Atlanta attractions

The College Football Hall of Fame—also called the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame—is a modern museum honoring the greatest players of college football in the US, past and present. Anchoring the center of Atlanta’s Centennial Park District, the museum holds dozens of interactive exhibits featuring players, teams, uniforms, and history—plus virtual reality games and an indoor football field.

A classic field-trip experience for local kids, the Fernbank Museum holds dinosaur skeletons and natural science exhibits in the heart of Fernbank Forest, a restored old-growth forest in northeast Atlanta. Highlights include a saltwater aquarium, live animal habitats, a giant-screen theater showing science-based documentaries, and outdoor features including an elevated forest walkway called WildWoods.

Situated on Atlanta's Westside, on the former Atlantic Steel Mill site, Atlantic Station is a popular spot for dining, shopping, and people-watching. The neighborhood also has plenty of entertainment options, with a movie theatre, a bowling alley, and live events ranging from sports games to Cirque du Soleil performances.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden comprises 30 acres (12 hectares) of indoor and outdoor themed gardens, woodland areas, brooks, fern glades, and walking paths. A highlight is the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory, a massive collection of plants from tropical rainforests and deserts around the globe. The garden is a tranquil destination that’s easy to explore on your own and offers a relaxing break during a busy day of sightseeing.

The Atlanta History Center is an interactive educational complex devoted to sharing the history of Atlanta and the Southeast. The center includes four historic buildings, a research center, and a museum with one of the world’s largest collections of American Civil War artifacts. Its large grounds offer walking trails and lovely gardens.

Melding culture, history, and architecture, the Fox Theatre is Atlanta’s performing arts hub, hosting everything from Broadway-style plays to rock concerts. The opulent theater was built in the 1920s and boasts mosque-like minarets, an Egyptian ballroom, and a ceiling made to resemble the night sky with twinkling stars.

From superb African artworks to design-focused collections, the High Museum of Art brings global creativity to the Atlanta Arts District. Even the building that houses the High Museum of Art is a conversation piece—an all-white landmark that contains light-filled galleries and a soaring atrium.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta is one of 12 Federal Reserve Banks in the United States. The Atlanta Fed is designed to monitor financial risks, provide cash to regional institutions, and process transactions as an automated clearing house. This Federal Reserve location also includes the Atlanta Monetary Museum, which is open to visitors.

A theme park surrounds the bare granite of Georgia’s Stone Mountain, a monumental outcropping adorned with the carved images of three Confederate figures: Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis. Cable cars and a hiking trail take visitors to the summit, while the theme park area features a museum, historic houses, and more.

A short jaunt south of Atlanta, the quiet suburb of Senoia has been a famous filming location for decades, mainly due to Riverwood Studios' presence. Films partially shot in and around Senoia include Fried Green Tomatoes and Driving Miss Daisy, and most of the hit TV series The Walking Dead was shot in town.

One of Atlanta’s top destinations for families, the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center invites kids to play, let loose, and get creative. Home to an array of rides, play zones, and hands-on LEGO® workshops, the LEGOLAND Discovery Center also boasts a 4D cinema, a MINILAND® complete with miniature Atlanta landmarks, and more.

SunTrust Park is Atlanta's baseball stadium and official home to the Atlanta Braves. Originally constructed as the Centennial Olympic Stadium for the 1996 Olympic Games, the park was then renamed Turner Field and converted to a 49,000-seat baseball stadium the following year. It has since been remodeled and is now known as SunTrust Park.

Set on the sprawling grounds of the Atlanta History Center complex, the Swan House is a historic home built in 1928. It was a residence until 1965, and was then purchased by the Atlanta Historical Society, who opened it as a public museum in 1967.

Conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Atlanta, the State Farm Arena is one of the city’s premier sports and entertainment complexes. Home to the Atlanta Hawks National Basketball Association (NBA) team, the arena also hosts concerts from internationally renowned artists, wrestling matches, sporting events, and a range of festivals throughout the year.

In the heart of Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is home to the Atlanta Falcons football team and the Atlanta United FC soccer team, and has hosted major events such as Super Bowl LIII in 2019. The state-of-the-art and LEED Platinum arena also hosts a variety of concerts and other major events throughout the year.

The Atlanta CNN Center serves as headquarters for the cable TV news giant, CNN. Inside, visitors can see the 24-hour news cycle in action with an insider’s look at newsrooms, control rooms, production studios, and sets, all in addition to the interactive exhibits that chronicle the network’s history.

Reconnect with nature at Georgia's Callaway Gardens, a lush 2,500 acres (1,1011 hectares) oasis that boasts gardens, 13 lakes, and lots of outdoor activities. Marvel at the colorful blooms in the Overlook Azalea Garden, stroll the nature trails that wind through the woodlands, or soak up some sunshine at Robin Lake.

A popular destination for its hearty fare, live events, happy hour deals, and that ineffable dose of rock ‘n’ roll energy, the Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta has been a local favorite for more than 30 years. With a convenient location in the heart of downtown, the venue is an all-day dining destination, a concert venue, and a musical museum.

Located on the site of a former amusement park, Historic Fourth Ward Park is part of Atlanta’s pioneering BeltLine, a former railway turned into public trails and green spaces. Built in 2011, the park is a model of green engineering and also serves up attractions from ponds and fountains to walking trails, amphitheaters, and more.

Located in Atlanta’s historic West End, the Wren’s Nest was the Victorian home of Joel Chandler Harris, known for hisUncle Remus books featuring Brer Rabbit. The oldest house museum in Atlanta, the museum holds a treasure trove of African-American history and folklore, and provides insight into Harris and his contemporaries.

The Gone with the Wind Museum in Marietta, Georgia, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the epic novel-turned-movie. Though small, the museum’s rare signature items and memorabilia celebrate the iconic tale and 1939 film. A top piece is the Bengaline silk honeymoon gown worn by Vivien Leigh, who portrayed Scarlett O’Hara in the film.

Part park, part museum complex, Pemberton Place is home to three distinct Atlanta attractions: the Georgia Aquarium, with resident whales, sharks, and dolphins; the World of Coca-Cola, which traces the history of the fizzy drink; and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which showcases civil rights movements worldwide.

Billed as the official home of Gone with the Wind, the Road to Tara Museum—located in Jonesboro, Georgia, just south of Atlanta—is a must-visit for fans of the timeless novel and its classic movie adaptation. Featuring costumes, literary artifacts, and movie mementos, the museum also conjures the region’s Civil War–era history.