Top 10 activities in Atlanta for Club World Cup visitors

The FIFA Club World Cup is almost upon us, and Atlanta, Georgia is playing host to quite the smorgasbord of matches throughout June and July. While many of us here in Atlanta can easily take for granted the activities, events, hotspots, and gems in our own hometown (who doesn’t), this tournament coupled with next year’s World Cup means millions of new eyes will be on our fair city – beyond what soccer and Atlanta United bring to the table.

Perhaps you’re reading this as a newcomer to the Dirty South, or maybe you’re a longtime resident proud to be offering up that famous southern hospitality to our worldwide friends. Either way, we’ve compiled a completely non-exhaustive list of some of the top things to do in and around Atlanta during the Club World Cup. Big shout out to our Patreon members for providing their opinions, and the best part about ScarvesAndSpikes.com? The community in the comments section will certainly give visitors plenty more options to think about.

I’ll add in that some of the items on this list, namely The World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, Fernbank Museum, College Football Hall of Fame, and Zoo Atlanta can all be accessed MUCH cheaper if you plan on visiting a few of them via the Atlanta CityPass.

Be sure to add your own thoughts down in the comments! Without further ado – and in no particular order – here is our list!

The World of Coke and Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta has a metric ton of icons, but in terms of pure brand recognition and reach, there aren’t many in the world that can surpass Coca-Cola. I’ve combined The World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium because they’re both conveniently located together, and very close to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and other downtown activities. They also have a pass that includes admission to both attractions, which you can check out here!

Take it from someone who’s been to both locations quite a few times, you can certainly enjoy the pair in one day. The World of Coca-Cola is a wonderful place to learn more about the history behind the world’s most famous beverage, and you can try a variety of Coke products from all over the world. Pro tip: you have to try Beverly. Also pro tip: don’t be mad at me for recommending Beverly.

The Georgia Aquarium was, from 2005-2012, the world’s largest aquarium, and still remains one of the largest ever built. It’s an incredible sight, and famously known for its whale sharks and beluga whales. The facility houses a whopping 11 million gallons of water and a ridiculous amount of fish and other saltwater and freshwater creatures, and features an amazing walk-through tube under one of the main tanks. You can literally look up and see sharks, rays, tropical fish, and many other animals swimming around.

The Belt Line

The Atlanta Beltline, at its core, is a trail and set of parks that connects the majority of Atlanta and is pockmarked with a variety of shops, breweries, restaurants, art galleries, nature areas, and plenty more. On a beautiful, non-soccer day in the city, walking the Beltline is a surefire way to find something enjoyable.

A few highlights would be both Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market, which are hubs containing a variety of Atlanta’s eclectic cocktail bars, eateries, and stores. Don’t get it twisted, though, you could spend says walking the Beltline and still not see everything, so head over to their website, check out their maps, and plan a banger of a trip.

College Football Hall of Fame

In my travels outside the U.S., it never ceases to amaze me how fascinated the rest of the world is with our college football. The College Football Hall of Fame opened a decade ago, and sits very close to other locations on this list like the World of Coke and Georgia Aquarium. The facility plays host to artifacts and memorabilia from deep within college football history, lets fans dive into the art of tailgating, shows short films describing what’s essentially a day in the life of a player, and so much more.

And again, it has the added benefit of being very close to Mercedes-Benz Stadium!

Fernbank

On a personal level, Fernbank Museum and the upcoming Atlanta Botanical Garden are two of my family’s favorite places to visit. Both are wonderful for young kids, and Fernbank has thousands of historical curios, dinosaur fossils, and fun learning opportunities. It’s a laidback way to experience a variety of exhibits since it’s designed in a very kid-friendly manner, while keeping the aura of some of the nicest museums in the country. It also has a 75-acre outdoor (ADA-accessible) trail featuring other interactive exhibits, plus it’s open rain or shine.

While Fernbank rotates exhibits periodically to keep things fresh, there are permanent interactive features to make sure no trip there is ever without something for your whole crew.

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Maybe the random fact about me of the day, I enjoy plants and botany. I also enjoy cooking, more than most people know, which admittedly may sound odd when speaking about a botanical garden, but it’ll all make sense momentarily.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a gorgeous landscape consisting of thirty acres of constantly changing annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, decorative horticultural features, sculptures, conservation work, edible plants, and more. Right now (June-July 2025), the main overarching theme throughout the garden is Alice in Wonderland, and trust me when I say these various anchored features are incredible to view.

