Atlanta holidays

Atlanta city breaks crank up the culture – think authentic southern cuisine, historic green spaces and world-class museums.

City breaks to Atlanta

The US has no shortage of big-hitter destinations, where you can get a sense of what the place is like just from its nickname. There’s New York – known as ‘The City That Never Sleeps’ – and Las Vegas, often called ‘Sin City’, to name a couple. But Atlanta’s not one of them. That’s because it’s impossible to sum up this diverse destination in one phrase. While the bustling food and music scenes scream southern classics – think fried chicken wings and peach cobbler, and a mix of hip-hop, blues and jazz – the greenery whispers modern oasis. We’re talking huge botanical gardens focused on plant conservation and the Atlanta Beltline, which packs hiking trails and cycling routes into a 22-mile loop around the city.

Museums, museums and more museums

If we were to actually give Atlanta a nickname, it might be something like ‘Museum City’. There are more than 50 dotted around the local area, so you’re bound to keep your culture craving satisfied. Artsy types can hit up painting-packed galleries, while history lovers can’t miss the Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Park. It’s an open-air museum spread across 35 acres, and you can visit his childhood home. And where better to quench your thirst after a day of sightseeing than at the World of Coca-Cola? Over a hundred of the fizzy drink brand’s sodas are on tap here, and it’s filed with artefacts like special glass bottles made for the 1996 Olympics. Fun fact – the original rings from the games are still standing in Centennial Olympic Park.

Sport stadiums and ‘Y’allywood’ cinema

If you’re wondering what to pack when you come here, anything red is a good shout – especially if you’re planning on catching a game at the Mercedez Benz Stadium or the State Farm Arena. All the major teams feature shades of crimson in their logos as a nod to the phoenix rising from the ashes, a symbol adopted by the city after its recovery from the Civil War. You might want to pack some Marvel merch, too. Scenes from Black Panther, Spiderman and Captain America have all been filmed here, along with clips from The Hunger Games and Netflix hit Stranger Things. In fact, there are so many film studios here that Atlanta’s considered the southern version of Hollywood.