Where to stay · Atlanta · United States
Where to stay in Atlanta
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Downtown. Centennial Olympic Park, the big attractions and convention hotels. Best alternatives — nightlife: Midtown.
Key facts
- First visit
- Downtown
- Families
- Downtown
- Budget
- Downtown
- Nightlife
- Midtown
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Downtown | Centennial Olympic Park, the big attractions and convention hotels |
| Families | Downtown | Centennial Olympic Park, the big attractions and convention hotels |
| Couples | Midtown | High-rises, the arts district and Piedmont Park's skyline views |
| Budget | Downtown | Centennial Olympic Park, the big attractions and convention hotels |
| Luxury | Buckhead | Luxury malls, mansions on tree-lined streets and polished steakhouses |
| Nightlife | Midtown | High-rises, the arts district and Piedmont Park's skyline views |
| Food lovers | Old Fourth Ward | King's birthplace, Ponce City Market and the BeltLine's busiest stretch |
| Solo travellers | Old Fourth Ward | King's birthplace, Ponce City Market and the BeltLine's busiest stretch |
| Shopping | Buckhead | Luxury malls, mansions on tree-lined streets and polished steakhouses |
| Quiet stays | Inman Park | Victorian houses, Krog Street Market and restaurants on the BeltLine |
Atlanta neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, families and budget
Downtown
Downtown holds the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and the College Football Hall of Fame around Centennial Olympic Park, plus Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena. It has the largest supply of hotels and direct MARTA trains to the airport, but empties out on evenings without games or conventions.
- Good
- Walk to the main attractions; Direct MARTA link to the airport; Wide choice of hotels
- Watch out
- Quiet and less inviting at night; Convention and game days push up rates
- Nearby
- Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Aquarium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Five Points station
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, nightlife and culture
Midtown
Midtown is Atlanta's most walkable district, with the High Museum, the Fox Theatre and the Woodruff Arts Center along Peachtree Street, and Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Garden on its eastern side. Restaurants and bars run along 10th Street and Crescent Avenue, and three MARTA stations connect it to downtown and the airport.
- Good
- Most walkable base in the city; MARTA rail on the doorstep; Parks, museums and restaurants together
- Watch out
- Higher hotel rates than downtown; Traffic along Peachtree at rush hour
- Nearby
- Piedmont Park, High Museum of Art, Fox Theatre, Atlanta Botanical Garden
$$$$ · Best for luxury, shopping and couples
Buckhead
About 13 km north of downtown, Buckhead is Atlanta's upscale district, with Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza malls, high-end hotels and the Atlanta History Center set among large houses on West Paces Ferry Road. It is calm and comfortable but car-oriented, with MARTA stations along the Red Line.
- Good
- Upscale hotels and dining; Best shopping in the city; Quiet residential streets
- Watch out
- Far from downtown sights; Hard to explore without a car or ride-hail
- Nearby
- Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza, Atlanta History Center
$$$ · Best for food lovers, solo travellers, culture and nightlife
Old Fourth Ward
The Old Fourth Ward runs from Sweet Auburn, where Martin Luther King Jr. was born, to Ponce City Market and Historic Fourth Ward Park on the BeltLine. It mixes historic shotgun houses and new apartment blocks, with the city's liveliest walking trail and many of its newer restaurants.
- Good
- Walk or scooter along the BeltLine; Strong food scene; History on the doorstep
- Watch out
- Fewer traditional hotels; MARTA stations are a walk away
- Nearby
- Ponce City Market, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, Historic Fourth Ward Park, BeltLine Eastside Trail
$$$ · Best for food lovers, couples and quiet stays
Inman Park
Atlanta's first planned suburb, laid out in the 1880s, still has painted Victorian houses on curving streets. Today it is best known for the restaurants around Highland Avenue and North Highland, Krog Street Market and the graffiti-covered Krog Street Tunnel, all a short walk from the BeltLine's Eastside Trail.
- Good
- Beautiful residential streets; Excellent restaurants; MARTA station at Inman Park/Reynoldstown
- Watch out
- Mostly short-term rentals and small inns; Limited late-night options beyond restaurants
- Nearby
- Krog Street Market, Krog Street Tunnel, BeltLine Eastside Trail, Little Five Points
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and food lovers
Virginia-Highland
Virginia-Highland, east of Piedmont Park, is a classic in-town neighbourhood of brick bungalows and leafy streets, with independent shops, brunch spots and pubs clustered at its main crossroads on North Highland Avenue. It is close to the park and the BeltLine but has no rail station.
- Good
- Walkable village feel; Close to Piedmont Park; Relaxed bars and brunch
- Watch out
- No MARTA rail; Few hotels
- Nearby
- Piedmont Park, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, BeltLine Eastside Trail
$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and food lovers
Decatur
Decatur is a separate city about 10 km east of downtown, centred on a historic courthouse square with restaurants, bookshops and well-known beer bars. The MARTA Blue Line stops right on the square, so it makes a calm base for visitors who want to reach downtown by train.
- Good
- Walkable square with good restaurants; Direct MARTA link to downtown; Family-friendly
- Watch out
- Small hotel choice; About 20 minutes by train from the main sights
- Nearby
- Decatur Square, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Emory University
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife and shopping
West Midtown
West Midtown, around Howell Mill Road and the Westside Provisions District, turned former industrial buildings into restaurants, breweries and design stores. It is popular for dinner and drinks, and the BeltLine's Westside Trail is gradually extending nearby, but you will need a car or ride-hail to reach most sights.
- Good
- Strong restaurant and brewery scene; Newer boutique hotels; Less touristy
- Watch out
- Car-dependent; Spread out and hot to walk in summer
- Nearby
- Westside Provisions District, Georgia Tech, Atlantic Station
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | $$ | Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Aquarium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Five Points station |
| Midtown | $$$ | Piedmont Park, High Museum of Art, Fox Theatre, Atlanta Botanical Garden |
| Buckhead | $$$$ | Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza, Atlanta History Center |
| Old Fourth Ward | $$$ | Ponce City Market, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, Historic Fourth Ward Park, BeltLine Eastside Trail |
| Inman Park | $$$ | Krog Street Market, Krog Street Tunnel, BeltLine Eastside Trail, Little Five Points |
| Virginia-Highland | $$$ | Piedmont Park, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, BeltLine Eastside Trail |
| Decatur | $$ | Decatur Square, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Emory University |
| West Midtown | $$$ | Westside Provisions District, Georgia Tech, Atlantic Station |
Getting to your hotel
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is about 16 km south of downtown. MARTA's Red and Gold lines start at the domestic terminal and reach downtown in about 20 minutes, Midtown in about 25 and Buckhead in about 35. The international terminal is linked to the domestic side by the airport's train and a shuttle bus.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Atlanta for first-time visitors?
Downtown. Downtown holds the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and the College Football Hall of Fame around Centennial Olympic Park, plus Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena.
+Where should families stay in Atlanta?
Downtown: Walk to the main attractions.
+Which area of Atlanta is best for a budget stay?
Downtown ($$): Centennial Olympic Park, the big attractions and convention hotels.