Downtown Atlanta: Where It Is, What’s Around It, and How to Get There

If you live in metro Atlanta or you’re planning a visit, you’ll hear people talk about “downtown” constantly. But where exactly is downtown Atlanta, and what does it include?

Below is a clear breakdown of where downtown Atlanta is located, what most locals mean when they say “downtown,” and how it fits in with nearby areas like Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and the tourist district around Centennial Olympic Park.

The Short Answer: Where Is Downtown Atlanta?

Downtown Atlanta is the central business district at the heart of the city, roughly centered around:

• Peachtree Street SW / Marietta Street NW / Edgewood Avenue SE / Courtland Street SE
• A commonly used central reference point is Five Points, near:
  • Five Points MARTA Station – 30 Alabama St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303

If you’re standing near Five Points, the Fulton County Courthouse, Atlanta City Hall, or the cluster of government and office buildings around Mitchell Street SW and Pryor Street SW, you are in the core of downtown Atlanta.

How Locals Typically Define “Downtown Atlanta”

There isn’t one single official boundary that everyone uses. In everyday conversation, Atlantans usually mean:

• The central business and government area south of the tourist-heavy Centennial Olympic Park district
• The grid of streets around Five Points, Peachtree Street, Mitchell Street, Alabama Street, and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
• The area where you’ll find City Hall, the Georgia State Capitol, and major office towers

Many people think of downtown as spreading across several named districts:

• Government and office core (City Hall, Capitol area)
• Fairlie-Poplar Historic District (older buildings, narrow streets)
• Centennial Olympic Park area (tourism, big attractions)
• South Downtown / Castleberry Hill edge (arts, lofts, redevelopment)

Different maps may draw precise boundaries slightly differently, but if you are between Northside Drive on the west and Piedmont Avenue on the east, and between Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard on the north and I‑20 on the south, you are within what most people consider downtown or the immediate downtown area.

Major Landmarks That Help You “See” Downtown

If you’re trying to orient yourself in Atlanta, these landmarks are strong signals that you’re in or next to downtown:

Government & Civic Buildings

• Georgia State Capitol
  • 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA 30334
  • Gold dome, visible from many directions
• Atlanta City Hall
  • 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Fulton County Government Center
  • Near Pryor St SW & Martin Luther King Jr. Dr SW

These buildings anchor the southeastern side of downtown.

Transit & Central Hubs

• Five Points MARTA Station
  • 30 Alabama St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Main transfer point for all MARTA rail lines
• Garnett Station (just south of the core)
  • 225 Peachtree St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 (station entrance nearby)

If you’re entering or exiting Five Points, you are literally under the middle of downtown Atlanta.

Business & Historic Streets

• Peachtree Street – the spine that runs through downtown and up into Midtown
• Marietta Street, Alabama Street, Broad Street, and Mitchell Street – dense with office buildings, small shops, and restaurants
• Fairlie-Poplar Historic District – northwest of Five Points, with brick buildings and narrower streets

Downtown vs. Midtown vs. “The City”: What’s the Difference?

People new to Atlanta often mix up downtown and Midtown, or assume all of “the city” is downtown. Here’s how locals typically distinguish them.

At a Glance: Central Atlanta Areas

Simple Rule of Thumb

• Downtown: Think courthouses, the Capitol, City Hall, and the main MARTA hub.
• Midtown: Think Fox Theatre, tech offices, high-rises, and arts venues on or near Peachtree St NE, usually north of North Avenue NE.
• Tourist District / Centennial Olympic Park: Technically part of greater downtown, but many people refer to it specifically because of the attractions.

Neighborhoods and Districts Within or Next to Downtown

Downtown isn’t just one uniform space. It’s made up of several smaller districts that you’ll hear by name.

1. Government & Civic Core

Roughly around Washington St SW, Trinity Ave SW, and Martin Luther King Jr. Dr SE, you’ll find:

• Georgia State Capitol
• Atlanta City Hall
• State and county office buildings

This is the formal “seat of government” section of downtown.

