Atlanta CityPASS: How It Works, What’s Included, and How to Use It in Atlanta

If you’re planning to explore Atlanta’s big-name attractions, the Atlanta CityPASS is one of the simplest ways to bundle your tickets and often save money. Whether you live in the metro area and want to play tourist for a weekend, or you’re visiting from out of town, understanding how CityPASS works specifically in Atlanta can help you decide if it’s right for you.

What Is Atlanta CityPASS?

Atlanta CityPASS is a discounted attraction bundle that lets you visit several of the city’s most popular sights with one purchase. Instead of buying individual tickets at each venue, you:

1. Buy one CityPASS for each person.
2. Get admission to a set list of Atlanta attractions.
3. Use it over several days (within a fixed validity period).

It’s designed for people who plan to hit multiple major attractions in a short window—for example, a long weekend or a family visit where you want to see “all the big things.”

What Attractions Are Typically Included?

While details can change over time, Atlanta CityPASS has generally focused on the core downtown and nearby attractions that many visitors already plan to see.

Commonly included or offered as options:

• Georgia Aquarium (Downtown / Centennial Olympic Park area)
• World of Coca-Cola (Downtown)
• Zoo Atlanta (Grant Park)
• National Center for Civil and Human Rights (Downtown)
• College Football Hall of Fame (Downtown)
• Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Druid Hills area, east of Downtown)

You typically get automatic admission to a couple of anchor attractions, plus your choice among several others. The exact combination may vary, so it’s important to check the current lineup when you’re ready to buy.

How Atlanta CityPASS Works Step by Step

1. Purchase

You generally:

• Buy one pass per person (adult and child pricing often differ).
• Purchase online and receive a digital/mobile pass or printable ticket.

Some people purchase before arriving in Atlanta so they can start sightseeing immediately.

2. Activation

Your CityPASS is activated the first time you scan it at one of the included attractions in Atlanta.

From that activation date:

• You have a limited number of days (often about 9 days, but confirm current rules) to use the pass.
• You can visit each included attraction once with the pass.

This makes it a good fit for short trips or local “staycations” where you plan to do your sightseeing within about a week.

3. Reservations and Time Slots

Many Atlanta attractions now use timed-entry reservations, especially:

• Georgia Aquarium
• World of Coca-Cola
• Some museums and indoor attractions on weekends or holidays

With CityPASS, you often:

• Use your CityPASS code or order number to reserve a time slot on the attraction’s official website; or
• Present your pass on-site and be assigned the next available time (this can mean waiting, especially on busy days).

Always check each attraction’s current reservation policy before you go.

4. At the Door

At each participating Atlanta attraction, you’ll typically:

• Show your mobile pass or printed pass at the main ticketing or admissions area.
• Have it scanned and receive either direct entry or a printed ticket if required.

Keep your pass handy; staff may ask to see it again if you’re moving between exhibit areas, or if the attraction issues wristbands or separate entry stubs.

What’s Actually Included vs. Not Included

Atlanta CityPASS usually focuses on general admission.

Commonly included:

• Standard entry to the attraction
• Access to main exhibits or galleries
• In some cases, select shows or galleries that are part of standard admission

Usually not included (or may require extra payment):

• Special temporary exhibits that have a separate upcharge
• Behind-the-scenes tours, animal encounters, or VIP experiences
• Parking fees (for example, parking near the Georgia Aquarium or World of Coca-Cola garages)
• Food, drinks, and souvenir purchases

If there’s a special exhibit you care about—like a limited-time dinosaur exhibit at Fernbank or a seasonal event at Zoo Atlanta—check whether those are bundled in general admission or priced separately.

Typical Atlanta CityPASS Lineup: Quick Comparison

The specifics may change, but here’s a simple reference-style overview of the typical CityPASS attractions in Atlanta and what many people go for.

Use this table to sketch out whether you can realistically fit enough of these into your schedule to make CityPASS worthwhile.

Is Atlanta CityPASS Worth It?

Whether Atlanta CityPASS is “worth it” depends on how you plan your time.

It’s usually most valuable if:

• You’ll visit at least 3 major attractions on the list.
• You plan to sightsee on consecutive or closely spaced days.
• You want to lock in admission costs in advance and avoid buying multiple separate tickets.

It may be less useful if:

• You only want to visit one or two attractions.
• You’re primarily interested in neighborhood exploring (like BeltLine walks, local markets, or parks) rather than ticketed venues.
• You live in metro Atlanta and mostly visit one attraction at a time, spread out over months.

For Atlanta residents, CityPASS can make sense for:

• A holiday break “tourist in your own city” week.
• Hosting out-of-town visitors and doing the core attractions together.
• A short school break (spring break, fall break) if you have kids and plan a cluster of city activities.

Planning Your Atlanta Itinerary Around CityPASS

To get the most out of CityPASS, it helps to group attractions by location and time of day.

Downtown Cluster (Walkable)

These spots are all in or near the Centennial Olympic Park area:

• Georgia Aquarium
• World of Coca-Cola
• National Center for Civil and Human Rights
• College Football Hall of Fame

A common plan:

• Morning: Georgia Aquarium (it can easily take 3–4 hours).
• Lunch: Somewhere in the Centennial Olympic Park or Luckie Marietta district.
• Afternoon: World of Coca-Cola or National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

If you have a second day downtown, you could:

• Return for College Football Hall of Fame.
• Spend more relaxed time in Centennial Olympic Park.

