CNN Center & Studio Tours in Atlanta: What’s Still Open, What’s Changed, and Your Best Alternatives

For years, the CNN Center in downtown Atlanta was one of the city’s signature attractions, thanks to its indoor atrium, food court, and the famous CNN Studio Tours. If you’re planning a trip to Atlanta—or you live here and remember visiting as a kid—you might be wondering:

• Is CNN Center still open?
• Can you still take a CNN studio tour in Atlanta?
• What are the best news, film, and TV–related attractions in Atlanta now?

Here’s how it works today, specifically from an Atlanta local’s point of view.

Is CNN Center Still Open in Atlanta?

The CNN Center is the large complex in downtown Atlanta next to State Farm Arena and across from Centennial Olympic Park.

• The CNN Studio Tours once operated inside this building.
• Over the last few years, CNN has scaled back operations at CNN Center and shifted many office functions to other locations.
• The public studio tours have been discontinued and are no longer offered.

As of recent years, the building has been in a transition phase, with office space changes and fewer public-facing attractions than in the past. Locals who remember the bustling atrium with a huge food court and shops will find a much quieter scene today.

Key takeaway:
You cannot currently book a CNN Studio Tour in Atlanta, and CNN Center is no longer the tourist hub it once was.

Where Is CNN Center Located?

If you’re downtown and want to understand where CNN Center sits in relation to other attractions, here are the basics:

• Address:
  CNN Center
  190 Marietta St NW
  Atlanta, GA 30303

• Nearby landmarks:

  • State Farm Arena (home of the Atlanta Hawks) – directly adjacent
  • Mercedes-Benz Stadium – a short walk
  • Centennial Olympic Park – across the street
  • Georgia World Congress Center – next door

• MARTA access:

  • GWCC/CNN Center Station (Blue/Green line) is the closest stop.
  • From the station, it’s a short walk through the Georgia World Congress Center campus.

While you can still pass by or through parts of the complex, it’s no longer a must-see tourist stop in the way it was when tours and a full food court were operating.

What Happened to the CNN Studio Tours?

For many years, the CNN Studio Tours were one of the most popular things to do in downtown Atlanta, drawing locals, school groups, and tourists.

Visitors used to:

• Ride the world’s longest free-standing escalator up into the tour space.
• Look into control rooms and production areas.
• Learn how live TV news is produced and broadcast.
• Try reading from a teleprompter in mock studios.

Those tours have since been phased out and permanently closed.

Why you can’t book a CNN tour anymore

In recent years, CNN:

• Reduced public access to studio areas.
• Discontinued the formal Inside CNN Studio Tour program.
• Shifted its Atlanta presence toward office and broadcast operations that aren’t open to public walk-throughs.

There is no replacement CNN-branded tour currently operating in Atlanta, and there is no simple “studio tour” option you can switch to within CNN’s facilities here.

Can You Visit Any CNN Studios in Atlanta Now?

If you’re hoping to see a live newscast or walk through an active CNN studio in Atlanta:

• There is no general public studio access.
• There are no regularly scheduled public tapings or audience tickets available through CNN in Atlanta.
• Occasionally, special events or media-related programs may involve CNN personnel or facilities, but these are not standard tourist offerings and are usually by invitation or arrangement only.

Important:
There is no walk-up visitor center at CNN Center where you can buy tickets or join a tour. Planning a “CNN tour day” currently isn’t realistic.

Best Atlanta Alternatives to CNN Studio Tours

If you’re interested in media, TV, film, or behind-the-scenes production, Atlanta still offers plenty of options. Many locals who once took the CNN tour now recommend these experiences instead.

1. Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB)

Georgia Public Broadcasting is a major media organization in the state, producing television, radio, and digital content.

• Location:
  Georgia Public Broadcasting
  260 14th St NW
  Atlanta, GA 30318

GPB has historically offered:

• Occasional open houses, community events, or educational programs.
• Opportunities for students and teachers to learn about broadcasting and public media.

These are not daily tourist tours like CNN once offered, but if you’re an Atlanta resident, educator, or student, it can be worth checking their public-facing programs for media-related events.

2. Film & TV Studio Experiences in the Atlanta Area

Atlanta is a major film and TV production hub. While not exactly “news studio tours,” these attractions scratch the same behind-the-scenes itch.

Tyler Perry Studios (not a public tour, but very significant)

• One of the largest film studios in the U.S., located in southwest Atlanta.
• No regular public tour program is offered, but it’s a cornerstone of the local industry and often referenced in conversations about TV/film in Atlanta.

Locals should be aware that you generally cannot tour Tyler Perry Studios as a casual visitor, but its presence explains why you see production trucks and filming around town.

Trilith Studios (Fayetteville)

Located south of Atlanta in Fayette County, Trilith Studios is known for hosting major film productions.

