5 Fun Things To Do During Your Layover In Atlanta

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is the world's biggest airport, so you're likely to pass through at some point — and that's not a bad thing. Unlike some major hubs, Atlanta is well-connected to the city with a direct train line from the domestic terminal, making it one of the best airports in the U.S. for turning a long layover into a mini-adventure.

Five of the best attractions you can visit on a layover in Atlanta are the Porsche Experience Center, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Georgia Aquarium, and Peachtree Trolley.

It's important to note ATL doesn't have a luggage storage facility. Ideally, you can enjoy your layover without your big suitcases, and some simple tips can make traveling with just a carry-on even easier. But if that's not an option, there are third-party services online that connect travelers with storage solutions near airports and major cities. If you have a few extra hours between flights (we suggest at least eight), you can make the most of a layover in Georgia's capital by venturing beyond the arrival gates and exploring Atlanta.

For a truly unique way to spend time during a layover in Atlanta, the Porsche Experience Center is hard to beat. Under a 10-minute drive from the airport, it's one of the closest attractions, and offers something you can't find elsewhere: the opportunity to get behind the wheel of an ultra-luxury car.

The main draw is the driving experience, where you can take to a track and see what 600hp can really do. Don't know how to drive a manual? No problem. All the cars on-site have automatic transmission. Alternatively, you can book a demonstration lap as a passenger with a professional driver who'll push the car far beyond what a Porsche can do on public roads. The one downside is that this activity isn't cheap. The driving experience starts at $500 for a 90-minute session, and can climb to over $1,500 for a four-hour session where you get to test drive and compare two different car models. Demonstration laps are a much more affordable option, starting at $100.

They also offer guided tours of the center on select days, fine-dining at Restaurant 356 (overlooking the track), and high-end driving simulators. Reservations are required for entry, and the Porsche Experience Center is closed on Sundays and Mondays. If you're more into planes than performance cars, the Delta Flight Museum is just outside the airport and might be more your speed.

"Fun" might not be the best word to describe this activity, but because it's such an important and highly-rated museum in Atlanta, we'd be remiss to leave it off this list. Located downtown near several other attractions, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a meaningful experience during a long layover. Tickets start at $26, and you can plan to spend one to two hours here. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated, and offer powerful insights into the U.S. civil rights movement and those who shaped it. Whether you're visiting Atlanta from overseas or are a born-and-raised American, this is a productive way to spend your layover. If you're taking public transport, it's just an eight-minute walk from Civic Center Station.

Reviewers on Google raved about the experience, with one calling it "A MUST for any and everyone visiting the ATL!" Just prepare yourself before arrival. Visitors love the experience, but the subject matter is heavy. One reviewer wrote, "I learned a lot, and while the content can be difficult to read/see/hear at times and also emotional at times, it's important to know and well-worth visiting." Even the museum's structure holds a bit of history, as it was founded by Shirley Franklin, Atlanta's first African American woman mayor.

If you have more time and want to tack on an outdoor history attraction, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site and Preservation District is a great addition. However, the exhibits are more spread out, so it's best to save this one for when you have a longer Atlanta layover.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is the perfect urban oasis where you can stretch your legs and bide your time between flights when the weather is nice. It's famous for its rose garden, where you may spot some newlywed photoshoots taking place, or even a wedding.

The best time to visit is in the spring or fall when the roses are at peak bloom. The 25-foot Earth Goddess, a living sculpture, is another unmissable feature. She's stunning year-round, but looks best and most colorful from spring through fall. There's also a nice indoor garden with a tropical rainforest and an orchid center.

The Botanical Garden often hosts seasonal events that extend after dark, with light displays worth checking out if your layover is overnight. Regular admission starts at $27.95, though special event pricing is usually higher. Extend your outdoor stroll beyond the Botanical Garden and explore the free to visit Piedmont Park, covering over 200 acres. Catch the MARTA to either Midtown or Arts Center Station and it's about a 20-minute walk to the garden.

What makes the Georgia Aquarium particularly worthwhile? It's consistently rated one of the best in the country. It's home to over 100 marine animal species, from African penguins and pancake tortoises to manta rays, otters, and whale sharks — the world's largest fish. No wonder it's the most-visited tourist attraction in the state.

The aquarium is centrally-located, and easy to reach from the airport. It's just a 10-minute walk from several MARTA stations, including Peachtree Center and Civic Center, which are on the Red and Gold lines you can catch directly from the airport. Tickets start at $54.99, and you can easily spend three or four hours exploring the exhibits.

As a bonus, World of Coca-Cola is next door. This interactive museum takes you through the brand's history and offers sampling opportunities. Some might say it's one of Atlanta's biggest tourist traps. But if you have time for two activities on your layover, it would be easy to hit both. If you can only squeeze in one, take it from u/Kevin-W on Reddit: "If I had to choose between World of Coke and the Aquarium since they're next to each other, I'd choose the Aquarium every time!"

If you want to do it all without the stress, a city sightseeing tour is the smartest way to make the most of a short layover in Atlanta. You'll get a guided snapshot of the city's highlights, a great introduction for first-time visitors. In a short time, you'll pass through multiple neighborhoods, learn about Atlanta's civil rights history, music scene, sports culture, and modern architecture while someone else handles the logistics.

One popular and memorable option is the Peachtree Trolley. This cute and compact loop covers major neighborhoods, landmarks, and local history in under two hours for $36. It's highly-rated, and one Triapdvisor reviewer praised it as "both informative and hilarious," so you're in for some entertainment along the way. You board the Trolley outside the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Atlanta, which is near the Five Points MARTA station and easily accessible from the airport.

You can also use the Peachtree Trolley sightseeing tour as a future-planning tool. It can help you decide which attractions you want to return to and explore more deeply on your next trip to Atlanta. If your goal is to maximize time, minimize stress, and leave Atlanta feeling like you actually experienced it, a city sightseeing tour is one of the best layover-friendly activities.

To find the best layover activities in Atlanta, we reviewed Reddit threads, travel blogs, and user reviews on sites like Google and Tripadvisor. We narrowed the list down to the most popular suggestions, and considered proximity to the airport and how easily accessible the attractions were with ATL public transport. Local blogs and tourism resources also provided additional context and inspiration to curate this list for visitors of all ages and interests. All activities assume a minimum eight-hour layover to give you enough time to explore and return in time for your next flight.