From Wikitravel

Downtown Atlanta is the central area of Atlanta, as well as the center of Georgia. Downtown is home to the Georgia State Capilol, City Hall, and headquarters of numerous corporations. Despite the rise of Midtown and Buckhead, Downtown still contains much of the commercial activity of the city. All the places to see here are within 10 minutes walk of each other, and within a similar walking distance of any of the MARTA stations at Five Points, Peachtree Center or Omni-Dome-World-Congress Center.

[edit] Understand

Downtown Atlanta is vast and can be further broken down into subdistricts. The following subdistricts have their own articles:

• Centennial Park area
• Five Points
• Fairlie-Poplar
• Castleberry Hill.

[edit] Get in

Downtown Atlanta is located 7 miles (11 km) from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Interstate 75/85 runs directly through Atlanta, providing numerous exits into the downtown streets. Downtown Atlanta can also be accessed by MARTA trains and buses. The Five Points Station is where the North-South Line and the East-West Line intersect. Other MARTA rail stations in the Downtown area include Peachtree Center (N1) and Civic Center (N2) on the North-South Line, and Georgia State (E1) and Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station (W1) on the East-West Line.

[edit][add listing] See

• AtlanTIX Same Day, Half-Price Tickets, 65 Upper Alabama St SW (Located in the Atlanta Visitor's Center at Underground Atlanta), ☎ 404-588-9890, [1]. Tu-Sa 11:00-6:00, Su 12:00-4:00. AtlanTIX offers same-day, half-price tickets to performing arts events and cultural attractions. Tickets can be purchased at the booth or online. edit

• Centennial Olympic Park [2], The focal point of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, Centennial Park has now become the center for tourism. Georgia Aquarium, the new World of Coke (now open), CNN Center, Phillips Arena and Georgia Tech are all in walking distance. In the winter there is an ice skating rink and in the summer there are free concerts.
• CNN Center [3], Marietta Street (adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park), +1 404-827-2300. The world headquarters of CNN shares the CNN Center with a large tourist oriented shopping mall and food court. Here you can eat food from around the world whilst watching CNN's multi-channel output to the world on large screens. In addition studio tours are available, which include demonstrations of the technology used and visits to viewing galleries overlooking the newsrooms and newsreaders of CNN, CNN Headline News and CNN En Espanol. Tours run 9AM-5PM every day. Admission to the center is free; tours cost $12 (adult); $11 (senior); $9 (child).
• Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world with over a hundred thousand animals in 8 million gallons of water. The aquarium is an interactive, educational experience for all ages. Hours of Operation: Sun-Th 9AM-6PM, Friday 9AM-10PM, Saturday 8AM-8PM. Admission Tickets: $26.00 (adult); $19.50 (child age 3-12); $21.50 (senior age 55+). The aquarium is located at Pemberton Place next to Centennial Park in Downtown Atlanta.
• Imagine It! Children's Museum of Atlanta [4]. The Children’s Museum of Atlanta creates environments and activities where young children experience the power of imagination and the pure delight of learning with each other and with grown-ups. M-Fri 10AM-4PM, Sat-Sun 10AM-5PM; $11.00 (adult); Children under the age of 2 are free.
• The King Center [5] and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site [6], 449 Aubum Avenue, +1 404-526-8900. The memorial of Martin Luther King Jr. Which was established in 1968. The place shows Martin Luther King, Jr's nonviolent Social Change works. The historic site features a museum and preserves the neighborhood that includes Dr. King's birth home and Ebenezer Baptist Church. This is an important place to visit in downtown Atlanta.
• Philips Arena [7], Home to the Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers as well as the Georgia Force. Philips also hosts concerts and other major events.
• Rialto Center for the Arts +1 404-413-9TIX[8]. The Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University, is an intimate, cultural centerpiece of downtown Atlanta. Our mission is to inspire, educate, and entertain diverse audiences by presenting innovative and exceptional arts programming and cultivating community partnerships.
• Underground Atlanta, +1 404-523-2311 (fax: +1 404-523-0507), [9]. A shopping and entertainment district under Downtown Atlanta.
• VSA arts of Georgia, +1 404-221-1270 (fax: +1 404-221-1984), [10]. A nonprofit gallery and art space providing access to the arts for people with disabilities and those of low income.
• Theatrical Outfit+1 404-577-5257(fax: +1 404-577-5259), [11]. Theatrical Outfit entertains, educates and enlivens our audience by producing classic and contemporary theater with an emphasis on work indigenous to the culture of the American South.
• World of Coca-Cola, +1 404-676-5151, [12]. South of Centennial Olympic Park, next to Georgia Aquarium. The museum is largely dedicated to the advertising history of Coca Cola. Experience the reach of the world's most iconic brand in a new, highly interactive expanded space open in May 2007. Open M-Sat 9AM-5PM (9AM-6PM during Summer); Sun 11AM-5PM. $15 (adult); $13 (senior); $9 (ages 5-12); under 5 free and admission includes access to all exhibits and a commemorative Coke bottle). Booking online saves $1 as well as gets you a time slot due to increased traffic to the new exhibit.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Take a tour of the World of Coca Cola and get a drink of various Coke products from around the world. Don't forget to try Beverly from Europe.
• Tour the largest aquarium in America, located in the heart of downtown Atlanta.
• Take a tour through the CNN newsrooms.
• Have a Georgia Peach Martini in the Sun Dial, the revolving restaurant bar of the Westin Peacthree Plaza, and watch the sunset followed by entertainment provided by a jazz band.
• Visit Centennial Olympic Park, where you can play in the fountain and pay your respects to the victims of the 1996 Olympic Park Bombing. [13]

