Best Tours in Atlanta

Atlanta offers many activities, from escape rooms to helicopter flights. However, one of the best things to do in the city is to take a tour.

María Cano

María Cano

10 min read

Best Tours in Atlanta

Atlanta, GA, USA | ©Brad Huchteman

Trolley tours, ghost tours, food tours, Martin Luther King tours, brewery tours or reality show tours. Atlanta has a countless number of tours to do. Without a doubt, many of them are among the best things to do in Atlanta.

If you are visiting the city, I recommend you take a look at this list to discover the best tours for you and your preferences.

1. Atlanta Bus Tour

Ponce City Market| ©David Reed
Ponce City Market| ©David Reed

The best tour of Atlanta when it comes to knowing and contemplating the city, is this tour bus tour. The tour lasts approximately 5 hours and passes through the main tourist attractions of the city. The stops are marked on the itinerary.

At all times you will be accompanied by a local guide, who will explain the history and the most important details of the different places. You will also discover the events that have taken place at these monuments, as well as the struggle of the black population for their rights.

At some of the monuments there are stops for a few minutes so that you can take pictures. Otherwise, you will remain seated at all times, enjoying the views and not having to move a single foot. Among the places you will visit on this tour are the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Buckhead Mansion or the Atlanta Braves stadium.

Since the tour starts in the morning and lasts 5 hours, at lunch time there is a half hour stop at Ponce City Market so you can have something to eat. You can choose to go to one of the market's food stands or bring your own food from home.

Details of interest

  • Price: about 62 euros, approximately.
  • Duration: about 5 hours.
  • Means of transport: tourist bus.
  • Advantages of this option: as it is a bus tour, you will be able to see most of the city in less time and without getting tired.
  • Disadvantages of this option: the stops are not free, but are programmed.

Book a bus tour of Atlanta

2. Atlanta's Black History and Civil Rights Tour

Home of Martin Luther King Junior.| ©Lucas J
Home of Martin Luther King Junior.| ©Lucas J

Much of Atlanta's history has been shaped by the city's black population. During this tour you will have the opportunity to learn about the struggle of the African-American population for their rights, as well as their culture.

You will travel to the most important places in Atlanta, where great historical milestones that contributed to the achievement of civil rights for the black population took place.

The tour is led by a local guide, who will explain the history of the different monuments and tell you about their importance. The tour is conducted in an air-conditioned vehicle, which makes several stops along the way, so you can see the monuments up close.

Among the places you will see thanks to this tour is the Martin Luther King Jr. National History Museum, the most important figure in terms of civil rights for black people. You will also usually pass by Edgewood Avenue Southeast, where you will find a mural of great importance in the country, among other places.

Details of interest

  • Price: about 67 euros, approximately.
  • Duration: about 4 hours.
  • Means of transport: air-conditioned vehicle.
  • Advantages of this option: it is a tour that is done in small groups and whose route is done by car.
  • Disadvantages of this option: no lunch stop.

Book Atlanta's Black History and Civil Rights Tour

3. Night tour to see the lights of Atlanta

Atlanta by night| ©Taylor Strobridge
Atlanta by night| ©Taylor Strobridge

If you want to see the city in a different way and enjoy the sights under the moonlight and skyscrapers, I recommend this night tour to see the lights in Atlanta. You will be able to walk through the streets of the city without having to deal with the massive tourist influx. The tour is 2 hours long and will allow you to enjoy unique views of the city.

The experience is done in small groups, up to 14 people, and the transfer between the different points of the itinerary is done in an air-conditioned vehicle. This makes it one of the best things to do in Atlanta in summer or winter. At all times you will be accompanied by a professional guide, who will explain the details and history of the places you visit.

Some of the monuments you will see during this tour will be the Martin Luther King Historical Park, Ponce City Market, Mercedes Benz Stadium, Centennial Park, Millennium Gate or The Varsity, among many others.

Details of interest

  • Price: about 58 euros, approximately.
  • Duration: about 2 hours.
  • Means of transport: air-conditioned vehicle.
  • Advantages of this option: it will allow you to explore the city in a different way and with total tranquility.
  • Disadvantages of this option: it is not a tour suitable for you if you are traveling with children.

