Nicknamed Hotlanta, The Big Peach, and home to the busiest airport in the world? It could only be Atlanta, Georgia, of course.
Blessed with a subtropical climate and a prime location at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains, Atlanta is a city for everyone, boasting a range of scenic outdoor activities as well as award-winning restaurants and entertainment options.
With over 240 officially defined neighborhoods, planning a trip to Atlanta is no easy task. Sure, you could stay in the Downtown area and hop between tourist attractions, but there are loads of unique and exciting experiences to be had in the surrounding neighborhoods that you won’t want to miss.
To get you started, we’ve put together an article of our top ten things to do in our top ten favorite Atlanta neighborhoods – plus some Downtown tourist hotspots for good measure! From local music venues to cemeteries and even an epic eating challenge, you’ll find an experience for every personality in A-Town.
| Downtown
We’ll dive right in with the Downtown neighborhood, because everybody loves a bit of glitz and glamor! As with most US cities, Downtown is where you’ll find the flashiest hotels, skyscrapers, restaurants and tourist attractions – and Atlanta is certainly no exception.
Take your pick from the World of Coca-Cola, CNN Studio Tours, the the SkyView Ferris Wheel, and our personal favorite; the Georgia Aquarium. The largest aquarium in the United States (and possibly the world, depending on how you measure it) with over a million cubic feet of water, the mammoth structure houses around 500 species of sea and ocean dwellers from around the world. A trip to Atlanta is not complete without visiting the Georgia Aquarium!
| Midtown
Up next we reach the Midtown neighborhood, second only to Downtown Atlanta in terms of popularity with tourists and exciting attractions.
Known as the arts hub of Atlanta, Midtown is where you’ll find the best theaters and concert venues, plus the Margaret Mitchell House which offers tours of the author’s home. It’s also the best neighborhood for art museums, and while the Center for Puppetry Arts is worth a visit, our top pick is the High Museum of Art.
The building designed by Richard Meier & Renzo Piano is a work of art in itself, but inside you’ll find over 15,000 pieces from artists around the world, ranging from eccentric sculptures to 19th century French landscapes. The High Museum of Art is an unmissable Atlanta experience for art lovers!
| Cabbagetown and Krog Street Tunnel
Your first instinct may be to ask who would name a neighborhood Cabbagetown, but unfortunately the origin of the name has as many stories as the Oakland Cemetery has gravestones.
While it may seem morbid to visit a cemetery on a trip to Atlanta, the beautifully landscaped 19th century burial ground is a truly lovely place, and contains the final resting places of many notable names – most famously Margaret Mitchell. Cabbagetown is a fantastic neighborhood in itself, with quaint cafés and bakeries along the tree-lined avenues, and the popular street art spot, Krog Street Tunnel. Wander between traditional American shotgun houses and enjoy some true southern hospitality!
| Old Fourth Ward
Unlike Cabbagetown, the Old Fourth Ward (or O4W to the locals) neighborhood knows exactly where its name comes from, dating back to Atlanta political areas in place until the 1950s. O4W is one of the most historic regions of Atlanta, and was central to the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr., who was born in the southern part of the neighborhood.
Guests can visit his childhood home, the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he served as a pastor, his grave at the National Historic Site, and explore artifacts and photographs at The King Center. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most important figures in American history and a source of immense Atlanta pride!
| Peachtree Center
Within Downtown Atlanta is the Peachtree Center district, a hub of high-rise hotels and high-end restaurants.
This central entertainment neighborhood is your top destination for a big night out in Atlanta, and if you’re planning a truly exciting and unique evening, we highly recommend the Comedy Murder Mystery Dinner at Agatha’s. This immersive theatrical experience includes a five-course menu of hors d’oeuvres, homemade soup, garden salad, a mouth-watering choice of entrees, and a traditional New York style cheesecake to finish – and the food isn’t even the main attraction!