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Underground Atlanta [14] ($). This popular tourist attraction is literally underground and is close to other downtown attractions such as the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. Stores include Foot Locker, African Pride, and Unica.
• CNN Center. The atrium at the entrance of the CNN Center offers a few gift shops on the lower level. A great spot for buying souvenirs that display Georgia, as well as collectible figurines of your favorite Cartoon Network charcters at the Turner Store.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Budget

• Dailey's, 17 (Andrew Young) International Boulevard, [15]. An old Atlanta landmark with nightly entertainment. Incredible dessert bar.
• Les Fleurs de Lis Cafe, 7 Forsyth St. Romantic and unpretentious extremely French cafe near many of the Downtown tourist attractions.
• Sops on Ellis, 141 Carnegie Way. Salad, soups and sandwiches from the chef of the former Loaf and Kettle.
• Hard Rock Cafe, 215 Peachtree Street. The Atlanta branch of the world-famous chain, featuring over 300 pieces of rock memorabilia and burgers, ribs and malts.
• Jalapeno Charlie's, 218 Peachtree N.W. Latino/Mexican dining experience. Authentic art and music add to the atmosphere.
• Rosa's Pizza, 62 Broad Street, NW. Hole-in-the-wall lunchtime favorite pizzeria for pizza, calzones or lasagna. It's a little bit of New York on beautiful Broad Street.
• Spoon, 768 Marietta Street. Authentic Thai specialties near Georgia Tech.
• Thumbs Up Diner, 573 Edgewood Avenue. Breakfast and lunch east of the CBD on Edgewood Avenue. Known for its breakfast options, the line is often out the door.

