Guide to Exploring Atlanta on MARTA Trains (From a Local)

By Taylor Boser

Published May 8, 2025
Last Updated May 28, 2025

Artículo disponible en español.

I take MARTA to work every day, from Midtown to Downtown. And when I can, I take MARTA to different restaurants, events and neighborhoods across Atlanta, making for an easy and sustainable commute. Let me show you how easy it can be.

What is MARTA?

Let’s start with what MARTA is. MARTA stands for Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. It includes trains, buses and streetcars. 

The Atlanta Streetcar

The Atlanta Streetcar is ideal for getting around Downtown. It takes you to places such as Centennial Olympic Park, Woodruff Park, Municipal Market, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park and more. The streetcars run about every 15 minutes and an adult one-way ticket is $1. Or you can buy a day pass for $3, which is pretty hard to beat. 

MARTA Train

Here are my tips and best practices for riding like a local. 

There are four train lines: Red, Gold, Green and Blue. Mostly, the lines run north, south, east and west. While the train won’t be able to get you everywhere, having four lines makes it very easy to navigate, whether you’re visiting or don’t ride MARTA often. 

Train fare is $2.50 one way or $5 round-trip. There are kiosks at each station if you need to purchase a ticket or you can use the Breeze Mobile 2.0 app to add money to your account, scan the QR code at the gates and hop on. 

Another must-have app is the MARTA app, which tells you the train, bus and streetcar schedules. The trains run more frequently on weekdays than on weekends, so having the app lets you know when the next train is arriving. 

Places to Take MARTA To and From

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

The best part about MARTA, in my opinion, is that it takes you straight to the airport. Even if you don’t live near a MARTA station, some of the stations have parking options. The airport is the last stop on the Gold and Red lines, so there isn’t any confusion about how long you should stay on the train. 

If you’re at the airport and looking to get on MARTA to head home, to your hotel or an event, the airport station is located inside the Domestic Terminal between the North and South baggage claims. That might sound a little confusing, but signs tell you which way to go to find the station. You’ve gone too far if you see the doors taking you to the street outside, just past baggage claim. Depending on where you exit, you just need to go left or right to find the MARTA station. 

Downtown Atlanta

There are a few MARTA stops that take you to all the action in Downtown. 

Food and Attractions

One important Downtown stop to know is Peachtree Center. There’s a food hall known as The Hub if you’re looking for a quick bite to eat. It’s also about a half-mile walk to Centennial Olympic Park to snap a photo with the Olympic Rings or visit Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame and National Center for Civil and Human Rights. SkyView Atlanta is a 20-story Ferris wheel in Downtown with climate-controlled gondolas for great city views. If you’re visiting Atlanta, this is one hot spot to check out and cross off your bucket list. 

Georgia World Congress Center

If you’re in town for a convention or large event, it’s easy to access Georgia World Congress Center from MARTA. The closest stop is the GWCC/CNN Center station. When you come up the elevator, you’ll be right in front of State Farm Arena. Make a left to get onto the pathway and then turn right and the congress center will be right in front of you.

State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium

You can’t beat the convenience of taking MARTA to Hawks games, concerts and more at State Farm Arena. The GWCC/CNN Center station takes you right to the Gate 4 entrance. When leaving the arena, it’s best to exit through Gates 2, 4 or 5 to get to the GWCC/CNN Center MARTA station.

You can also get off at the GWCC/CNN Center station for Mercedes-Benz Stadium if you go to a Falcons or Atlanta United FC game or a concert there. When you get off, you can’t miss the stadium right in front of you. Getting on and off at Vine City to go to Mercedes-Benz Stadium is also super convenient. A pedestrian bridge right in front of the station makes it easy to cross the street to get to the stadium. 

Insider Tip: When leaving an event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, there usually are big crowds at both Vine City and GWCC/CNN Center stations, so a little trick I use is to get on the train at Vine City, which is one stop before GWCC/CNN Center.

During major events, additional trains run, making it easy to catch a train despite the crowds.

Five Points

You can’t talk about MARTA without talking about Five Points, the transfer station for all rail lines. This station can seem overwhelming depending on where you’re trying to get to, but there are plenty of signs throughout the station letting you know which direction each train is going and when the next one is arriving.

