I pass through Atlanta often because it’s one of the main US hubs for European flights. But I haven’t visited the city in over a decade—which is a shame.
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Atlanta is one of the US’s most iconic cultural and historic destinations. It offers a surprising balance between big-city fare (like entertainment and nightlife) and more unique cultural finds (like its music and culinary scenes, for example). There’s also history to dig into, day trips to scenic locations, and unexpected rentals around the city ready to host you.
That being said, you might want to offload the work of finding Atlanta’s coolest experiences to its local experts. My favorite way to do that when traveling is to book guided tours. While platforms like Viator and GetYourGuide offer a similar list of tours, you can always find gems by digging deeper into results.
Here are some of ideas of what to do in Atlanta that you can book via tours on Viator and GetYourGuide.
What to do in Atlanta: top tours from Viator & GetYourGuide
Get into the ‘spirit’ of Atlanta with these drinking tours:
- Atlanta wine-making experience (1 hour): Learn how to blend, bottle, and label wines. When the course is over, you will leave with a 375ml creation all your own using simple syrups.
- Drunken lab experience (1.5 hours): Become a mad mixologist in this unique mixology course. Whether you want a wild cocktail or a mocktail, you’ll enjoy this experience, which comes with added fun like karaoke.
- North Georgia wine country tour (full day): Head out of Atlanta for the day to explore Georgia’s rolling hills, covered in vineyards. You’ll explore a handful of local wineries and sample up to 13 wines. You also get to check out Helen, a small town that looks like a Bavarian village.
Learn about Soul Food and sample some of Atlanta’s most famous dishes on these foodie tours:
- Prohibition-themed dinner in downtown Atlanta (2.5 hours): Head back to a 1920s-themed dinner where you’ll learn about Atlanta’s prohibition era. This tour includes a short jaunt through Downtown Atlanta and nine different tastings from four restaurants, including three full-sized cocktails.
- Reality ATL restaurant tour (3-4 hours): As a foodie capital, you might know of a few restaurants and food trucks from the city that have appeared on TV. This tour takes you to the city’s top Black-owned and operated restaurants and culinary gems, many of which you’ll recognize from TV.
- Southern essentials cooking class (1.5 hours): Learn three delicious Southern recipes from a local expert. As you cook, you’ll hear the stories behind these flavor-filled, iconic dishes. Beginners are welcome!
- Food tour with six southern flavor samples (3 hours): Speaking of Southern flavors, if you’re hoping to take a bite out of Atlanta’s foodie culture, this tour lets you taste its must-eats. (Think: chick and waffles, plus unexpected dishes like yucca fries.)
Let out your inner creative with these artsy tours around the city:
- Explore street art on bicycles (2.5 hours): Skip around town on two wheels while you check out Atlanta’s largest, most iconic murals—along with its hidden gems, tucked away in colorful neighborhoods that don’t make the headlines.
- BYOB spray paint and sip (1.5 hours): This BYOB workshop gives you a crash course on graffiti culture. You even get the chance to make your own masterpiece.
- Street art tour + drinks (2.5 hours): Check out the Beltline and beyond to get a lay of the land when it comes to Atlanta’s street art. You’ll get a crash course on local artists, then get to make your own pieces in a happy hour-style gathering when the walking tour concludes.
- Make a pour bear and canvas tour (1 hour): This family-friendly, fun-for-all-ages art workshop teaches you how to make ‘pour’ art. You’ll design your own 3D bear, along with a traditional canvas, using your new skills.
- Splatter room experience for all ages (1 hour): This is another fun-for-all-ages art experience. You get to splash and splatter paint to unleash your inner creativity, then create your own work of art.
Learn about ‘Y’allywood’ and see some of Atlanta’s most iconic sets on these tours:
- Private movie and TV tour of Y’allywood (3 hours): From Netflix shows like Stranger Things to Marvel hits like Avengers, this tour takes you around the city to its most recognizable film set spots. But you don’t just get a general overview—this tour comes with options, letting you visit the locations that mean the most to you.
- Stranger Things filming tour (3 hours): This private tour lets you zip around Atlanta comfortably as you check out its most famous locations from the Stranger Things series.
- The Walking Dead filming tour (3 hours): If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead, you’ll love the chance to visit famous locations—including the hospital where Rick first wakes up.
Looking for something else? Here are a few unexpected tours in Atlanta worth your time:
- Llama yoga (1.5 hours): This yoga class takes place in a remodeled barn that’s surrounded by a lush bamboo forest. The catch? Llamas, alpacas, and something called a guanaco will be wandering between the yoga mats while you perfect your sun salutation.
- Historic homes tour (3 hours): Atlanta’s history runs deep. This tour takes you around the city to famous hotels and homes in Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead. It also includes a stop for lunch, which you’ll pay for out of pocket.
- Make your own perfume (2 hours): Design your own signature fragrance after learning the basics of perfumery. If you’ve made perfumes before, you can dive in and build the perfect fragrance. If not, it’s a great place to learn the ropes.
- Comedy city tour (1.5 hours): This bus tour showcases Atlanta’s coolest neighborhoods while a local comedian serves as your guide. This is also a BYOB event—so feel free to bust out the open containers.
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