The 21 best things to do in Atlanta right now

The Martin Luther King centre is the must-see tourist attraction in Atlanta. Once ‘The King Centre,’ it is now a nonprofit organization in the heart of the city, as a place for education and social change. There’s plenty to do here – get a guided tour through Dr. King’s birth home, where you can still see actual furniture from his childhood, and check out exhibitions on offer about Dr. King, Mahatma Gandhi and Coretta Scott King. There’s also guided sermons a little further down at Ebenezer Baptist Church, which is the exact spot Dr. King preached from 1947 and for the rest of his life. 

The Fox Theatre is the place in Atlanta for all things Broadway, comedy and live music. The beautiful building, inspired by Egyptian architecture, hosts incredible events all year round, and is home to “Mighty Mo,” the largest working Moller theatre organ in the world, which was constructed in 1929. For summer movie series, local bands and hot new theatre, this is the place to be. 

Atlanta’s answer to Central Park, Piedmont Park is a haven for joggers, bocce players, and picnic lovers. With flourishing greenery, rippling waters, and bustling wildlife, it is a world away from the concrete metropolis of the city. This natural oasis is also the setting for frequent art fests throughout the year, including the Dogwood Festival, a spring celebration of flowers and fine art; Memorial Day weekend’s Atlanta Jazz Festival; outdoor performances by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in summer; and farmers’ markets.

The largest indoor aquarium in the Western hemisphere doubles as a teaching hospital with over 100,000 water-loving residents. This attraction, adjacent to Centennial Park, boasts enough fresh and saltwater habitats to keep even the most attention-challenged visitor happy for hours. The aquarium’s big stars include the massive whale sharks, Beluga whales, dolphins, and penguins. There’s a free self-guided tour app available for download that will navigate you through the exhibits.

Between the stunning atrium featuring a suspended life-scale brontosaurus skeleton and swank after-hours events, Fernbank isn’t just a school-trip destination. Walk through swampland and foothill dioramas populated with prehistoric, Mesozoic, and modern-day flora and fauna in the crowd-pleasing exhibit “A Walk Through Time in Georgia” or take in a larger-than-life educational 3D IMAX film.

World-renowned and captivating, the High Museum of Art houses a cross-era, international scope of work. And the building isn't shabby either: the white concrete, glass, and steel art behemoth is striking inside and out. Designed by starchitect Richard Meier and featuring a 2005 expansion by Renzo Piano, the High Museum's collection includes everything from African art to modern and contemporary work by Ellsworth Kelly and Spencer Finch. The museum is strong on American photography, including a retrospective of 180 years of female photographers.

The massive former Sears & Roebuck building, erected in 1926, has been repurposed into one of Atlanta’s most exciting mixed-use developments. You can spend all day here, browsing big-name retailers, small local boutiques, and a roster of buzzy restaurants and food stalls (featuring several James Beard award-winning chefs). Catch a show at the RoleCall Theater, check out the farmers market, exercise your brain at a Trivia Night (or your bod at the gym) or hang out at the rooftop bar. You can even stay at the market in one of the many available rentals.

A celebration of the achievements of both the American Civil Rights Movement and the global human rights movement, the Center for Civil and Human Rights is designed to inspire action and change. The bold, modern building includes immersive exhibits that begin with the 1950s Jim Crow era and the fight for equality and tie together the struggle for broader human rights worldwide. Educational programs and community discussions enhance the museum’s mission.

Indie Craft Experience events have the vibe of your favorite Etsy page, only better and IRL. Christy Peterson and Shannon Mulkey have spent years curating and cultivating the Atlanta craft scene. The duo’s themed Atlanta crafting “retreats,” seasonal pop-up events, and shopping markets bring together makers, re-makers, collectors, and those who delight in swapping DIY wares and sharing the stories and techniques behind them. 

Pretty flowers are just the beginning at this 30-acre botanical center bordering the northeast side of the city’s largest public park. Traipse through oak, hickory, and poplar treetops on the 600-foot Canopy Walk footbridge suspended 40 feet above the blooming hydrangeas, perennials, and bulbs below. Afraid of heights? Go zen in an authentic Japanese garden dating back to the 1960s and featuring a 300-year-old lantern, a gurgling waterfall, and a seasonal rotation of irises, azaleas, and maples.

