on into Inman Park, roughly 5 kilometres. Rent a bike or an e-scooter through an app. In summer heat, walk it in the morning or evening, as the trail has no shade.
Admission:
free
Time needed:
2–3 h
Ponce City Market
Old Fourth Ward
A giant brick building, once a Sears department store warehouse, converted into a food market, shops and apartments. The ground floor holds a food hall with dozens of vendors, and the rooftop has an amusement area with mini golf and skyline views.
Tip: Admission to the Skyline Park rooftop is paid, but you can get the same view of the city for free from the restaurant terrace 1 floor down. The food hall is the cheapest place to eat on the BeltLine and fills up with office workers at lunchtime on weekdays.
Admission:
free, rooftop admission fee
Time needed:
1.5 h
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Midtown
A botanical garden beside Piedmont Park with a canopy walkway through the treetops, a greenhouse of orchids and tropical plants, and a garden of giant plant sculptures. In winter it hosts a light show with 1 million lights.
Tip: The Canopy Walk footbridge runs 12 metres up and is loveliest in spring when the azaleas bloom. Tickets are sold for timed slots and sell out on weekends. Piedmont Park sits right next door if you want a picnic.
Admission:
admission fee
Time needed:
2 h
High Museum of Art
Midtown
The leading art museum of the American South, in a white Richard Meier building, with collections of American art, Southern folk art and civil rights photography. It also hosts major touring exhibitions.
Tip: Admission is free on the second Sunday of the month, and queues form as a result — a Wednesday morning visit is better. The museum sits within the Woodruff Arts Center campus, right at the Arts Center metro station.
Admission:
admission fee
Time needed:
2 h
Fox Theatre
Midtown
A theatre from 1929 in Moorish and Egyptian style, with a starlit sky and drifting clouds projected onto the auditorium ceiling. Saved from demolition by the city's residents, it now hosts Broadway musicals and concerts.
Tip: Backstage tours run several times a week and last an hour; otherwise you can only get inside for a show. Musical tickets tend to be cheaper than in New York, and classic films are screened here in summer.
Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking
Downtown
Best for: attractions and a first visit
The centre, with Olympic Park, the aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola and the convention centre. Hotels are large and comfortable, but the district empties out in the evening and feels uninviting outside the tourist zone.
Midtown
Best for: culture and a place to stay
The business and cultural district, with skyscrapers, the High Museum, the Fox Theatre and Piedmont Park. The best balance for visitors: metro access, restaurants and safe streets.
Inman Park and Old Fourth Ward
Best for: food and the BeltLine
Victorian houses along tree-lined streets, with Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market right on the BeltLine. Restaurants and breweries, and the Martin Luther King Jr. birth home is a short walk away.
Buckhead
Best for: luxury and shopping
A northern district with shopping malls, luxury hotels and nightlife. It's far from the main attractions but sits on the Red metro line.
Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is the busiest in the world and Delta Air Lines' main hub, so Atlanta is reachable with a single connection from major European cities such as Amsterdam, Paris, London or Frankfurt; total journey times typically run 12–14 hours from Europe. The airport has its own MARTA metro station, with the Red or Gold line reaching downtown in 20 minutes. ESTA authorisation is required before travelling. Overland, Atlanta is reached by car or bus, and an Amtrak train passes through once a day.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) · 16 km
MARTA Red / Gold line to downtown· 20 min· 2.50 USD
Taxi to downtown (fixed fare)· 20–40 min· 40 USD
Uber / Lyft· 20–40 min· 30 USD
Around town
Atlanta is a sprawling, car-oriented city, and public transport is modest. The MARTA metro has 4 lines, and 2 are enough for most visitors, running from the airport through downtown to Midtown and Buckhead. The BeltLine and the centre are walkable or bikeable. Uber covers the rest, and a car is needed for trips out of town. Watch for traffic: crossing the city at rush hour can take an hour.
