Best Place to Stay in Atlanta: Best Areas & Accommodation
If you’ve never visited Atlanta before, trying to figure out where to stay can be overwhelming. Atlanta is huge, with many different suburbs and neighborhoods all with their own scene and vibe.
After living in Atlanta for a few years, I quickly learned the best places to stay to see all the best things in the city. Midtown, Buckhead, and Old Fourth Ward have many different attractions as well as restaurants, bars, and clubs.
While many people might recommend you stay downtown, I actually don’t recommend staying in the city center. It can be unsafe in some areas, and hotels are overpriced. You can easily get downtown from these other neighborhoods if there is something you want to see in the city center.
Ready to find the best Atlanta accommodation? Here are my top picks in each neighborhood.
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Atlanta Accommodation Quick Guide
If you’re in a time crunch and need to find accommodation quickly, here are my top choices around the city:
Budget—Comfort Inn Atlanta Downtown: If you want to be downtown and need an affordable place to stay, this is one of the best choices. It’s also right off I-85, so you can reach every part of Atlanta super quick. They have free breakfast and a large outdoor pool and it’s in a safe area.
Mid-range—Residence Inn by Marriott Atlanta Buckhead: I recommend this place if you’re traveling with friends or a large group as they only offer suites. All have pull-out sofas in the sitting room, a kitchen, and free Wi-Fi. They have a free hot breakfast and free snacks in the lounge every evening.
Luxury—Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta: This is the place to be if you want luxury. It’s only a mile from the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and a 10-minute walk to Piedmont Park. All the rooms have marble bathrooms, private terraces, and whirlpool tubs. The lounge is super chic and has a large wine selection.
Midtown
Despite being called Midtown, this area is actually north of the city. It’s mostly a residential place that’s quiet and boasts many nice restaurants. Midtown has a large variety of accommodations, from luxury hotels to hip boutiques to apartment rentals.
My favorite part of staying in Midtown is that you can walk to all the most popular spots. Feel free to set out on foot and get to the Fox Theatre, The Atlanta Botanical Gardens, and Piedmont Park. It’s a beautiful area to walk around.
Budget—Hotel 6 Atlanta Midtown: Basic rooms right in Midtown. You’ll also be only a 15-minute drive from downtown. Breakfast is free as well as parking. Pets are also welcome on certain floors! Just make sure you state that you are bringing a pet when you make the reservation so they put you in a pet-friendly room.
Mid-Range—Hilton Atlanta: One of the best hotels in Midtown, especially because of its location. When you exit the hotel, you can take the small walkway and be right at a MARTA (metro) station. It’s about 2 miles from Centennial Olympic Park. Make sure to have at least one meal at the rooftop restaurant to get awesome views of the city.
Luxury—The Starling Atlanta Midtown: I love this hotel because it’s only two blocks from Piedmont Park. The rooms are very modern and chic. Most of the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows offering great views of Piedmont Park and the rest of Midtown. They also have a lounge, a bar, a spa, and a restaurant.
Buckhead
Buckhead is the place to stay if you want luxury. I worked at a restaurant in Buckhead during college, and it was always packed with Atlanta’s wealthiest and even a celebrity or two from time to time.
Buckhead is also where all the best Atlanta shopping is located. Buckhead is well connected to the public transit system, so you can also get to downtown and other suburbs easily when needed.
Most hotels in Buckhead are more expensive compared to some other neighborhoods since it’s an up-and-coming part of the city. It’s a trade-off for sure, but it can be well worth it!
Budget—Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Buckhead: This hotel is within walking distance of Lenox Mall and a MARTA station. You can book a suite or a basic room, depending on how many people you’re traveling with. They have an indoor pool, a gorgeous outdoor courtyard, and a restaurant serving great American food.
Mid-Range—Atlanta Marriott Marquis: Stay here to be right in the center of Buckhead. You can walk to the Georgia Aquarium and the Mercedes Benz Stadium. They have a cocktail lounge and a sports bar on-site. Make sure to check out the outdoor pool if you’re here in the warmer months.
Luxury—The Westin Buckhead Atlanta: This is definitely one of the most upscale hotels in the area. The rooms are very modern and even have rainfall showers in every bathroom. They have a great steam room and sauna connected to the 24/7 gym. They also have a wine bar that has happy hour specials on weekdays.
Old Fourth Ward
Old Fourth Ward is on the east side and is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Atlanta. It’s now a trendy part of the city, and most residents are young families and young professionals. There is a ton of shopping here and different restaurants, including some great Southeast Asian and West African options, which I love.
The Atlanta Beltline is close to Old Fourth Ward. It’s a popular spot for walking and jogging. There are also many breweries and a skatepark to check out.
Because it’s such a hip and trendy area, hotels can be expensive. There are some awesome apartment rentals in the area, and some are even better than the hotels! Check out VRBO for some great options.
Budget—Hampton Atlanta Georgia Tech: This hotel is on the edge of Old Fourth Ward, north of downtown. Book a suite if you’re traveling with friends to get more space, a kitchenette, and a sofa bed. The shuttle service is free so make sure to take advantage of it if you are planning to visit any of the places on the route! They also have free breakfast.
Mid-Range—Sheraton Hotel Atlanta: This hotel is right on the line between Old Fourth Ward and downtown. The rooms are casual but have everything you need. including Wi-Fi, coffeemakers, and mini-fridges. They have an inexpensive cafe on-site as well as a more expensive fine dining restaurant. They have an outdoor pool and a fitness center for those who just want to spend a day relaxing at the hotel.
