Welcome to Atlanta, one of the most exciting, most authentic, and least “touristy” metropolitan areas in the United States. A city of unmatched historical depth and cultural leadership, Atlanta is welcoming without being obvious about it, even once you’ve found your way out of our 7.7-million-square-foot airport. Unlike dime-a-dozen downtowns and boardwalk-based beaches, it takes a great travel guide to uncover inroads, make sense of the neighborhood layout, and turn wanderers into ATL explorers—and this, in 800 words or less, is just that travel guide.

✈️ Flying to Atlanta? Take the free 24/7 ATL SkyTrain straight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and check-in to one of our amazing hotels (30% cheaper than staying in downtown Atlanta, 100% worth the value).

Come in for a Landing

First, let’s get you settled. Frequent travelers quickly learn that the most convenient home base for a carefree visit is the ATL Airport District, the area immediately surrounding the airport. This is the spot to find dozens of name brand hotels, all priced significantly lower than the same brands and amenities in Downtown Atlanta—and most provide sweet extras, like complimentary airport shuttles. A word of warning, though: once you’ve experienced the A-list luxury of being whisked from the terminal to your lodgings like the VIP you’ve always known you are, it can be tough to return to the rideshare life.

So where are you when you’re in the ATL Airport District? You’re somewhere in a block of five urban-fringe Southside cities: College Park, with its convention campus and extensive hotel inventory catering to business travelers; Fairburn, home of Georgia’s Renaissance Festival; Hapeville, the Southside’s home for the arts; South Fulton, encompassing endless acres of greenspace and sports facilities; and Union City, an idyllic bedroom community and film industry hub.

Quieter and less bustling than the Downtown/Midtown Atlanta area, each District community has its own history and vibe, with excellent dining, taprooms and attractions throughout. Without leaving the District, you can enjoy year-round sporting events at Gateway Center Arena (home of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, NBA G-League’s College Park Skyhawks, and LOVB Atlanta, the city's newest professional volleyball team), Chick-fil-A’s Backstage Tour, the Delta Flight Museum, the Academy Theatre, Porsche Experience Center Atlanta, plus shopping, culture and wellness. Curate your own private art walk with the digital Mural Map, hit up one of the splash pads or skate parks during the temperate months, or attend a charming local event any time of year.

In addition to nearby amenities, don’t overlook the additional perk of second-to-none accessibility to the rest of Metro Atlanta. The District has direct access to transit (ATL SkyTrain; bus service; the College Park and Airport MARTA train stations) and Atlanta’s major highway arteries (I-75, I-85, I-285 and I-20), so you can get into, out of, and around the District quickly, easily, and inexpensively.

Neighborhoods of Note

Downtown Atlanta is ten short miles up the road, and convenient public transit gives you the option to skip the expense and hassle of downtown parking. Even on foot, you’ll have easy access to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia Aquarium (best to reserve tickets and entrance times in advance, and check here for discounts), World of Coca-Cola, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, College Football Hall of Fame, State Farm Arena, Centennial Olympic Park and SkyView Atlanta, the city’s massive ferris wheel experience. See national touring shows and incredible local talent at nearby venues and theaters, enjoy famed dining, and see the sights. Yes, the sights are mostly office buildings and hotels—but with a lot more trees than most concrete jungles, so it’s special.

Continue north and you’ll hit Midtown and West Midtown, where the locals hang out. This area is great for group activities, with Puttshack, Topgolf, Painted Duck and 3rd Spot all nearby. You can also get your classy culture fix at the Fox Theatre, High Museum, Woodruff Arts Center, Museum of Design Atlanta, and Breman Museum, or your classy outdoor fix at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and Piedmont Park. Also, there’s shopping, dining and bars.

Nearby Inman Park, Grant Park and Old Fourth Ward are clustered together in the very heart of Atlanta proper, full of historic yet trendy communities and one-of-a-kind destinations (think Ponce City Market, Krog Street Market, and the Beltline), not to mention unforgettable experiences like Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park & Preservation District, Illuminarium, Zoo Atlanta, and Oakland Cemetery.

To the north, Buckhead is synonymous with Old Money Atlanta, the traditional home of affluence and luxury. It’s known for upscale shopping and dining, particularly at Lenox Square Mall, Phipps Plaza and Buckhead Village.

Other signature attractions are scattered throughout Metro Atlanta, within the I-285 perimeter and beyond. There’s fun to be had at Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Tellus Science Museum, Pullman Yards, Six Flags Over Georgia, the Savoy Automobile Museum, Southeastern Railway Museum and more for everyone who’s comfortable with a bit of highway travel.

Visitors can create their own shareable interactive itinerary from the complete list of Metro Atlanta attractions at ATLdistrict.com. For links and more information on all the neighborhood highlights mentioned here, visit ATLdistrict.com/explore.

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