If you get off at the Five Points station, you will be right by Underground Atlanta. This arts, entertainment and retail district is where you can see a show at The Masquerade, grab a drink at Daiquiriville or show off your dancing skills at MJQ Concourse. 

It’s a short walk from Centennial Olympic Park and Woodruff Park.

Fun fact: If you’ve ever seen the ATL letters, find them in Woodruff Park.

Midtown

The Midtown MARTA station makes it easy to avoid parking in the area. There are plenty of bars and restaurants that you can walk to and then get on the train after. Some notable spots include Ecco, MidCity, El Valle, The Vortex Bar & Grill, Cafe Intermezzo, Lazy Betty, Bulla Gastrobar, Wicked Wolf, STK Steakhouse and Rowdy Tiger Whiskey Bar & Kitchen.

One of the best places to go when taking the train to the Midtown station is Piedmont Park. It’s about a half-mile walk, but you’ll pass many of those bars and restaurants mentioned above along the way. Piedmont Park is home to nearly 200 acres of green space with walking and biking paths, playgrounds, a swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, dog parks and more. Piedmont Park also hosts festivals and events year-round, so taking MARTA to these events can make arriving and leaving much easier. If you want to keep your car-free adventures going, you can get on the Atlanta Beltline at the Eastside Trail to walk by more bars and restaurants, and see beautiful art pieces as you go. 

Fun fact: The Vortex Bar & Grill has a comedy club inside called The Laughing Skull, which hosts open mic nights and stand-up shows throughout the week. 

Insider Tip: If you walk from the Midtown MARTA station along 10th Street, when you get to the intersection at Piedmont Avenue, you’ll see the Rainbow Crosswalk. This permanent attraction is near plenty of gay bars. 

Woodruff Arts Center

Woodruff Arts Center houses Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and High Museum of Art. If you’re going to a show at any of these venues, it’s super convenient to take the train. 

If the kiddos are up for it, it’s less than a half-mile walk to the Center for Puppetry Arts. This venue explores the work of Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, shows off more than 500 puppets and costumes, and hosts live shows. 

Insider Tip: Politan Row at Colony Square is a food hall. Stop there for a bite, check out Jojo’s Beloved Cocktail lounge for speakeasy vibes, see a movie at IPIC or hang out on The Square, which is the green space that hosts different events and activities throughout the year.

Lenox/Buckhead

While the Lenox station is on the Gold line and the Buckhead station is on the Red line, both of these stations are close to Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza. Hop on the train and don’t worry about finding a parking spot.

Inman Park/Reynoldstown

This stop will require some walking shoes, but don’t let that scare you. There’s a lot you can get to from here; it will just require planning a little more time.

If you want to visit Little Five Points, hop off here and walk about 15 minutes. You’ll walk through a residential neighborhood to get there. The path right by the MARTA station is well lit for whatever time of day you’re going.

You can also take a stroll through neighborhoods to get to Inman Park, which has plenty of trendy bars and restaurants. Grab some oysters at BeetleCat, enjoy a margarita at Bartaco, play games at Painted Park or get some work done at Inman Perk Coffee.

Head over to Reynoldstown to check out Breaker Breaker along the Beltline. From there, you can continue your walking journey along the Southeast Beltline Trail.

Decatur

When you get off at this stop, you are right in the action of Downtown Decatur at Decatur Square. The Reading Room is a great coffee shop by day and then a wine and cocktail bar after work hours. There are plenty of restaurants around: Brick Store Pub, no. 246, The Iberian Pig, O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub and Mother’s Best Fried Chicken.

You can also visit DeKalb History Center Museum to explore local history topics such as historic homes, the Civil War and more. 

Insider Tip: If you need an ice cream fix, Butter & Cream has house-made, small-batch ice cream that is a must-try.

There are plenty more stops to explore, so check out our Ultimate Guide for MARTA’s must-visit attractions and restaurants by station.

A Chicago transplant, Taylor loves exploring what makes Atlanta the place to be. Name a popular festival, food hall or brewery to check out and she will be there.