9 of the Best Museums in Atlanta and How To Visit

The High Museum of Art, situated in the city’s Midtown neighborhood, exhibits historical and modern art from around the world. Check out roughly 19,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints on any given day, with special jazz nights and wine events available on a rotating basis. On the second Sunday of each month, The High offers free admission from 12–5 pm, with special family programs, though an Atlanta city tour can set you up to explore the galleries.

Don’t miss: More than 300 photos documenting key moments in the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and across the country.

Coca-Cola’s unique museum in downtown Atlanta tells the story of both the soft drink and the ubiquitous beverage company itself. Interactive museum experiences at the World of Coca-Cola include the Taste It exhibit, where you can try Coca-Cola drinks sold around the world, and the Beverage Lab, where you can create your own drink. Choose skip-the-line admission or book a Coca-Cola small-group tour with extra photo ops.

Don’t miss: Sampling old formulas such as TaB and the controversial New Coke, and trying out a new soda recipe that hasn’t yet hit the market.

Adjacent to the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium was the first in the US deemed a Center for Species Survival by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. It’s home to two whale sharks and several other species of sharks as well as beluga whales, sea lions, penguins, and more. Stroll beneath the Ocean Voyager, a huge water tank, or tour behind the scenes to get better acquainted with how staff care for the aquatic animals. There are also sensory rooms and hours for those who prefer less stimulation as they tour the aquarium.

Don’t miss: Special encounter experiences with the animals at the aquarium—including with sharks and rays.

If you’re looking for historical museums in Atlanta, the Atlanta History Center should be at the top of your list. Historical houses, grounds, and exhibits on this 33-acre (13-hectare) property include native medicinal plants, a large rhododendron garden, and an Asian garden.

Check out the Cyclorama, a hand-painted artwork from 1876 that’s a nearly 360-degree depiction of the Battle of Atlanta from the Civil War. Make it a stop on a private customizable tour of Atlanta and include sites such as the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Don’t miss: The Telling Stories exhibit, which explores the influences on, and influence of, Atlanta local Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind.

Chief among Atlanta’s cultural institutions is the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. Start at the visitor center with a short film and two exhibits chronicling the Civil Rights movement. At the King Center you’ll find the mausoleum of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King, with an eternal flame nearby that symbolizes MLK's dream for an equitable society.

You can also tour his childhood home and see the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he served as pastor; book a Martin Luther King Jr. history walking tour, or add the sites to your itinerary on a Black history and Civil Rights tour, which also stops at the nearby Sweet Auburn district.

Don’t miss: Fire Station No. 6, the first integrated fire station in Atlanta, which served the Sweet Auburn neighborhood.

Visiting museums in Atlanta wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Trap Music Museum, which pays homage to Atlanta’s contributions to hip-hop for the last three decades. The museum showcases the stories of Atlanta rap legends, such as T.I., Migos, Jeezy, and 2 Chainz. See interactive exhibits, artwork of local artists, and historical information about music labels and the city that influenced the music. An Atlanta hip-hop housewives tour includes stops at the Tyler Perry studios.

Don’t miss: The bright pink car used for 2 Chainz’s “Trap House” promotional campaign—front-and-center at the Trap Music Museum.

This free art gallery in Atlanta keeps art accessible to everyone. It’s a small art museum, but intentional in showcasing thought-provoking work. Atlanta Contemporary works with local, national, and international artists to bring new perspectives to Atlanta through art; it’s also one of the few galleries in the area that commissions new work and the staff brings new perspectives by seeking exhibitors who haven’t had significant work showcased in the southeast.

Additionally, the gallery building in Atlanta’s west Midtown neighborhood offers subsidized studio space for local artists to create their next masterpiece.

Don’t miss: One of the semi-annual Open Studios events, during which you can go behind the scenes and see the museum’s studio artists at work.

Continue taking in Atlanta’s extensive art scene on the campus of the liberal arts college, Oglethorpe University. This small art gallery in Atlanta works with student artists and visiting artists from around the world.

OUMA is free, but it may be tricky finding it on the college campus if you’re not familiar with the area; to get there, make your way to the third floor of Lowry Hall, which is a straight shot from the main entrance onto Oglethorpe’s campus. You can park in the parking lot behind Lowry Hall.

Don’t miss: A curated playlist to accompany the museum’s rotating collection of exhibitions for a truly immersive experience.

Fernbank Museum is an Atlanta museum highlight for those looking to engage children, with exhibits on science and natural history as well as indoor and outdoor playgrounds. The forested area behind the museum building is a school in the woods, which stands true to the museum’s original mission: to protect an old-growth forest in the middle of the city and teach others why it’s important to do so.

Inside, the Giant Screen Theater shows 45-minute science documentaries. Keep in mind that an Atlanta CityPass provides access to this museum plus other attractions on our list.

Don’t miss: Fernbank’s WildWoods exhibition with two outdoor viewing areas to experience Atlanta’s forests in all seasons.