Athens Travel Guide

Whether you’re backpacking, visiting family at Athens, or going on tour for the first time to, we know it can be just as daunting as it is exciting, so we have provided this concise Athens Travel Guide.

We understand the excitement, fear, happiness, curiosity, and pure joy that a travel to Athens can incite. To help those who have little to no experience traveling Athens, we’ve put together this concised Athens travel guide to make your visit an easy one!

About Athens

Athens is a city in northeast Georgia. It’s known for its antebellum architecture. It marks the start of the state’s Antebellum Trail of historic Civil War towns. Athens is also a vibrant college town of in the Classic Heartland region of Georgia. Athens is most popular in the late summer and fall when students, families of students or college football fans visit the University of Georgia.

Even if you haven’t heard of Athens, Georgia, chances are good you’ve heard from Athens. The city has produced a number of famous bands—including R.E.M. and the B-52’s—and live music is still a major draw for visitors The University of Georgia is in Athens (it hosts the state’s official art museum), contributing to the city’s youthful energy and art scene- Athens Travel Guide. There’s history in Athens, too. Several buildings date from the Civil War, including the T.R.R. Cobb House. When you need some fresh air and flora, explore the serene State Botanical Garden, take a leisurely stroll through Trail Creek Park, or check out some of the local wildlife at Sandy Creek Nature Center.

Is Athens worth visiting?

Athens sits on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Rich in southern charm, it has a leafy suburban feel even in its Victorian-era downtown area. Athens is actually one of Georgia’s most predominant cultural hubs outside of Atlanta, as it boasts iconic historical establishments like the Morton Theatre, plenty of great bars, and an array of phenomenal eateries.

What is Athens famous for?

Athens is the birthplace of America’s first garden club. Founders Memorial Garden, on UGA’s North Campus, was established to honor the club. Athens resident Ben Epps was the first Southern Aviator. Nicknamed the Classic City, the college town of Athens is best known as the home to the University of Georgia.

When is the Best Times to Visit Athens, GA?

The hottest month of the year in Athens is July, with an average high of 90°F and low of 71°F. The cool season lasts for 2.9 months, from November 28 to February 26, with an average daily high temperature below 61°F. The best time to visit Georgia in the United States is from April to May and from mid-September to November. During both periods, the weather is mild with pleasant temperatures, and the crowds in most regions are missing. On the other hand, Georgia is a fantastic year-round destination.

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Top Attractions , Fun Things to Do, and What to See in Athens

We have listed some top rated tourist attraction in Athens. Find the things to do ideas in Athens from the list below on our Athens Travel Guide:

  • 1. State Botanical Garden of Georgia
    Gardens
  • 2. Sanford Stadium
    Sports Complexes • Arenas & Stadiums
  • 3. Bear Hollow Zoo
    Zoos
  • 4. Downtown Athens
    Neighborhoods
  • 5. Creature Comforts Brewing Co
    Breweries
  • 6. Georgia Museum of Art
    Art Museums
  • 7. The Georgia Theatre
    Theaters
  • 8. University of Georgia
    Universities & Schools
  • 9. Sandy Creek Park
    Parks
  • 10. Sandy Creek Nature Center
    Nature & Wildlife Areas • Educational sites
  • 11. Iron Horse
    Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
  • 12. Tree That Owns Itself
    Historic Sites
  • 13. The Classic Center
    Theaters
  • 14. Double Barreled Cannon
    Points of Interest & Landmarks
  • 15. World of Wonder Playground
    Playgrounds
  • 16. Historic Athens Welcome Center
    Speciality & Gift Shops • City Tours
  • 17. We Let the Dawgs Out Public Art Exhibit
    Exhibitions
  • Athens Travel Guide
  • 18. Trail Creek Park
    Parks
  • 19. Georgia’s Antebellum Trail
    Historic Walking Areas
  • 20. Lyndon House Arts Center
    Art Galleries
  • 21. 40 Watt Club
    Theaters
  • 22. J and J Flea Market
    Flea & Street Markets
  • 23. The Southern Brewing Company
    Breweries
  • 24. Taylor-Grady House
    Historic Sites
  • 25. South Lumpkin Street
    Points of Interest & Landmarks
  • 26. Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall
    Sports Complexes
  • Athens Travel Guide

How to Get around

  • By taxi
  • By limousine:
    Bulldog Limousine. Airport and door-to-door service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. edit
    Stephens Limousine Service, Inc.
  • By bus: Athens Transit. It offers many routes to all parts of town. Routes run M-F 6AM-9:45PM, Sa Su 7AM-11PM (on-demand only from 6:45PM–11PM: schedule through the Uber app).
  • By walking: The downtown area and UGA campus are very pedestrian-friendly, while the rest of the city is not at all pedestrian-friendly.
  • By bike: Most major roads in Athens, especially near and on UGA campus, have dedicated unprotected bike lanes.

Can you walk around Athens?

The historic heartland of Georgia. Its vibrant, walkable downtown sits across the street from UGA’s historic North Campus. From short nature trails with the family to longer day hikes, Athens is sure to have a trail marker with your name on it! More than ever, families and individuals are seeking outdoor activities, and you’ll find plenty of new trails to explore in Athens, Georgia.

Where are the best hiking trails and nature trails in Athens? Athens Travel Guide – Athens-Clarke Leisure Services maintains many trails and open spaces such as Ben Burton Park, and there are also wonderful trails at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and Oconee Forest Park.

How to Get in Athens, GA

By plane: Athens, GA, is around 76 miles (122 km) to the Northwest of the Atlanta international airport. Find a cheap flight to Atlanta.

Major local airports near Athens

  • Athens-Ben Epps Airport (AHN / KAHN), Distance of 4 miles

By bus Athens Travel Guide:

  • Groome Transportation. Service to Athens several times daily from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
  • Megabus. Service from Atlanta, Columbia, Fayetteville, Charlotte, Durham, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. Mondays through Saturdays, buses stop at the Athens Multi-Modal Transportation Center (775 E Broad St) Athens Travel Guide; on Sundays, buses stop at the East Campus Parking Deck on the University of Georgia campus.

By Car Athens Travel Guide:

To get to Athens from Atlanta, most people usually take University Parkway (GA-316) from I-85 at Lawrenceville or US 78 from I-285, which are both built to near-freeway standards (although you may encounter a few pesky traffic lights). You can also take US 129 or US 441 from I-85 (Jefferson and Commerce, respectively), or US 441 from I-20.

How To Find the Best Athens Hotel Deal and a Cheap Flight for your Trip

Find the best Athens hotel and flight deal using Travelradar.com price search & comparison tool. Compare the same deal for a hotel room and the same flight deals available on hundreds of top Athens hotel and flight booking websites in less than a minute all in one search.

There are lots of hotel and flight booking websites out there. All of them claim to be the best for your Athens flight and Athens hotel stays. The truth is that no single website is going to offer you the best deal every time visit them. That is why we recommend using Travel Radar .com Athens hotel and flight comparison service to search and compare Athens hotels and flight deals on hundreds of other top booking websites.

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