Guide to Atlanta: how to get there and where to stay, what to see and where to go in the evening. The most interesting in Atlanta: fresh reviews and photos, places to see, branded entertainment and shops.
According to toppharmacyschools, Atlanta, the capital of the state of Georgia, a huge city of 5.5 million people, positions itself as the capital of the New South. Dynamic and modern, with a high-tech style in everything, this city manages to retain its charm, elegance and historical roots.
The history of Atlanta has been the backdrop for many classic films, the most famous being Gone with the Wind.
Atlanta Tourist Office
Address: 65 Upper Alabama St.; tel.: +1 (404) 521-6600; Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00.
How to get there
By plane
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport is located 12 km south of the city center and is considered the busiest airport in the world due to the numerous connecting flights of Delta. The airport offers a full range of ground transportation services: taxis, minibuses, car rentals. The airport is also the terminus of the MARTA railway network.
By train
Amtrak trains arrive at the railway station, which connect the city with New York, Philadelphia, Washington, New Orleans and other major American cities.
By bus
Greyhound buses, which connect Atlanta with many US cities, arrive at Terminal 232 on Forsyth Street, located on the southern outskirts of the city.
By car
The main highways connecting Atlanta with other American cities are I-75 (from Detroit to Florida), I-85 (from the Atlantic to New Orleans) and I-20 (to Texas).
Weather in Atlanta
The climate in Atlanta, located at an altitude of 400 m above sea level, is somewhat cooler than in other cities in the south. It is cold here in winter and snowfalls are frequent, in summer the temperature rises to +35 °C.
For its summer heat, Atlanta has earned the playful name Hotlanta.
Heavy rains and thunderstorms occur in late winter and early spring.
Transport
Atlanta is served by the MARTA bus and light rail network, which is quite safe during the daytime. However, it is not recommended to use it alone late at night. Trains run from 5:00 to 1:00, every 12 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes at other times.
The bus service, which includes more than 100 routes, is also available from 5:00 to 1:00, with an interval of 20 minutes. Taxis are easy to hail near attractions and places of recreation in the city center, but it is more convenient to call by phone.
Traveling around the city by car is the most convenient way to see all the sights of Atlanta. However, one must take into account traffic jams, which usually occur from 6:30 to 9:30 and from 15:30 to 18:30, as well as the difficulties of parking in the center.
Atlanta Hotels
Most of the major hotels in Atlanta are located in the city center between the Five Points and Midtown areas, this place is called the Hotel District. The hotel area is within walking distance of all major attractions. Boutique hotels with their atmosphere of exclusive luxury can be found in the Midtown area. Nightlife lovers prefer to stay in the Buckhead area.
Restaurants
Many restaurants in Atlanta have earned the city the fame of one of the world’s centers of culinary arts in the world. The traditions of southern cuisine can be appreciated in restaurants: Bacchanalia, whose chef received the award “Best Chef in the Southeast Region of the USA”; Canoe, whose cuisine was praised by the picky New York Times; Eugene, one of the top 10 restaurants in Atlanta and Dogwood, which serves all the popular dishes of southern cuisine.
Those who like to combine a meal with a cultural program can visit Pittypat’s Porch, which reproduces the atmosphere of Gone with the Wind, or Dante’s Down the Hatch, which is inhabited by crocodiles and famous jazzmen perform six days a week.
The Sun Dial is a restaurant with a panoramic view, located on the top floor of a skyscraper at a height of 250 meters.
Entertainment and attractions in Atlanta
The highest concentration of Atlanta museums is in the Centennial Park area. The World of Coca-Cola Museum tells about the most famous brand of our time. Not far from it is the world’s largest aquarium, where visitors can swim with huge fish. On the same block is the CNN studio, which offers guided tours that acquaint visitors with the behind-the-scenes life of the largest news corporation.
History buffs can visit the National Historic Site at Sweet Auburn, Atlanta’s 360-degree panorama at Grant Park, and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, which showcases the entire history of the state from the time of the dinosaurs. Admirers of the work of Margaret Mitchell (the author of Gone with the Wind) can visit the Writer’s House Museum.
If you are planning an extensive museum program, then it makes sense to purchase the Atlanta CityPASS, a ticket that gives you the opportunity to visit 6 museums for 9 days at a big discount and skip the line.
Walking around the city will introduce you to the skyscrapers of Middletown and the old Victorian architecture of the city. The best view of the skyline of the city opens from the top of the Westin Peachtree, as well as from the observation deck of the Hyatt Regency hotel.
Atlanta parks
Atlanta is famous for its parks. You can visit the Centennial Olympic Park, Piedmont Park, the largest in the city, or the oldest Grant Park, which houses the Atlanta Zoo and Oakland Memorial Cemetery.
Atlanta clubs
Atlanta offers a rich and varied nightlife for all tastes. Buckhead remains the most popular place for evening entertainment for both locals and visitors. The most popular clubs among young people are Andrews cafe and Aiko Lounge, the older audience prefers Beluga Martini Bar. Students, foreigners rest in Middletown, there are also many institutions for the public of non-traditional sexual orientation.
Other popular clubs in the city are Masquerade, MJQ Concourse, Fado Irish Pub and Shakespeare’s Tavern.
Developments
In January-February, ATLart is a visual arts festival in Atlanta. In March, the whole city celebrates St. Patrick’s Day. The Georgia Renaissance Festival takes attendees back to the time of King Arthur.
The Jazz Festival is held in May and the Atlanta Film Festival in June. The Black Arts Festival, which takes place in July, is the largest showcase of African-American art, and there is also a photography festival every year in October.
