Atlanta Travelers Recommend

From civil rights landmarks to downtown style, sprawling Atlanta has endless facets to explore. With one day, you can sample the best of the city’s Southern cuisine, visit a big-name attraction, and discover film sites, local history—and even zombies. Use these tips to make the most of one day in Atlanta.

Morning: Hotlanta’s Hottest Spots

Atlanta’s headlining attractions rival the best in the nation, so take time to explore the one that interests you most. Go nose-to-nose with marine life at the Georgia Aquarium; try to guess the secret ingredient at the World of Coca-Cola; visit the resident pandas at Zoo Atlanta; or head to CNN’s global headquarters to see how the news gets made. Booking tickets in advance is a time-saving strategy that makes arrival seamless, and if you’re hoping to tick off more than one destination, multiple-attraction passes can save you money.

Afternoon: Sample Southern Hospitality

Pour yourself a glass of sweet iced tea for an afternoon of Atlanta cuisine—it goes from traditional Southern “meat and three” to fried chicken and cutting-edge bites. With just one day in Atlanta, it’s a shame to commit to a single meal, so consider a food tour that features a series of dishes in restaurants, diners, and local markets. And since food, history, and culture are deeply linked here, you’re sure to get a side of storytelling with your meal, as well as a delicious look at daily life in Atlanta.

Night: From History to the Hollywood of the South

Now that you’re energized for an afternoon of exploring, choose a guided tour that dives into Atlanta history, or discover some of the blockbuster films and television shows that have been filmed here. Themed film tours run the gamut from Gone with the Wind to The Walking Dead, while best-of film tours sample a little bit of everything. If history is more your style, Atlanta’s rich in fascinating destinations; check out Civil Rights landmarks and historic homes with some of the city’s grandest architecture.

With three days in Atlanta, you can cover key highlights, sample Southern fare, and see why the city's become a backdrop for everything from blockbuster movies to zombie attacks. But while Atlanta could easily fill your whole itinerary, it's also a great home base for exploring Georgia. Here's how to spend three days in Atlanta.

Day 1: Hotlanta Highlights

A long list of landmarks have helped Atlanta snag a spot as one of the South’s best destinations, so start by ticking off a few that interest you most. For wildlife lovers, the Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta are must-sees, with world-class animal collections that include giant pandas and whale sharks. Other favorites include the World of Coca-Cola, devoted to all things Coke, and the world headquarters of CNN; lucky visitors might even see anchors as they broadcast. For a glimpse of Atlanta’s civil rights heritage, stop by the Atlanta Center for Civil and Human Rights, which links a local history of activism to world issues.

At each of these sights, booking tickets in advance pays off in time savings and convenience. If you plan to visit more than one, combination tickets and passes can be budget-friendly options, often coming with added perks and discounts.

Day 2: Hollywood of the South

From the films of Tyler Perry to the TV show The Walking Dead, Atlanta's proved to be one of America’s most popular sets, snagging the title of the "Hollywood of the South." Even if you're not a movie buff, joining a film tour can be a fun way to see off-beat neighborhoods and scenic locations, ones you might recognize next time you’re at the theater. Die-hard fans should go for themed options, choosing from trips that explore The Walking Dead sites, locations used in the series Stranger Things, and historic landmarks from Gone With the Wind. If you’re looking for a general introduction to Atlanta's film industry, opt for a tour that samples a little bit of everything while hitting all the highlights.

Day 3: Best Day Trips from—and in—Atlanta

When you're ready for a day outside the city, the possibilities are endless: explore the Georgia mountains, visit a rural Amish community, or sip your way through local wineries. Since avoiding Atlanta’s traffic is something of a local art, tours with dedicated drivers take advantage of the best routes out of the city.

If you’d rather stick around, dedicate your last day in Atlanta to history; the city is home to mansions, landmarks from the civil rights era, and other fascinating sites. For an in-depth discussion of Atlanta history, consider a tour that's themed to your interests to ensure you don’t miss any key points.

With two days in Atlanta, you can pick off a few of the city’s landmarks and soak up the high-frequency energy. Go from classic Southern sites to the cutting edge of Atlanta culture in a flash, then circle back for some civil rights era history. Here’s how to make the most of two days in Atlanta.

Day 1: Silver Screens and Hotlanta Wildlife

Morning: Ready to roll? Start by finding the places that catapulted Atlanta onscreen, whether that’s blockbuster films, Stranger Things, or The Walking Dead. Scouts are famous for picking the coolest spots in the city, so even if you’re not a movie buff it’s a great way to get your bearings.

Afternoon: Pick one of the city’s two world-class wildlife destinations for an afternoon with the animals. With giant pandas and an African rain forest, Zoo Atlanta is a longtime favorite, while the Georgia Aquarium brings beluga whales right into downtown—consider snagging your tickets in advance to save time.

Night: Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, dive into local food culture, which includes down-home cooking and cutting-edge cuisine. A food tour is a great way to get a little bit of everything.

Day 2: History, Landmarks, and Atlanta After Dark

Morning: If you’re visiting during the hot summer months, take advantage of the cooler morning hours with an Atlanta history tour, visiting landmarks that stretch from the Civil War to the civil rights era. True history buffs should consider a private tour, as it’s a great way to start one-on-one conversations about events that interest you most.

Afternoon: Choose another of Atlanta’s headlining attractions for an afternoon in the air-conditioning: The CNN world headquarters are fascinating for news hounds, while the World of Coca-Cola tells the intriguing story of Coke’s secret formula.

Night: With one more night in Atlanta, dabble in the city’s searing nightlife—opt for a pub crawl or bar tour for an insider’s look at the scene.

Nearly all of AMC's hit series The Walking Dead is shot in Georgia, and whether you're a die-hard Deadhead or simply want to brush up on your zombie trivia, a film sites tour is a great way to spend an afternoon in Atlanta. Here are your options.

Jackson Street Bridge

To recreate the iconic season one sight of Rick Grimes riding a horse along the highway into a zombie-infested Atlanta in search of his wife and son, you'll have to pay a visit to Atlanta's Jackson Street Bridge. The spot also offers a gorgeous view of the city skyline.

Atlanta Mission as the Hospital

Part of the administrative Atlanta Mission building was featured as the hospital where Rick wakes up from a coma to realize the world as he knew it is forever changed in the season one episode Days Gone By.

Grant Park as Rick's Neighborhood

Atlanta's Grant Park neighborhood is where you'll find the 19th-century Victorian home used as the Grimes residence during season one filming.

Senoia, Georgia, as Woodbury

The town of Senoia, located an hour south of Atlanta, doubles as the seemingly idyllic town of Woodbury in season three, where the survivors quickly realize that the town has some dark secrets of its own.

Haralson, Georgia

The town of Haralson, situated near Senoia, was the film site for several scenes in season three. The old ESCO Feed Mill was the site of the silo scenes with Andrea, Daryl, and Martinez, while Rick meets with the Governor of Woodbury along Main Street. The town is also home to the barn where Merle ultimately meets his end.

Hampton, Georgia

Also south of Atlanta is the town of Hampton, where Glenn, Michonne, and a band of survivors show up during season six. The pet shop scene was filmed along Main Street, while the dumpster where Glenn seems to meet his unfortunate fate is now marked by a body outline on the pavement.