24-Hour Guide: What Can You Do In Downtown Atlanta In A Day?

Photo by Jacob Peters-Lehm on Unsplash

So you’ve got one day in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, and you’re very interested in what to see and do in that amount of time. Can it be done? You can bet your sweet tea it can!

If you’re situated in downtown Atlanta, the city is designed to get you around quickly. Make sure you’re dressed for the weather though. Here’s your itinerary for Atlanta in a day.

Your 24-Hour Itinerary For Downtown Atlanta In A Day

You’re in Atlanta for the day, what are some things to do? We want to get into some things, but not spend too much money. In fact, we want to do cheap things to do in Atlanta.

First off, you may want to ride a scooter to get from Point A to B in downtown Atlanta. Your main options are Bird scooters and a new option, Spin. Let’s get started at 6 a.m. and see what we can do:

Visit the SkyView Atlanta Ferris Wheel

Why It’s Cool: Get breathtaking views of the city from this giant Ferris wheel, especially beautiful at night. The ferris wheel costs around $15 for adults and is open seven days a week.

Discover History at the APEX Museum

Why It’s Cool: This museum focuses on African American history and contributions, shedding light on Atlanta’s rich cultural heritage.

Take a Tour of the World of Coca-Cola

Photo credit: Youtube.com

Why It’s Cool: Learn about the history of Coca-Cola, see memorabilia, and taste over 100 international flavors at this interactive museum.

Ride MARTA

Find a MARTA station and get on the train. If you’re downtown, you can take the train to either 5 Points or Peachtree Center. Here’s a MARTA map to help you see where you are.

Once you get off the train, time to go to one of the most recognizable places in Atlanta…

Go To Waffle House In Downtown Atlanta (Or Any Waffle House)

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Waffle House is the unofficial start of the day for thousands of people around metro Atlanta. Here’s how many Waffle Houses are in Atlanta.

Once you get something Scattered, Covered and Chunked, you should be ready to tackle Atlanta with confidence.

You’re going to want to walk off some of those grits and eggs. Why don’t you go to Woodruff Park.

Visit Woodruff Park

If the greenery at Woodruff Park doesn’t do it for you, the daily chess game will. You can be a spectator of a wonderful chess game between strangers and the regulars that show up at the park.

Ride The Peachtree Trolley

Take a ride on the Peachtree Trolley in downtown Atlanta. The trolley will take you around the downtown district for 90 minutes and give you stories for all the monuments and landmarks. Book a tour here.

Tickets are $31 for an adult and $16 for a child.

After the tour, you’re going to be hungry. Now, it’s time to eat…

Lunchtime in Atlanta

A lot of factors are at play when it comes to where to eat in Atlanta for lunchtime. For instance, if a restaurant is jam-packed at noon, then it’s not going to work: You’re on the clock.

You need a place that can get you in and out, and that place changes everyday, actually every hour. Here are some options:

You could opt to check out one of the spots in Peachtree Center or along the corridor behind the Healey Building.

Once you enjoy your meal, you’ll want to slow it down a bit. Rest up in a stationery place to catch your breath, so to speak. Time for a matinee.

Go To The Park

Now, it’s time to get active again: Atlanta is full of accessible green spaces close to public transportation and the main corridors of Midtown and downtown. Here are some of the BEST Atlanta parks.

Visit The MLK Center

Photo credit: YouTube.com
Ebenezer Baptist Church, continues to thrive. 450 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312.

Where To Eat For Dinner In Atlanta

If you want to know where to eat in downtown Atlanta, there are plenty of options. Here are some lists that you can use to influence your decision:

Here Are The Best New Restaurants In Atlanta

After dinner, if you’re ready for a nightcap, you can venture to some places that have live music or spoken word.

If you want to really get down, Atlanta’s clubs always turn up. See the hottest ATL nightclubs this week and what’s going on.

Explore Atlanta At Your Own Pace

Let’s say you have one whole day in Atlanta, Georgia. Perhaps you’ve got a layover or drove into town on a business trip and you’ve got 24 hours to spend. Can you do it all in a day? Well, most of it.

First, to find all the good things happening in Atlanta this weekend, all you have to do is take a look at downtown Atlanta. That’s where some of the best restaurants are as well as where the visitors, namely tourists, are.

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Tee Johnson: Tee Johnson is the co-founder of AtlantaFi.com and as an unofficial ambassador of the city, she's a lover of all things Atlanta. She writes about Travel News, Events, Business, Hair Care (Wigs!) and Money.