20 Things To Do In Atlanta At Night

Atlanta is a vibrant city with a glittering skyline and green spaces. A city of culture, music, arts and shopping, Atlanta also has three professional sporting teams: the Atlanta Braves (MLB), Atlanta Hawks (NBA) and Atlanta Falcons (NFL). In 1837, it was a major railway centre for Georgia known as ‘Terminus’ and was renamed Atlanta in 1845. Because of its location, Atlanta was a hub for the Confederate Army’s military operations during the Civil War.

While the capital of the US state of Georgia is exciting during the day, there are plenty of cool things to do in Atlanta at night and fun activities await after sundown. From historic attractions and fantastic music venues to a thriving nightlife scene and A-list entertainment options, Atlanta has something for everyone to do at night.

Also read: 21 Landmarks In Georgia

Atlanta At Night

20 Things To Do In Atlanta At Night

1- Sleepover Under The Sea At Georgia Aquarium

The entertainment doesn’t stop once the aquarium closes its doors.

America’s largest and world’s third-largest aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, also schedules sleepovers at the facility for families and youngsters.

A bedtime snack, breakfast, tours, activities and a sleeping spot next to a gallery window with marine life gliding past is a sleepover encounter of a lifetime.

Sleepovers are usually on Fridays and Saturdays and include admission to the aquarium at 6.45 pm and the next day.

Georgia Aquarium is at 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Skip the line and reserve your ticket to Georgia Aquarium here.

2- Tempt Your Taste Buds at the World of Coca Cola

Atlanta pharmacist Dr John S. Pemberton invented the Coca-Cola syrup in 1886 and sold it for five cents a glass at Jacobs’ Pharmacy as a soda fountain drink.

Today, the World of Coca-Cola is a tribute to the ubiquitous fizzy drink and the museum is one of the top attractions in Georgia.

Start with exhibits on the history of a drink that has become part of pop culture worldwide and join a factory tour where you can see the bottling process.

The highlight is the cola-making stations where you can create your own drinks and sample over 100 different varieties of Coca-Cola.

There are over 1,200 artifacts on display in the museum, from vintage bottles to Argentina’s 1939 Coca-Cola delivery truck.

World of Coca Cola closes at 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, so you can squeeze in a quick visit while the night is still young.

World of Coca Cola is at 121 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Skip the line and reserve your ticket here.

3- Marvel at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Atlanta Botanical Garden on the northern side of Piedmont Park is a tranquil place to visit at any time of the day.

The 30-acre (12 ha) space houses thousands of plant species, including roses, conifers, herbs and carnivorous plants.

There are lovely water features and magical light displays that light up the trees and plants like a fairyland in Atlanta at night. If you’re keen on seeing more night lights, this tour is an easy way to hit all the hotspots.

Have an early dinner or a snack at one of the three eateries in the garden and, after eating, enjoy the garden’s lights at night.

When the weather is warmer (between May and September), the garden stays open until 9 pm.

Atlanta Botanical Garden is at 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309.

4- Admire The City From SkyView Atlanta

Admire the lights of Atlanta from the Ferris wheel, SkyView Atlanta in Centennial Olympic Park.

It’s over 200 ft (61 m) tall and offers a bird’s-eye view of Atlanta’s parklands, skyscrapers and suburbs.

The view from the Ferris wheel is thrilling during the day and a breathtaking sight at night.

This large Ferris wheel has 42 climate-conditioned gondolas and VIP carriages with glass floors and a longer ride time.

SkyView Atlanta stays open until 11 pm (Sundays to Thursdays) and midnight (Fridays and Saturdays).

SkyView Atlanta is at 168 Luckie St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303.

5- Lose Yourself In A Fantasy World At Illuminarium

Illuminarium Atlanta is an entertainment complex that delivers a sensory experience using technology.

WILD at Illuminarium is the latest digital exhibition that transports guests to a virtual safari in the blink of an eye.

Immersive sound, floor vibration, strobe effects and responsive projection makes it an exciting experience to see wildlife from around the world in their natural habitats.

At night, one of the theatres becomes a cocktail lounge where you can enjoy drinks and tapas as you are transported into different worlds.

The Bar at Illuminarium is open on Thursdays and Sundays (7 pm to 11 pm); Fridays and Saturdays from 7 pm to midnight.

Illuminarium is at 550 Somerset Terrace NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. Skip the line and book your tickets to the Illuminarium online before you go.

6- Taste Craft Beer

The craft beer scene in Atlanta is a hub for craft breweries, with new ones opening up almost every year.