The garden also has a very large kids section, and an incredible edible garden and outdoor kitchen (told you I’d bring it back). As a matter of fact, as I’m typing this, there is a cooking exhibition being put on there by Chef Arnaldo Castillo from Tio Lucho’s – a banger of a Peruvian restaurant nearby. Those cooking exhibitions are super fun, very low-key and relaxing, utilizing a variety of ingredients available right there in the garden and throughout Georgia. Combine that with hundreds of classes – from various botanical topics to Tai Chi – and you’ll find there is always something going on at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Oh, and my other favorite parts? The beautiful Japanese garden, and the nearby Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Observatory, which houses multiple rooms containing a Madagascar biome, a tropical rain forest room, a rare collection of orchids, and exhibits of poison dart frogs.

Stone Mountain

Here’s the deal, you saw that giant rock sticking out of the ground right before you landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport? That’s the aptly-but-perhaps-unoriginally named Stone Mountain, a massive granite and quartz outcropping that is Georgia’s most visited tourist attraction. The mountain is over five miles in circumference at the base, and is such a juxtaposition to the surrounding landscape that it essentially has its own microbiome at the top that plays host to a variety of rare plants and animals, like fairy shrimp.

While the walk from the base to the top is worth it for the views alone, you could also take the aerial gondolas. There are a variety of activities for the family sprinkled around the park, plus historical exhibits, and a laser show. The park played an integral part in the 1996 Olympic Games hosted in Atlanta, and as for the granite itself? It’s been quarried for decades, and has been used in places like the Panama Canal and the U.S. Capitol.

Braves game/Truist Park/The Battery

Ok so…the Atlanta Braves have been struggling this season, but that doesn’t take away from what a Braves game day experience offers. Throughout the Club World Cup, the Braves are playing the Mets, Phillies, and Angels at Truist Park just north of Atlanta. If you’re not a baseball fan, though, that’s totally fine, because The Battery is open every day.

What’s The Battery, you ask? Truist Park is the center piece, while The Battery makes up a large shopping, dining, and living district around the stadium. You’ll find restaurants like the Michelin star winning Antico (pizza), the ever-loved Punch Bowl Social, and the popular Tex-Mex joint Superica. To finish it all off, there’s a Burn by Rocky Patel cigar bar, Top Golf’s Good Game, and a massive variety of other activity options spread throughout the area. And as for nightlife, that place is off the chain on the weekends.

EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway)

This is your obligatory random one of the list, but Atlanta Motor Speedway has a long history in the metro-Atlanta area…i.e. outside of Atlanta. The name was recently (and I do mean recently, like a few days ago) changed to EchoPark Speedway, and wouldn’t you know it…Nascar is coming to town during the Club World Cup. If you’re a big fan of seeing exceptionally loud and fast cars driving in a perpetual left turn for hours on end, you’re in luck. June 27th and 28th are the main races, but joking aside, the speedway offers other activities throughout the week – mainly on Thursdays with their Thursday Thunder races. Some of your favorite TV shows have spent time filming there and in the area, too, including the Walking Dead, America’s Got Talent, and Stranger Things.

One day, ask me my story about the Walking Dead set near the speedway.

The Fox Theatre

Ah yes, the “Fabulous” Fox Theatre! For folks who have never been, it’s easy to view the place as just another old theatre space, but the history, architecture, and legendary visitors over the years have cemented the Fox as a must-see. There are a variety of events, shows, and acts gracing the stage day in and day out, from Broadway musicals to comedians to traditional movie viewings. Beyond that, though, is the story of the Fox and the wild highs and lows it’s hit in the past century. They have a truly amazing tour – which only lasts an hour – that takes you through the building and highlights its Moorish architecture and Islamic roots, how it evolved into a full theatre, and how the City of Atlanta’s citizens came together to protect it from being demolished during a time when the big screen was taking over and replacing old, traditional theaters.

Little Five Points neighborhood

Little Five is one of the most famous and eclectic neighborhoods in Atlanta, and easily a must-see destination for anyone visiting the city. Not only does it boast “America’s Best Soccer Bar” in the Brewhouse Cafe, voted by soccer fans and the Men In Blazers network, it houses some other brilliant (and famous) restaurants like The Vortex and myriad shops and stores. The whole neighborhood is easily accessible via Marta from other parts of the city, and the district itself is super walkable. If you’re lost on what to do after watching your team over at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, heading to Little Five Points is a catch all that has something available for everyone.

To be fair, putting together a list of things to do in Atlanta is a monumental task that can’t truly be done in a “top 10” list. The beauty of Atlanta is its diversity, in culture and everything else, which means there is genuinely something to do for everyone. Some major tourist draws are actually temporarily closed right now, too, like the Civil Rights Museum, but there are SO many fun and adventurous opportunities to fill your time outside of the Club World Cup. While these may be some more mainstream options, Atlanta is full of tons of other hidden gems to make your visit even more fulfilling. And if you’re reading this, don’t hesitate to ask our awesome community here!