The FIFA World Cup may be the main event in Atlanta this summer, centered around matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Fan Festival at Centennial Park, and the family-friendly WatchFest on Decatur Square. But new developments around town and a dynamic dining scene give visitors plenty to see and do beyond soccer. It’s a city where history meets the future, stately trees canopy the streets, and Southern hospitality still shines. Here are five ways (plus a bonus) to experience Atlanta between matches.
Cruise the BeltLine.
The city comes to life on the BeltLine, a paved walking and biking trail along a former rail corridor. Eventually it’ll loop around the entire urban core, but for now there are a couple of sections worth seeking out. The Eastside Trail runs through Midtown, Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, and Reynoldstown, with plenty of restaurant patios, boutiques, and public art to take in along the way. (Stop for lunch at Krog Street Market and, if you have kids, a cooldown at the splash pad at Historic Fourth Ward Park.) The Westside Trail offers a lower-key experience with fewer crowds and proximity to Lee + White, a renovated industrial complex packed with breweries and distilleries.
Check out Chastain Park.
Most people think of Piedmont Park—located in the heart of Midtown and designed by the Olmsted Brothers—as Atlanta’s version of Central Park. And with its prime adjacency to the BeltLine and the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Piedmont is absolutely worth a visit. But for a taste of local life, stretch your legs in Chastain Park in Buckhead. One of the city’s largest greenspaces, it sprawls across 268 acres and includes tennis courts, golf, an equestrian center, a beloved playground, and the city’s oldest amphitheater, which hosts major touring acts throughout the summer. A paved walking trail offers glimpses of all the above as well as the stately homes in the neighborhood. Afterwards, refuel at the Chastain, located across the street, with a pastry and coffee or a meal featuring produce grown on-site.
Hit the High Museum of Art.
Housed in a light-filled, contemporary building designed by architects Richard Meier and Renzo Piano, Atlanta’s premiere art museum supplements its impressive permanent collection with rotating exhibitions like Amy Sherald: American Sublime (on display through September 27), which showcases the Georgia-born artist’s most iconic works, including her portrait of former first lady Michelle Obama, alongside little-seen paintings. Out in the piazza, abstract inflatables dubbed Los Porfiados (the Stubborns) charm visitors with their cheerful floppiness. Kids will want to explore the Greene Learning Gallery, an interactive play area composed of stations where they can make crafts, explore color and light, and build with blocks as big as them.
Unwind at Madeira Park.
Hot summer days call for a crisp glass of wine or a spritz paired with shareable bites. You’ll find those at Madeira Park, the wine bar from James Beard Award–winning chef Steven Satterfield, his business partner Neal McCarthy, and sommelier Tim Willard. Located in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood just a few minutes from downtown, it draws locals with its spacious covered patio, deep wine list, and unfussy dishes like seasonal gnocchi, oysters, and fries with house-made mayo. For dessert, stroll next door for an ice cream cone at Big Softie.
Bonus: Explore Buford Highway.
Nothing captures the global spirit of soccer more than a culinary quest along Buford Highway, a seven-ish-mile stretch just northeast of Atlanta that’s known for its diverse dining scene. Standouts include Korean favorites So Kong Dong Tofu House and Hae Woon Dae BBQ, Malaysian street food hub Food Terminal, and Vietnamese mainstays Lee’s Bakery (beloved for their banh mi) and Phở Bắc. For coffee and a sweet treat, stop by the White Windmill Bakery. And for even more inspiration, check out the list of restaurants participating in Buford Highway Restaurant Month, conveniently timed to the World Cup.
More City Guides: Five Things to See When You’re Not Watching the World Cup
Lia Picard is a lifestyle writer who has called Atlanta home for more than a decade. She writes about travel, food, interior design, and interesting people for Garden & Gun as well as the New York Times, Travel + Leisure, and Atlanta magazine, among other national and regional publications. When she’s not writing, she’s exploring the South with her family and shares her adventures on Instagram.
