Athens (Georgia)

Athens is a vibrant college town of 127,000 people (2020) in the Classic Heartland region of Georgia. Athens is most popular in the late summer and fall when students, families of students or college football fans visit the University of Georgia.

By bus

 * Groome Transportation. Service to Athens several times daily from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. $34 one-way or $63 round-trip.
 * Megabus. Service from Atlanta, Columbia, Fayetteville, Charlotte, Durham, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. Mondays through Saturdays, buses stop at the Athens Multi-Modal Transportation Center (775 E Broad St); on Sundays, buses stop at the East Campus Parking Deck on the University of Georgia campus.

By car
To get to Athens from Atlanta, most people usually take University Parkway (GA-316) from I-85 at Lawrenceville or US 78 from I-285, which are both built to near-freeway standards (although you may encounter a few pesky traffic lights). You can also take US 129 or US 441 from I-85 (Jefferson and Commerce, respectively), or US 441 from I-20.

By bus


The UGA Bus lines offer very frequent service between campus, downtown, and Milledge Ave.

By walking
The downtown area and UGA campus are very pedestrian-friendly, while the rest of the city is not at all pedestrian-friendly.

By bike
Most major roads in Athens, especially near and on UGA campus, have dedicated unprotected bike lanes.

See

 * University of Georgia North Campus, South of Broad Street downtown. Stroll the grounds of America's oldest state-chartered university. Of particular interest are the Arch, Demosthenian and Phi Kappa Halls, the Chapel, Old College, and the Library.
 * University of Georgia North Campus, South of Broad Street downtown. Stroll the grounds of America's oldest state-chartered university. Of particular interest are the Arch, Demosthenian and Phi Kappa Halls, the Chapel, Old College, and the Library.
 * University of Georgia North Campus, South of Broad Street downtown. Stroll the grounds of America's oldest state-chartered university. Of particular interest are the Arch, Demosthenian and Phi Kappa Halls, the Chapel, Old College, and the Library.

Do

 * Walking Tour. Take either the Downtown Athens Walking Tour or the Athens Music History Tour. Both start from the Athens Welcome Center at 280 East Dougherty Street,.
 * Walking Tour. Take either the Downtown Athens Walking Tour or the Athens Music History Tour. Both start from the Athens Welcome Center at 280 East Dougherty Street,.
 * Walking Tour. Take either the Downtown Athens Walking Tour or the Athens Music History Tour. Both start from the Athens Welcome Center at 280 East Dougherty Street,.
 * Walking Tour. Take either the Downtown Athens Walking Tour or the Athens Music History Tour. Both start from the Athens Welcome Center at 280 East Dougherty Street,.

Hike
There are many hiking trails around the Athens area, as well as parks and other outdoor recreation centers.


 * The above named Botanical Gardens contains 4 miles of trails along the Oconee River.
 * There is the beautiful Athens Greenway that goes through parks and by the river, from the UGA Campus all the way up to:
 * Cook's Trail: Linking the nature center to sandy creek park, this primitive trail travels through wetlands, across many boardwalks, about 4 miles.
 * UGA Intramural Fields / Oconee Forest: With plenty of sports fields in the front, a lake in the middle, and acres of forest with trails behind.
 * UGA Intramural Fields / Oconee Forest: With plenty of sports fields in the front, a lake in the middle, and acres of forest with trails behind.
 * UGA Intramural Fields / Oconee Forest: With plenty of sports fields in the front, a lake in the middle, and acres of forest with trails behind.
 * UGA Intramural Fields / Oconee Forest: With plenty of sports fields in the front, a lake in the middle, and acres of forest with trails behind.

Eat
The epicenter of Athens culinary and bar scene is Downtown. This area is roughly defined by Broad Street in the South and Dougherty Street (which becomes Prince Avenue) in the North. The majority of restaurants will be located in this area, just north of UGA's campus.

There is also a small collection of restaurants, bars and stores centered around the area called "Five Points", where Milledge Avenue and Lumpkin Street intersect.

Normaltown is a neighborhood near Athens Regional Medical Center (corner of Oglethorpe and Prince) with a half dozen restaurants and shops. There is a strong Hispanic presence.