2. Fairlie-Poplar Historic District

Northwest of Five Points, around Poplar St NW, Forsyth St NW, Fairlie St NW, this area has:

• Historic narrow streets and mid-rise brick buildings
• Offices, restaurants, and smaller venues

Locals sometimes just call this whole cluster “downtown by Georgia State” or “near Broad Street,” especially with the nearby Georgia State University campus presence.

3. Centennial Olympic Park / Tourist Area

Northwest of the Five Points core, in the area around Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW, Marietta St NW, and Baker St NW, you’ll find:

• Centennial Olympic Park
• Georgia Aquarium
• World of Coca‑Cola
• College Football Hall of Fame
• Large hotels and the GWCC / Mercedes‑Benz Stadium area a bit farther west

Many visitors say they’re “staying downtown” when they’re actually in this tourist cluster, which is still part of the greater downtown area.

4. South Downtown & Castleberry Hill Edge

South of the Five Points and government core, toward Mitchell St SW, Peters St SW, and Forsyth St SW, you enter:

• Older warehouse buildings, lofts, and art spaces
• The edge of Castleberry Hill, a historic neighborhood known for galleries and filming locations

This area is often described as “South Downtown”, part of ongoing redevelopment efforts.

How to Tell If You’re in Downtown Atlanta

If you’re not sure whether you’ve reached downtown, use this checklist:

You are very likely in downtown if:

• You see the gold dome of the Georgia State Capitol nearby
• You’re at or near Five Points MARTA
• Street signs include Alabama St, Marietta St, Trinity Ave, Pryor St, Edgewood Ave, or Mitchell St in dense blocks
• Tall office buildings are clustered close together, and sidewalks are busy on weekdays
• You’re walking distance from major government buildings or Georgia State University buildings

You’re probably just outside downtown if:

• You’re north of North Avenue on Peachtree Street (that’s more like Midtown)
• You’re in a more residential area with single-family homes or tree-lined streets away from the office towers
• You’re seeing Piedmont Park, Ponce City Market, or the BeltLine’s Eastside Trail – those are outside of the downtown core

Getting To and Around Downtown Atlanta

Because downtown is Atlanta’s central hub, it’s relatively straightforward to reach using public transit or major roads.

By MARTA Rail

All MARTA rail lines connect through Five Points, which sits in the middle of downtown:

• Red/Gold Lines cross North–South
• Blue/Green Lines cross East–West

Key downtown-adjacent stations include:

• Five Points – central hub, direct access to the core
• Peachtree Center – connects to offices and hotels slightly north in the downtown cluster
• Georgia State – near the eastern downtown edge and Georgia State University campus
• Garnett – on the southern edge of downtown

If your goal is the Capitol, City Hall, or courts, Five Points or Georgia State are typically closest.

By Car

Downtown is encircled by major interstates:

• I‑75/I‑85 (the Downtown Connector) runs north–south along the eastern edge of downtown
• I‑20 runs east–west along the southern edge of the downtown area

Common exits that place you near or in downtown include Courtland St, Piedmont Ave, Spring St, and Central Ave, depending on your direction of travel.

Parking is a mix of:

• Street metered parking (time-limited)
• Parking decks attached to office buildings, hotels, and attractions
• Surface lots, especially closer to the stadiums and west side

🛈 Tip: Traffic can be heavy during weekday rush hours and when events are happening at State Farm Arena, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, or the Georgia World Congress Center. Many locals use MARTA to avoid downtown event traffic.

Why Downtown Atlanta Matters to Residents and Visitors

Understanding where downtown is helps you:

• Navigate city services – City Hall, courthouses, state offices are all centered here
• Plan sightseeing – Many of Atlanta’s biggest attractions cluster in or next to downtown
• Use MARTA effectively – Downtown is the main transfer point for the whole rail system
• Make sense of directions – Locals often say things like “just south of downtown” or “in Midtown, north of downtown”

When someone in Atlanta says “I’m going downtown,” they’re usually talking about heading into this central, largely commercial and governmental core, centered around Five Points, the Georgia State Capitol, and the dense blocks of offices and attractions immediately surrounding them.

Once you learn to spot the Capitol dome, Five Points station, and the cluster of tall office buildings, you’ll know exactly where downtown Atlanta begins and ends in your own mental map of the city.