Free Things to do in Atlanta

20/01/2023

Piedmont Park

Home to lots of stupendous landscapes, scenery and nature is the popular Piedmont Park in between the neighborhoods of both Midtown and Virginia Highland. As well as picturesque woodlands and lakes, it has plenty of playgrounds, paths, and sports facilities for visitors to make use of.

Originally the private estate of Dr. Benjamin Walker, the vast tract of land was eventually bought by the city and opened up to the public as a park in 1904. Over the decades, tons of trails have been set down with some taking you along Cedar Creek and around Lake Clara Meer and others meandering their way past basketball courts, soccer fields and picnic pavilions.

While attractions such as the Atlanta Botanical Garden and aquatic center charge admission, the rest of the park is free to walk, run or cycle around. Other than taking in the striking scenery and views, you can also attend some of the countless cultural events and community festivals it hosts each year.

20/01/2023

High Museum of Art

Back in Midtown is yet another of Atlanta’s highly-rated institutes that is well worth checking out if you have the chance. Boasting an incredible collection of paintings, photos and sculptures, the High Museum of Art is free to visit between noon and 5PM on the Second Sunday of each month.

The largest visual art museum in the Southeastern United States, it was established in 1905 and now occupies a sparkling white, porcelain-enameled building in the arts district. While the unique shapes and designs by Richard Meier and Renzo Piano already make for a stunning sight, its light and airy galleries inside are just as delightful to amble around.

18/01/2023

Georgia State Capitol

Definitely one of the most important and impressive buildings in the city, the Georgia State Capitol rises up dramatically above the lush green gardens around it. The seat of the state’s government, its elegant interior is free to enter and explore on any weekday.

Exhibiting some exquisite Classical Revival architecture, the grand building was completed in 1889 and is adorned with a glittering golden dome topped by a statue of Miss Freedom. Designed to look somewhat like the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., its facade features a superb four-story portico fronted by six sturdy Corinthian columns.

Its interior is just as arresting as rich oak and marble panelings are used throughout with enormous staircases and atriums overlooking its central rotunda. Other than taking in all its fine features, there is also an excellent museum to visit on its fourth-floor full of artifacts and exhibits on the history of Atlanta and Georgia.

16/01/2023

Ebenezer Baptist Church of Atlanta

Sure to be of interest to history lovers, the Ebenezer Baptist Church of Atlanta is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as a pastor in the sixties. Now protected as part of the National Historic Site of the same name, it is free to enter any weekday and sit and contemplate on its old wooden pews.

Since being founded in 1886, the charming church has been the spiritual home of many locals in the Sweet Auburn district of Atlanta. Before being ordained himself, both MLK’s father and grandfather also preached from its pulpit with all three calling for desegregation and equal rights. Due to this, it soon became recognized around the world as a stronghold for the Civil Rights movement.

After visiting the church and listening to some recordings of MLK’s most poignant speeches, make sure to spend some time exploring the rest of the park outside. It includes not just his early boyhood home and gravesite but a center all about the Civil Rights movement too.

16/01/2023

14/01/2023

Krog Street Market

Loads of fun to wander around, Krog Street Market is home to scores of enticing eateries, specialty shops and food stalls from all around the globe. Besides taking in the lively yet laidback atmosphere and examining all its colorful fruit and veg, you can pick up some tasty snacks and smoothies here before continuing on with your sightseeing.

Often described as one of the best food halls in the world, it opened back in 2014 along the Atlanta BeltLine in Inman Park. In its historic old 1920s warehouse, you can find bakers and butchers lying next to stands selling either souvenirs or artisanal food products.

While some restaurants at the hugely popular west coast-style market are quite pricey, other eateries are more affordable with Indian, Italian, Latin American and Vietnamese options all being on offer.

12/01/2023

Atlanta Monetary Museum

A fascinating place to visit, the Atlanta Monetary Museum looks at the turbulent history of banking in the States. Actually located within the Federal Reserve in Midtown, its rare coins and currencies can be viewed for free on any weekday with free group guided tours available by appointment only.

Through dozens of displays, the museum covers the early days of barter and other frequently traded goods and services right up to modern banking and our credit cards. It also focuses on the Federal Reserve’s role in the economy and allows guests a quick peek at the big Bank’s automated vault and cash-processing areas.

Aside from learning about how its monetary policies affect your life, you can see common products previously used as money and gain a greater grasp of various financial systems throughout history.