Best Things To Do Indoors in Atlanta: Local Guide for Rainy (or Hot) Days

Whether it is a sweltering summer afternoon, a rainy weekend, or you just want AC and a roof, Atlanta has a huge range of indoor things to do. From major museums and family attractions to low-key coffee shops and creative experiences, you can easily fill a day (or several) without stepping outside for long.

Below is a local-focused guide to the best indoor activities in Atlanta, organized so you can quickly find what fits your time, budget, and interests.

Quick Overview: Indoor Things To Do in Atlanta

Major Indoor Attractions in Atlanta

Georgia Aquarium (Downtown)

One of Atlanta’s most popular attractions, the Georgia Aquarium is almost entirely indoors and can easily fill half a day.

Why go:

• Huge tanks with whale sharks, manta rays, and thousands of fish
• Indoor dolphin and sea lion presentations
• Kid-friendly touch pools and interactive exhibits

Tips:

• It’s easy to combine with the World of Coca‑Cola and National Center for Civil and Human Rights next door for a fully indoor “attraction triangle” around Centennial Olympic Park.
• Parking garages and nearby MARTA (Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center or Peachtree Center) help you minimize walking outdoors in bad weather.

World of Coca‑Cola (Downtown)

Right beside the aquarium, World of Coca‑Cola is a fully indoor brand museum and tasting experience.

Expect:

• Exhibits on the company’s history and advertising
• A vault-themed area about the “secret formula”
• A tasting room with Coke products from around the world

This is especially popular with visitors, but locals often bring out-of-town guests here when they need a weather-proof activity in Atlanta.

National Center for Civil and Human Rights (Downtown)

For a more reflective indoor experience, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights near Centennial Olympic Park focuses on the U.S. civil rights movement and global human rights issues.

You’ll find:

• Immersive exhibits on Atlanta’s role in civil rights
• Powerful multimedia installations
• A quieter, more contemplative pace than the big “family attractions”

It’s primarily self-guided and indoors, which makes it a solid choice on very hot or rainy days.

College Football Hall of Fame (Downtown)

Sports fans can stay indoors while still feeling like they are in the middle of the action at the College Football Hall of Fame, across from Centennial Olympic Park.

Inside:

• A huge indoor field where you can try field goals and passing drills
• Interactive exhibits on college football traditions and rivalries
• Memorabilia and hall of fame displays

This is a fun option if you want something more active than a traditional museum, but still indoors and climate-controlled.

Arts, History & Culture Indoors

High Museum of Art (Midtown)

The High Museum of Art in Midtown is Atlanta’s flagship art museum and one of the best indoor cultural experiences in the city.

Highlights:

• Permanent collections of American, European, African, and folk art
• Rotating major exhibitions throughout the year
• Family programs and kids’ spaces on select days

MARTA’s Arts Center Station connects directly to the museum via an indoor walkway, which is helpful in bad weather.

Atlanta History Center (Buckhead)

The Atlanta History Center combines indoor galleries with outdoor historic homes and gardens. For indoor time only, you can still see plenty:

• Civil War and local history exhibits
• Atlanta sports history displays
• The Cyclorama painting (relocated here from Grant Park), presented in a climate-controlled space

If the weather clears, you can step outside to explore the Swan House and paths; otherwise, you can stay in the museum building.

Center for Puppetry Arts (Midtown)

The Center for Puppetry Arts is a unique Atlanta institution, great for both kids and adults:

• Indoor museum featuring Jim Henson and global puppetry
• Live puppet shows in an indoor theater
• Create-a-puppet workshops for families

It’s fully indoors and compact enough for a low-stress outing.

Local Galleries & Castleberry Hill Arts District

For a flexible, mostly indoor arts experience, consider the galleries in Castleberry Hill (just southwest of downtown) or scattered across Midtown and Westside.

What to expect:

• Small galleries featuring local and regional artists
• Indoor art walks on designated days
• Coffee shops and cafes close by to warm up or cool off between stops

Hours and schedules vary, so it’s wise to check gallery times before you head out.

Kid-Friendly Indoor Things To Do in Atlanta

Children’s Museum of Atlanta (Downtown)

Geared mainly toward younger children (roughly 8 and under), the Children’s Museum of Atlanta is right beside Centennial Olympic Park.

Inside you’ll find:

• Hands-on science, art, and pretend-play exhibits
• Soft play areas and climbing for toddlers
• Rotating exhibits that keep it fresh for repeat visits

Because it’s all indoors, it’s a go-to option for rainy days with kids.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Druid Hills)

The Fernbank Museum offers a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, but you can easily spend your entire time inside.

