Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta came into our 2025 travels as the U.S. gateway on our way home from Europe — we connected through here in March on the long haul back from Budapest by way of London.
Our experience
We've been twice, both in 2025. The capital of the South is a sprawling, green, fast-growing city with deep civil-rights history, a powerhouse food scene, and famously leafy neighborhoods tucked among the highways.
Even passing through, it's a reminder of how much there is to explore: world-class museums and attractions downtown, historic districts, and that warm Southern hospitality. We mark it as a place we'd happily come back to for a proper stay rather than a layover.
Atlanta is one of the most densely forested major cities in the U.S. — often called "a city in a forest," with tree canopy covering roughly half its land area, which is why it looks so green from the air on the way in.
Must-sees and must-dos
- Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park — the civil-rights leader's birth home and church. The National Park Service manages the historic Atlanta sites associated with Dr. King's early life and Ebenezer Baptist Church.
- Georgia Aquarium — one of Atlanta's signature downtown attractions.
- World of Coca-Cola — the story of the city's most famous export.
- Atlanta BeltLine — a former rail corridor turned trail, parks and public-art corridor connecting Atlanta neighborhoods.
- Ponce City Market — a food hall and shops in a landmark complex connected to the BeltLine.
- Piedmont Park — the green heart of Midtown with skyline views.
Our pro tip
If you're staying long enough to visit several of the major attractions, cluster them downtown — Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola sit close together — and leave time for the BeltLine. A proper stay beats treating Atlanta as a connection.
Book an Atlanta CityPASS on Klook, which includes Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola among its attraction options.
If you'd rather book them individually, get Georgia Aquarium admission on Klook or World of Coca-Cola tickets on Klook.