Book a night tour to see the lights of Atlanta

4. Food tours in Atlanta

Famous Waffles and Chicken dish.| ©Jeff Keyzer
Famous Waffles and Chicken dish.| ©Jeff Keyzer

If you enjoy learning about the food of the places you travel to, it's always a good idea to put a food tour of Atlanta on your bucket list.

One of the most recommended tours of this type is the one that explores the Inman Park area, the city's first Garden District. This activity mixes history and art with food, so you can immerse yourself in **Atlanta'**s culture.

Among the places that are usually included in this type of itinerary is one of the most important markets in the city, Kong Street. You can stroll through its stalls and enjoy the regional cuisine through its most typical dishes.

Once you have finished with the gastronomic tasting, you can visit the first viaduct of the city: Kong Street Tunnel, whose walls are adorned with street art.

With these tours you will visit Atlanta's top restaurants, try a cocktail tasting and even make several food stops.

Details of interest

  • Price: about 96 euros, approximately.
  • Duration: about 3 hours and a half.
  • Means of transport: on foot.
  • Advantages of this option: you will be able to taste the typical cuisine of Atlanta and discover its culture from the inside.
  • Disadvantages of this option: the tour is on foot at all times.

Book a food, street art and history tour of Atlanta's Beltline

5. Private tour of Atlanta's historic homes

Margaret Mitchell House| ©Mark Denton
Margaret Mitchell House| ©Mark Denton

Another one of the best tours to do in the city is the one that tours Atlanta's historic homes. This is a type of tour with a duration that varies depending on the occasion and is done on foot.

You will visit the most luxurious and exclusive areas of the city, such as the Buckhead neighborhood, whose streets are lined with mansions and designer boutiques of luxury brands. You will also see the Governor's House, a construction of more than 2,000 square meters that serves as the official residence of the governor.

Another of the most interesting areas through which this type of tour usually passes is Grant Park, the oldest area of Atlanta, built in 1800. Today, the neighborhood retains its essence with Victorian style buildings. It is in this area where the LP mansion is located, one of the most emblematic houses in the country, which belonged to Lemuel P. Grant.

Depending on the tour you choose, you may find the option of enjoying a traditional lunch in a restaurant, although the price of lunch is not usually included in the cost of the tour. After lunch, if you choose to do so, you will continue the tour by visiting the home of writer Margaret Mitchell, author of the novel 'Gone with the Wind'.

Details of interest

  • Price: approximately 88 euros.
  • Duration: varies according to the occasion.
  • Means of transport: on foot.
  • Advantages of this option: you will get to know the most sophisticated and exclusive areas of Atlanta.
  • Disadvantages of this option: lunch is not included in the price, although it does include the option of a meal for an additional cost.

Book a private tour of Atlanta's historic homes

6. Atlanta Ghost Tour

Ghost Tour| ©Carden D
Ghost Tour| ©Carden D

If you like paranormal happenings, I recommend you to take a ghost tour of Atlanta. The tour is done during the night with the company of a professional guide, who will take you to the most haunted places in the city. You will get to know places that at first glance seem normal, but that hide terrifying stories.

Among the different places that are usually seen in these tours is Sivas Hookah Lounge, the most haunted restaurant in Atlanta, which was the scene of tragic accidents. It is also common to go to Piedmont Avenue, which has witnessed deaths and suicides that even science cannot explain.

In addition, the tour also usually includes a visit to the Fox Theater, whose employees claim to have seen spirits in its facilities.

Another highlight is St. Mark's United Methodist Church, which during the American Civil War served as a haven for murderers and is part of the best ghost tours in Atlanta.

Details of interest

  • Price: approximately 31 euros.
  • Means of transportation: on foot
  • Advantages of this option: you will get to know the most terrifying and spooky side of Atlanta.
  • Disadvantages of this option: the tour takes place at night, so it is not very advisable to do it in winter in Atlanta.

