11 Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Atlanta for Every Type of Tourist

Where to Stay in Atlanta

Atlanta’s not just one city – it’s a bunch of distinct neighborhoods that each do their own thing. From Midtown’s got the arts and park scene to Buckhead’s luxe hotels and shopping, your perfect stay depends on what you’re after.

Here are the spots that’ll give you the real ATL experience, whether you’re here for business, pleasure, or just really good Southern food.

1. Midtown

Just north of Downtown, Midtown is the cultural center of Atlanta. You can stroll through Piedmont Park, a huge 185-acre green space with nice walking paths and great city views. The High Museum of Art has over 17,000 works, and the Fox Theatre is a beautiful 1929 venue where you can catch Broadway shows.

Getting to other popular areas is simple since Midtown connects directly to the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. You have lots of hotel choices from fancy to boutique.

2. Buckhead

About seven miles north of Downtown, Buckhead is the fancy part of Atlanta. You can shop at two major luxury malls, Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square, with stores like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. There’s also Buckhead Village District with over 60 high-end boutiques in a nice outdoor setting.

If you’re interested in history, check out the Atlanta History Center with its 33-acre campus featuring historic homes and Civil War exhibits. Buckhead actually has 43 different neighborhoods within it, each with its own special character.

You can enjoy walking or biking on PATH400, a 5.2-mile trail that connects to other paths and parks throughout Buckhead. If you’re curious about real estate, homes in Buckhead were listed at around $578,000 in early 2025.

3. Downtown

Downtown sits where Atlanta’s three interstate highways meet. You can visit the 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park with its famous Fountain of Rings. The Georgia Aquarium is home to over 100,000 sea creatures, and the World of Coca-Cola tells the story of Atlanta’s famous beverage.

Downtown is super easy to get to since five MARTA rail lines meet here. A new transit option opened in 2025, the MARTA Rapid Summerhill line, connecting Downtown to neighborhoods in south Atlanta. “The Stitch,” a cool project to build a park over the highway, got approval in 2025 and will start construction in 2026.

4. Old Fourth Ward

East of Downtown, Old Fourth Ward is where you can visit Dr. King’s birthplace and Ebenezer Baptist Church at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. You’ll love Ponce City Market, an old Sears building from the 1920s that now has food halls, shops, and offices.

The neighborhood has a great section of the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail and a nice 17-acre park with a pond and skate park. Getting around is easier with the glass BeltLine elevator completed in 2024 that connects to Historic Fourth Ward Park and has special channels for bikes.

5. Virginia-Highland

Northeast of Midtown, Virginia-Highland got its name from the crossing of its two main avenues. You’ll find charming 1920s bungalows on pretty tree-lined streets that make you feel like you’re in a small town even though you’re in the city.

The neighborhood sits right next to Piedmont Park and hosts the popular Summerfest with an artist market and 5K race. Take a walk on the Maiden Trail, a pretty alley between St. Charles Avenue and Ponce that was fixed up for pedestrians.

Virginia-Highland has one of Atlanta’s seven neighborhood tree walks, with special marked trees creating a unique walking route through the area.

6. Decatur

About six miles east of Downtown, Decatur works as its own independent city while still being part of metro Atlanta. The neighborhood centers on a historic courthouse square surrounded by local restaurants and cute shops.

The DeKalb Farmers Market offers products from more than 184 countries around the world. Book lovers will enjoy the Decatur Book Festival, the largest independent book festival in the country. Getting to Downtown Atlanta takes just 15 minutes on MARTA.

The Halo development near the Decatur MARTA station started going up in 2025, creating new housing options right by transit. The downtown square got a makeover with more outdoor dining spaces in 2024.

7. West End

West End is so historic it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can visit the Wren’s Nest, the historic home of author Joel Chandler Harris, and the Hammonds House Museum with its collection of African American fine art.

The neighborhood uses the Connect Atlanta safety program so residents can link their security cameras to the Atlanta Police Department’s monitoring network. The Westside Trail Segment 4 fully opened in spring 2025, creating 6.5 miles of connected trails between Downtown and the Pittsburgh Yards area.

8. Atlantic Station

Northwest of Midtown, Atlantic Station covers 138 acres on what used to be the Atlantic Steel mill site. The neighborhood offers a convenient mix of living, shopping, and entertainment options.

You’ve got a shopping district with more than 50 retailers from big-box stores to boutiques. Attractions like the Millennium Gate Museum with interesting exhibits on Georgia history, and loads of seasonal events including an outdoor ice skating rink in winter. It’s also within easy walking distance to Georgia Tech’s campus.

In 2025, the area welcomed a new 181-key Embassy Suites hotel with meeting spaces and the Brickstones Kitchen and Bar restaurant, adding even more options.