Atlanta Tourist Centers: Where to Get Local Help, Maps, and Insider Tips

Visiting or exploring Atlanta, Georgia and looking for an Atlanta tourist center? While the city doesn’t rely on one single “Atlanta Tourist Center” building, it does have several visitor information centers, welcome desks, and official tourism resources that serve the same purpose: helping you make the most of your time in the city.

This guide walks through where to go, what you can get, and how each center fits into the way Atlanta tourism works.

What Is a Tourist Center in Atlanta?

In Atlanta, a “tourist center” usually means:

• An official or semi-official visitor information center
• A welcome center at a major attraction or transportation hub
• A downtown or neighborhood information desk with maps and guides

Across these places, you can typically find:

• Free maps and printed guides
• Event and attraction information
• Help with directions and transportation
• Neighborhood recommendations for food, shopping, and things to do
• Details on tours, museums, sports, and nightlife

Instead of just one building called “Atlanta Tourist Center,” you’ll find multiple centers and help points around the city—especially in Downtown, Midtown, and at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Key Atlanta Tourist & Visitor Centers

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (Central Resource)

The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is the city’s primary tourism organization. While it is not a walk-in “tourist center” in the traditional sense, it is the central hub for official Atlanta visitor information.

You can use ACVB’s materials to:

• Learn about major attractions like the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Centennial Olympic Park, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights
• Explore guides on neighborhoods (Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Old Fourth Ward, Westside, etc.)
• Get information on conventions, events, and major festivals

If you want authoritative, citywide information, ACVB is the organization behind most of the official brochures and guides you’ll see at hotels, attractions, and airport information desks.

Tourist Help at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

If you’re flying into Atlanta, the airport is effectively your first tourist center.

What you’ll typically find:

• Information desks in main terminal areas and near baggage claim
• Staff who can answer questions about:
  • How to get to Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or the suburbs
  • Using MARTA trains and buses from the airport
  • Basic visitor information on hotels and major attractions
• Racks with printed brochures, coupons, and maps

📍 Location tip:
Look for Info or Information counters in the Domestic Terminal and near the MARTA Airport Station entrance.

This is one of the most convenient “tourist center” environments if you’re arriving without a set plan and need immediate, in-person guidance.

Downtown Atlanta Visitor Information Hubs

Downtown is the most concentrated tourist area in Atlanta, and while there may not always be a permanent, standalone visitor center open to walk-ins, you can find tourist-style assistance at several key spots.

Centennial Olympic Park Area

The Centennial Olympic Park district is surrounded by major attractions:

• Georgia Aquarium
• World of Coca-Cola
• College Football Hall of Fame
• National Center for Civil and Human Rights
• State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (a short walk away)

Around this area, you’ll often see:

• Information kiosks or booths (seasonal or event-based)
• Staff and security who can help with directions and orientation
• Plenty of maps and brochures inside individual attractions

While each attraction primarily focuses on its own visitors, together they function like a clustered tourist center, making Downtown an easy place to walk, ask questions, and grab printed guides.

Atlanta Streetcar & MARTA as Mobile “Tourist Centers”

In Downtown, the Atlanta Streetcar and nearby MARTA stations double as informal tourist assistance points.

You’ll find:

• System maps that help you understand how to move between key stops
• Fare machines with instructions and some basic transit guidance
• Occasionally, staff or security personnel available to answer simple location questions

For someone new to Atlanta, these transit access points can feel like navigation centers, especially if your main concern is how to get from one tourist spot to another without driving.

Tourist Centers Within Major Attractions

Many of Atlanta’s big attractions act as mini-visitor centers because they provide:

• Brochures for other Atlanta attractions
• Suggestions for dining and shopping nearby
• Details on events and exhibits happening around the city

Georgia Aquarium

While its primary mission is marine life, the Georgia Aquarium functions as a tourist anchor:

• Staff can often provide basic local guidance (e.g., where to walk, eat, or go next)
• You can find brochure racks near the exits or main lobby, featuring other Atlanta attractions and services
• It’s easy to connect your visit here with other nearby sites on foot

World of Coca-Cola

Next to the aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola:

• Offers branded exhibits but also has visitor-friendly staff who field general area questions
• Sits in a pedestrian-friendly zone that makes it simple to explore more of Downtown

College Football Hall of Fame and Civil & Human Rights Center

Both of these attractions usually maintain information materials that spotlight other Atlanta destinations and can help with:

• Walking directions around the park district
• Suggestions on what to see next based on your interests

Taken together, these locations provide a network of tourism support similar to what a standalone tourist center would offer.

Neighborhood-Level Visitor Guidance

Atlanta is a neighborhood-driven city. While you may not find traditional tourist centers in each area, there are places where visitors commonly turn for local information.

Midtown Atlanta

Midtown is home to:

• Piedmont Park
• The Atlanta Botanical Garden
• High Museum of Art
• Arts institutions around the Woodruff Arts Center

In this area, you can look for:

• Information desks inside major venues (especially the High Museum and Woodruff Arts Center)
• Hotel concierge desks that act as neighborhood advice centers
• Printed materials about local restaurants, galleries, and shows

Buckhead

Buckhead is known for upscale shopping and dining:

• Major malls and complexes often have guest services desks that function similarly to small tourist centers.
• These desks provide:
  • Maps of the complex and surrounding area
  • Transit and taxi information
  • Guidance on nearby restaurants and attractions

Old Fourth Ward & BeltLine Area

The Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail and Old Fourth Ward area are popular with visitors who enjoy:

• Walking and biking
• Food halls and markets
• Street art and local shops

Formal tourist centers are less common here, but you’ll find:

• Signage and trail maps along the BeltLine
• Staff in key hubs like Ponce City Market who can help you orient yourself
• Community-style information boards with local events and activities

Using Hotels and Convention Venues as Tourist Centers

If you’re staying in a Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead hotel, your front desk or concierge is one of the most practical stand-ins for a tourist center in Atlanta.

They can typically help with:

• Printed maps and walking directions
• Booking or recommending city tours, including bus tours, walking tours, and specialty tours
• Explaining MARTA routes, taxis, rideshares, and airport transit
• Suggestions based on your interests (family activities, nightlife, arts, sports, etc.)

Large convention hotels and conference venues in Downtown often set up temporary information desks during major events that function much like pop-up visitor centers.

Quick Reference: Where to Find Tourist Help in Atlanta

Below is a simple overview of the main types of places that work as tourist centers in Atlanta and what they’re best for:

Practical Tips for Using Atlanta’s Tourist Resources

Here are some ways to make Atlanta’s decentralized tourist center system work in your favor:

• Start at the airport if you’re flying in. Grab maps and ask the information desk for guidance on getting to your hotel and main attractions.
• Use Downtown as your planning hub. Once you’re near Centennial Olympic Park, you’re within walking distance of people and places that can help you figure out the rest of your stay.
• Lean on your hotel. Even if you’re local and doing a staycation, hotel concierges are used to guiding visitors and can be excellent resources.
• Combine visits. Plan to see multiple attractions in one area and collect brochures and advice as you go.
• Ask about events. Many desks and information counters can tell you about parades, sports games, festivals, and road closures that might affect your plans.

If you’re looking for an “Atlanta Tourist Center,” what you’ll actually be using is a network of visitor information points around the city—especially the airport, Downtown attraction cluster, hotels, and neighborhood hubs. Together, they give you the same benefits you’d expect from a traditional tourist center, but with the flexibility to get help wherever you are in Atlanta.