Located 10 miles South of Atlanta, ATL has consistently been named the busiest airport in the world—serving over 100 million passengers every year.
With 192 gates, seven concourses, and an ambitious 20-year plan to manage and modernize its operations, ATL features an award-winning concessions program focused in the comfort of every passenger that goes through its terminals.
The airport is located on top of what once was a racetrack known as the Atlanta Speedway, owned by Coca-Cola founder. To honor its racetrack origins, every year there’s a race on one of the runways, called 5K on the 5th Runway, to benefit a youth scholarship program.
ATL is home to a fantastic public art program that features both permanent and rotating exhibits in the public space of the terminals. Don’t forget to check the Atrium for local musician performances.
Being the busiest airport in the world is hard work, which is why ATL is Georgia’s largest employer, with a workforce of 63,000 people, including airline, ground transportation, concessionaire, security, federal government and City of Atlanta employees; according to USA Today.
There are several interfaith chapel locations through the Airport open 24 hours a day, with services through the week. If you happen to be in the airport and in need of services, you can check the entire schedule here.
Aside from being the home of several Minute Suites locations, ATL is also the place to find James Beard award semifinalist One Flew South on Concourse E, and Chicken + Beer, Ludacris’ southern comfort food concept restaurant on Concourse D. You’ll find plenty of burger and beer joints, pizza places, and chain fast casual restaurants.
Also available for visitors: the option to book a group tour of the airport.
If you’re traveling with children, there are two play areas with slides for young kids to get the wiggles out before takeoff. There’s also a fully assembled skeleton of Yangchuanosaurus (which is a dinosaur that lived in China during the Jurassic period).