Outside the Core: Zoo Atlanta and Fernbank

• Zoo Atlanta is in Grant Park, southeast of Downtown.
• Fernbank Museum of Natural History is in Druid Hills, east of Midtown.

These are not easily combined with all the downtown attractions in a single day unless you move quickly. Many people plan:

• One “Downtown Day” (or two partial days)
• One “Outer Day” for either Zoo Atlanta or Fernbank, possibly paired with a neighborhood meal or park walk nearby.

How Long You Need at Each Attraction

These are general time estimates that help you map your CityPASS days:

• Georgia Aquarium: 3–4 hours (more if you see multiple shows and exhibits slowly)
• World of Coca-Cola: 1.5–2 hours
• National Center for Civil and Human Rights: 2–3 hours, depending on how deeply you explore exhibits
• College Football Hall of Fame: 2–3 hours, especially if you engage with interactive experiences
• Zoo Atlanta: 3–4 hours, especially with kids or in pleasant weather
• Fernbank Museum of Natural History: 2–4 hours, especially if you include outdoor forest trails

Plan buffer time for parking, security lines, and walking between attractions, especially downtown.

How Locals in Atlanta Often Use CityPASS

Many Atlanta-area residents approach CityPASS as a way to:

• Create a structured staycation: hit several “we’ve always meant to go” spots in a single week.
• Entertain family visitors and keep costs organized.
• Give older kids or teens a reason to get out of the house during school breaks.

If you already know you’ll visit Georgia Aquarium + World of Coca-Cola + one or two more attractions within a short period, CityPASS often makes planning easier, even for locals.

Tips for Using Atlanta CityPASS Efficiently

Here are practical, Atlanta-specific pointers:

• Reserve prime-time slots early 🕒
  Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola can get busy on weekends, holidays, and summer afternoons. If you’re locked into a particular day, book entry times ahead.

• Think about traffic and parking 🚗
  Downtown Atlanta traffic can be heavy around rush hour and major events at State Farm Arena or Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Build in extra time if you’re driving in for a timed reservation.

• Use MARTA when it makes sense
  The Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center and Peachtree Center MARTA stations put you within walking distance of several downtown attractions covered by CityPASS, which can help you avoid parking fees and congestion.

• Watch attraction hours
  Zoo Atlanta and Fernbank may close earlier than the downtown venues. Check closing times so you don’t arrive too late in the day.

• Mix indoor and outdoor stops in extreme weather
  Atlanta summers can be very hot and humid. You may want to start outdoors (Zoo Atlanta) early, then move to indoor attractions like the Aquarium or museums in the afternoon.

Accessibility and Family Considerations

Most Atlanta CityPASS attractions:

• Are wheelchair accessible and have elevators where needed.
• Allow strollers, though some exhibits may have restrictions or stroller parking areas.
• Have family restrooms, nursing rooms, and children’s areas.

For families with kids:

• The Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, College Football Hall of Fame, and Fernbank are often the biggest hits.
• World of Coca-Cola is popular for its tasting room.
• The National Center for Civil and Human Rights can be powerful and more intense; it may be better for older kids and teens.

Check each attraction’s guidelines for:

• Outside food policies (important for kids with allergies or specific diets).
• Locker or storage availability if you’re carrying bags around all day.

Where in Atlanta You’ll Actually Be Going

Here’s how the CityPASS attractions line up with the city layout, helpful if you’re planning lodging or deciding whether to drive or use MARTA:

• Downtown Cluster:
  Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and College Football Hall of Fame are all near Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia World Congress Center.

• Grant Park:
  Zoo Atlanta is in a historic neighborhood southeast of Downtown with tree-lined streets and older homes.

• Druid Hills / East Atlanta:
  Fernbank Museum of Natural History is in a residential, wooded area east of Midtown, not far from Emory University.

Staying downtown or in Midtown usually gives you the simplest access to the majority of CityPASS attractions.

When Atlanta CityPASS Might Not Be the Best Fit

CityPASS is not ideal if your plans look like:

• A hyper-local trip focused on neighborhoods like East Atlanta Village, West Midtown, or Inman Park without major attractions.
• A business trip where you only have a couple of short windows of free time.
• A budget-focused visit where you mostly want free activities like the BeltLine, Piedmont Park, or window-shopping.

In those cases, buying one-off tickets to a single place you really care about—such as the Aquarium—may be more sensible.

How to Decide: Simple Checklist

Use this quick self-check to see if Atlanta CityPASS is likely to work for you:

• You plan to visit 3 or more major Atlanta attractions on the typical CityPASS list.
• You can sightsee within about a week once you use your first ticket.
• You’re comfortable using mobile passes and making reservations online.
• You want to spend at least one full day in Downtown Atlanta exploring the Centennial Olympic Park area.
• You’re okay with setting a loose schedule to make sure you reach each attraction in time.

If most of these fit your situation, Atlanta CityPASS is likely to be a practical, cost-effective way to experience Atlanta’s headline attractions in a focused, organized way.