Olympic Rings with tourists in Centennial Park District Atlanta
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A Guide to Atlanta’s Centennial Park District

If you are looking for the highest density of attractions and things to do in downtown Atlanta, then the Centennial Park district must be at the very top of your list. As a visitor to the city of Atlanta, this would be one of the top destinations and a place you could easily spend an entire day, if not two full days exploring.

The Centennial Park district is the surrounding area around the park and includes the amazing greenspace that connects the many, major attractions in the area.

It is confusing to know the exact borders of the Centennial Park neighborhood in Atlanta. I have seen it displayed as bordered by Ivan Allen Road to the north, Marietta Street to the west and Centennial Olympic Park Drive to the East.

Other maps show it encroaching a couple blocks beyond those street borders so it includes things like the Tabernacle, CNN Center, Skyview and Mercedes Benz Stadium.

The map above provides an approximate boundary for the Centennial Park District. This is the area we will be covering in this guide.

Map and History of Centennial Park District

The Centennial Park district was renamed from Marietta-Luckie district. The park was created to commemorate Atlanta hosting the 1996 Olympic games.

For those old enough to remember, it was home to a tragic event. A pipe bombing that ultimately took 1 life and injured over 100 people.

Today the district is a tourist destination. The district is very walkable and contains most of the popular attractions in the city. It also includes the stadiums and convention centers.

Things To Do In Centennial Park District of Atlanta

If you are up for some of the best Atlanta attractions and things to do, this area is well worth a visit. The areas surrounding the park include some of the most fun things you will see and do on a trip to Atlanta. In no particular order, here are some of the best things to do in the Centennial Olympic Park district of Downtown Atlanta:

  • Centennial Olympic Park – Enjoy the greenspace that was built to commemorate the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta Georgia.
  • Georgia Aquarium – The largest aquarium in the United States is not something you want to miss when visiting Atlanta. This aquarium is home to whale sharks, beluga whales and a giant underwater tunnel for maximum views. Trust me, as a season pass holder, it’s fun for the entire family.
  • World of Coca Cola – Atlanta is home to Coca Cola headquarters. If you are a fan of the Cola or maybe a shareholder, this attraction is loaded with branding history of Coca Cola and features a family favorite, tasting of 100’s of soda brands.
  • SkyView Atlanta – What better way to take in all the views of the Centennial Park district than from atop a giant ferris wheel.
  • CNN Center – In the past you could tour the CNN center where you would see some of the news rooms. You could even test your skills as a weatherman. However, studio tours are closed. The best thing is the food court.
  • Tabernacle – Is a music venue that was converted from the Baptist Tabernacle. Originally the space was a House of Blues during the Olympics, but now is a music venue owned by Live Nation. It is a fantastic spot to see your favorite artists perform.

Museums

  • Children’s Museum of Atlanta – This museum has plenty to do for the little ones, from science to food. There are plenty of hands on, interactive things for the children. This museum is best for kids 8 and under.

Home Of The Falcons, Hawks and Atlanta United.

outside at mercedes besz stadium

The stadiums in the area really draw the crowds with everything Atlanta sports, the biggest concerts and many special events like the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl.

The stadiums in the area include:

  • Mercedes Benz Stadium – The Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United home games are at this relatively new stadium is an amazing venue to watch a game. It also serves host to the Peach Bowl and other special events like Billy Joel and Chris Stapleton.
  • State Farm Arena – Home to the Atlanta Hawks home games. This arena is fun for a game with plenty of food and experiences for the entire family to enjoy inside. The arena hosts many of the biggest music stars.

Mercedes Benz Stadium does offer tours on non event days. Infrequently they offer a “Party on the Pitch,” which allows you to tour the Atlanta United locker room. There are also games for the whole family on the field.

Restaurants Nearby In The District

While you are exploring the Centennial Park neighborhood of downtown Atlanta, you probably will find yourself hungry. Not everyone wants to eat in the food court of the aquarium and I don’t blame you. It’s okay, but not great. Here you can find a few ideas for dining around Centennial Park.

Most of the restaurants that are close by are chain restaurants. Though, there are a few unique destinations.

Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria serves authentic, New York Style Pizza from a coal oven. It’s above average pizza within walking distance from the aquarium.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House is a chain steakhouse that features premium priced cuts of beef.

Dos Bocas is a full service restaurant featuring favorite Cajun and Tex-Mex dishes.

Der Biergarten is one of Atlanta’s best beer gardens and features authentic style German food.

STATS Brewpub has pub fare and hand crafted brews. It’s a great spot to take a break from site seeing and check out the sports you missed.

Park Bar features the best of Atlanta brews and has some tasty sandwiches. This is a cozy neighborhood pub.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks offers high end seafood and steaks within a newly renovated space.

CNN Foodcourt has a Chic Fil A, Burger Fi, Subway, Moe’s and other chain quick service restaurants. If you want something higher end, there is also a McCormick and Schmick’s.

Ted’s Montana Grill is a chain restaurant that features excellent burgers and steaks. If you are fan of Bison, this is a great spot to check out.

Information For Visiting

Statistics vary, but the last count I found showed that the Centennial Park District in Atlanta welcomes over 20 million people every year.

Yes, it is a very popular destination!

The Centennial Park district is extremely walkable. Sidewalks are everywhere and the park connects just about everything that you want to see.

If safety is you concern, this section of town is very touristy and I have yet to feel uncomfortable walking around. The usual people you will see in the area are tourists, tour bus groups and Atlanta Sports fans.

On the map above, I marked a few parking lots near the aquarium. There are other parking lots, I just find these the most convenient to get to from the highway.

MARTA is an option from the Blue or Green line at the GWCC/CNN MARTA station. The Peachtree Center station on the red or yellow line is about 10 blocks from the Centennial Olympic Park. It’s a bit of a walk.

Hotels Near Centennial Olympic Park

All four of these hotels are within walking distance to everything you want to see in the Centennial Park District of Atlanta.

Marriot Marquis in Downtown Atlanta – This hotel is a bit further, but it is a full service Marriott nearby.

Hyatt Place Atlanta / Centennial Park – This hotel is pet friendly! It also has a restaurant on site, offers free breakfast and has a fitness center and pool.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park – who doesn’t love the managers receptions at an Embassy? This hotel has a Ruth’s Chris.

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center is probably one of the nicest hotels in the district and the closest to Mercedes Benz Stadium.

Hyatt House Atlanta/Downtown is the closest hotel to the Georgia Aquarium.

For a full search of nearby hotels, please see the following map:

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