[edit] Mid-range

• Atlanta Grill, 181 Peachtree St. NE. Located in The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta, it features steaks and seafood and boasts balcony dining overlooking Peachtree Street.
• Azio, Peachtree Center, 229 Peachtree Street. Pastas, breads and wood-oven baked pizzas.
• City Grill, 50 Hurt Plaza -The Hurt Building [16]. Nouvelle Southern cuisine in a beautiful historic building.
• Fire of Brazil, 218 Peachtree St. N.W. An authentic Brazilian steakhouse.
• Luckie Food Lounge, 375 Luckie St. NW. Across the street from the Georgia Aquarium, this huge new restaurant features seven miles of LED lighting, 2,200 gallons of salt water in three aquariums, a sushi bar, rooftop sky deck, live music stage, and all-day dining from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. American cuisine.
• Max Lager's American Grill and Brewery, 320 Peachtree Street. This 10,000-square-foot, turn-of-the-century industrial building highlights the copper and brass brewery, while the patio, deck, and large windows overlook Hardy Ivy Park.
• Pacific Rim Bistro, 303 Peachtree Center Avenue [17]. Pan-Asian menu, sushi bar and pleasant patio.
• Pleasant Peasant, 555 Peachtree Street [18]. Old (by Atlanta standards) restaurant with intimate romantic dining room.
• Ray's In the City, 240 Peachtree Street. Seafood diners have enjoyed Ray's on the River for years. The same experience is now on Peachtree Street in the heart of Downtown Atlanta.
• The Sun Dial, 210 Peachtree St, [19]. Perched 723 feet atop the tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere (the Westin Peachtree Atlanta), this restaurant is known primarily for its breathtaking views and slowly rotates around on a platform 360 degrees. Frequented by tourists and popular for Sunday brunch.
• Thrive, 101 Marietta St. Upscale, casual restaurant in Centennial Tower. Traditional American fare with an Asian twist.

[edit] Splurge

• Fogao Gaucho, 84 Peachtree St. A Brazilian steakhouse in the historic Flatiron Building (older than New York's Flatiron Building!)
• French American Brasserie - FAB [20], 30 Ivan Allen, Jr. Boulevard. In the Southern Company building, this is Fabrice Vergez’s reincarnation of Lenox Square's Brasserie Le Coze. The menu will be familiar to loyal customers -- French standards like niçoise salad, foie gras, skate and white bean soup complement new entrees like steaks and chops.
• Morton’s of Chicago-Atlanta, 303 Peachtree Street, NE. Steakhouse features steak, lobster and veal.
• Nikolai's Roof, 255 Courtland St NE, [21]. Located at the top of the downtown Hilton, this glamorous AAA four-diamond restaurant serves French cuisine from a popular prix fixe menu and a limited a la carte menu.
• Trader Vic's, 255 Courtland Avenue. In the Atlanta Hilton, this South Pacific-style features Polynesian cuisine and mai-tais.

[edit][add listing] Drink

• The Mark, [22]. An ultra-cool Downtown haven for displaced New Yorkers and the Prada-toting set.
• Hard Rock Cafe, 215 Peachtree St. NE.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Castleberry Inn, 186 Northside Dr. SW, [23]. A downtown hotel located inside the historic arts district featuring 168 rooms including standard rooms, adjoining rooms as well as spacious queen and king suites. Walking distance to art galleries, restaurants, the Georgia Dome, the World Congress Center, and other attractions.

• Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown Atlanta, [24]. Built into a historic office building, this Hampton Inn is close to all downtown attractions and features complimentary wireless internet for business travelers.

[edit] Splurge

• The Glenn Hotel, 110 Marietta St NW, [25]. Sexy new downtown boutique hotel CNN Center, Philips Arena, Georgia Dome, and Georgia Bar and within walking distance to the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park as well as the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coke.
• Omni Hotel at CNN Center, 100 CNN Center, Downtown. Tel:(404) 659-000 fax:(404) 525-5050, [26]. This hotel offers luxurious comforts and a convenient location. The hotel is within twelve miles to Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport and the nearest hotel to the Georgia Dome.
• Hyatt Regency Atlanta, 265 Peachtree St. NE, Tel:(404) 577-1234 fax:404/588-4137,[27].. This hotel offers luxurious rooms with city views, numerous meeting room and ballroom space for any occasion, dining and entertainment in an atrium setting, and a revolving bar/restaurant on top under a glass dome.

[edit] Stay safe

Downtown Atlanta is relatively safe compared to many of the surrounding areas. Statistics have shown that downtown crime continues to decrease, contradicting the recent citywide statistics. Certain precautions should still be taken such as not traveling alone at night and be aware of suspicious activity. A more common activity that may be intimidating to visitors is pan-handling, which is mostly harmless.