One Day in Atlanta Itinerary – Top Things to Do in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, the capital of the US state of Georgia, certainly has its share of breathtaking sights and historical landmarks. With major roles played both in the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Atlanta is a monument to hard-won freedoms and challenges faced by democracy. With attractions such as the beautiful Olympic Park, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, and the colossal Georgia Aquarium, you will never run out of things to do in Atlanta. But that is just one part of the city’s irresistible charm. Lovely people, great food, and plenty of places where you can spend a wonderful evening will make sure your one day in this city is something you’ll always remember.

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1. WHAT’S THE BEST TIME TO VISIT ATLANTA?
2. A FEW FACTS ABOUT ATLANTA
3. ONE DAY IN ATLANTA ITINERARY
3.1. Start Your Trip at the Centennial Olympic Park
3.2. Visit the CNN Center
3.3. Check out World of Coca-Cola Next
3.4. Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids
3.5. Don’t Miss the Center for Civil and Human Rights
3.6. Grab a Bite to Eat at the Atlanta Breakfast Club
3.7. Check out the Georgia Aquarium
3.8. Move on to the Museum of Design Atlanta
3.9. Free Things to do in Atlanta
3.9.1. Prepare for a Night on the Town
4. WHERE TO STAY IN ATLANTA?
5. DAY TRIPS FROM ATLANTA
6. EXTRA TIPS FOR VISITING ATLANTA

WHAT’S THE BEST TIME TO VISIT ATLANTA?

To get the most out of your visit, plan your stay during spring, somewhere between March and May. Those months are usually the best when it comes to the weather, with plenty of things to do in Atlanta due to the numerous concerts and outdoor activities in the city.

During the summer, Atlanta, like the rest of Georgia, gets unbearably hot and humid. On the other hand, if you are more interested in getting a good deal, aim for December, January, or February. Hotel prices tend to go down with fewer visitors, but there are still a couple of exciting events, especially for foodies.

Festivals like the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Children’s Christmas Parade, and numerous music events make sure there’s always something going on. Make sure you check what’s on when you get here!

A FEW FACTS ABOUT ATLANTA

With 486,290 people living within city limits, Atlanta is the 39^th most populous city in the country – so, not exactly a megalopolis. However, its significance for the history of the United States is much greater than its size may indicate.

During the Civil War, General Sherman burnt Atlanta to the ground, making it the only city in all of North America to be destroyed in an act of war. The city was literally rebuilt from the ashes and later adopted the phoenix as the city symbol. Also, two of Atlanta’s sons won the Nobel Peace Prize – Martin Luther King in 1964 and President Jimmy Carter in 2002.

In addition to being peaceful, Atlanta is also quite nerdy, hosting Dragon Con, a massive convention for fans of fantasy, comic books, and science fiction.

ONE DAY IN ATLANTA ITINERARY

You are about to spend a day in the wonderful city of Atlanta, so you’d better be prepared. There is so much to see and do here that you need a good itinerary if you are to make the most of your time here. With this guide, you will get to see the top sights, enjoy the atmosphere and maybe even meet some friendly locals. Let’s go!

Book a guided tour while in Atlanta:

– Electric car city tour – Explore the best of the wonderful city of Atlanta via electric car.

Start Your Trip at the Centennial Olympic Park

Open from 7 AM to 11 PM, the Centennial Olympic Park, home of the Olympic Games of 1996, is now Atlanta’s main hub for art festivals, live entertainment, and various activities for children. Moreover, it is surrounded by many of Atlanta’s most famous landmarks. These include the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia World Congress Center, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Georgia Aquarium, and many others.

Since most of the Atlanta attractions don’t open until 10 AM, you don’t have to start your day too early. Spend an hour or so exploring the park, and then check out some of the landmarks before moving on. It’s an ideal place to start your one day in this city.

Visit the CNN Center

The CNN Center is also near the Centennial Olympic Park, directly on its west side. From 9 AM until 5 PM, visitors can enjoy a CNN Studio Tour, with a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the largest TV news networks in the country operates.

