Free things to do · Atlanta · United States
5 free things to do in Atlanta
Atlanta without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Marco Correa, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Atlanta without paying an entry fee: Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, BeltLine Eastside Trail, Piedmont Park and Oakland Cemetery are all free. The King historical park, Piedmont Park, Oakland Cemetery, the BeltLine and Centennial Olympic Park are all free.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 5
- Low-cost extras
- 2
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Free sights and experiences
Historic site · Sweet Auburn
1.Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
Start at the visitor centre for the free exhibits and current information on birth-home access, then walk the street eastward.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
Street · Old Fourth Ward
2.BeltLine Eastside Trail
Walk it from north to south in the late afternoon, ending with dinner around Krog Street Market.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Art
- Food
- Active
-104A8428.jpg){kind=link}
Park · Midtown
3.Piedmont Park
Enter from the BeltLine at the park's north-east corner and walk to the Lake Clara Meer dock for the skyline photo.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
Historic site · Grant Park
4.Oakland Cemetery
Pick up a map at the visitor centre; Margaret Mitchell's modest grave is easy to miss.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Park · Downtown
5.Centennial Olympic Park
Bring a change of clothes for young children on hot days; the fountain is hard to resist.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet Auburn | Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park | 2–3 hours |
| Old Fourth Ward | BeltLine Eastside Trail | 2–3 hours |
| Midtown | Piedmont Park | 1–2 hours |
| Grant Park | Oakland Cemetery | 1 hour |
| Downtown | Centennial Olympic Park | 30–60 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Market · Old Fourth Ward
Ponce City Market
Eat in the food hall, then buy a rooftop ticket around sunset for the skyline view.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- Views
- Rainy day
Museum · Poncey-Highland
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
Walk the garden paths after the museum for one of the quieter skyline views in the city.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Views
More ways to save
- The King historical park, Piedmont Park, Oakland Cemetery, the BeltLine and Centennial Olympic Park are all free.
- Take MARTA from the airport instead of a taxi or ride-hail; it is quick and costs a fraction of the fare.
- Downtown hotels are often cheaper at weekends when convention business drops, unless there is a big game or Dragon Con.
- A combination attraction pass is worth it only if you plan to see most of the aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and other included sights.
- Hotel bills include high local hotel taxes and fees; compare total prices, not nightly rates.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Atlanta expensive to visit?
Atlanta is moderately priced for most visitors, but 5 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Atlanta?
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park: Start at the visitor centre for the free exhibits and current information on birth-home access, then walk the street eastward.