Explore Atlanta

The Budget Traveler's Guide to Atlanta

An aerial shot of Atlanta at sundown shows the city's sparkling skylines and lush trees.

(©Richard Cawood/Flickr)

Michelle Khouri
January 8, 2018

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.

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park

The area, run by the National Parks Service, is home to the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Change, Ebenezer Baptist Church, the King Birth Home, and more. All of the attractions offer free admission; call for individual hours. Highlights and Tips:

Piedmont Park

Considered Atlanta's Central Park, the 182-acre park is popular with joggers, bicyclists and rollerbladers, and hosts festivals and events nearly every weekend during warm-weather months. The park also offers tennis courts, playgrounds, athletic fields and a dog park.

Oakland Cemetery

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and regarded as one of the finest Victorian cemeteries in the U.S., the 48-acre Oakland Cemetery is a showplace of sculpture and architecture, a botanical preserve and a quiet retreat.

Stone Mountain Park

A 3,200-acre park surrounds the world’s largest granite monolith. The park offers trails, golf courses, a skylift, a railroad, miniature golf, campgrounds, a 4D theater and the Lasershow Spectacular. Tickets: $34.95, plus tax. Parking $15.

Atlanta Contemporary

Atlanta Contemporary neither profits from nor collects the art on its walls in an effort to support the genre's advancement. Open Tu-Su. Free admission.

CityPASS

Valid for nine days from first use, CityPASS offers reduced admission to the following attractions: Georgia Aquarium (expedited entry); World of Coca-Cola; Inside CNN Studio Tour; Zoo Atlanta OR Center for Civil and Human Rights; and Fernbank Museum of Natural History OR College Football Hall of Fame.

First Thursday Downtown Atlanta Art Walk

View the arts, tour the historic districts of Downtown and enjoy various discounts at Downtown restaurants during this free, self-guided tour of galleries held the first Thursday of each month from 5-8 pm.

MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority)

Atlanta's public transportation system serves 38 rail stations and over 90 bus routes. Buses: weekdays 5 am-1:30 am; weekends and holidays 5 am-12:30 am. Trains: weekdays 4:45 am-1 am; weekends and holidays 6 am-1 am. The rechargable Breeze Card stores up to $300 in cash value for up to four years.

Antico Pizza Napoletana

According to Zagat, this is the highest-rated pizza establishment in the country. Pizzas are handmade by a skilled Italian pizzaioli using ingredients imported from Italy and based on an old family recipe. L&D (M-Sa).

Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View

An 85-second ride in a glass elevator takes you up 71 stories to Atlanta’s only tri-level dining complex. The SunDial restaurant features a revolving dining area, a revolving cocktail lounge and a stationary viewing level atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza, the tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere.

Wren's Nest House Museum

Atlanta’s oldest house museum was the home of Joel Chandler Harris, known for the tales of Brer Rabbit in "The Uncle Remus Tales." Sa-Su 10 am-3 pm; storytelling Sa at 1 pm. Adults $10; children, seniors, students $8.

Centennial Olympic Park

This 21-acre park is a permanent legacy to the Atlanta-hosted 1996 Olympic games. A starting point for many visitors, it offers easy access to the Georgia Aquarium,