An hour at the Studio should be enough to see everything there is to see in CNN’s international newsroom. The tour is fun and informative, with the option to make a recording of yourself reporting the news – a nice souvenir for friends and family at home if that’s your kind of thing.

 

Check out World of Coca-Cola Next

After CNN, make your way back to the park and take a short walk to the north side across the park until you reach World of Coca-Cola. It’s a museum filled with films, interactive exhibits, and iconic memorabilia about the most popular soft drink in the world – which coincidentally made its debut in Atlanta back in 1886, more than 132 years ago. Starting with Dr. John Pemberton and his “headache syrup”, the museum illustrates the history and the success of Coca-Cola in a fun way.

Visiting the museum is among the best things to do with kids in Atlanta, with its 4D theater, as well as the option to taste more than 100 coke products from all over the world. So, get the tickets in advance! Talk about fun things to do in Atlanta with kids…

 

Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids

Atlanta, in general, has lots to offer in terms of entertainment for the whole family. Both the Center for Civil and Human Rights and the world-famous Georgia Aquarium (see below) can provide your little ones with an entertaining and educational experience they won’t soon forget.

However, if you would like to find some simple, fun things to do in Atlanta for kids exclusively (more or less), then your two best options are the Children’s Museum of Atlanta, recommended for kids between the ages of 2 and 8, and the Center for Puppetry Arts.

The Children’s Museum has its own troupe of professional actors called the Imaginators, who develop entertaining hands-on activities for kids, such as little musicals and other activities that children can participate in and learn while playing.

The Center for Puppetry Arts also has its own workshops, performances, and classes that bring its large collection of puppets to life. The Center’s Worlds of Puppetry Museum features the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets and artifacts on display anywhere in the world. For things to do in Atlanta with kids, look no further than the museum’s Family Series Performances.

Teens, on the other hand, may appreciate its New Direction Series. The Children’s Museum is near the Centennial Olympic Park, across the street from the World of Coca-Cola, but the Center for Puppetry Arts is about 2 miles north on Spring Street.

Don’t Miss the Center for Civil and Human Rights

With art, photos, and artifacts from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, the Center for Civil and Human Rights chronicles not only the epic struggle within the United States but also the challenges faced by basic freedoms and rights throughout the whole world.

In addition to the Center’s exhibits, speeches, and newscasts portraying the history of Jim Crow laws, visitors can also learn about Apartheid, women’s rights, the rights of children, and so much more. Best of all, the Center for Civil and Human Rights occupies the same area as The Children’s Museum, the World of Coca-Cola, and the Georgia Aquarium, so it can easily be coupled with all these other things to do in downtown Atlanta.

Grab a Bite to Eat at the Atlanta Breakfast Club

In spite of its name, the nearby Atlanta Breakfast Club, serves not only breakfast, but also other standard American food such as BBQ, burgers, and so much more. Join the waitlist before arriving at the restaurant if you want to avoid waiting in line for more than 20 minutes. Don’t worry, this place is worth it! 

If you don’t want to wait, Twin Smokers BBQ is an excellent alternative! Additionally, Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria is right next to it, so you can always grab a great pizza if you’re in a rush.

Check out the Georgia Aquarium

After lunch, make your way down to the Georgia Aquarium. With interactive galleries, scores of fish and marine mammals, and thrilling permanent exhibits, it takes about 3 hours to explore the Georgia Aquarium, currently the largest indoor aquarium in the world.

While visiting the aquarium is certainly among the best things to do in Georgia, if you want to make your visit as smooth and hassle-free as possible, make sure to order your tickets online in advance to avoid waiting in line at the front gate. Also, steer clear of weekends if at all possible.

Move on to the Museum of Design Atlanta

And now for something completely different. The Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) is a small museum with rotating exhibits that explore the effects design and art have on everyday life. 

The Museum also features a craft and activism exhibit where you can get hands-on and make something with the provided art supplies. As an alternative, you can visit the nearby High Museum of Art with its rich art collection housed inside a famous architectural marvel by Renzo Piano and Richard Maier.

