StayAreasIs Downtown a good place to stay in Atlanta?
Yes, especially for a first visit, a convention or a game. The big sights and MARTA are on the doorstep, but streets get quiet after dark.
Stay here if
- First-time visitors
- Families
- Convention and game-day visitors
Look elsewhere if
- You want lively streets at night
- You want a neighbourhood feel
- You're nervous about quiet city blocks after dark
Hotels in Downtown
All Downtown hotels on Booking ↗Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more
Staying in Downtown
Downtown is the most convenient place to stay in Atlanta for a first visit. The Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Civil Rights museum all sit around Centennial Olympic Park, and State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium are a short walk west. MARTA runs straight to the airport in about 20 minutes.
The area is built for visitors, conventions and big events. Peachtree Street is lined with large hotels, the Georgia World Congress Center hosts some of the biggest conventions in the country, and game days bring huge crowds. To the east, Sweet Auburn and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park tell the story of Dr King and the civil rights movement.
The downside is that downtown can feel empty after dark. Once the offices close, many streets go quiet, there are fewer good restaurants than in Midtown, and some blocks feel rough at night. Prices also jump during big conventions and stadium events.
What makes downtown special is how much is within walking distance. You can see whale sharks at the aquarium in the morning, walk through Olympic Park and visit Dr King's birth home in the afternoon, and catch a Hawks or Falcons game at night. For families and first-timers, it's hard to beat.
Getting around
- Centennial Olympic Park6walk
- World of Coca-Cola8walk
- National Center for Civil and Human Rights12walk
- Fox Theatre13transit
- Georgia Aquarium17walk
- Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park17transit
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)20
Downtown questions
Is Downtown a good area to stay in Atlanta?
Yes, especially for a first visit, a convention or a game. The big sights and MARTA are on the doorstep, but streets get quiet after dark. It suits first-time visitors, families and convention and game-day visitors.
How much does a hotel in Downtown cost?
A typical double is around $135 a night at a budget hotel, $185 mid-range and $500 for luxury, outside peak events.
How do I get from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Downtown?
About 20 minutes door to door: MARTA Red or Gold Line from the airport to Five Points or Peachtree Center.
How far is Downtown from the main sights?
Door to door from Downtown: Centennial Olympic Park 6 minutes on foot, World of Coca-Cola 8 minutes on foot, National Center for Civil and Human Rights 12 minutes on foot and Fox Theatre 13 minutes.