• While the core studios are not open for casual daily tours, the surrounding Town at Trilith is being developed into a creative community with restaurants, shops, and occasional film-related events.
• If you’re deeply interested in film, it’s useful to know this area as an emerging media hub.

3. Attractions That Offer a “Behind-the-Scenes” or Production Feel

If you liked the educational, step-behind-the-curtain feel of the CNN tour, these Atlanta attractions can offer something similar—though in different subject areas.

World of Coca-Cola

• Location:
  World of Coca-Cola
  121 Baker St NW
  Atlanta, GA 30313

• What it offers instead of a news tour:

  • Multimedia exhibits about branding, advertising, and global marketing.
  • Displays with historic commercials and promotional campaigns.
  • A look at how a global company communicates its message—similar to learning how CNN communicates news.

This can appeal to people interested in media, communications, and storytelling, even though it’s about beverages and branding rather than news.

College Football Hall of Fame

• Location:
  Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame
  250 Marietta St NW
  Atlanta, GA 30313

• Why it feels “studio-like”:

  • High-tech interactives, immersive video walls, and simulated game broadcasts.
  • Areas where you can simulate calling a play or being on camera.

If you liked the idea of seeing how TV production and sports coverage work together, this attraction blends broadcast-style experiences with sports.

4. Live TV Audience & Performance Experiences

While CNN doesn’t offer public tapings, you can still find live performance and production-style experiences in Atlanta.

Local theater and live shows

Venues like:

• The Fox Theatre (660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308)
• Alliance Theatre (1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309)

These don’t provide broadcast tours, but they do offer:

• High-quality live performances.
• Occasionally, backstage tours or educational programs that explain lighting, sets, and sound—similar to learning how a TV studio works, but on stage instead of on air.

University media programs

Atlanta is home to several universities with journalism, film, or broadcast programs, such as:

• Georgia State University (downtown Atlanta)
• Clark Atlanta University and other schools in the Atlanta University Center

While not tourist attractions, students and local residents involved with these institutions sometimes gain access to college TV and radio studios, which can fill the gap left by CNN tours, especially for those interested in a media career.

Downtown Atlanta: What To Do Instead Near CNN Center

If you’re already planning to be in the CNN Center / State Farm Arena / Centennial Olympic Park area, it’s easy to build a full day of activities—even without the CNN tour.

Here’s a simple overview:

If your original plan was a CNN Studio Tour, you can easily pivot to one or two of these options and still have a strong “downtown attractions” day.

Tips for Former CNN Tour Fans Visiting Atlanta Now

If you remember the CNN tour or you’ve heard about it and feel like you’re “missing out,” here’s how to adjust your plans:

• Shift your focus from “news” to “media and storytelling.”
  Try World of Coca-Cola or the College Football Hall of Fame for interactive screens, audio-visual displays, and branded storytelling.

• Look for event-based or educational opportunities.
  Keep an eye on organizations like Georgia Public Broadcasting, local universities, or major cultural institutions that sometimes host media- or journalism-related talks, screenings, or open houses.

• Plan your downtown day around proximity.
  Since CNN Center is in the heart of Atlanta’s major attractions zone, pair your visit to that area with:

  • A stroll through Centennial Olympic Park
  • A stop at World of Coca-Cola or the Georgia Aquarium
  • Dinner within walking distance, especially before or after a State Farm Arena or Mercedes-Benz Stadium event

• Don’t expect walk-up media tours.
  Unlike the old days of buying a CNN tour ticket on the spot, most media-related experiences in Atlanta now are either:

  • Specialty events, or
  • Part of larger attractions that focus on branding, sports, or entertainment.

Quick Answers: CNN Center & Studio Tours in Atlanta

• Can I still tour CNN in Atlanta?
  No. The Inside CNN Studio Tour has been discontinued and is not currently available.

• Is CNN Center still open to the public?
  Parts of the complex are still in use, but it is no longer a major tourist attraction with tours and a full food court.

• Is there another news studio tour in Atlanta?
  There is no direct replacement for CNN’s public tours. However, you can look to public media organizations, film studios (limited access), and media-style attractions like World of Coca-Cola for similar behind-the-scenes or storytelling experiences.

• What’s the best alternative for someone who liked the CNN tour concept?
  For a media and production feel:

  • World of Coca-Cola (branding and global communications)
  • College Football Hall of Fame (interactive, screen-heavy exhibits)
    For serious media interest (especially locals and students):
  • Check programs/events at Georgia Public Broadcasting and area universities.

By understanding how the role of CNN Center has changed and what Atlanta now offers in its place, you can still build a rich, media-flavored itinerary that fits today’s reality—without showing up expecting a studio tour that no longer exists.