7. Martin Luther King Tour of Atlanta

Ebenezer Baptist Church| ©Ann Grealish
Ebenezer Baptist Church| ©Ann Grealish

Atlanta is a city with a great cultural and historical richness. A large part of it is starred by the black population and their struggle with civil rights. The most important figure in this struggle is Martin Luther King. In these guided tours you will be able to go to the places in the city where the most iconic figure of the struggle for the rights of the African-American population in the United States used to go.

The expert guide will tell you the story of his life, while directing you to some of the most important places for the struggle against racial segregation. One of them is the Martin Luther National Historical Park, where you will find the house where he was raised and the offices where he worked.

You can also go to Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King was baptized and served as pastor. You will also go to Sweet Auburn, Atlanta's quintessential African-American neighborhood.

Details of Interest

  • Price: approximately 40 euros.
  • Means of transportation: on foot.
  • Advantages of this option: you will get to know in depth the figure of Martin Luther King and the history of the civil rights of the black population in Atlanta.

Book a Martin Luther King tour of Atlanta

8. Atlanta Trolley Tour

Mercedes Benz Stadium| ©4 Pete Seek
Mercedes Benz Stadium| ©4 Pete Seek

The next tour I propose is a streetcar tour of Atlanta. This is one of the best plans to do with children in Atlanta, as you can see the main tourist attractions of the city without the little ones get tired.

The tour lasts about 90 minutes, during which you can enjoy the wonderful views.

At all times you will be accompanied by a tour guide, who will explain the history and curiosities of the places you see. In this way, you will know in a more precise and deeper way the history and culture of the capital of Georgia.

Among the monuments that you can see thanks to this tour is the house of Martin Luther King, the place where he was born and where he lived his first years of life. You can also go to Piedmont Park, which is the largest urban green area in the city. Another of the visits contemplated is the Mercedes Benz Stadium, which is where the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United teams play.

Details of interest

  • Price: about 36 euros, approximately.
  • Means of transport: by streetcar
  • Advantages of this option: you will be able to see some of the sights of the city without having to walk.
  • Disadvantages of this option: some monuments are missing.

Book a trolley tour of Atlanta

9. Atlanta brewery tour by bus

Atlanta Beer| ©Lindsay Appel
Atlanta Beer| ©Lindsay Appel

If you like beer, I recommend that you take advantage of your visit to Atlanta to take this tour of the best breweries in the city. You will be able to learn about the brewing process of this delicious beverage and taste some of the best beers in the country.

During the tour you will be accompanied by a guide, who will explain the stages of beer production.

The best brewery tours in Atlanta usually include the option of tasting a pint of beer, accompanied by a typical local snack. In case you want to drink more than what is included in the price, you can always do so. You can even buy a beer as a souvenir at the breweries.

The journey between the different stops is made by air-conditioned bus, making it a quiet and perfect tour for those days when you do not have the strength to sightsee and walk long distances.

Details of interest

  • Price: about 72 euros, approximately.
  • Means of transport: air-conditioned bus.
  • Advantages of this option: you will taste the best beers in the country and learn about the brewing process.
  • Disadvantages of this option: if the weather is not good, the activity is suspended, which makes it a plan to do in summer in Atlanta.

Book a brewery tour in Atlanta

10. Reality show tour of Atlanta

Tyler Perry Studios| ©Joshua Osaghae
Tyler Perry Studios| ©Joshua Osaghae

Are you a fan of reality shows? You're in luck with this experience. This tour is conducted in small groups of approximately 15 people. During the tour, you will be able to go to places where some of Atlanta's best reality shows have been filmed, such as Housewives of Atlanta or Love & Hip Hop.

One of the stops you will make on this tour will be in the well-known Castleberry Hill neighborhood, where the gigantic Tyler Perry Studio is located.

All kinds of series and movies have been filmed here, such as Hawkeye or Zombieland 2. In addition, Castleberry Hill also has all kinds of stores that have appeared on television. You can take advantage of this stop to have a typical American lunch.

Details of interest

  • Price: about 86 euros, approximately.
  • Means of transport: on foot.
  • Advantages of this option: you will discover the most famous face of Atlanta.
  • Disadvantages of this option: it is a tour designed mostly for teenagers.

Book a reality show tour of Atlanta