How Atlanta CityPASS Works: A Step‑by‑Step Guide for Visitors and Locals

Atlanta has several big-name attractions spread around town, and Atlanta CityPASS is designed to bundle many of them into one prepaid ticket. If you’re trying to figure out how Atlanta CityPASS works, how to use it once you’re in the city, and whether it fits your plans, this guide walks through everything in clear, Atlanta-specific terms.

What Is Atlanta CityPASS?

Atlanta CityPASS is a discounted attraction bundle for some of Atlanta’s most popular sights.

Instead of buying separate tickets at each attraction, you:

• Purchase one CityPASS for each person.
• Get admission to a set group of attractions within a limited number of days.
• Use mobile or printed tickets at the entrance instead of paying individually.

It’s mainly aimed at:

• Visitors spending 2–5 days in Atlanta.
• Locals planning a “staycation” or hosting out-of-town guests.
• Anyone who wants to hit several big Atlanta attractions without buying each ticket separately.

Which Atlanta Attractions Are Typically Included?

Specific lineups can change, but Atlanta CityPASS usually includes:

Core attractions commonly featured:

• Georgia Aquarium – Downtown at 225 Baker St NW.
• World of Coca‑Cola – Near Centennial Olympic Park at 121 Baker St NW.
• Zoo Atlanta – In Grant Park at 800 Cherokee Ave SE.
• National Center for Civil and Human Rights – Near Pemberton Place at 100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW.
• Often one or more additional options, such as:
  • Fernbank Museum of Natural History – 767 Clifton Rd.
  • College Football Hall of Fame – Near Mercedes‑Benz Stadium at 250 Marietta St NW.

You’ll want to check the current Atlanta CityPASS lineup and details directly with the official provider before buying, because:

• Included attractions,
• Operating hours, and
• Reservation requirements

can all change based on season and demand.

How the Pass Works: The Basics

1. You Buy a Pass for Each Person

• Atlanta CityPASS is per person, not per group.
• You choose the number of passes you need for adults and children.
• You pay one upfront price that covers entrance to the included attractions.

You can usually buy it:

• Online before you travel.
• Sometimes in person at participating attractions like Georgia Aquarium or World of Coca‑Cola, but availability can vary.

💡 Tip: If you’re hosting family in Atlanta, you can purchase passes on their behalf and forward the digital tickets to them.

2. You Receive Mobile or Printable Tickets

After purchase, you typically receive:

• E‑tickets by email with QR codes or barcodes.
• The option to add them to your phone’s wallet or show them from an app, depending on how you bought them.
• In some cases, the ability to print paper tickets.

At each attraction’s entrance:

• Show your CityPASS QR code/barcode.
• The staff scans it and grants you the included admission (and in some cases, standard timed entry or general exhibits).

You generally don’t receive a separate physical “card” unless specifically noted. The pass is usually digital-first.

3. The Activation Window: When the Clock Starts

Atlanta CityPASS has two important timing concepts:

1. Purchase window

   • You can usually buy the pass in advance before you arrive in Atlanta.
   • Just buying it does not start the usage clock.

2. Usage window

   • The pass is activated the first time you use it at an Atlanta attraction.
   • From that first use, you have a limited number of consecutive days (commonly 9 days, but confirm current terms) to visit the remaining included attractions.

Example:
If your first scan is at Georgia Aquarium on a Saturday, you typically have the rest of that day plus the following days (up to the current usage limit) to use the pass at the other attractions.

4. How Many Attractions You Can Visit

Atlanta CityPASS is structured around a fixed number of attractions, such as:

• All of the core attractions, plus
• Sometimes a choice between a couple of “option” attractions (for example, “choose 2 of 3”).

The exact format can change, but the pattern is:

• You cannot use the pass for unlimited visits.
• You get one admission per included attraction per person.
• Once you’ve used all of your included admissions (or hit the time limit), the pass is fully used.

If there’s a choice built in (like “Zoo Atlanta OR Fernbank Museum”), you’ll need to pick which one to use with the pass. If you want to visit the other, you’d buy a separate ticket directly from that attraction.

Using Atlanta CityPASS at Specific Atlanta Attractions

Each attraction in Atlanta has its own procedures, especially around timed reservations and peak times.

Georgia Aquarium (Downtown Atlanta)

• Address: 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
• Located near Centennial Olympic Park, easy to pair with World of Coca‑Cola and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
• With CityPASS, you typically:
  • Get general admission to the aquarium exhibits.
  • May need to reserve a timed entry slot online, depending on current policy.
• On busy days (holidays, spring break, summer weekends), timed reservations can fill up, so plan ahead.

World of Coca‑Cola

• Address: 121 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
• Also at Pemberton Place, just steps from the Aquarium.
• CityPASS normally covers:
  • General admission to the exhibits and tasting experience.
• You may be able to walk up and use your pass, but during high-demand times, you might still have to wait for the next available entry time.

Zoo Atlanta

• Address: 800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
• In Grant Park, a short drive from downtown or accessible via MARTA bus from the King Memorial or Five Points area.
• CityPASS typically includes:
  • General daytime admission to the zoo.
• Check for:
  • Seasonal hours (summer/winter hours differ).
  • Whether advance reservations are recommended—especially on weekends and school holidays.

National Center for Civil and Human Rights

• Address: 100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
• Walkable from Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca‑Cola.
• CityPASS generally covers:
  • General admission to the museum’s main exhibits.
• This is a good option for cooler or rainy days since it’s entirely indoors.