Free Things to do in Atlanta

If you’re on a budget, you might be interested to hear about a couple of things to do in Atlanta for free. For example, there are several free museums in Atlanta that you can visit instead of some of the attractions listed above. When it comes to free things to do in Atlanta with kids, consider the Fernbank Science Center, featuring planetarium shows, live animals, and hands-on exhibits.

There’s also the Anne Frank in the World Museum in Sandy Springs, a great educational experience featuring 500 photographs, in addition to documentaries and original artifacts from the war. Lastly, consider The King Center, a nonprofit with photos and artifacts of MLK, or the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum, a public museum and research institution focused on preserving the history of paper technology.

Prepare for a Night on the Town

To close out the day, you’ll need to grab a bite to eat before downing a couple of drinks. If you are stuck Downtown, your options will be mostly limited to touristy lounge-type bars. But there’s a solution to that! Head to PeachTree Center and check out Gibney’s Pub, a traditional tavern that stands out with its dark-wood décor, pool tables, and a jukebox.

Even better, take a short cab/Uber ride to the Virginia Highland area near Piedmont Park. That’s where you’ll find The Highlander, with classic pub grub, a nice outdoor patio, pinball, air hockey, and pool tables. The people are cool and the food is great, especially the excellent Southern Slam Burger with a loaded baked potato on the side. 

WHERE TO STAY IN ATLANTA?

TIP: Click here to find the best accommodation deals in Atlanta.

 

DAY TRIPS FROM ATLANTA

Spending more than one day in Atlanta will allow you to explore Georgia and learn the true meaning of the term “Southern hospitality”. But choosing the right day trip may be tricky seeing how many awesome options you have. However, you can’t go wrong with these – check them out!

Atlanta Historical Homes Tour

If you want to learn more about the history of Atlanta, the best way to do it is to book a tour of Atlanta’s historical homes. On this tour, learn about the city’s history and architecture with a stop at the beautiful 1928 Swan House and a visit to either the Margaret Mitchell House, the governor’s mansion, or the Rhodes Hall. Details of the tour depend on the day of the week and other details, but with three historic homes and two famous neighborhoods, you will learn more about Atlanta than on any other city tour.

Biplane Rides Over Atlanta

For something a little bit more adventurous and exciting, go for a biplane ride over Atlanta. These take place in beautiful vintage airplanes, which is a treat in and of itself. Perfect for birthday presents, wedding anniversaries, and the like. The pilots usually fly to Stone Mountain and over Atlanta’s recognizable landmarks, such as the Mercedes stadium, Piedmont Park, and Downtown. You will love the tranquil, smooth flight as the pilot points out the attractions, explains little details, and makes sure you have a great time.

If you can, book a sunset tour over Atlanta in an open-cockpit plane for an unforgettable experience. There’s also a “You Fly” option, where you can take the controls during the flight with the pilot’s help and guidance.

Pop The Cork Wine Tours

Also, a good choice for special occasions, a day trip from Atlanta to the North Georgia Wine Country is just as fun and exciting, even if it may be a bit more grounded. With safe transportation, all fees included, and a delicious picnic lunch, you can visit a number of wineries in Helen, Cleveland, Dahlonega, and Taccoa. With small groups, there’s never a rush, and you will certainly love the knowledgeable, friendly, and professional personnel.

EXTRA TIPS FOR VISITING ATLANTA

-Although Atlanta is not a particularly dangerous city, it is still good to know which neighborhoods to avoid. For example, areas southwest of the I-20 and I-85 are not quite as safe as Midtown and the suburbs.

-A few other safety tips: when relying on an app like Uber or Lyft, try to share a ride with a friend. Don’t divulge any personal information. If you’re driving your own car, pay attention to parking and try not to leave your valuables where they can be easily seen – generally common sense in most cities.

PIN FOR LATER!

If you have any other propositions for this One Day in Atlanta Itinerary, feel free to share them in the comments below!