When it comes to living in Atlanta, boredom should be the last thing filling your calendar. With so many things to see and do year-round in the city, it’s easy to get out, explore, meet new people, and discover what makes Atlanta an exciting place to live. The best part of it all? You don’t even have to break the bank to have a good time. Check out the list below for fun things you can do in the ATL for free:
Discover the Great Outdoors
If you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, you don’t have to look far for a green space oasis. Atlanta boasts dozens of scenic parks and trails where you can bike, run, hike, play sports, walk the dog, or just simply sit and take it all in. Here are some places to check out:
The Atlanta Beltline:
Once a former railway corridor, the Beltline has become the place for avid outdoor city adventurers, with 33 miles of multi-use trails, green space, a skate park, public art, and city parks that run through 45 in-town neighborhoods.
Piedmont Park:
Otherwise known as Atlanta’s answer to NYC’s Central Park, this scenic in-town park has everything you could ever want — including a dog park, bocce ball court, swimming pool, lakes and more. It also hosts a number of popular festivals and concerts throughout the year.
Sandy Springs Playable Art Park:
If you have kids who like to swing, jump and climb on everything, take them out to Abernathy Greenway to enjoy this one-of-kind art park made for all kinds of play.
Centennial Olympic Park:
This 21-acre park, built to welcome the world during 1996 Olympic Games, continues to draw crowds with the world’s largest interactive fountain featuring the Olympic Rings. The park also hosts free music concerts and family-friendly events year-round.
Markets
Looking for more than the typical shopping mall fare? Explore some of Atlanta’s trendiest new spaces for unique shops and atmosphere.
Krog Street Market:
Enjoy the vibes of this 1920s industrial space full of culture, stores and people watching in Inman Park.
Ponce City Market:
Once a Sears, Roebuck & Co building decades ago, the space has been transformed into a shopping mecca with many cool things to explore under one roof.
Your Dekalb Farmer’s Market:
One of the largest farmer’s markets in the state of Georgia, Your Dekalb Farmer’s Market offers a range of fresh food items from cheeses, breads, seafood, poultry and beef in cuts and portions of your choosing. This market also boasts a large, global wine selection and spices from around the world.
Find Your Muse
If you love art, you’ll love experiencing variations on a theme through Atlanta’s vibrant museum scene for free:
High Museum of Art:
(First Saturdays and Second Sundays) Complete with more than 15,000 works of art — from classic to contemporary — you’ll find artistic beauty at every turn. The museum is free to Fulton County residents the first Saturday of each month and free to the public for Second Sunday Fundays, which includes family-friendly programs from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Imagine it! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta:
(Free Second Tuesdays) Learning about the world has never been so fun with hands-on, creative exhibits and innovative programming that will entertain your child.
Lit.:
(Books, Booze and Beats) This is not your mom’s book club. Held on the last Thursday of each month at the Edgewood Speakeasy, this monthly event has been dubbed “karaoke for books.” Ten guests from the crowd read excerpts from a chosen book based on the theme of the month. Admission to the event is one new, old or gently used book donation.
Make History
History is present at every turn in Atlanta — from historic sites to historic homes. Explore a few of Atlanta’s famous attractions for free:
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site:
Tour the birth home of Dr. King and the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, visit the galleries, walk the world peace rose garden and more.
Oakland Cemetery:
Walk among the beauty of Victorian sculptures, a botanical garden, a wildlife habitat and the graves of Atlanta’s most well-known statesmen.
Go Wild
Lions and tigers and bears are just a few of the wild and exotic animals that also call Atlanta home. Here’s where you can visit a few for free.
Noah’s Ark:
See some of the 1,500 furry and reptilian faces that make up this animal refuge with a free, self-guided tour from noon to 3 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday. Donations are always welcomed. Call before your visit.
Georgia Aquarium:
(Free on Birthday) Georgia residents can celebrate their birthday with free admission (just show a valid ID or birth certificate) and explore all galleries and shows the aquarium has to offer.