Atlanta’s big paid attractions cost $19.50 to $69.99 per adult, while the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, Centennial Olympic Park, Piedmont Park and the 2.4-mile BeltLine Eastside Trail cost nothing to enter. From the airport, MARTA’s Red and Gold lines leave from inside the Domestic Terminal for a $2.50 fare, and you can tap a contactless bank card instead of buying a Breeze card. The $106 Atlanta CityPASS pays for itself if you visit the Georgia Aquarium plus two of its other attractions; without the Aquarium, you need four.
Every price, hour and parking rate below comes from the attraction’s or agency’s own website (checked September 21, 2026), unless we name another source in the sentence. Where an attraction hides its price behind a date-picker or bot check, we say so rather than guess. Visiting with children on a small budget? Our free things to do in Atlanta with kids guide goes deeper on playgrounds and splash pads.
How much do Atlanta’s top attractions cost?
General admission as each operator publishes it, before tax and fees (checked September 21, 2026). Several use date-based pricing, so the adult figure is a range or a “from” price. Watch the closed days: the High Museum, the Civil Rights Center, the Atlanta History Center and the Botanical Garden close on Mondays, and the College Football Hall of Fame closes on Tuesdays.
| Attraction | Adult | Kids | Hours | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Aquarium | $54.99–$64.99 dated (through Dec. 31); $69.99 Anytime | 2 and under free; no separate child price. Through Sept. 30, one child 3–12 free per ticket (online) | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. on Sept. 21; open 365 days | Own deck, 357 Luckie St.: $30 ($20 members); cashless |
| World of Coca-Cola | Not published on its site; CityPASS lists $27.95 | CityPASS lists $23.95 (2 and under free) | Late Sept.–Oct.: mostly 10–5 Mon–Thu, 10–6 Fri–Sun | Own garage, 126 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd.: $25 flat per the Civil Rights Center (WoCC doesn’t publish it) |
| Zoo Atlanta | Changes daily; no fixed price published. CityPASS lists $37.95 | Under 3 free; CityPASS lists $30.45 | Weekdays 9–5 (last entry 3:30); weekends 9–6 (last entry 4:30) | City lots on Cherokee Ave. and Boulevard: $3/hour, $12/day max |
| National Center for Civil and Human Rights | $26 dated ticket; $28 Anytime | Ages 7–12: $20 / $22. Through Sept. 30, 12 and under free with an adult (code KidsFree26) | Tue–Sat 10–5; Sun noon–5; closed Mon | Nearby lots $10–$30 (see parking below) |
| College Football Hall of Fame | $38 | Ages 3–12: $27; seniors and students $33 (box office) | Wed–Mon 10–5; closed Tue | Green Deck (Baker and Marietta Sts.): $16 up to 4 hours, $21 after |
| Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Online: $25.95 weekdays, $27.95 weekends | Ages 3–12: $23.95 / $25.95; 2 and under free | Daily 10–5 (see note) | Free, included with admission |
| High Museum of Art | $23.50 + $2.09 fees ($28.50 with Amy Sherald: American Sublime) | 5 and under free; no other child price listed | Tue–Sat 10–5; Sun noon–5; closed Mon | Arts Center garage: $18 for 1–5 hrs weekdays; $25 nights and weekends |
| Atlanta Botanical Garden | Shown only in the dated online checkout | Not published outside checkout | Tue–Sun 9–7; closed Mon (open Oct. 12) | SAGE deck: 30 min free, $3 to 1 hr, +$2 per 30 min, $30 max |
| Atlanta History Center (Buckhead) | $31 weekdays, $35 weekends | Ages 4–12: $27 / $31; 3 and under free | Tue–Sun 9–4 | Free on site |
| SkyView Atlanta | $19.50 + tax and fees | Ages 3–12: $14.50; 2 and under free; seniors 65+ $17.50 | 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Fri–Sat to 11 | Partner lot: $10 for 4 hrs with validation |
| Fox Theatre tours | Price shown only at checkout | Every guest, including children, needs a ticket | 60-min Haunted History Tours on select dates Sept. 21–28; Ghost Tours from Oct. 4 | Not listed on tours page |
Fernbank says it is open daily, but its site header read “Today’s hours: CLOSED” on Monday, Sept. 21, and it warns some areas may be closed for renovation, so check its calendar first. For Aquarium timing and gallery order, see our Georgia Aquarium tips; the Botanical Garden’s holiday show is covered in Garden Lights, Holiday Nights.
Is the Atlanta CityPASS worth it?
Atlanta CityPASS is $106 plus tax for adults (13+) and $86 plus tax for children 3–12 (checked September 21, 2026). You pick 5 of 6: Georgia Aquarium (Anytime admission), World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta, Fernbank (including one giant-screen film and free parking), College Football Hall of Fame and the Civil Rights Center. It’s valid for 9 consecutive days from your first visit, and you have a year to start. Where reservations are required, everyone on one order is booked together.
