Where to Stay: Best Areas in Atlanta

Atlanta is the vibrant capital city of the southern US state of Georgia. This exciting city break destination offers a huge variety of entertainment and a thriving arts scene. It seamlessly blends heritage and contemporary architecture and has an interesting mix of historic sites and modern attractions. Plus, it’s dotted with peaceful green spaces and offers convenient access to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

If you’re planning a trip to Atlanta, you might be wondering which part of this sprawling metropolis to stay in. Let’s take a look at the city’s most popular neighborhoods and highlight some of its best hotels to help you book the perfect getaway.

Downtown for the Main Attractions

Photo Credit: Michael Gordon

Hightlights: World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Olympic Park, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park, National Center for Civil and Human Rigts, Georgia Capitol Museum, Apex Museum, College Football Hall of Fame, Mercedes-Benz Studio, State Farm Arena

Downtown is the heart of Atlanta and serves as both the business and entertainment hubs of the city. This is where you’ll find many of the city’s landmark buildings, such as the CNN Center and the Westin Peachtree Plaza. The area is busy with locals and tourists throughout the day and into the evening, and the Five Points MARTA station offers convenient public transport links to various other parts of the city.

There’s no shortage of things to do in Downtown Atlanta, and many attractions here are family-friendly. Check out the World of Coca-Cola to learn the history of one of the world’s best-known soda brands, visit the Georgia Aquarium to see thousands of marine animals across seven galleries, or walk around Centennial Park which was home to the 1996 Olympic Games.

To learn about Atlanta’s role in the modern civil rights movement, visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, and spend a couple of hours at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. If you’re a sports fan, check out the College Football Hall of Fame, and try to catch a game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium (home of the Atlanta Falcons), or the State Farm Arena (home of the Atlanta Hawks).

Staying in Downtown is convenient if you want many of the city’s main attractions within walking distance. However, the area can be somewhat unsafe at night and it isn’t the best base for families. Many visitors prefer to stay in a neighboring area and commute to Downtown for their daily sightseeing.

If you do opt to stay Downtown, you’ll probably feel most comfortable in one of the big hotel chains such as Hilton, Hyatt, Intercontinental, Marriott, or Wyndham.

Where to Stay in Downtown Atlanta

These are some of the best hotels in Atlanta’s Downtown neighborhood:

• Hilton Atlanta is a comfortable hotel close to I-75, just six blocks from many of Downtown’s biggest attractions. It has a fitness center, pickleball and basketball courts, a jogging track, and is connected to MARTA for easy access to ATL airport.
• Atlanta Marriott Marquis is a modern, four-star hotel with a stunning atrium that showcases its impressive 52 stories. It has a luxury spa, indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, a restaurant, a sports bar, and a Starbucks.
• Twelve Downtown Autograph Collection is a luxury hotel that offers stylish, modern suites with full kitchens and separate bedrooms. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, a fitness center, and an outdoor pool.
• The Candler Hotel is set within a historic building commissioned by Asa Griggs Candler, the business tycoon responsible for making Coca-Cola a household name. With iconic art deco styling, this pet-friendly boutique hotel is one of the most stylish places to stay in Downtown.
• The Westin Peachtree Plaza is one of Atlanta’s most recognizable landmarks because it towers over the Downtown area with glass walls that reflect the sun and sky. Its rooms offer incredible city views from floor-to-ceiling windows, and you can enjoy dinner and cocktails with a view when you head to the hotel’s Sun Dial Restaurant on the 73rd floor.

Midtown for Convenience & Comfort

Photo Credit: EQRoy

Highlights: High Museum of Art, Center for Puppetry Arts, Center Stage Theater, SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion & Film, Woodruff Arts Center

Midtown lies just north of Downtown and is considered the city’s artistic hub. It’s packed with galleries and independent boutiques where you can browse artworks and artisanal products made by local creatives. It’s also home to the High Museum of Art and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra amongst several other theaters, exhibition spaces, and museums.

Piedmont Park is one of Midtown’s most popular attractions, beloved by locals and tourists for providing a large stretch of green space in the city center. There are lots of paths around the park for walking and jogging, as well as basketball courts, tennis courts, an athletics field, a swimming pool, playgrounds, and a sustainable farmer’s market that takes place on Saturday mornings. Piedmont Park is also home to the Atlanta Botanical Garden where you can see incredible displays of native and exotic plants.

Midtown is a very walkable area with plenty of attractive buildings and points of interest to admire. This includes the colorful rainbow crosswalks at the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and 10th Street that mark the epicenter of Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community. Here and throughout Midtown you’ll find plenty of cool restaurants, bars, and clubs, so consider staying in this neighborhood if you’re looking for fun nightlife.

Despite being so close to Downtown, Midtown’s atmosphere is generally a little more relaxed and is considered to be a much safer neighborhood. There’s a great mix of accommodation here, including luxury hotels, mid-range boutique hotels, and trendy, affordable hostels.

Public transport links make it easy to reach Downtown’s sights, so stay here if you want close proximity to the heart of the city with the comfort of affordable, friendly hotels.

Where to Stay in Midtown Atlanta

Check in to one of these popular Atlanta hotels situated in the Midtown area:

• Crowne Plaza Atlanta, which is part of the IHG hotel chain, is a popular spot for both business and leisure travelers. It has a 24-hour front desk, a fitness center, a restaurant, a bar, an outdoor rooftop pool, and it provides free WiFi throughout.
• Loews Hotel Atlanta is a stylish 26-story glass building that offers a combination of rooms and suites. Set within a walkable, artistic neighborhood, Loews combines urban cool with timeless southern hospitality.

