A big, bustling metropolis, Atlanta has emerged in recent years as one of the top cities in the USA for visitors. This Georgia city is bursting with cultural attractions, a fascinating and turbulent past, and exceptional food. It’s also home to more than 340 parks, gardens and green spaces. Whether you’re here for the African American history, the creative scene, the fabulous food or in town on business, the best places to stay in Atlanta offer everything from cosy B&Bs or luxury hotels with spacious suites to slick city pet friendly hotels and high rises with epic city views, fit for a whole host of tastes and budgets. Wherever you choose to base yourself, you can expect a very warm welcome.
Sprawling across a vast area, Atlanta can feel more like a collection of neighbouring districts than a single city — and this is absolutely part of its charm. You’ll find the tallest skyscrapers and glitzy commercial buildings in the downtown area, home to hip bars and eateries, City Hall and the State Capitol. Slightly to the north is the striking Centre for Civil and Human Rights, not far from Sweet Auburn, where Martin Luther King Jr. was raised. Visit the Civil Rights icon’s home and the First Ebenezer Baptist Church — where his father and grandfather were also pastors — as you deepen your understanding of MLK and his legacy. There are a number of fascinating sites dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. across Atlanta, and some top-notch guided walking tours centred around them.
The city brims with cultural sights, but other big-hitters include the High Museum of Art, the Museum of Design, the Centre for Puppetry Arts and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History — the latter is fantastically kid-friendly. Explore Piedmont Park, which plays host to heaps of festivals and live music events, spot wildlife at the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve, and amble around the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Historic Fourth Ward Park, behind Ponce City Market, is also well worth visiting.
Expect a jam-packed programme of events and exhibitions, as well as an impressive array of food and drink spots scattered across the city’s many neighbourhoods. Upmarket Buckhead is a particular favourite, and the setting for some of the best places to stay in Atlanta, as well as the Governor's Mansion and the Lindberg Centre. Taste Southern classics, savour innovative twists on American dishes and tuck in to the flavoursome food brought to the city by its increasingly diverse global community over the course of your trip. This Georgia giant won’t disappoint!