Apart from “a former goat farm,” the Goat Farm is hard to classify as any one thing – and that’s precisely why it’s become so popular. Devised in the 19th century, you can always expect the usual arts suspects (think dance, drama, and music), many of whom rent studio space in the rambling complex. Highbrow art critics, creatives, and laptoppers love it for a great cup of joe and an eclectic slate of events in its exposed-brick breezeways, including writers’ workshops and experimental art shows.

Anyone can record their story through this oral history project run by StoryCorps, the Atlanta History Center, and WABE 90.1 FM. In fact, The Atlanta History Center is the only permanent recording location in this otherwise roving network. Recordings (which are archived at the Library of Congress) memorialize milestones both historical (J.T. Johnson and Al Lingo’s 1964 protest to integrate a Florida swimming pool) and deeply personal (Brent Hendricks and his mother Barbara’s talk about his sister’s terminal cystic fibrosis diagnosis). Book an appointment to add your story to the mix.

The life and presidency of Georgia native Jimmy Carter are celebrated throughout the 24,000 square feet of this museum. The grounds and modernist building are impressive, and within the museum, you’ll find interactive exhibits covering President Carter’s life before, during, and after his time in the White House. His Nobel Peace Prize is on display, with exhibitions dedicated to his charitable work.

A former railway corridor around the core of Atlanta has been revitalized into a vibrant, multi-use path lined with art, native plants, and attractions. While not all sections are paved yet, the loop is fully accessible. When completed sometime around 2030, it will ultimately connect 45 neighborhoods within the city. Walk between stops like Ponce City Market and Piedmont Park, or enjoy events along the BeltLine, like fitness classes, art events, and more.

This gleaming museum chronicles the history of Coca-Cola, as well as the soda industry itself. Coke is king – and ubiquitous – in the city that saw its invention in 1886 (and also houses the brand’s global corporate headquarters). True to the name, when it comes to total soda universe domination, the World of Coca-Cola is totally overwhelming in a fun, fizzy, hyper-commercialized sort of way. Check out replica soda fountains, the pop-culture museum, 4-D theater displays, and DIY beverage fountains dispensing flavors from around the world. Feeling thirsty? Pick from over 100 beverages, including all the classics and limited editions.

A handful of the city’s most buzzed-about food makers and restaurateurs have put down roots in a former cast-iron stove factory. The network of tempting stalls sells everything from bacon cheeseburgers at Fred's Meat and Bread and fresh scoops at Jeni’s Ice Cream to craft beer at Hop City Store and Bar. 

Green spaces and beautifully maintained stones and statues make Oakland Cemetery one of the most popular picnic spots in the city. Strike out on a self-guided tour to view the final resting place of Atlanta notables, including Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell and Atlanta’s first African-American mayor Maynard Jackson. Guided tours explore various strands of city history through its late inhabitants, from local scandals to brewing. 

This Art Deco drive-in that first opened in 1949 is still a beloved date spot for loved-up locals. Grab some wheels to check out the nightly double features and retro Tex-Mex food stand (serving sodas, candy, and popcorn) at this old-school drive-in theater. On Saturdays, head to Starlight between 6am and 3pm for a swap meet (with the equally retro admission price of 50 cents) chock full of Americana goods, vintage clothes, records, and some good ol' people-watching.

African-American folklore comes alive via the gifted storytellers at the former home of Uncle Remus author Joel Chandler Harris. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter, who spent four years working on a plantation in his youth, popularized traditional tales of Brer Rabbit, Mr. Fox, and others through the character. Tour the well-preserved Victorian Harris family home and have a snoop in the author’s bedroom, virtually unchanged since the early 20th century. 

“The Benz” is an architectural icon, home to the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer. The multi-purpose stadium hosts a variety of events and is equipped with all the bells and whistles a fan (whether sports or music) could want; massive screens, a retractable roof, an art collection, and great food offerings. Attend an event or take a tour.

Jump on a guided Civil Bikes tour and get pedaling – it’s a surefire way to get to know the Atlanta spots bursting with stories. Breeze through the historic Sweet Auburn District, the site of the Ebenezer Baptist Church (where Martin Luther King Jr. and his father preached for decades), and pedal back to sites related to the landmark human rights campaign to free African-American widow Rosa Lee Ingram.