The normal American chain restaurants are scattered throughout Athens, with concentrations of them around the Beechwood Shopping Center (at the intersection of Baxter Street and Alps Road), near the Georgia Square Mall (at the intersection of Athen's circumnavigating perimeter highway, Loop 10 and the Atlanta Highway), and finally at the College Station Shopping Center (near the corner of Barnett Shoals Road and College Station Road).


 * The National Started by the acclaimed chef at Five and Ten, the National offers inventive Tapas style dining. Next door to Cine, sample wine, cheese and meats before catching a movie.
 * The Last Resort, 184 W. Clayton (Downtown). $12+.  A diverse menu of newer takes on traditional southern classics is supplemented by daily soup, quiche, fish and pasta specials.  Though the Last Resort is a great choice for dinner, it is perhaps the best Lunch spot in Athens.  The Fried Green Tomato sandwich topped with Vidalia-bacon salad dressing is a lunchtime favorite, while the praline chicken provides an excellent sweet yet savory dinner.  The wide array of cakes and pies are also of local fame and should certainly be sampled by visitors.
 * DePalma's An Athens institution that offers traditional (if unspectacular) Italian fare.  Try the stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer followed by mix and match pasta of your choosing.  The calzones and pizza are also good.  A good choice for a group, the waiters and waitresses will keep the wine flowing.
 * Weaver D's 1016 E. Broad.  Meat and three vegetables, made famous by REM.
 * Cali-N-Tito's A swanky mixture of Cuban and South American food, they have great sandwiches and other options. Their lunch special is a great deal, with a side and a drink. For drinks, they have good sweet tea or Coke. If you want beer or wine, you have to bring your own, this restaurant is BYOB. 1427 Lumpkin Street, this restaurant is located near the area called "Five Points".
 * Weaver D's 1016 E. Broad.  Meat and three vegetables, made famous by REM.
 * Cali-N-Tito's A swanky mixture of Cuban and South American food, they have great sandwiches and other options. Their lunch special is a great deal, with a side and a drink. For drinks, they have good sweet tea or Coke. If you want beer or wine, you have to bring your own, this restaurant is BYOB. 1427 Lumpkin Street, this restaurant is located near the area called "Five Points".
 * Cali-N-Tito's A swanky mixture of Cuban and South American food, they have great sandwiches and other options. Their lunch special is a great deal, with a side and a drink. For drinks, they have good sweet tea or Coke. If you want beer or wine, you have to bring your own, this restaurant is BYOB. 1427 Lumpkin Street, this restaurant is located near the area called "Five Points".

Drink
One of the great drinking cities in the South, there are some truly great bars in Athens. Athens is a great place to waste away in a state of bachanalia. Some of the best bars are:


 * Nowhere Bar is a popular spot for pool players, yet large enough to accommodate their less recreational friends who simply desire a place to drink. The jukebox tends to alternate between classic rock favorites and Widespread Panic.
 * The Pub at Gameday Popular with students eager to avoid the Spring Break type atmosphere at "Bourbon Street" and "Generals." A large and accessible bar, multiple televisions and wood paneling has ensured Gameday's status within the Athens social scene.
 * Allgood Usually attracts a different crowd than the townies, fratboys, and the freshmen. The greatest aspect is the outdoor patio bar in back of the second story.  Though the bar is large, it is a tad narrow, so overcrowding can be a problem.
 * The Globe A pub offering draft Belgium beers, English Ales and an extensive wine list that tends to attract an older, slightly more sophisticated crowd than nearby establishments.  Tables, couches and rocking chairs makes this a good place for those who seek to rediscover the lost art of conversation or simply enjoy quality beer. Voted one of the best bars in America by Esquire Magazine in 2010.
 * Normal Bar A local bar in Normaltown (on Prince near Oglethorpe) that attracts a neighborhood crowd. Go out back and sit by the fire pits with your dog.
 * The Globe A pub offering draft Belgium beers, English Ales and an extensive wine list that tends to attract an older, slightly more sophisticated crowd than nearby establishments.  Tables, couches and rocking chairs makes this a good place for those who seek to rediscover the lost art of conversation or simply enjoy quality beer. Voted one of the best bars in America by Esquire Magazine in 2010.
 * Normal Bar A local bar in Normaltown (on Prince near Oglethorpe) that attracts a neighborhood crowd. Go out back and sit by the fire pits with your dog.

Go next

 * Atlanta
 * Clemson, SC
 * Greenville, SC