While 24 hours in Atlanta might seem like too short a timeframe to explore the city, you can still cover many major attractions and eat plenty of delicious foods. I have to warn you that this guide is filled to the brim with activities. I wasn’t sure when I would get a chance to return to Atlanta, so I made sure to cover as much as I possibly could. Feel free to skip a stop or two if it feels overwhelming.
The city is quite spread out, so you’ll have to take a taxi to some attractions in order to get the most of your one day in Atlanta. I made a note under each stop on this guide whether you can walking or taking an Uber makes more sense.
This post is not the ultimate guide to Atlanta and definitely not written in stone. It is simply my way of making 24 hours in Atlanta, a city completely new to me, count. If you love hearty Southern food, reading Gone with the Wind, and visiting historical sites, this itinerary is for you!
Disclosure: this post contains some affiliate links which means if you buy something by clicking the link I will earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you.
How to Spend 24 Hours in Atlanta
8.00 — Breakfast at By George
With only 24 hours in Atlanta, let’s start the day bright and early! By George was recommended to me by Yulia, my namesake and an old friend who’s been living in Atlanta for over a decade. The restaurant is located inside the Candler Hotel, a beautiful masterpiece with marble columns, enormous chandeliers, and original period elevators.
But here’s a twist: while the Candler Hotel opened its doors in 2019, the building itself was commissioned in 1905 by the founder of the Coca-Cola Company, Asa Candler. Given that the next stop on this guide for one day in Atlanta is the World of Coca-Cola, I don’t think there’s a better place for breakfast than By George. The restaurant was named after the two architects who designed the building: George Stewart and George E. Murphy.
By George serves contemporary American cuisine. You can expect Southern favorites like biscuits and gravy and shrimp and grits for breakfast, as well as a few sophisticated options like tres leches brioche French toast with bourbon peach jam.
Another fun fact: the opening scene from the movie A Family Affair with Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, and Joey King was shot here.
By George — 127 Peachtree Rd NE (Inside the Candler Hotel)
Alternative: if you prefer a simpler place for breakfast, check out Atlanta Breakfast Club, it serves classic American breakfast in a more relaxed atmosphere. It’s also a bit closer to our next stop on the guide (only 6 minutes to the World of Coca Cola vs 16 minutes from By George).
Atlanta Breakfast Club — 249 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW
9.30 — World of Coca-Cola
A 16-minute walk from By George
As Atlanta is the birthplace of Coca-Cola and the city where the company’s headquarters are located to this day, we would be amiss not to visit the World of Coca-Cola. In all honesty, going to a museum dedicated to this popular drink felt like paying to watch its advertisement for two hours. But it was fun nonetheless.
The current museum is located on Baker Street, not too far from the pharmacy where John Pemberton created the original Coca-Cola formula. The museum is enormous and features a vault where the original recipe is hidden; a hall with Coca-Cola-inspired art; and a 3D movie theatre to name a few. But the most fun part is the hall where you can try over 60 different flavors of soda from all over the world.
World of Coca-Cola — 121 Baker St NW
11.30 — Fox Theatre and the Georgian Terrace (Optional)
A 4-minute taxi ride from the World of Coca-Cola
IMPORTANT: only make a stop here if you are right on track with this guide. If you are running a bit behind, then it’s better to skip this stop and take the taxi straight to Margaret Mitchell House.
After visitng the World of Coca-Cola, make a quick stop to see the Fox Theatre, a former movie palace that is now a performing arts venue.
Fox Theatre — 660 Peachtree St NE
Right across the street from the Fox Theatre is the Georgian Terrace, a hotel you cannot miss if you are a fan of Gone with the Wind and Clark Gable in particular.
The premier of the movie took place in Atlanta in 1939. All of the stars, including the director and Clark Gable, stayed at the Georgian Terrace (with Vivien Leigh as the only exception). The pre-premier party was also held at the hotel. Other notable guests of the hotel include Walt Disney, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Elvis Presley.
The Georgian Terrace — 659 Peachtree St NE
12.00 — Margaret Mitchell House
A 12-minute walk from the Georgian Terrace Hotel
or a 4-minute taxi ride from the World of Coca-Cola
To continue exploring Gone with the Wind sites walk to the Margaret Mitchell house on Peachtree Street, where she wrote her Pulitzer-Prize winning book. If you read Gone with the Wind, you will love this place. If you didn’t, I still think exploring the house is fun.
The tour gives you a sneak peek into a life of a woman fighting for her rights and standing her ground. Margaret Mitchell is such an inspiration, you will run straight to the book shop after the tour.
If you want to learn more about the life of Margaret Mitchell, what led her to writing the bestseller novel, and how she reacted to the premier of the movie, Stephanie Craig of History Fangirl talks to Jessica van Landuyt about all these and more in her history podcast episode “The Birthplace of Gone with the Wind“. Give it a listen!