Luxury—Wylie Hotel: I recommend this hotel if you want to be within walking distance to as many places as possible. It’s a small boutique hotel less than a mile from all Old Fourth Ward has to offer. They have free breakfast, and the dining room is gorgeous with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Top Things to do in Atlanta
Atlanta is one of my favorite cities in the south, mostly because I love the food and drink scene. No matter what you are craving, Atlanta has it! There are also tons of museums throughout the city to check out famous artwork as well as local art.
Even though it’s a big city, Atlanta also has tons of green space where you can exercise, relax with friends, or bring your pet along for some fun. Check out my post on the top things to do in Atlanta for more ideas.
Here are my favorite things to do around the city:
- Check out Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market. While visiting Old Fourth Ward, check out Ponce City Market. The bottom floor is a food court, and the second floor is trendy shops. Krog Street Market is in Inman Park and has a food court and several breweries.
- See the exhibits at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. This is a must when in Atlanta. They almost always have fun events, so make sure to check out the calendar and see what’s going on when you’re in the area. The gardens are beautiful at Christmas time with Christmas trees and twinkling lights everywhere.
- Hang out at Piedmont Park. Atlanta has tons of green space, and Piedmont Park is one of my favorites. You can relax with your friends and have a picnic or take one of the workshops or classes the park offers.
- Drink at the breweries. Atlanta is full of local breweries. You’ll see tons of tourists and locals at them, especially on the weekends or during the evenings when there are happy hour deals. Some of my favorites are Eventide, Scofflaw, and Bold Monk.
- See a show at the Fox Theatre. Have a night out and see a musical performance or a dance show. Some of the performances are local shows, and sometimes there are famous people or shows touring. If there is no event while you’re in Atlanta, you can always take a tour of the theatre.
- Eat at Buford Highway. Buford Highway is what I miss the most when I think about Atlanta. It’s an amazing neighborhood to check out because of the diverse food scene. From Korean to Mexican to Argentian, you’ll find everything you’re craving here.
How to Get to Atlanta
The best part about Atlanta is that it’s very easy to travel to. Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the United States, with daily domestic and international flights from almost every destination.
You can also drive to Atlanta if you’re taking a road trip throughout the southeast. You can easily get to Atlanta on I-20, I-75, and I-85.
How to Get Around Atlanta
While you can rent a car to get around Atlanta, I don’t recommend it if it’s your first time driving in a large city. The roads and traffic in Atlanta can be overwhelming.
MARTA is the main public transportation option in Atlanta, with a metro system and bus routes. The metros are much more reliable than the buses as they come every 15-20 minutes.
You can also Uber and Lyft when you want to get to popular tourist destinations or downtown. Public parking in Atlanta is expensive so I would recommend taking an Uber anywhere that requires you to park on the street or in a garage.
When to Visit Atlanta
Atlanta can be visited all year long since there are always festivals or special events happening around the city. Winters are pretty mild for the most part, so even visiting during the coldest months is an option. Hotel prices are also lower around this time as long as it’s not around the holidays.
Summer can get hot and humid, so I don’t recommend coming in May through August unless there is a specific event happening that you want to attend. Fall and spring are the best times for the best weather and smaller crowds.
Common Questions for Visiting Atlanta
If you’re planning your trip to Atlanta, here are answers to some common questions you may have.
Where to stay in Atlanta on a budget?
Most of the hotels you’ll find in Atlanta are on the more expensive end especially the ones in Buckhead and Midtown. For budget options, it’s best to stay near the airport such as at Best Western Atlanta Airport South or in northern Atlanta in the suburbs. Check out hotels in Alpharetta or Johns Creek.
I recommend checking out hotels near the Perimeter, an area just north of Atlanta. It’s away from the hustle and bustle of the city but only a short drive to all the attractions. AC Hotel by Marriot Atlanta Perimeter and Hyatt House Atlanta Perimeter Center are both good choices.
Where to stay in Atlanta for the weekend?
If you only have a few days in Atlanta, consider staying in Midtown or Buckhead. You will be close to all the best attractions as well as some of the best restaurants and bars in the city.
If all the attractions you want to see are downtown, you can also choose to stay downtown. You might pay a little more for hotels and transportation in this area.
window.fd(‘form’, { formId: ‘5f654c78bf43d8ae8bbfa457’, containerEl: ‘#fd-form-5f654c78bf43d8ae8bbfa457’ });Where to stay in Atlanta near the airport?
The Atlanta airport is far away from the city center and the neighborhoods listed in this guide. I definitely recommend staying near the airport for a late or early flight as it can take sometimes an hour or two to get to the airport depending on traffic.
Some of the best hotels near the airport are Comfort Inn Atlanta International Airport and Atlanta Airport Marriot.
Is Atlanta Safe?
I lived in Atlanta for years and generally felt safe everywhere I went. I don’t recommend going downtown alone during the evening or night hours. There were also some instances where I didn’t feel comfortable taking MARTA late at night since the waiting area is usually empty, and there are no security guards around at that time.
You may have heard that Atlanta has a high crime rate. This is true, especially downtown. I, unfortunately, had a few friends in college who experienced being mugged. Always make sure you keep your personal belongings close and Uber at night rather than walk or take public transport.
The Best Place to Stay in Atlanta is Waiting For You!
Ready to book your vacation at the best place to stay in Atlanta? I hope this guide helped you choose one of Atlanta’s many neighborhoods. Each of the neighborhoods listed in this guide is diverse with its own culture and scene.
No matter where you choose to stay, you can easily get from one area of Atlanta to another with the transportation system and well-connected roads if you have a car. You can even move around the city to different hotels if you are in Atlanta for longer than just a few days.
Have you visited Atlanta? What’s your favorite place to stay? Comment below!
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