10 Best Free Things to Do in Atlanta

As Atlanta’s main urban green space, Centennial Olympic Park provides a host of activities if you’re tight on budget. The vast grounds offer ample opportunities for picnics and lawn games, while its centerepiece, the Fountain of Rings, is a great way for kids to splash about on sunny days. You can’t miss the free daily shows, either, when the water beautifully dances in sync to well-known tunes.

To learn about the park’s history, including its role in the 1996 Summer Olympics, swing by the visitor center for interactive exhibits. They’ll also have info on self-guided tours, free concerts and events. The best way to reach the park is via public transport, as there is limited parking nearby.

You can take part in free public tours of the official home of the governor of Georgia, thanks to its first residents, Lester and Virginia Maddox, who started the longstanding tradition. It’s a gorgeous Greek revival styled building, and you’ll get to not only appreciate the architecture but also historic furnishings, grand clocks and even a chicken coop and beehives. 

The tours are a combination of a guided and self-guided, and docents are ready to assist you with any inquiries about the history of the place or the collection of objects and portraits adorning the rooms. Tours are available most of the year, but we recommend taking the holiday tour to see the house full of festive cheer. 

Beloved by the community, Central Park is a 17-acre park used for all sorts of communal leisure activities. You can expect cinema nights held on certain days in the park in spring, and almost weekly throughout the summer. Central Park also frequently hosts various events to bring the Atlanta community together, such as food and music festivals, yoga and workout workshops. 

The park also has permanent sporting facilities such as basketball and tennis courts, and grassy fields for football and softball. If you’ve kids in tow, they’ll love causing chaos on the playground and running riot in the vast green spaces. You’ll find the park in the Fourth Ward West neighbourhood.

Established by the Atlanta Art Association back in 1905, the High Museum of Art features well over 19,000 artworks in its permanent collection. Besides showcasing an extensive collection of 19th- and 20th-century American, European and African-American art pieces, it has a growing collection of contemporary paintings and photographs. 

Though the museum charges an admission fee, families can enjoy free entry and a host of activities like crafts, performances and special exhibitions on the second Sunday of every month. Alternatively, adults can take advantage of free entry on the third Wednesday of every month. Wander through the incredible art at your own pace, chat with like-minded individuals or create something special with talented artists. 

For a free and scenic nature walk that also provides a glimpse into the area’s 4-centuries-old history, try the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve Heritage Center in Johns Creek. It’s a great escape for nature lovers, around half an hour’s drive north from Downtown Atlanta and well away from the bustling city. 

On the centre’s 3 miles of walking trails, you can admire nature and wildlife in all their glory. Bring your camera because you won’t be able to resist taking atmospheric shots of historic farmsteads and the lovely creek. Free activities include crafts and contributing to a colourful rock snake sculpture. While the reserve is free to visit, please consider donating to support the centre’s preservation efforts, if you can.

This spacious park in the heart of Atlanta offers a host of recreational facilities such as jogging and cycling trails that wind through its verdant grounds. Piedmont Park is huge, covering almost 180 acres. There’s the scenic and serene Lake Clara Meer beside a meadow on the park’s southern end, which puts the skyscraper outline of Downtown Atlanta as its background. 

If you have a young, budding gardener in your family, take them to the Education Garden where kids can get their hands dirty learning all about growing plants. If you’d like to take part in free yoga classes on the beautiful Active Oval, reserve your spot online. 

Born from local communities’ passion for arts and first exhibited in 2010, the Atlanta BeltLine has continued to become one of the city’s unique artistic attractions, featuring colourful murals and performance arts occasionally thrown in. 

The former railway corridor around the core of Atlanta previously served as a city hiking route, and the art installations and series of visual art displays add to its appeal. The variety of murals and installations along the route helps encourage you to keep on walking and continue exploring. Special exhibitions and performances rotate regularly so be sure to check online before visiting. Don’t miss the regular free tours that showcase both nature and art.

Enjoy a unique stroll through Atlanta’s historical arts district of Castleberry Hill, where you can glimpse into the various art galleries that line the neighbourhood. Usually held every 2nd Friday night of the month, the galleries stay open late, and artists take to the streets to showcase their incredible artworks for free. Strolls usually start at around 7pm, and you can get copies of info sheets and maps at 180 Walker St SW.

Outside of the designated tour times, Castleberry Hill is a wonderful district to visit. Alongside weekly farmers’ markets, live music and food trucks and community events. To find out what’s going on when you visit, follow them on Instagram.

Go on an adventure of scientific wonders at the Fernbank Science Center, around 15 minutes’ drive northeast of Downtown Atlanta. The Jim Cherry Memorial Planetarium requires a small admission fee, but you can visit the Ralph Buice Jr. Observatory free of charge. A 9,000 sq ft exhibition hall houses interesting displays, electron microscopes and even a 65-acre forest.

A standout feature is the authentic Apollo 6 space capsule, and kids will adore the gigantic dinosaur skeletons towering over you in the main lobby. If you have time, check out the live beehive and the surrounding gardens. Though entry is free, be sure to reserve a ticket online before you go.