Fernbank, College Football Hall of Fame, and Other Options

When these are included as “option” attractions:

• Fernbank Museum of Natural History

  • 767 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30307
  • Located in Druid Hills, east of downtown.
  • CityPASS usually covers museum exhibits, but special shows (like giant screen films) may be extra.

• College Football Hall of Fame

  • 250 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
  • Near Mercedes‑Benz Stadium and CNN Center.
  • CityPASS typically grants general admission.

Again, the current CityPASS description you see at purchase will clearly list which of these are included and how many you can choose.

Do You Need Reservations With Atlanta CityPASS?

This is one of the most common points of confusion.

CityPASS covers your ticket cost, but each Atlanta attraction can still require:

• Advance timed reservations (especially Georgia Aquarium).
• Same-day time slots if they’re managing capacity.
• On-site check-in even if you have a pass.

To use Atlanta CityPASS smoothly:

1. Check each attraction’s website for:

   • Whether CityPASS users must reserve a time.
   • How to link your CityPASS to a timed entry, if required.

2. Plan your days:

   • Cluster downtown attractions (Aquarium, World of Coca‑Cola, Civil and Human Rights) on the same day if you like walking between them.
   • Plan Zoo Atlanta or Fernbank on another day since they’re in different neighborhoods.

3. Allow travel time:

   • Traffic on the Downtown Connector (I‑75/85) and around Midtown can be heavy, especially rush hours.
   • MARTA trains and buses can be useful for reaching downtown attractions, while Zoo Atlanta and Fernbank may require a mix of bus, rideshare, or driving.

How to Plan Your Atlanta Itinerary With CityPASS

Here’s a simple way to think about using Atlanta CityPASS over a few days.

Sample 3‑Day Plan (Using a Typical Pass)

Day 1 – Downtown Cluster

• Morning: Georgia Aquarium
• Afternoon: World of Coca‑Cola
• Optional evening: Walk around Centennial Olympic Park or explore nearby restaurants along Marietta St or in the Fairlie‑Poplar district.

Day 2 – History and Culture

• Late morning or early afternoon: National Center for Civil and Human Rights
• Rest of the day:
  • Stroll through Centennial Olympic Park,
  • Explore nearby attractions, or
  • Take MARTA to Midtown for Piedmont Park or the High Museum (separate admission).

Day 3 – Neighborhood Trip

• Choose one:
  • Zoo Atlanta in Grant Park, or
  • Fernbank Museum in Druid Hills, or
  • College Football Hall of Fame (if part of your pass and not already used).

This approach lets you stay within the usage window, avoid rushing, and make good use of MARTA and short drives.

What Atlanta CityPASS Typically Includes (At a Glance)

Use this as a general pattern; always confirm current details when you buy:

Pros and Cons for Atlanta Visitors and Locals

Potential Benefits

• Cost savings if you plan to visit multiple major attractions.
• Simplified planning, since you already know which big sights are covered.
• Digital convenience, especially for families managing multiple tickets.
• Easy way to introduce out-of-town guests to Atlanta’s biggest attractions over a weekend.

Possible Downsides

• Not ideal if you only want one attraction (for example, just the Aquarium).
• The usage window can feel tight if your schedule is very flexible or if weather interrupts your plans.
• Some popular times (like spring break around Atlanta Public Schools’ schedule) may require more advance planning for reservations.

Where Atlanta CityPASS Fits Into Getting Around the City

Atlanta CityPASS covers attraction admission, not transportation. When planning, factor in:

• MARTA Rail & Bus
  • Downtown attractions are walkable from Peachtree Center, CNN Center, or Five Points stations.
  • Good for Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca‑Cola, Civil and Human Rights, and College Football Hall of Fame.
• Driving and Parking
  • Each attraction has its own parking arrangements and fees.
  • Downtown parking garages are common near Centennial Olympic Park.
  • Zoo Atlanta and Fernbank each have on-site or nearby parking.
• Rideshare/Taxi
  • Helpful for connecting places not directly on MARTA rail, like Zoo Atlanta or Fernbank.
  • Can save time during rush hour compared to hunting for parking.

How Locals in Atlanta Often Use CityPASS

Even if you live in metro Atlanta (Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, etc.), CityPASS can still make sense in some situations:

• Hosting family or friends for a long weekend and wanting to show them:
  • The Aquarium,
  • World of Coca‑Cola,
  • The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and
  • Zoo Atlanta or Fernbank.
• Planning a staycation focused on downtown and Grant Park or Druid Hills.
• Spreading visits out over several days while still staying within the usage window.

A local might:

• Use the pass over two weekends if the validity window allows (for example, Saturday–Sunday one weekend and then the next Saturday), depending on how the days line up and the exact terms when purchased.
• Pair CityPASS attractions with neighborhood exploring:
  • Grant Park and nearby restaurants after Zoo Atlanta.
  • Little Five Points or Decatur after Fernbank.
  • Midtown or Old Fourth Ward after downtown museums.

Key Things to Check Before You Buy

Because details can change, it’s smart to verify these points in the current CityPASS description before purchasing:

• Which Atlanta attractions are included right now.
• How many total attractions your pass covers.
• Whether any are “choice” attractions (pick one of two or more).
• Current activation and usage window (how many days you have after first use).
• Reservation requirements for each attraction, especially Georgia Aquarium.
• Any age ranges for child vs. adult pricing.
• Whether there are refund or exchange policies if your trip changes.

Using Atlanta CityPASS is essentially about prepaying for a cluster of top Atlanta attractions, then visiting them within a set time frame using digital tickets. If you’re planning to see several of the city’s big-name spots—especially around Centennial Olympic Park, Grant Park, and Druid Hills—it can simplify your plans and help you make the most of your time in Atlanta.