Indoor highlights:

• Dinosaur skeletons and fossils in the Great Hall
• Natural history exhibits focused on Georgia and the Southeast
• Giant screen theater for nature and science films

The attached Fernbank Science Center in a different nearby location also offers indoor planetarium shows, though schedules can vary.

Indoor Trampoline Parks & Activity Centers

Around Atlanta, you’ll find several indoor activity centers that are especially popular on hot and rainy weekend afternoons, including:

• Trampoline parks (various chains in areas like Kennesaw, Peachtree Corners, and Douglasville)
• Indoor climbing gyms (e.g., in West Midtown, Decatur, and Sandy Springs)
• Indoor go-kart racing and arcades in the metro area

These spots are geared toward kids, teens, and groups, and they’re usually fully indoors with snack bars and seating.

Active Indoor Fun for Adults and Groups

Indoor Climbing & Bouldering Gyms

Atlanta has a strong climbing scene, and climbing gyms make for an excellent indoor workout or social activity:

You can typically find:

• Top-rope and lead climbing walls
• Bouldering-only gyms
• Yoga and fitness classes

These are popular with locals after work or on weekends, especially when the weather makes outdoor climbing or hiking less appealing.

Bowling, Arcades & Game Bars

For a fun night out that stays completely inside:

• Bowling alleys in Midtown, Buckhead, and throughout the suburbs
• Arcade bars and brewery game rooms with pinball, classic arcade cabinets, and modern games
• Pool halls and billiards lounges

These venues are usually 21+ in the evenings if they serve alcohol, but many are family-friendly during daytime hours.

Indoor Sports Facilities

You can also find:

• Indoor soccer and futsal fields
• Indoor pickleball and tennis courts
• Indoor batting cages and training centers

These are scattered around the metro area and are often used for adult leagues, youth teams, and casual drop-in play. Reservations are usually recommended.

Food, Drink & Indoor Experiences

Food Halls & Markets

Atlanta’s indoor food halls are ideal when the weather is bad and your group can’t decide on one restaurant.

Popular options include:

• Ponce City Market (Old Fourth Ward): Indoor central hall with dozens of food stalls, shops, and bars. The rooftop (Skyline Park) is partly outdoors, so check the weather if that’s your main goal.
• Krog Street Market (Inman Park): Smaller but very dense with great food options, mostly indoors with some covered seating.
• Other smaller food halls and mixed-use developments across the city often have primarily indoor seating and vendor spaces.

These spaces are good for wandering, grabbing a meal, and browsing shops without spending much time outside.

Coffee Shops & Cafés

Atlanta is full of independent coffee shops that double as great indoor hangouts or remote work spots:

• Intown neighborhoods like Virginia‑Highland, Inman Park, West Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and Grant Park all have cozy cafés with indoor seating.
• Many shops offer Wi‑Fi, outlets, and quiet corners, making them useful as “indoor base camps” on a bad-weather day.

This is a flexible option if you want to read, work, or people-watch indoors.

Breweries & Distilleries (Indoor Tasting Rooms)

Several Atlanta-area breweries and distilleries now offer comfortable indoor tasting rooms, often with:

• Seating areas
• Board games or trivia nights
• Food trucks parked outside (you can step out briefly and then head back into the AC)

While some spaces also include outdoor patios, you can usually stay inside the main taproom if the weather isn’t cooperating.

Shopping & Browsing Indoors

Lenox Square & Phipps Plaza (Buckhead)

Atlanta’s Buckhead district is known for its large, fully indoor shopping malls:

• Lenox Square: Wide range of mid-range to higher-end retailers, plus indoor food court and restaurants.
• Phipps Plaza: More upscale, with fewer but higher-end shops, a movie theater, and additional dining.

Both are located near Peachtree Road in Buckhead and are heavily used for indoor walking, window shopping, and people-watching.

Perimeter Mall, Cumberland & Other Malls

Elsewhere in the metro area:

• Perimeter Mall (Dunwoody) – large indoor mall easily reached by MARTA’s Dunwoody Station.
• Cumberland Mall (near Truist Park) – indoor mall with adjacent dining and entertainment.
• Smaller malls and lifestyle centers around Gwinnett, South Fulton, and Cobb also offer mostly indoor experiences, often combined with movie theaters and chain restaurants.

If you’re looking for indoor walking space plus errands, these malls can double as exercise and shopping destinations.

