Atlanta/Downtown

Downtown Atlanta is the central area of Atlanta, as well as the center of Georgia.

Understand
Downtown is home to the Georgia State Capitol, City Hall, and headquarters of numerous corporations. Despite the rise of Midtown and Buckhead, Downtown still contains much of the commercial activity of the city. All the places to see here are within 10 minutes walk of each other, and within a similar walking distance of any of the MARTA stations at Five Points, Peachtree Center or Omni-Dome-World-Congress Center.

Get in


Downtown Atlanta is 7 miles (11 km) from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Interstate 75/85 runs directly through Atlanta, providing numerous exits into the downtown streets. Downtown Atlanta can also be accessed by MARTA trains and buses.



Other MARTA stations in the Downtown area include Garnett Station (S1), Peachtree Center (N1), and Civic Center (N2) on the North-South Line, and Georgia State (E1) and Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station (W1) on the East-West Line.

By long-distance bus

 * Greyhound Bus Lines. Service from many locations throughout the U.S. Buses arrive at and depart from the Greyhound terminal at 232 Forsyth Street, in a less affluent neighborhood on the southern edge of downtown, directly beneath MARTA's Garnett Station.
 * Megabus. Service from locations across the Southern U.S. The bus stop at 435 West Peachtree Street is near MARTA's Civic Center Station; buses stop on the east side of the street at the north end of the station.

By streetcar
Downtown Atlanta is served by the small Atlanta Streetcar loop, connecting the Olympic park with Peachtree Center and Auburn. Fares are $1 for a one-way trip and $3 for a full day.

Subdistricts
Downtown Atlanta is large and can be further broken down into subdistricts:


 * Five Points is the central area and reference point of downtown Atlanta. The name refers to a point where five streets intersect, which are Marietta Street, Edgewood Avenue, Decatur Street, and two legs of Peachtree Street. It is also where the North-South Line and the East-West Line of the MARTA Rail intersect at MARTA Five Points Station. Underground Atlanta was at the entrance of Five Points Station, and the World of Coke used to be there but was moved to the Centennial Park area.
 * The Centennial Park Area not only includes the park itself, but also The CNN Center, Phillips Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke, and a few other attractions. This area is heavily frequented by tourists as well as local residents.
 * Sweet Auburn served as the thriving center of black enterprise in Atlanta from the 1890s through the 1940s and is the birthplace of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
 * The Hotel District is the northern section of downtown. Some of the more luxurious hotels of Atlanta are in this area.
 * Castleberry Hill is an artsy and eclectic transitioning area west of downtown Atlanta with galleries, restaurants and bars.



Destinations

 * The neon Coke sign one block north of Underground Atlanta is worth looking at, and gives an update of time and temperature.
 * Georgia World Congress Center
 * The neon Coke sign one block north of Underground Atlanta is worth looking at, and gives an update of time and temperature.
 * Georgia World Congress Center
 * The neon Coke sign one block north of Underground Atlanta is worth looking at, and gives an update of time and temperature.
 * Georgia World Congress Center
 * The neon Coke sign one block north of Underground Atlanta is worth looking at, and gives an update of time and temperature.
 * Georgia World Congress Center
 * Georgia World Congress Center
 * Georgia World Congress Center
 * Georgia World Congress Center
 * Georgia World Congress Center

Buy

 * There are several street vendors outside the Five Points Station. However, purchasing expensive items such as jewelry should be avoided, as the products may possibly be an imitation of an expensive brand.

Mid-range

 * Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, 165 Courtland St NE. With an appealing poolyard plus restaurant.
 * Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, 165 Courtland St NE. With an appealing poolyard plus restaurant.
 * Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, 165 Courtland St NE. With an appealing poolyard plus restaurant.
 * Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, 165 Courtland St NE. With an appealing poolyard plus restaurant.

Stay safe
Downtown Atlanta is relatively safe compared to many of the surrounding areas. Statistics have shown that downtown crime continues to decrease, contradicting the recent citywide statistics. Certain precautions should still be taken such as not traveling alone at night and being aware of suspicious activity. A more common activity that may be intimidating to visitors is pan-handling, which is mostly harmless. Do not plan to walk anywhere in this area at night unless you are in a larger group. Tourists are often approached and/or followed by aggressive pan-handlers and hustlers. Three downtown hotels have made a formal complaint regarding this with the City of Atlanta due to an increase in complaints from guests at their properties.