Your guide to Georgia
Top destinations in Georgia
Athens
Whether you come for the school spirit, the Southern cuisine or to catch a concert at one of its iconic music venues, Athens is ready to make a big impression.
Atlanta
Georgia’s sprawling capital city serves up more world-class museums, music clubs and must-try Southern dishes than you’ll know what to do with on one trip.
Savannah
From Greek Revival architecture and white-sand beaches to cobblestone streets perfumed with sweet magnolias, Georgia’s oldest city has plenty of stories to tell.
Georgia: fast facts
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Currency | United States dollar ($) |
| Time zone | Atlanta - UTC−5 (EST) and UTC−4 (EDT) |
| High season | March – May; September – November |
| Low season | June – August |
Georgia highlights
Learn about Civil Rights
One of the best things to do in Georgia is to visit the state’s Civil Rights landmarks. The moving Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Park encompasses King’s childhood home and Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he was a preacher. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights unpacks Georgia’s important role in the US’ ongoing pursuit of equal rights.
See famous film locations
Hundreds of film and TV productions shoot at locations throughout the state every year, some behind big names like Tyler Perry and Marvel. Sit at the Savannah bus stop featured in ‘Forrest Gump’ or take a ‘Walking Dead’ tour in the city of Senoia. You can also recreate your favourite scenes from ‘Stranger Things’ in the Jackson town square.
Catch a ball game
Georgians love to root for the home team at both the pro and amateur level. Atlanta United FC (football) and the Atlanta Braves (baseball) routinely perform near the top of their divisions. And college football fans are serious about their University of Georgia Bulldogs. The Savannah Bananas, an exhibition barnstorming baseball team, draws crowds with its choreographed dance routines and zany stunts.
Things to do in Georgia
Top attractions
The Atlanta Botanical Garden wows with its 7-metre-tall topiary shaped like an earth goddess and eye-popping sculpted glass. In the Blue Ridge Mountains, hunt for tucked-away waterfalls and roadside fruit stands. The mossy oaks and cobblestone streets of the Savannah Historic District will keep Georgia on your mind long after your visit.
Beaches
Georgia’s beaches stretch out along the state’s 160 kilometres of Atlantic coastline. Tybee Island, with its iconic lighthouse, is the closest to Savannah. Popular St. Simons and Jekyll Island form part of the ‘Golden Isles’, a series of pretty, windswept barrier islands leading south towards Jacksonville. For an unspoilt beach vibe, visit the wild horses that roam on Cumberland Island.
Nature
Georgia’s nature covers a wide range, from rivers and waterfalls to mountains and swamps. The Appalachian Trail starts here, winding through kilometres of rolling Blue Ridge Mountain landscape on its way north to Maine. Down south, spot alligators and blue herons in the fabled Okefenokee Swamp. In the summer, join scores of Atlanta locals tubing down the Chattahoochee River, a ritual known as ‘shooting the Hooch’.
Cuisine
From haute cuisine to home cookin’, Georgia restaurants make good use of the local bounty. Depending on the season, that could mean peaches, pecans, peanuts or delicious seafood. Chefs in Atlanta and Savannah have earned an apron full of awards and Michelin stars. Don’t leave without trying Atlanta’s signature lemon pepper wet wings and a glass of sweet tea.
Culture and museums
Georgia is an especially great place to experience Southern folk art, with wonderlands like Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden. The High Museum of Art in Atlanta is one of the best museums in Georgia, featuring works from Monet to Basquiat and beyond. Be sure to check out the Macon Music Trail, including the studio where Otis Redding and the Allman Brothers recorded legendary albums.
Nightlife
Atlanta is the epicentre of Georgia nightlife. Here, you can go high at swanky Buckhead rooftop lounges or low at one of the city’s legendary dives. From hip-hop DJs and sports bars to barcades, Edgewood Avenue is always going off. And Savannah happens to be a bachelor and bachelorette party hotspot, thanks to its open-container laws and haunted pub crawls.
Find the best time to visit Georgia
Weather in Georgia through the year
March – May: Georgia explodes with colourful blooms in spring. Tulips and azaleas decorate neighbourhoods, and Macon holds its Cherry Blossom Festival.
June – August: Hot, humid summer is a good time to hit Georgia’s beaches and coastal cities. Breezes off the Atlantic keep things bearable, and the water temperature is in the high 20s°C.
September – November: Autumn brings fresh cultural offerings to Atlanta museums and theatres and pretty foliage to the mountains. In wine country, harvest season is in full swing.
December – February: Georgia’s mild winters welcome cool temps but rarely snow. It’s a nice time to escape to a cosy mountain cabin or hit the cities for festive light displays.
Events in Georgia
Savannah Saint Patrick’s Day (March): Savannah’s been throwing the state’s greenest Saint Patty’s party for more than two centuries. There’s a big parade complete with floats and bagpipers — and, of course, plenty of green beer.
Masters Tournament (April): The Augusta National Golf Club hosts one of the biggest events on the PGA Tour. Attendees snack on pimento cheese sandwiches and Georgia peach ice cream while watching greats like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson do their thing.
Atlanta Jazz Festival (May): This free event brings jazz fans in droves to Piedmont Park to see top local and national acts, from Herbie Hancock to Outkast’s Andre 3000.
Know before you go
Budget
It’s easy to visit Georgia on a budget, where the cost of living is lower than the national average. Prices are higher in Atlanta, but you can find a cheap meal for around 20 US dollars ($). Local beers and craft lattes cost less than $6. The price of the average short cab ride is about $8.
Health and safety
Health risks in Georgia are generally low, aside from Atlanta traffic and summer heat. If you’re outdoors in warmer months, stay hydrated, wear sun cream, and use mosquito repellent, especially near standing water or along the coast. Hiking in the mountains? Be aware of ticks — wear long pants, use repellent, and check yourself after each hike.
Free things to do
Some of Georgia’s best experiences don’t cost a thing. Spend warm days checking out the state’s popular free public beaches, like Jekyll Island and St Simons. Or explore Atlanta’s Eastside Beltline Trail all the way to Piedmont Park, home to some first-rate people-watching. Soak in the Southern Gothic atmosphere of Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery, with its historic graves and elegant landscaping.
Family friendly
Splash in the gentle waves of Tybee Island, or pretend you’re in ‘The Sound of Music’ with a visit to Helen, a mock-Bavarian village on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. After a lunch of schnitzel, you can rent an inner tube and float downstream for a while. Or have a sleepover under the sea with the sharks and rays of the Georgia Aquarium.
Getting around Georgia
Public transport
Buses: Greyhound, Megabus and FlixBus provide bus service between Georgia’s major cities. However, you won’t find much service in rural parts of the state.
Trains: Atlanta used to be the end of the Western & Atlantic Railroad line — hence its nickname, ‘Terminus’. Amtrak connects the capital with Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, while a coastal line links Savannah with Charleston and Miami. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway charts a pretty route through the northern mountains.
Boats: Located off the southern coast, unspoilt Cumberland Island is only accessible by ferry. The 45-minute journey starts at St Marys. Be sure to reserve tickets in advance.
Domestic flights
Atlanta is a global hub, offering direct flights to hundreds of destinations, including New York City, Dallas, Orlando and Los Angeles. But when travelling within the state, flying is usually not the best option. It’s possible to catch an hour-long flight from Atlanta to Savannah, but most prefer to drive.
Driving and car hire
Georgia’s highways are generally well maintained. But in Atlanta, they’re often gridlocked, and road signs can be confusing. Be sure to obey speed limits, even if the drivers around you aren’t.