Antique Stores & Thrift Shops

If you like treasure hunting indoors, Atlanta has several antique malls, thrift stores, and vintage shops:

• Large antique centers in Chamblee, Alpharetta, and South Atlanta
• Vintage boutiques along Highland Avenue, Edgewood, and Little Five Points

These are entirely indoors and can fill a leisurely afternoon of browsing and exploring.

Entertainment: Movies, Theater & Live Performances

Movie Theaters

Metro Atlanta has plenty of indoor movie theaters, from large multiplexes to independent cinemas:

• Multiplexes in areas like Buckhead, Midtown, Atlantic Station, Camp Creek, Stonecrest, and Sandy Springs
• Smaller, independent or art-house theaters in intown neighborhoods

Some theaters offer recliner seating, dine-in service, or reserved seating, making them popular for date nights when the weather is bad.

Live Theater & Performing Arts

Atlanta’s performing arts scene offers many indoor options:

• Fox Theatre (Midtown) – historic venue hosting Broadway tours, concerts, and special events.
• Alliance Theatre (Midtown) – at the Woodruff Arts Center, focused on professional stage productions.
• Smaller theaters and improv venues around Little Five Points, West Midtown, and downtown present plays, stand-up comedy, and local performances.

Shows are fully indoors, but arrival and intermission spaces may include partially covered outdoor areas, so a small umbrella can still be useful.

Creative & Hands-On Indoor Activities

Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are scattered throughout Atlanta and the suburbs:

• Indoor, timed puzzle experiences for groups
• Themes vary from mystery and horror to adventure and fantasy
• Typically 60–90 minutes per game

These are popular for team-building events, family outings with older kids, and friend groups looking for something different to do indoors.

Art Classes & DIY Studios

You can find numerous paint-and-sip studios, pottery workshops, and maker spaces around Atlanta:

• Paint studios that guide you through a project in an evening
• Pottery studios with wheel classes and glazing sessions
• Maker spaces offering woodworking, 3D printing, or crafting

These typically require an advance booking or class registration, but they’re fully indoors and a great way to learn a new skill.

Cooking Classes

Many Atlanta cooking schools, community centers, and specialty shops offer indoor cooking classes, covering:

• Regional Southern dishes
• Baking and pastry
• International cuisines

These classes usually last a few hours and can be booked for individuals, couples, or groups.

Relaxing Indoor Options & Low-Key Days

Libraries & Reading Spots

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System and surrounding county systems (DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton) maintain indoor public libraries where you can:

• Read or work quietly
• Use public computers and Wi‑Fi
• Attend indoor events like author talks or children’s storytimes

The Central Library in downtown Atlanta and branches across intown neighborhoods are convenient if you want a quiet, climate-controlled place to spend a few hours.

Spas, Wellness Centers & Gyms

If your goal is simply to relax indoors:

• Day spas offer massages, facials, and other services in fully indoor environments.
• Larger gyms and fitness centers around the city provide indoor pools, saunas, and workout spaces.
• Some wellness centers host yoga, meditation, and low-impact exercise classes throughout the day.

These can be especially appealing in the peak of summer when outdoor exercise is uncomfortable.

Hotels with Indoor Amenities

If you are visiting Atlanta, some hotels feature:

• Indoor pools or indoor/outdoor pool areas
• Large lobbies and lounges comfortable enough to work or read in
• On-site restaurants and bars that make it easy to stay inside the building

If an indoor pool is key for you, it’s worth confirming directly with the property before booking.

Planning Your Indoor Day in Atlanta: Practical Tips

• Use MARTA when possible: Stations in Midtown, Downtown, and Buckhead let you reach major indoor attractions with minimal time outdoors.
• Cluster activities by area:
  • Around Centennial Olympic Park: Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca‑Cola, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Children’s Museum, College Football Hall of Fame.
  • In Midtown: High Museum, Center for Puppetry Arts, Fox Theatre, Alliance Theatre, galleries, dining.
  • In Buckhead: Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza, Atlanta History Center, indoor restaurants and lounges.
• Reserve in advance for popular spots: Especially for escape rooms, cooking classes, and some museums on weekends or holidays.
• Check hours and special events: Atlanta venues sometimes adjust hours for game days, festivals, or private events, even if everything is indoors.

With a little planning, it’s easy to build a full, comfortable day of indoor things to do in Atlanta, whether you’re a long-time local looking for new ideas or a visitor trying to make the most of unpredictable weather.