The best attractions in Atlanta

The NCCHR presents the civil rights movement and its Atlanta roots as a progressive and ongoing project. With three permanent exhibits representing the fight for equality both here in the U.S. and on a global scale, the institution has a clean, open-air layout and design. Neon signage is incorporated on segregation displays, bold colors capture the spirit of standing up for justice, and interactive portions salute activism in the face of danger. All these factors contribute to providing brutal but necessary honesty about how much work remains to be done.

The King Center pays homage to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was established back in 1968 as the official memorial dedicated to the advancement of his legacy. Here, you'll be able to learn more about his work through the exhbits on display at Freedom Hall. And at the end, take a visit to the King Center’s library, full of communications media used to teach the world about Dr King's life. And what's more? Admission to to The King Center is completely free.

Georgia Aquarium is full of beluga whales, dolphins and wait for it - white sharks! If you're brave enough to step up to the challenge, read on! They also have interactive touch pools and an immersive 4D theater to keep you occupied. Plus, a self-guided tour that gives you insight into the creatures of the deep ocean. If you're an aquatic enthusiast, you can participate in everything from shark cage diving to penguin petting!

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Shaped like two-thirds of a football and conveniently located downtown between Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Centennial Olympic Park, proud fans of undergraduate Gridiron games flock to the CFHOF year-round. Beginning at The Quad, register and watch your favorite team’s official helmet begin to glow along a wall of more than 760 schools. Then test your talents on the 45-yard indoor playing field where you can kick field goals, practice throwing, and run an obstacle course while learning more about any inductee you pick through augmented reality.

Fun fact: Coke is king in Atlanta. It goes without saying that Coke is king in Atlanta. So it's only right that Atlanta has a world of Coca Cola exhibition. Here, you'll be taking on a journey of the history of Coca Cola, the most famous drink in the world. You'll even get insight into Coca Cola's secret formula. And don’t miss the World of Coca-Cola’s "Taste It!" exhibit, where you'll get to slurp and sip more than 100 Coca-Cola Company beverages. Oh, and you can't forget to take a photo with the famous 7-foot Coca-Cola Polar Bear.

You might be familiar with Zoo Atlanta because of its famed gorilla exhibit and residents. In fact, the oldest living male gorilla in the world, Ozzie, calls Zoo Atlanta home. Beyond primates, Zoo Atlanta allows visitors up-close-and-personal experiences with elephants, giraffes and lizards. However, the menagerie is probably best known for its giant panda habitat—complete with a webcam—where you can peek into the black and white bamboo-eating bears’ habitat adventures around the clock.

Don’t be alarmed with the chorus of “What’ll ya have? What’ll ya have? What’ll ya have?” coming your way as you enter the renowned North Avenue diner. Instead, be prepared. Walk right up to the expansive counter and place your slaw dog order with confidence. Want to really blend in like a local? Finish your order with an F.O., an orange and vanilla flavored milkshake.

Atlanta’s epicenter of the arts is the Woodruff Arts Center, specialising in visual and performing arts. It's the site of the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the High Museum of Art. Showing right now is What Is Left Unspoken, Love which should definitely be on your list to see. 

A series of former railroad corridors might not seem like anything exciting, but when they're lined with exciting art, bustling eateries and humming microbreweries, you've pretty much entered cultural heaven. Generally speaking, the area is also usually filled with dogs. Eventually, the 22-mile BeltLine will connect many of Atlanta’s neighborhoods but, for now, it’s a premiere spot for exercising, people watching and just plain living.

You’re never too old to love dinosaurs (this museum doubles as one of the best things to do with kids in Atlanta), but there’s much more to the Fernbank than the fossil-filled gallery (which features a 47-foot-long Giganotosaurus). There’s also a four-story 3D IMAX theater, 75 acres of walking trails, canopies, and outdoor exhibits within the Wildwoods and Fernbank Forest, and of course, adult programming (like the Fernbank After Dark events, where science meets live music and cocktails).