CityPASS’s “save up to $95.73” compares the pass with its own $201.73 “regular price,” built from box-office figures that don’t all match the attractions’ sites (it lists the Hall of Fame at $34.89; the Hall charges $38). Using only the prices the attractions publish, before tax:
- Aquarium plus any two: the cheapest trio, the Aquarium on a set date ($54.99), the Civil Rights Center ($26) and Fernbank on a weekday ($25.95), is $106.94, just 94 cents over the pass. Swap Fernbank for the Hall of Fame ($38) and it’s $118.99. Against the $69.99 Anytime ticket the pass includes, you save more.
- Without the Aquarium: Fernbank, the Civil Rights Center and the Hall of Fame total $89.95, less than $106, so you need a fourth. World of Coca-Cola and the zoo don’t publish fixed prices; CityPASS’s box-office figures ($27.95, $37.95) would take you to $117.90 or $127.90.
- Children: the Hall of Fame ($27), Fernbank ($23.95) and the Civil Rights Center ($20) total $70.95, under the $86 child pass. CityPASS’s price list says the Civil Rights Center is free for 6 and under, and in September both the Aquarium and the Civil Rights Center have kids-free offers.
Verdict: buy it if the Aquarium is on your list and you’ll fit in two more within nine days. Otherwise buy single tickets, or, if you’re local, compare memberships. The Aquarium’s $69.99 Aqua Pass gives unlimited 2026 visits, with blackout dates.
How do you get from the Atlanta airport to downtown on MARTA?
MARTA’s Airport Station is inside the Domestic Terminal, between the North and South baggage claims, and Red and Gold line trains leave from there (checked September 21, 2026):
- Fare: $2.50 one way, with up to four transfers within three hours. Children 46 inches and under ride free, up to two per paying adult.
- How to pay: tap a contactless credit or debit card or an Apple, Google or Samsung wallet at the faregate; no Breeze card needed. A Breeze card costs a one-time $2.00, and a paper Breeze ticket $1.00 (it expires in 90 days). Each rider needs their own card, and you tap out with the same one.
- Average travel time from the airport: 16 minutes to Five Points, 17 to Peachtree Center, 18 to Civic Center, 19 to North Avenue, 20 to Midtown, 22 to Arts Center.
- Hours: 4:45 a.m.–1 a.m. weekdays, 6 a.m.–1 a.m. weekends. After 8:30 p.m., Buckhead-bound riders may need to change from a Gold to a Red train at Lindbergh Center.
- International Terminal: a free 24/7 shuttle runs from arrivals to Domestic baggage claim (about 15 minutes), or take the Plane Train.
- Passes: 1-day $9, 3-day $16, 7-day $23.75. A day pass pays off on your fourth full-fare ride.
Downtown, get off at Peachtree Center or Civic Center; the Aquarium says it’s a 10–15 minute walk from either. Arts Center station is across Arts Center Way from the High Museum’s garage entrance, and Piedmont Park names Midtown and Arts Center as its nearest stations. For Ponce City Market, ride to North Avenue and take bus 2 or 102.
Where should you park in Atlanta?
Parking can cost more than a museum ticket (checked September 21, 2026):
- Centennial Olympic Park district: the Aquarium’s deck is $30, with no re-entry on pre-paid parking, and its passes don’t work at the World of Coca-Cola garage next door. The Civil Rights Center lists that garage at $25 flat and cheaper lots nearby: Park Place Lot 059 ($10), Zone 355 ($12) and 236 Williams St. ($15). The Hall of Fame’s Green Deck is $16 for up to 4 hours; SkyView’s partner lot is $10 for 4 hours.
- Midtown: the Woodruff Arts Center garage (High Museum) is $25 flat on weekends and can fill; the High suggests pre-paying. The Botanical Garden and Piedmont Park share the card-only SAGE deck ($30 daily max): Garden visitors enter from Piedmont Avenue, park visitors from 1322 Monroe Drive.
- Free: Fernbank, the Atlanta History Center, and the MLK park’s lot at 423 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. NE.
- Ponce City Market: $3.60 for the first hour, $5.60 up to 2 hours, $12.60 for 2–3 hours. Or walk in from the BeltLine.
What can you do in Atlanta for free?
- MLK Jr. National Historical Park: “There is no fee to enter,” says the National Park Service. Open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. While the visitor center is renovated, start at Historic Fire Station No. 6 (39 Boulevard NE). Ranger-led Birth Home presentations are free, limited to 15 people, first come, first served.
- Centennial Olympic Park: open 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; Fountain of Rings shows at noon, 2:30, 6:30 and 9 p.m. Leashed pets only.
- Piedmont Park: open 6 a.m.–11 p.m., with fenced off-leash dog parks. The Green Market runs Saturdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m. through Dec. 12, 2026.
- BeltLine Eastside Trail: 2.4 miles from Monroe Drive at Piedmont Park to the Krog Street Tunnel, past Ponce City Market. The Beltline calls its art program the largest free public art exhibition in the Southeast.
- Ponce City Market: no admission charge is listed. Shops open Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; the food hall until 10 p.m. daily.
What should you do in your situation?
- With kids: September is the cheap month: through Sept. 30 the Aquarium lets one child 3–12 in free per ticket, and the Civil Rights Center lets kids 12 and under in free with an adult. Fernbank includes free parking. The Aquarium bans wagons and jogging strollers and caps strollers at 29 by 52 inches.
