Atlanta's Best: Self-Guided Driving Tour of Iconic Landmarks & History
Places: 15 POIs
Distance: 8.68 mi
Duration: 1h:07m
GPS-guided narration through
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Tour #2549
About this English self-guided 1h:07m driving tour in Atlanta
Welcome to Atlanta, Georgia — a city of history, culture, and constant reinvention. Known as the “City in a Forest” for its canopy of trees, Atlanta blends Civil War history, the Civil Rights Movement, Olympic legacy, and a modern skyline into one dynamic story.
The name Atlanta itself comes from the Western & Atlantic Railroad, with the city growing first as a rail hub and later as a crossroads for business, music, and culture. Today, it’s the capital of the New South — a place that honors its past while embracing the future.
On this tour, we’ll guide you through some of Atlanta’s most iconic landmarks: the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park, world-class attractions like the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola, historic sites such as the Ebenezer Baptist Church and The King Center, cultural destinations like the Fox Theatre and the High Museum of Art, and green escapes from Piedmont Park to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
As you drive, you’ll hear stories that connect Atlanta’s history, architecture, and culture, and we’ll point out the best spots to stop, look around, and experience the city.
So buckle up and get ready to explore Atlanta — a city that’s always moving forward, but never forgets where it came from.
- 1For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
- 2Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
- 3Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant (
![UCPlaces AI Bot Icon]()
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
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This tour is available in 1 more language:
Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place #1
![Map Pin]()
Recommended Starting Point
Distance: 0.00mi
, Attraction : Park, Landmark
Marietta St NW @ Park Ave West, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA
Centennial Olympic Park
On your right is Centennial Olympic Park, a 22-acre green space built for the 1996 Summer Olympics. What was once a run-down part of downtown was transformed into the heart of the Games, and today it remains one of Atlanta’s most popular gathering places.
At the center of the park is the famous Fountain of Rings, designed in the shape of the Olympic logo. It’s not just for show — kids splash and play in it every day, and during the Games it became a symbol of Atlanta’s hospitality to the world. The fountain still hosts daily water shows choreographed to music.
The park is surrounded by some of the city’s biggest attractions: the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the CNN Center are all just steps away. It’s a hub that connects Atlanta’s history, culture, and entertainment.
But Centennial Olympic Park also carries a somber history — it was the site of the 1996 Olympic bombing. Today, it stands as a place of resilience and remembrance, a space that honors the Games while welcoming millions of visitors each year.
With its skyline views, walking paths, and iconic fountain, Centennial Olympic Park is the perfect spot to start exploring downtown Atlanta.
At the center of the park is the famous Fountain of Rings, designed in the shape of the Olympic logo. It’s not just for show — kids splash and play in it every day, and during the Games it became a symbol of Atlanta’s hospitality to the world. The fountain still hosts daily water shows choreographed to music.
The park is surrounded by some of the city’s biggest attractions: the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the CNN Center are all just steps away. It’s a hub that connects Atlanta’s history, culture, and entertainment.
But Centennial Olympic Park also carries a somber history — it was the site of the 1996 Olympic bombing. Today, it stands as a place of resilience and remembrance, a space that honors the Games while welcoming millions of visitors each year.
With its skyline views, walking paths, and iconic fountain, Centennial Olympic Park is the perfect spot to start exploring downtown Atlanta.
Place #2
![Map Pin]()
Distance: 0.37mi
, Attraction : Aquarium
320 Simpson St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA
Georgia Aquarium
On your right is the Georgia Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world and one of Atlanta’s proudest landmarks. It first opened in 2005 with a gift from Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus, who wanted to give the city a world-class attraction that would also inspire conservation and education.
The numbers here are mind-boggling: more than 10 million gallons of water and tens of thousands of creatures from oceans, rivers, and reefs all around the globe. The aquarium is best known for its whale sharks — the largest fish in the sea — making it the only place outside of Asia where you can see them. Alongside them, you’ll find beluga whales, manta rays, dolphins, penguins, and even sea lions.
What makes the Georgia Aquarium stand out is how immersive it feels. Massive viewing windows give you the sensation of standing right inside the ocean, while tunnels let you walk beneath swimming sharks and rays.
The numbers here are mind-boggling: more than 10 million gallons of water and tens of thousands of creatures from oceans, rivers, and reefs all around the globe. The aquarium is best known for its whale sharks — the largest fish in the sea — making it the only place outside of Asia where you can see them. Alongside them, you’ll find beluga whales, manta rays, dolphins, penguins, and even sea lions.
What makes the Georgia Aquarium stand out is how immersive it feels. Massive viewing windows give you the sensation of standing right inside the ocean, while tunnels let you walk beneath swimming sharks and rays.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1
Centennial Olympic Park
Place 2
Georgia Aquarium
Place 3
Civil and Human Rights Center
Place 4
World of Coca-Cola
Place 5
CNN Center
Place 6
State Farm Arena & Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Place 7
Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church
Place 8
Memorial Rose Garden & The King Center
Place 9
MLK Jr. Birth Home
Place 10
Krog Street Market
Place 11
Ponce City Market
Place 12
Piedmont Park
Place 13
Margaret Mitchell House
Place 14
High Museum of Art
Place 15
Atlanta Botanical Garden
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Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
+ How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
+ What does this tour include?
This self-guided driving tour includes 15 stops, covering top attractions such as Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Aquarium, Civil and Human Rights Center, World of Coca-Cola, CNN Center.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Centennial Olympic Park (Address: Marietta St NW @ Park Ave West, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
+ What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided driving tour designed to be completed by car, covering scenic routes, city highlights and optional key stops.
+ Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided driving tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you. The only vaiables that might affect your pace are speed limits and traffic congestion.
+ Do I need a car for this tour?
Yes, this is a driving tour, designed to be completed by car, with stops spread across different locations connected by a driving route.
+ Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There are two things that you need - 1. A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour). 2. A car. Here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a charging cable for your car. 2. Connect your phone to the car speaker system via bluetooth or use our CarPlay/Android Auto option for the best experience.
+ How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. This works great either directly from your phone, or while connected to your car's multimedia system and using our CarPlay or Android Auto options. Just follow the route and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
+ Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
+ What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
+ I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
+ What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
+ Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!