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Atlanta New Year's Eve route inspiration

Atlanta New Year's Eve

A drone peach over downtown, a BeltLine Jan 1

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3 days through Downtown & Midtown Atlanta, Old Fourth Ward & the BeltLine.

Atlanta New Year's Eve is a 3-day curated route with 2 destinations and 15 places to eat, see, and do. Preview stops and timing, then plan it in TripsCircle.

  1. 1
    Downtown & Midtown Atlanta on the Atlanta New Year's Eve route

    Destination 01

    Downtown & Midtown Atlanta

    8 places

    Two nights downtown for the skyline countdown, Southern dinners and a rooftop drink.

    • Centennial Olympic Park

      The 1996 Olympics park at the heart of downtown, ringed by the skyline and the main open space for watching the midnight show.

      Tip Enter from Centennial Olympic Park Drive; security lines build after 10 p.m.

      SeeDowntownFree1.5 hr11 p.m. to midnight
    • Jackson Street Bridge near Downtown & Midtown AtlantaPhoto: Joey Kyber jtkyber1 · CC0

      Jackson Street Bridge

      Overpass above Freedom Parkway with the most photographed view of the downtown skyline, a short walk from Old Fourth Ward.

      Tip Bring a layer; it is exposed and breezy at midnight.

      SeeOld Fourth WardFree45 minMidnight

    • SkyView Atlanta

      Ferris wheel with enclosed, heated gondolas next to Centennial Olympic Park, about 200 feet up over downtown.

      Tip Ride on Dec 30 or early on Dec 31 to see the skyline before the crowds.

      DoDowntown$$30 minDusk
    • Polaris near Downtown & Midtown AtlantaPhoto: Connor.carey at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Polaris

      Revolving lounge under the blue dome on top of the Hyatt Regency, open since 1967 and back in business since 2014.

      Tip Reserve ahead for Dec 31; a full turn takes about 45 minutes.

      DrinkDowntown$$$1.5 hrEvening

    • Mary Mac's Tea Room

      Midtown Southern dining room open since 1945, known for fried chicken, collards, pot likker and cinnamon rolls.

      Tip Go for an early dinner on Dec 31; it often closes earlier than usual on holidays.

      EatMidtown$$75 minEarly evening

    • South City Kitchen Midtown

      Contemporary Southern restaurant in a Midtown house since 1993: buttermilk fried chicken, shrimp and grits, she-crab soup.

      Tip Its New Year's Eve menu books out; reserve in early December.

      EatMidtown$$$1.5 hrDinner

    • Bacchanalia

      Anne Quatrano's Westside tasting-menu restaurant, open since 1993 and long counted among Atlanta's best.

      Tip A long dinner here ends in time for a 15-minute ride back downtown before midnight.

      EatWestside$$$$2.5 hrDinner

    • Westin Peachtree Plaza

      The 73-story glass cylinder on Peachtree Street; upper-floor rooms look straight across the skyline.

      Tip Ask for a high floor facing north toward Midtown.

      StayDowntown$$$
  2. 2
    Old Fourth Ward & the BeltLine on the Atlanta New Year's Eve route

    Destination 02

    Old Fourth Ward & the BeltLine

    7 places

    A slow Jan 1 on foot: brunch, the BeltLine, two markets and a park.

    • Highland Bakery

      Neighborhood bakery and brunch spot known for sweet-potato pancakes, biscuits and big breakfasts.

      Tip Expect a wait after 10 a.m. on Jan 1; put your name in early.

      EatInman Park$$60 minMorning

    • Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail

      Paved former rail corridor lined with murals and patios, linking Reynoldstown, Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward and Piedmont Park.

      Tip Walk north from Krog Street to Ponce City Market, about 2 miles.

      DoOld Fourth WardFree1.5 hrLate morning

    • Krog Street Market

      Food hall in a 1920s warehouse beside the Krog Street Tunnel, with counters for ramen, tacos, barbecue and ice cream.

      Tip The graffiti-covered Krog Street Tunnel is a block away.

      EatInman Park$$60 minLunch

    • Ponce City Market

      The 1926 Sears building on the BeltLine, now a food hall, shops and a rooftop with skyline views.

      Tip Holiday hours vary on Jan 1; the Central Food Hall usually opens by late morning.

      ShopOld Fourth Ward$$1.5 hrAfternoon
    • Historic Fourth Ward Park near Old Fourth Ward & the BeltLinePhoto: Marc Merlin · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Historic Fourth Ward Park

      Park built around a stormwater pond, with a stone cascade, boardwalks and views of Ponce City Market.

      Tip It sits right off the Eastside Trail; detour in on the way north.

      OutdoorsOld Fourth WardFree30 minMidday

    • Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park

      King's birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church and his tomb along Auburn Avenue in Sweet Auburn.

      Tip Visitor center buildings typically close on Jan 1; the streets, tomb and reflecting pool stay open to walk.

      SeeSweet AuburnFree60 minMorning
    • Piedmont Park near Old Fourth Ward & the BeltLinePhoto: Marc Merlin · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Piedmont Park

      Midtown's big park, with Lake Clara Meer, the Active Oval and wide views of the Midtown towers.

      Tip The BeltLine runs along its eastern edge; finish the walk on the lake loop.

      OutdoorsMidtownFree60 minAfternoon

The moments that shape this trip.

Planning Atlanta New Year's Eve.

Base yourself downtown for New Year's Eve: ride SkyView Atlanta over Centennial Olympic Park, have an early Southern dinner at Mary Mac's Tea Room or South City Kitchen, then a drink under the blue dome of Polaris on top of the Hyatt Regency. Atlanta retired the traditional Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta after the 2024-25 edition; for 2025-26 the city ran Countdown Over ATL instead, a drone peach and fireworks meant to be seen from all over Downtown and Midtown. Watch from the park or from the Jackson Street Bridge, the classic skyline view. On Jan 1, walk the BeltLine Eastside Trail from Krog Street Market to Ponce City Market, loop Historic Fourth Ward Park and finish at Piedmont Park.

Good for Friends who want a free outdoor countdown, Southern cooking and an easy walking day after.

When to go

Arrive Dec 30 and leave Jan 2. For 2025-26 the city's Countdown Over ATL started with a 12-minute drone show shaped like a peach at 11:48 p.m., followed by synchronized fireworks from several sites; it was free and designed to be watched from rooftops and streets rather than one gated crowd. The format has changed several times (the Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta ran most years from 1989 to 2024-25), so check atlantaga.gov in mid-December. Dec 31 is usually mild, with highs in the 50s F and lows near 40 F, and rain is common. On Jan 1 most restaurants open late morning; the King Center visitor areas and many offices are closed.

Getting around

Fly into Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL); MARTA's Red and Gold lines reach Five Points and Peachtree Center downtown in about 20 minutes. MARTA typically extends rail service past midnight on New Year's Eve, which is the easiest way home. Expect rideshare surge pricing from 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and closures around Centennial Olympic Park. On Jan 1 the BeltLine Eastside Trail is walkable end to end in about an hour; scooters and bikes are available along it.

Tips for your crew

  • The Jackson Street Bridge in Old Fourth Ward is the postcard skyline view; get there by 11:15 p.m. if you want a spot on the rail.
  • Polaris is small and fills early on Dec 31; book a table or go for an early drink and watch the countdown elsewhere.
  • If a bowl game is on at Mercedes-Benz Stadium around New Year's, downtown hotels sell out; book by early December.

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