Professional actors entertain diners throughout the three-hour evening with a hilariously clever murder mystery tale, getting everyone involved with the fun. Kick-start your Atlanta night out with this wonderfully alternative comedy dinner!
| Grant Park
Uber-tourist destinations like Peachtree and Downtown Atlanta are great for glitz and glamor, but if it’s local flair and homestyle community you’re after then head south to the Grant Park neighborhood.
Its namesake is the oldest park in Atlanta, adorned with scenic hiking trails, recreation centers, a public swimming pool, cafes and restaurants, and Zoo Atlanta, famous for its panda and tiger exhibits.
The surrounding neighborhood features craft breweries and bakeries, and Memorial Drive on its northern border is a resident hotspot for Tex-Mex, seafood, rooftop bars and noodle houses. Whether you’re on a family vacation or a weekend away with friends, Grant Park has something for everyone!
| Decatur
You may argue that Zoo Atlanta is still a big tourist attraction, and we hear you, so our next stop is Decatur, a good seven miles outside of Downtown. If people know one thing about Atlanta, it’s that it has a brilliant music scene, and Eddie’s Attic in Decatur is where a lot of famous names made their start.
The award-winning live music venue has seen the likes of Justin Bieber, John Mayer, Shawn Mullins and Sheryl Crow perform in their early days, so it’s definitely worth checking out their open-mic night – you may witness the start of a blossoming new music career! The food is also exceptional and the drinks are reasonably priced, ideal for an Atlanta night-out away from the Downtown crowds.
| Inman Park
Every US city has to have a hipster neighborhood, and you’ll find Atlanta’s in Inman Park. Historians know Inman Park as the city’s first planned suburb, a collection of beautiful Victorian homes connected to Downtown Atlanta by the first electric streetcar line.
But these days Inman Park is famous for its food scene, best demonstrated in the wonderful 1920’s warehouse Krog Street Market. You can easily spend a day exploring the various vendors inside, picking up great vintage clothing and antiques, sipping craft beer and boutique wines, or feasting your way through traditional sushi, southern fried food, Middle Eastern cuisine, sweet treats and baked goods, and plenty more.
A fantastic foodie experience in Atlanta!
| Lindbergh/Morosgo
On the surface, Lindbergh doesn’t seem like the kind of neighborhood you’d made an effort to visit on an Atlanta vacation. If you choose to skip it, however, you miss out on the Atlanta Brewery Tour with Southern Beer Tours, an epic boozy bus ride of Atlanta’s best breweries!
Starting at Taco Mac Lindbergh, the bus tour includes a private tasting at SweetWater Brewing, plus a pint at the oldest brewery in Georgia, Atlanta Brewing, and a tasting at Monday Night Brewing.
Meet craft brewers and get behind-the-scenes access to fermentation plants, learning about the intricate process of beer-brewing as you go – you even get a gift bag at the end! This Atlanta brewery tour is ideal for an afternoon shared with friends, or a unique experience gift idea for beer lovers.
| Little Five Points
We told you there’d be a food challenge coming, and we aim to deliver. Little Five Points is, as the name suggests, a very small neighborhood north-east of Downtown Atlanta, but its borders are jam-packed with popular vintage stores, hipster hang-outs, and eclectic eateries.
The Vortex bar and grill on Moreland Avenue is famous for its burgers and griddled sandwiches, but we’re here for the Super-Stack Eating Challenge. In order to win the Super-Stack t-shirt and get your name in the Document of Record, all you have to do is finish the Quadruple Coronary Bypass Burger, ten ounces of tater tots covered in sixteen ounces of Cheesy-Cheese Goo (plus bacon bits), ten ounces of fries, and a thirty-two ounce soft drink, in thirty minutes.
Think you’ve got what it takes? Add a trip to Little Five Points to your Atlanta itinerary and challenge your friends!
| Thanks For Reading!
On top of the great tourist attractions, Atlanta has plenty of local favorites that invite you to experience the unique culture and community of the Peach State. Discover history, food, art, and architecture on your next trip and as always, let us know what you think in the comments!