UPDATE: The museum closed down in 2020 and reopened only recently in 2024. Since the reopening there are no more guided tours. Instead, you’ll explore the museum on your own.
Margaret Mitchell House — 979 Crescent Avenue NE
13.30 — Modern Southern Cuisine at South City Kitchen
An 8-minute walk from the Margaret Mitchell House
IMPORTANT: South City Kitchen is open for lunch until 14.30 on weekdays (and until 15.00 on the weekend), so make sure to arrive here on time.
This restaurant (just like all the other restaurants in this guide) was recommended to me by my friend Yulia. With only one day in Atlanta, I wanted to make sure every meal I had was special. And South City Kitchen exceeded all my expectations.
It offers Southern cuisine at its best with an elaborate spin. I highly recommend their fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. It was pure perfection. For the main, try catfish Reuben or pulled pork sandwich.
South City Kitchen — 1144 Crescent Avenue NE (Midtown location)
Alternative: if you can’t make it to South City Kitchen before 14.30, you can have lunch at El Viñedo (a 12-minute walk from Margaret Mitchell House) that serves South American specialties.
El Viñedo — 730 Peachtree St NE Suite 100
15.30 — Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
A 7-minute taxi ride from South City Kitchen
IMPORTANT: Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site is open every day until 17.00. Make sure to arrive here no later than 15.30 to be able to see the exhibits.
Take an Uber to Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. The site includes MLK Jr. boyhood home; Ebenezer Baptist Church where he was baptized and served as pastor; and a tomb where MLK Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King are buried. The visitor center has a museum dedicated to American civil rights movement and the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
Admittedly, 1.5 hours is not much time to cover all the exhibits here, but with only 24 hours in Atlanta, I didn’t have much choice. If you’d like to spend more time at this site, skip one of the other attractions and come here earlier.
UPDATE: Dr. King’s birth home is closed for renovations until November 2025. But you can explore the rest of the premises.
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site — 449 Auburn Avenue, NE
17.30 — Drinks with a View of Atlanta at The Sun Dial
A 30-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride from Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
From MLK Jr. National Historic Site walk (or take a taxi) to the Westin Peachtree Plaza. You have several options here: visit the observatory for 360° spectacular panorama of the city (the cost is $10 for adults) or have a cocktail at the Sun Dial (formerly-revolving) bar (the views are the same, but you only pay for the drinks).
The glass elevators take you to the 73rd level in 85 seconds. The Sun Dial bar offers good cocktails and light snacks. The prices are a bit steep, but the view is gorgeous.
The Sun Dial — 210 Peachtree St NW (inside Westin Peachtree Plaza).
19.00 — Dinner at Alma Cosina
A minute’s walk from Sun Dial
Just across the street from Sun Dial is Alma Cosina, a restaurant serving contemporary Mexican and Latin American cuisine. Here you can try seasonal guacamoles and salsas (there’s a tasting plate), shellfish ceviche, short rib empanadas, and roasted chicken with traditional mole Oaxaca. Tacos are also on the menu!
Alma Cosina — 191 Peachtree Rd NE (Downtown location)
* * *
Here your busy, but productive one day in Atlanta comes to an end. If you have more than 24 hours in Atlanta, consider visiting the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Botanical Garden, High Museum of Art, Jimmy Carter Library, or Piedmont Park.
Where to Stay if You Have One Day in Atlanta
Luxurious Independent Option — Stonehurst Place
Given a choce, I always prefer unique boutique hotels to chains. Atlanta map is dotted with the likes of Mandarin Oriental, Hyatt, and Ritz-Carlton, but if I were looking for a high-end experience, I’d go for the independent Stonehurst Place instead. Built as a private residence over a century ago, it was turned into a boutique hotel by the current owners. The mansion is conveniently located in midtown, boasts beautiful interiors, and has a 9.8 out of 10 rating.
Luxurious Historic Option — The Georgian Terrace
Another awesome luxurious option is the historic Georgian Terrace, the hotel where the stars of Gone with the Wind stayed during the premier of the movie. I mean, who wouldn’t want to stay at a hotel where Clark Gable spent a night? Elvis Presley stayed at the Georgian Terrace, too.
Mid-Range Option — Ellis Hotel
Ellis Hotel is conveniently located in Atlanta’s downtown, on Peachtree Street, right next to major attractions. It was recently renovated, so the rooms are modern and neat.
Budget but Remote Option — Drury Inn & Suites Atlanta Airport
If you are spending only 24 hours in Atlanta, chances are you are flying in and out, so it makes sense to stay near the airport instead of city center. One of the best hotels near Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport is Drury Inn & Suites.
Let me know in the comments if you use this guide for 24 hours in Atlanta! I’d love to hear from you!
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Love that city! I think it’s nice how dense Atlanta is, makes it easy to see a whole bunch! I really loved the mid-town area, and the hip Five Points neighborhood! But Buckhead is always fun haha <3
I wish I had the time to explore so many different neighborhoods! I think I did pretty good for 1 day, but definitely want to go back!