Awards & recognition
About this city
Also known as: The Dogwood City, The City in a Forest, A-Town
As the capital and most populous city of Georgia, Atlanta is situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the north-central part of the state, boasting the highest elevation among major cities east of the Mississippi River. Founded in 1837 at the terminus of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, the city was completely burned to the ground during the American Civil War but rose from its ashes to become the undisputed economic and cultural powerhouse of the American South, adopted by the symbol of the Phoenix. Atlanta served as the national epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today, it is a global mega-city housing Fortune 500 headquarters, a world-class arts scene, and the world's busiest airport.
Location & Administrative
Transportation & Accessibility
Weather & Timing
Economics & Local Vibe
Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 2–4 days
See whale sharks in the massive tanks at the Georgia Aquarium. Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, including his birth home. Walk, bike, or dine along the vibrant, art-filled urban pathways of the Atlanta BeltLine.
Must-See
Museums & Culture
8Museums7
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
Atlanta History Center
College Football Hall of Fame
David J. Sencer CDC Museum
Margaret Mitchell House
Must-See