MARTA metroRed and Gold lines from the airport through downtown to Midtown and Buckhead. Pay with a Breeze card or contactless. · 2.50 USD
Atlanta StreetcarA short loop downtown to the Martin Luther King Jr. historic park. · 1 USD
Shared bikes and scootersThe best way to cover the BeltLine. Rented through apps. · from 1 USD
Uber / LyftThe main way to get around in the evening and away from the metro. · 15 USD across the centre
Rental carNeeded for day trips; downtown hotels charge $20–40 a night for parking. · 50 USD/day
Useful apps: Uber, Lyft, Transit, Google Maps
When to go
The best time is spring, from March to May, when azaleas and dogwoods bloom and temperatures sit between 20 and 25 degrees, and autumn from September to November. Summer is muggy and hot, over 30 degrees with high humidity and afternoon thunderstorms, but hotels are cheaper. Winter is mild, and snow is a rarity — when it does fall, the city grinds to a halt for lack of practice. Many hotels fill up during major conventions and sporting events.
Best time
April, May and October
What to avoid
July and August because of the muggy heat
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Day
12°
15°
19°
23°
27°
31°
32°
31°
28°
23°
18°
13°
Night
2°
4°
7°
11°
16°
20°
22°
21°
18°
12°
7°
3°
Rainy days
11
10
10
9
9
11
12
10
7
7
8
10
Food & drink
Atlanta is the capital of Southern soul food: fried chicken, pork ribs, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and cornbread. Barbecue is smoked for hours in a pit here. The best way to eat is at "meat and three" places, where you pick a meat and 3 sides. Alongside that, Atlanta is a city of Southeast Asian and Mexican restaurants along Buford Highway. Prices run lower than in Chicago or Boston. Sales tax of 8.9 percent and a tip are added to the bill.
What to try
Fried chicken
Chicken marinated in buttermilk and fried golden brown. Served with cornbread and mac and cheese, and at some places with a waffle and maple syrup.
Barbecue
Pork shoulder or ribs, slow-smoked over wood and pulled, doused in a vinegar- or tomato-based sauce. Ordered by the pound.
Collard greens
Collard leaves stewed for hours with bacon or a smoked ham hock. The most typical soul food side, and the leftover juice is called "pot likker".
Shrimp and grits
Shrimp over creamy, coarsely ground cornmeal with bacon. Originally a breakfast for fishermen on the Georgia coast, now a brunch classic.
Peach cobbler
Baked peaches under a sweet crust, served warm with ice cream. Georgia is nicknamed the Peach State, and the fruit is best in July.
Lemon pepper wings
Chicken wings with lemon and pepper are an Atlanta phenomenon, ordered by the dozen at games and in nightclubs alike.
Sweet tea
Iced tea sweetened almost to the point of syrup. It's the default drink in the South; ask for "unsweet" if you want it without sugar.
What it costs
Fried chicken with sides
14–20 USD
Lunch at Ponce City Market
15–25 USD
Dinner at a restaurant
35–60 USD per person
Beer
6–9 USD
Georgia Aquarium admission
from 50 USD
World of Coca-Cola admission
from 23 USD
Metro ride
2.50 USD
Night at a 3* hotel in Midtown
150–250 USD + tax
Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.
Practical information
SocketsAtwo flat pins (US/JP)Btwo flat pins plus ground (US)
Voltage120V / 60Hz
Tap waterTap water is drinkable — Tap water is safe to drink across the United States, and restaurants will bring it free with ice if you ask ("tap water"). Buying bottled water is needless and pricey — a bottle costs $2–3 in a shop, $5 at an attraction. It's worth carrying a refillable bottle, as airports and parks have filling stations. Ice is everywhere, and drinks are served noticeably colder than is typical in Europe.
TippingTipping isn't optional here; it's part of staff wages. At a table-service restaurant, 18–20 percent of the pre-tax total is standard, a dollar per drink at a bar, 15 percent for taxi and rideshare drivers, $3–5 a night for housekeeping, $2 a bag for porters. Payment terminals usually offer preset percentage buttons — watch out, as these sometimes calculate from the total including tax. Atlanta adds a sales tax of 8.9 percent to prices, and hotels charge a 16 percent tax plus a nightly fee.
Driving on theright
SafetyThe tourist zones in Downtown, Midtown and along the BeltLine are safe by day. Atlanta does have higher-than-average crime, though, and walking around downtown off the main streets at night isn't advisable. Theft from cars is common, even in restaurant parking garages — leave nothing visible. Use Uber at night. Healthcare is expensive, and insurance is essential. The emergency number is 911.