Atlanta sports fans’ pride and joy, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is home to not one but two of the city’s professional sports teams: the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. Watch the Falcons rise up and ATLUTD unite and conquer or take a virtual STEAM tour of the stadium and learn about the architecture and engineering.

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Rapper T.I. opened this physical salute to Atlanta’s street hip-hop sounds just in time for the release of his 10th album, Dime Trap, in September 2018. Since then, thousands of visitors have come by to see the museum’s walk-through exhibits dedicated to pioneers of the now-world-famous “trap” genre, including an all-pink area setup (there’s a matching old-school Chevrolet in there) for 2 Chainz, a kitchen with scattered drug paraphernalia for Gucci Mane, a jail cell replica outlined with paintings of rappers who’ve served time, and even an “Escape The Trap” challenge where you have to navigate your way out of a “trap house.”

Engage in vista views of Midtown while trying your hand at a variety of kitschy carnival games at Skyline Park on the roof of Ponce City Market. Old-time favorites like ring toss and skee ball are shaded by a three-story slide and a Heege Tower. Of course, no cheesy carnival is complete without street fare. Refuel with a soft pretzel or a walking taco and imbibe in an aperol spritz or frozen rosé.

Under the Atlanta History Center umbrella, the Margaret Mitchell House is the site where the Pulitzer Prize-winning author dreamed up Scarlett O’Hara and Ashley Wilkes and penned Gone With the Wind. Here, literary lovers peruse Mitchell’s garden apartment and learn more about her life before and after the novel that made her famous.

Experience new heights in aviation at Delta’s headquarters and the recently renovated Delta Flight Museum. Adventurous aspiring pilots of all ages line up for the flight simulator while history buffs are enamored with restored passenger and biplanes of yesteryear. Visitors can also step inside the first 747 ever built. Housed in Delta's original 1940s-era aircraft hangars, the museum is, shall we say... pretty fly.

Locals call it Sweet Auburn Curb Market or simply Sweet Auburn, even though the marquis reads Municipal Market. In many ways, Atlanta’s OG food hall and farmers' market, this slice of Atlanta history is known for its more than 20 unique businesses. Some of the city's best-known restaurants began as stalls at Sweet Auburn. You never know who you’ll discover next.

Home to a medley of hands-on, educational exhibits specifically for kids ages 0-8, the Children’s Museum of Atlanta provides a playground for pint-sized minds and hands. Sensory play includes an interactive pond with magnetic fish while pretend-play features a miniature market with small-scale shopping carts. Engaging learning opportunities abound in other parts of the museum, too. The hardest part will be convincing your kiddo to leave.

Easily recognizable as the headquarters of nefarious President Snow in The Hunger Games, the IRL Swan House is as far from a dystopian residence as you can imagine. Situated in prestigious Buckhead, the 1928 mansion exudes all things Jazz Age: Atlanta’s very own West Egg. The iconic home often hosts weddings and special events and is open for tours six days a week. However, a cruise down Andrews Drive offers you a quick Instagram photo-op.

If one of Atlanta’s many rooftop bars don’t fulfill your desire for a bird’s-eye view, head to SkyView Atlanta. Here, the stately Ferris wheel with climate-controlled gondolas (think: Atlanta’s own London Eye) offers panoramic scenes of the city below. For an experience unlike any other, book an extended trip in the VIP pod featuring a glass floor and Ferrari-inspired seats.

The Battery Atlanta is an immersive year-round experience. The mixed-use development is anchored by Truist Park, home to the Atlanta Braves and is host to a bevy of other fun, too. There are over 25 restaurants and retail spaces along with several entertainment spots including the Mizuno Experience Center and The Coca-Cola Roxy theater. Where else can you enjoy ice-skating in the winter and baseball in the summer?

A list of top Atlanta attractions would not be complete without Six Flags Over Georgia. The amusement park’s roller coasters soar to astonishing heights while offering thrill-seekers stunning views of the city skyline. Check out Pandemonium, a swinging pendulum towering 15 stories high and speeding up to 70 miles per hour.