Decatur & Eastside for Family Vacations

Photo Credit: ferita Rahayuningsih

Highlights: DeKalb History Center Museum, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum, Ponce City Market

Decatur is a city in its own right that lies around five miles east of Downtown. It is connected to the city center by metro which makes it an accessible base for those visiting without a car. Plus, it has some interesting attractions of its own given that its history is more than 200 years old. Check out DeKalb History Center Museum, which is set within an attractive historic courthouse and teaches visitors about the evolution of local life here.

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center regularly hosts exhibitions and performances for lovers of art, music, and dance. Fernbank Museum of Natural History is a great attraction for curious kids to learn about science and nature. Woodlands Garden and Glenlake Park are both lovely green spaces for a relaxing stroll or to let the kids burn off some energy.

Decatur is one of several cool neighborhoods in Atlanta’s Eastside, so if you’re looking to stay outside the city center it’s well worth considering some of the nearby areas including:

• Virginia-Highland
• Druid Hills
• Little Five Points
• Inman Park
• Candler Park
• Summerhill
• Old Fourth Ward
• Cabbagetown

Old Fourth Ward is a former industrial area turned trendy hub for indie boutique stores and eateries. Its highlights include Ponce City Market and Historic Fourth Ward Park. Freedom Park lies nearby, and this is home to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Cabbagetown is another notable neighborhood famed for its Krog Street Tunnel which is lined with impressive murals.

Hotels are somewhat limited in Decatur and other Eastside neighborhoods but there are some chain hotels and independent guesthouses in the areas that lie closest to downtown. The more residential areas can be great places to find private vacation rentals.

Buckhead for Luxury Shopping

Photo Credit: 4kclips

Highlights: Atlanta History Center, LEGO Discovery Center, luxury stores, high-end restaurants

Buckhead is an exclusive area seven miles north of Downtown and is where affluent locals hang out. It has some upscale hotels for visitors to choose from, so it could be a great base if you want a luxurious break and don’t mind driving to see the sights.

Atlanta History Center is a popular Buckhead attraction and well worth the trip out to the area even if you don’t stay here. The LEGO Discovery Center is a fun day out for kids, and there are plenty of green spaces and playgrounds dotted throughout Buckhead to keep little ones busy.

For adults, shopping is a popular Buckhead pastime, and there are some excellent restaurants in the neighborhood that will appeal to keen foodies.

Where to Stay in Buckhead

These are the best places to stay in Buckhead:

• Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead lies at the heart of the neighborhood for easy access to the likes of Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square. It has an indoor pool, a spa, and private English gardens, and it provides a personal concierge service to make your stay as convenient and comfortable as possible.
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta Buckhead is an ideal base for business travelers because it features a business center, a meeting room, free WiFi, and free parking. Guests can enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast and access to the on-site fitness center.

Sandy Springs for Local Life

Photo Credit: Marcus E Jones

Highlights: Chattahoochee River Recreational Area, City Gree, Perimeter Mall

Sandy Springs is an attractive residential area that offers easy access to nature right outside of the perimeter. The Chattahoochee River Recreational Area is a great spot for hiking, fishing, and boating, and the City Green in the Sandy Springs downtown area is a lovely place to relax after a few hours of shopping and dining. For more retail therapy head to Perimeter Mall which lies between Sandy Springs and the neighboring area of Dunwoody.

Although Sandy Springs is some 15 miles from Downtown, access is made relatively easy thanks to the city’s MARTA stations. There are a few good chain hotels in the center of Sandy Springs and you may have luck finding private vacation rentals in the wider neighborhood.

If you want a taste of local life and don’t mind being some way from Atlanta’s city center, this could be a good base.

Cumberland for Short Stays by Car

Photo Credit: WorldTraveler_1

Highlights: Six Flags Over Georgia, Truist Park, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, Cobb Galleria

The city of Cumberland and the surrounding area of Cobb County are great places to stay if you plan to visit some of Atlanta’s suburban attractions. The area is home to Truist Ballpark, home of the MLB’s Atlanta Braves, and the Cobb Galleria, a major event and exhibition space. Plus, Six Flags Over Georgia, a huge amusement park, is an easy 30-minute drive away.

There’s a good range of accommodation available in Cumberland and Cobb. You’ll find townhouse-style rentals, all-suite hotels, and traditional hotels to suit a range of budgets.

College Park for Atlanta Airport Access

Photo Credit: EQRoy

Highlights: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia International Convention Center, Delta Flight Museum, Wolf Creek Amphitheater

College Park is a convenient area to stay in if you’ll be in Atlanta for a brief layover because it offers easy access to the airport. The neighborhood is also home to the Georgia International Convention Center which hosts a variety of events throughout the year.

There are plenty of hotels to choose from in College Park, and access to Downtown is relatively easy thanks to good public transport links. The neighborhood even has a couple of fun attractions of its own, such as Delta Flight Museum and Wolf Creek Amphitheater.

Book Your Stay in Atlanta

Atlanta is a diverse city with hotels and vacation rentals to suit all travel styles and budgets. Which of these neighborhoods will you call home when you visit this bustling metropolis in the American South?