Georgia’s archaic alcohol laws changed in 2017 to allow breweries to sell their product on-site and increase the ABV limit for beer to above 6%.

These days, breweries and brewpubs in Atlanta create excellent beer and great food.

Orpheus Brewing (1440 Dutch Valley Pl NE) overlooks Piedmont Park and the Atlanta BeltLine and has a great selection of IPAs and sours and is open till late at night.

Wild Heaven (1010 White St SW) is another great spot, which remains open till 8:30 pm.

Other breweries in Atlanta to visit are Monday Night Brewing (670 Trabert Ave NW), SweetWater Brewing Company (195 Ottley Dr NE) and Second Self Beer Company (1317 Logan Cir NW).

A popular way to try some of the best IPAs, porters and everything in between is to join this tour that will take you to several breweries.

7- Dance The Night Away

You’ll find plenty of cool nightclubs in Atlanta at night in this city that loves a good time.

From all-night dance parties to sophisticated nightspots, the city’s nightclubs, dance halls, and music venues attract Atlanta’s big-name celebrities and musicians.

Here are some other nightclubs to tick off your Atlanta party list:

• The Basement (1245 Glenwood Ave SE) – themed dance parties, intimate hip-hop and indie performances.
• Gold Room (2416 Piedmont Rd NE) – originally a strip club with ties to the mafia, it’s now a ritzy nightclub with a strict dress code.
• Tongue & Groove (565 Main St NE) – a sleek nightspot for an upscale crowd that enjoys art, fashion and music.
• The Havana Club (3112 Piedmont Rd NE) – dress your best for this Atlanta nightspot to be seen and snapped by paparazzi.
• Suite Food Lounge (375 Luckie St NW) – look for the VIP section and party on the SkyDeck for a killer view of downtown.

8- Go on a Bar Crawl

Another popular thing to do in Atlanta at night is to go on a bar crawl to sample cocktails and the atmosphere at different bars.

Popular watering holes are The Bar at the Illuminarium (820 Ralph McGill Blvd NE), which serves drinks and tapas in magical immersive multimedia settings, and the massive JoJo’s Beloved (1197 Peachtree St NE).

Another great spot is the SkyLounge (The Glenn, 110 Marietta St NW), one of the best rooftop lounges for a night out in Atlanta, offering cocktails, small platters and glorious views of the Atlanta night skyline.

9- Explore Oakland Cemetery

Green areas, statues, stones and its inner-city location makes Oakland Cemetery an easy spot to drop into in Atlanta at night.

It has a hilltop where you can admire Atlanta’s skyline at night and see the gravestones of the people who contributed to making Atlanta the city it is today.

In addition to being a famous burial ground for Civil War soldiers and pioneers, it’s the city’s oldest public park with stunning gardens, sculptures, giant oak trees and an art gallery.

Go on a self-guided tour to see the final resting place of Atlanta’s famous citizens. The grounds are open from dawn to dusk.

Oakland Cemetery is at 248 Oakland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. Join a ghost tour through Atlanta’s haunted spots.

10- Explore Zoo Atlanta

Zoo Atlanta offers fun evening adventures for families and groups.

You can tour the zoo at dusk, use night-vision technology, look for nocturnal creatures and enjoy different fun activities each season.

The NightCrawler Overnight program is excellent for kids and includes exploring the zoo under the moonlight and camping overnight at the zoo.

Zoo Atlanta is at 800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315. Skip the line and book your tickets to Zoo Atlanta here.

11- See A Show At The Historic Fox Theatre

The Fox dates back to 1928 when it was built as the headquarters of Atlanta’s Shriners organisation.

As the Shriners were a brotherhood, similar to the Masons, established in the 1800s, the architectural style of the theatre is eclectic, with grand archways, domes, minarets and decked out with gold leaf, textiles and trompe l’oeil art used to create optical illusions.

Movie mogul William Fox turned the theatre into a moving pictures theatre in 1929.

The theatre seats 4665 and hosts over 150 performances each year, from movies to Broadway classics to rock concerts and comedy.

Learn more about its history on a one-hour tour of the theatre.

The Fox Theatre is at 660 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.

12- Relax At Stone Mountain Park

Spread across 3,200 acres (1300 ha) of lovely Georgia landscape, State Mountain Park is a fantastic place to spend a night.

The park has an extensive range of fun family activities, and the mountain in the park is 1,686 ft (514 m), which is tall enough to be a great lookout point.

Trek through the treetops on SkyHike on a hike up the mountain for a great view during the day or, if you’re visiting at night, take a relaxing trip to the top with Summit Skyride (operates daily until 8 pm).