- Free day: MLK park in the morning, then walk the Eastside Trail to Ponce City Market and end in Piedmont Park (on Saturdays, the Green Market until 1 p.m.).
- Rainy day: the Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola (about 2 hours on average, per its FAQ), Fernbank and the Hall of Fame are indoors; SkyView’s gondolas are climate-controlled.
- One day, no car: MARTA to Peachtree Center (17 minutes, $2.50), the Aquarium, then World of Coca-Cola or the Civil Rights Center, SkyView at dusk and the 9 p.m. fountain show.
- Locals: Fernbank and the Atlanta History Center are cheaper on weekdays; avoid Mondays for the High, the Civil Rights Center and the Garden. Next weekend, try our Stone Mountain Park guide or Halloween events for kids.
FAQ
How much does it cost to take MARTA from the Atlanta airport?
A one-way MARTA fare is $2.50, including up to four transfers within three hours, and you can tap a contactless bank card or phone wallet instead of buying a Breeze card. Airport Station is inside the Domestic Terminal, and MARTA’s average trip to Five Points is 16 minutes (checked September 21, 2026).
Do I need a Breeze card to ride MARTA?
No. MARTA accepts contactless credit and debit cards and Apple, Google and Samsung wallets at the faregate. A Breeze card has a one-time $2.00 fee; a paper Breeze ticket costs $1.00 and expires after 90 days.
Is the Atlanta CityPASS worth it?
Yes, if the Georgia Aquarium plus at least two others are on your list. The adult pass is $106 plus tax for 5 of 6 attractions over 9 days. At the attractions’ own prices, the Aquarium plus two others costs more than $106; without the Aquarium you need four (checked September 21, 2026).
What attractions are included in the Atlanta CityPASS?
You choose 5 of 6: Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, College Football Hall of Fame and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. It costs $106 plus tax for adults and $86 plus tax for children 3–12.
How much is parking at the Georgia Aquarium?
The Georgia Aquarium’s deck at 357 Luckie St. costs $30 ($20 for members) and is cashless. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights lists nearby lots at $10–$15 (checked September 21, 2026).
Is the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park free?
Yes. The National Park Service says there is no fee to enter. It’s open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with free parking at 423 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. NE; Birth Home presentations are free but limited to 15 people.
Which Atlanta attractions are closed on Mondays?
The High Museum of Art, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Atlanta History Center and the Atlanta Botanical Garden close on Mondays (the Garden opens Oct. 12, 2026). The College Football Hall of Fame closes on Tuesdays (checked September 21, 2026).
How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.
Sources
- Atlanta CityPASS — prices, attractions, validity, box-office prices
- MARTA — Fares & transfers
- MARTA — Ways to pay (tap to pay, Breeze card and ticket fees, RideStores)
- MARTA — Breeze FAQs (tap to pay)
- MARTA — Getting to & from the Airport (station location, lines, train hours, international shuttle)
- MARTA — Train stations & schedules (average travel time to Airport)
- Georgia Aquarium — Tickets
- Georgia Aquarium — Directions & parking
- Georgia Aquarium — Daily schedule & hours
- World of Coca-Cola — Plan your visit (address, garage, MARTA)
- World of Coca-Cola — 2026 hours calendar (PDF)
- World of Coca-Cola — FAQ
- Zoo Atlanta — Tickets
- Zoo Atlanta — Dynamic pricing FAQ
- Zoo Atlanta — Visit (hours)
- Zoo Atlanta — Getting here (parking)
- National Center for Civil and Human Rights — Plan your visit
- National Center for Civil and Human Rights — Visitor FAQs (parking)
- National Center for Civil and Human Rights — Kids Are Free September
- College Football Hall of Fame — Tickets
- College Football Hall of Fame — Visit (parking)
- Fernbank Museum — Get tickets
- Fernbank Museum — Plan your visit
- High Museum of Art — Tickets and hours
- High Museum of Art — Directions and parking
- Atlanta Botanical Garden — Plan your visit (hours, Monday dates, parking, FAQ)
- Atlanta Botanical Garden — Tickets
- National Park Service — MLK Jr. NHP fees
- National Park Service — MLK Jr. NHP hours
- National Park Service — MLK Jr. NHP plan your visit (Birth Home presentations)
- Atlanta History Center — Buckhead campus (admission, parking)
- Atlanta History Center — Visit (hours)
- Fox Theatre — Tours
- Fox Theatre — Haunted History Tour dates
- Fox Theatre — Ghost Tour dates
- SkyView Atlanta — Tickets and hours
- SkyView Atlanta — Parking
- SkyView Atlanta — Home and FAQ (gondolas)
- Centennial Olympic Park — Park information
- Piedmont Park Conservancy — FAQ
- Piedmont Park Conservancy — Directions and parking
- Piedmont Park Conservancy — Green Market
- Atlanta Beltline — Eastside Trail
- Atlanta Beltline — Updated naming convention for mainline trails (Eastside Trail length)
- Atlanta Beltline — Visit
- Ponce City Market — Getting here (parking, hours)
Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
