The Budget Traveler's Guide to Atlanta

By Michelle Khouri on 06/09/2016, updated on 01/08/2018

An aerial shot of Atlanta at sundown shows the city's sparkling skylines and lush trees. (©Richard Cawood/Flickr)

It's no secret traveling can get costly. Atlanta is one of the most popular visitor destinations in the United States, but navigating the city's budget-friendly stops can be difficult. While the Capital of the South is positively bursting with massive, nationally acclaimed attractions, these tickets and tours can make a major dent on anyone's bank account. From free art crawls to bundled-ticket discounts to affordable restaurants, these stops in Atlanta will keep your wallet—and your itinerary—happy and carefree.

The Budget Traveler's Guide to Atlanta By Michelle Khouri on 06/09/2016, updated on 01/08/2018

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

(©James Duckworth/AtlantaPhotos.com)

Atlanta

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

All of the attractions and tours found at this 30-acre historic site are free. The best part? There's enough riveting history to fill a full day of sightseeing and discovery that's interesting for visitors of every age, race and creed.

(©James Duckworth/AtlantaPhotos.com)

Atlanta

Piedmont Park

Take a stroll through Atlanta's version of New York's Central Park (the two were in fact designed by the same landscape architect). Pack a picnic and bring along a football to spend a sun-filled day where the locals love to gather.

(©David Kosmos Smith)

Atlanta

Oakland Cemetery

This stunning cemetery was built in the late 1800s with the dual purpose of being both a graveyard and serene Victorian park. Take a free and dynamic self-guided audio tour by calling into the phone number found on signs throughout the cemetery.

(Courtesy Stone Mountain Park)

Atlanta

Stone Mountain Park

While passes to Stone Mountain Park can get costly, the $10 parking fee grants you access to hike the one-mile trail to the peak, where sweeping views of Atlanta and beyond await. You can also walk, run or bike the wooded, hilly trails that surround the granite monument.

(Courtesy Atlanta Contemporary)

Atlanta

Atlanta Contemporary

Admission to this stunning contemporary art museum is free every day. Visit to peruse the works of some of the most talented contemporary artists in the nation.

(Courtesy CityPASS)

Atlanta

CityPASS

This attractions pass bundles Atlanta’s largest attractions into one reduced-price ticket. Save up to $55 to visit Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, CNN, Zoo Atlanta and others.

(Courtesy First Thursdays Downtown Atlanta Art Walk/Facebook)

Atlanta

First Thursday Downtown Atlanta Art Walk

This free downtown art walk allows you to hop through the galleries downtown while sipping on wine the first Thursday of each month. Nothing sounds like a better date night or family outing to us!

(©Katchooo/Flickr)

Atlanta

MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority)

Atlanta's rail system may be simple, but it's a perfect resource for those looking to visit the city's most visitor-friendly areas. For just $2.50 a trip, you can get access to massive attractions, plentiful shopping and restaurants galore in Midtown, Downtown, Buckhead and Decatur, among other neighborhoods.

(©Sean Davis/Flickr)

Atlanta

Antico Pizza Napoletana

This pizza place has been named time and again as one of the best places to grab a pie in the U.S. Lucky for pizza aficionados, a family of up to five can dig into a whole pie for around $20. Yum!

View from Sun Dial Restaurant (Courtesy Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View)

Atlanta

Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View

While dining here can get costly, the 73-story observation deck can be accessed for just $4 for kids and $8 for adults. Inside the Westin Peachtree Plaza, the three-level Sun Dial features interactive screens that detail each section of the 360-degree view.

(Courtesy Wren's Nest House Museum)

Atlanta

Wren's Nest House Museum

Tickets to the former home of Joel Chandler Harris (author of the Brer Rabbit/Uncle Remus Tales) cost less than $10 each, and offer a glimpse into 19th-century life. The Queen Anne Victorian architecture houses a nearly untouched interior. Weekly storytelling is a special treat for young kids, and occurs every Saturday at 1 pm.

(©Matthew Paulson/Flickr, Creative Commons)

Atlanta

Centennial Olympic Park

This living legacy to the Atlanta-hosted 1996 Summer Olympic Games is at the heart of the city's tourism hub downtown. There's plenty of sightseeing in and around the park. On warm days, families can splash around in the Fountain of Rings, which synchronizes jets of water to music, then enjoy a $3 King of Pops popsicle in the shade.

The Budget Traveler's Guide to Atlanta

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

Piedmont Park

Oakland Cemetery

Stone Mountain Park

Atlanta Contemporary

CityPASS

First Thursday Downtown Atlanta Art Walk

MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority)

Antico Pizza Napoletana

Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View

Wren's Nest House Museum

Centennial Olympic Park

Map of The Budget Traveler's Guide to Atlanta

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Map of The Budget Traveler's Guide to Atlanta

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