Opening hoursShops open from 10am to 9pm, including Sundays, and supermarkets and pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens are often open around the clock. Restaurants serve breakfast from 6am, lunch from 11am, and dinner early — by 9pm many kitchens are already closing. Bars check ID for anyone who looks under 40 and won't serve you without a passport; a copy isn't enough. Drinking in public, on the beach or in a car is prohibited.
Customs & etiquetteThe friendly chattiness of staff is a professional norm, not an invitation to friendship. Queuing is respected, and personal space is larger than in Europe. Haggling happens only over cars and at flea markets, never elsewhere. Smoking is banned in practically all indoor spaces and on many beaches. Questions about salary and politics aren't raised with strangers. Southern hospitality is genuine: people greet strangers too, and being called "ma'am" or "sir" is a sign of politeness, not irony.
A few local wordsGood day — Hi / Good morningThank you — Thank youThe bill, please — Check, pleaseJust looking — Just looking, thanksHow much is it with tax? — How much is it with tax?Tap water, please — Tap water, please
How to plan your days
1 day
1 day in Atlanta
1Morning at the Georgia Aquarium right after opening.
2The World of Coca-Cola across the street.
3Lunch, then the Martin Luther King Jr. park in the afternoon.
4A walk along the BeltLine to Ponce City Market.
5Southern dinner in Inman Park in the evening.
2 days
2 days in Atlanta
1Day 1 as the 1-day itinerary above.
2Day 2 morning at the Center for Civil and Human Rights.
3Metro to Midtown, then the High Museum.
4The Botanical Garden and Piedmont Park.
5A show at the Fox Theatre in the evening.
3 days
3 days in Atlanta
1The first 2 days as the itinerary above.
2Day 3, a drive out to Stone Mountain.
3A hike to the summit or the cable car.
4Back to the city in the afternoon for food on Buford Highway.
5A rooftop bar in Midtown in the evening.
Day trips
Stone Mountain
25 km · 30 min by car
A giant granite monolith rising over 200 metres above the landscape. A cable car or a 2-kilometre hike leads to the summit. Carved into its face is the largest bas-relief in the world, depicting 3 Confederate generals, a subject of ongoing controversy today. The surrounding park has a lake and trails.
Chattahoochee River
25 km · 30 min by car
A national recreation area along the river that runs through the city's northern edge. In summer people float on inner tubes and kayaks, and trails wind through the woods past rock outcrops. The Cochran Shoals stretch has a flat path suited to running and cycling.
Athens, Georgia
110 km · 1.5 h by car
A university town home to the University of Georgia, and the origin of the bands R.E.M. and the B-52's. Music clubs, bookshops, antebellum houses and Southern restaurants. Best on a Saturday, when the university football team plays.
Frequently asked questions
How many days are enough for Atlanta?+
2 days cover the aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, the Martin Luther King Jr. historic park, the BeltLine and Midtown. A 3rd day is for Stone Mountain or a trip out of town.
Is the Atlanta CityPASS worth it?+
It's worth it if you want the aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, the Center for Civil and Human Rights and 2 more attractions. The Martin Luther King Jr. park is free.
Do I need a car in Atlanta?+
Not for the main attractions — the metro from the airport reaches downtown and Midtown, and Uber covers the rest. A car is useful for trips out of town.
How do I get from the airport to the centre?+
By MARTA train, direct from the terminal for $2.50. The ride to Downtown takes 20 minutes, to Midtown 25.
Where should you stay in Atlanta?+
Midtown is the best choice: metro access, restaurants, safe streets and close to everything. Downtown is convenient for the aquarium but empties out in the evening.
Is Atlanta safe?+
The tourist districts are safe by day; in the evening avoid empty streets downtown and take Uber. Theft from cars is the most common problem.
Is it worth extending a layover in Atlanta?+
Yes, the airport is just 20 minutes from downtown by metro. Even with a 1-day layover you can fit in the aquarium and the Martin Luther King Jr. park.
What is Atlanta's music scene like?+
The capital of hip hop and trap — OutKast, Ludacris and many of today's stars are from here. The music clubs are in Old Fourth Ward and East Atlanta Village.
Visa Requirements
Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.