The Scenic Railroad has a historic 1940s locomotive; the 30-minute train trip operates until 8 pm.

Most of the attractions close at 8 pm, and the daily Laser Show is usually around 9 pm, allowing you to finish up your evening at the park.

Stone Mountain Park is at 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083.

13- Stroll Through Piedmont Park

Not far from downtown Atlanta, Piedmont Park is a 200-acre (81 ha) park with walking and jogging tracks, dog parks, playgrounds, tennis courts, picnic facilities, a swimming pool and a Saturday farmer’s market.

The park stays open till 11 pm, and you can dine at Willy’s Mexicana Grill or Howlin Willy’s until 10 pm at the park.

A great way to add some excitement to your day is to join a scavenger hunt.

The park also hosts many of Atlanta’s art festivals throughout the year, including the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, the Gay Pride Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival and Screen on the Green.

Piedmont Park is at 1320 Monroe Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30306.

14- Appreciate Art At High Museum of Art

The High Museum of Art has around 15,000 works of art in its permanent collection and thousands more in rotating exhibits.

Exhibitions include paintings and sculptures from the 14th to 18th centuries and photography collections from the 19th to 20th centuries.

On Thursdays, the gallery remains open till 9 pm.

To spend an extra special night out in Atlanta, visit the museum on Friday nights for live jazz.

High Museum of Art is at 1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309.

15- Have Fun At Skyline Park

Located on top of the Ponce City Market, Skyline Park is a fun place for all ages, with mini golf, carnival games and a tower ride showing impressive sky-high views of Atlanta at night.

The kids can play basketball, skee ball and have a blast on the three-story slide.

Also on the rooftop, Nine Mile Station serves craft beer, cocktails and food with stunning views of the skyline.

Skyline Park is open until midnight most days at Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.

16- Admire The Fountains At Centennial Olympic Park

Centennial Olympic Park has green lawns, pools, artwork, and fountains in downtown Atlanta.

Established for the 1996 Olympic Games as a central area for festivities, the park is one of the popular places in Atlanta both night and day.

The highlight here is the Fountain of Rings – an interactive water fountain that triggers 251 musical, computer-controlled water jets in synchronised displays.

Flags, sculptures and towers are lit up, making it a sightseeing delight in Atlanta at night.

In summer, there are fireworks displays and festivals as well.

Centennial Olympic Park is at 265 Park Ave W NW, Atlanta, GA 30313.

17- Wind Down At Chattahoochee River

Look for fun after sundown at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, about a half-hour drive from Atlanta.

The site has lovely scenery, and the river has calm water where you can boat, fish, tube or swim.

There are special nighttime events throughout the year.

There’s an adults-only evening paddle from 6 pm to 9 pm on Friday nights, while Sunset Sips is a fun event on certain Thursdays.

Check their event program for dates for the popular River Concerts too.

Chattahoochee Nature Center is at 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA 30075.

18- Score The Best Seats at Mercedes Benz Stadium

Opened in 2017, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is home to the Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Atlanta United FC (Major League Soccer).

It is a multi-purpose stadium where fans can watch football and soccer matches and concerts.

The stadium has everything a fan could want: giant screens, a retractable roof and decent food offerings.

If you’re unable to catch a game, go on guided tours of the stadium to see impressive artwork and behind-the-scenes areas.

Impressively, the facility has a sports-related art collection by the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Mercedes Benz Stadium is at 1 AMB Drive NW Atlanta, GA 30313.

19- Watch A Basketball Game at State Farm Arena

If you are into basketball, head to the State Farm Arena in the heart of downtown Atlanta.

It’s another multi-purpose indoor venue for games and shows and is home to the Atlanta Hawks and the Atlanta Dream basketball teams.

Here, you can mingle with basketball lovers, join an ice skating competition, watch an ice hockey game or attend an event.

There’s a Hawks shop where you can pick up a souvenir and several restaurants, bars and fast-food counters.

State Farm Arena is at 1 State Farm Dr, Atlanta, GA 30303.

20- Relax At Jeju Sauna

Unwinding in a Korean-style traditional bathhouse might not sound like an obvious activity in Atlanta at night, but spending the evening at Jeju Sauna will have you feeling incredibly relaxed.

Jeju Sauna is a traditional Korean Spa with spa pools, steam rooms and saunas.

It’s open 24 hours and offers a range of massages and treatments or you can enjoy a dip in the swimming pool.

Jeju Sauna is at 3555 Gwinnett Pl Dr NW, Duluth, GA 30096.

For more exciting cities at night, read: