Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm; guided tours most weekdays at 1pm and 2:30pm (September–May)
Georgia State Capitol · Atlanta
Every tour of the Gold Dome, including the Capitol Museum and Hall of Valor, is free. Walk in for a self-guided visit weekdays 8am to 5pm, or join a small-group guided tour, offered most weekdays at 1pm and 2:30pm from September through May. The public entrance is on Mitchell Street. Closed weekends and state holidays (including November 11, November 26–27 and December 25); groups of 25 or more should call ahead.
Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm (closed university holidays)
Museum of History and Holocaust Education, KSU Center · Atlanta
Kennesaw State University's Museum of History and Holocaust Education is free and open to the public, and so is parking. Exhibits are open weekdays 9am to 5pm at the KSU Center on Busbee Drive in Kennesaw, closed on university holidays.
Atlanta Monetary Museum, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's museum in Midtown covers the history of money and the Fed, and it's entirely free. Self-guided visits run weekdays 9am to 4pm, no reservation needed for groups under 10. Expect airport-style security with a metal detector; it's across 10th Street from Midtown MARTA, with no parking on site.
Wednesday–Saturday, 12–5pm (closed during college breaks)
Spelman College Museum of Fine Art · Atlanta
Spelman College's Museum of Fine Art is free and open to the public. Its Cosby Gallery reopened October 1, 2026 (Wednesday to Saturday, noon to 5pm), and the gallery in the Center for Innovation and the Arts is open Wednesday to Friday, noon to 5pm. The current show, Between Here and Infinity, marks the museum's 30 years with more than 80 works by Black women artists. It closes during Spelman College breaks.
The CDC's own museum at its Clifton Road campus covers the history of public health, with current shows including 'America 250: Life, Liberty, and Public Health' and an exhibition marking 50 years since the first Ebola outbreak. It's free, including parking, but walk-ins aren't accepted. Open Monday to Friday 9am–4pm (last reservation slot 2:30pm), closed weekends and federal holidays.
Verified Oct 27 · cdc.gov
Catch: Reserve at least a week ahead; no walk-ins · Adults 18+ need a REAL ID (non-US citizens a passport); bags and vehicles are inspected
Thursdays and Fridays, 8–10pm (Nov–Feb hours; clear skies only)
Fernbank Science Center Observatory · Atlanta
Look through the 36-inch telescope at Fernbank Science Center's Ralph Buice Jr. Observatory, one of the largest built for public viewing. Free public observations run Thursday and Friday evenings, 8–10pm from November to February, but only when the sky is clear. Call 678-874-7102 half an hour before opening for an update, and dress for the weather since the dome isn't heated.
Atlanta Contemporary on the Westside shows changing contemporary art exhibitions, and admission is free every day it's open: Thursday 11am to 8pm and Friday to Sunday 11am to 6pm (closed Monday to Wednesday). Parking is free in the Carriage Works lot at Bankhead and Means streets. The center asks visitors to register, online ahead or at the door.
Verified Oct 27 · atlantacontemporary.org
Catch: Visitors are asked to register (free), online ahead or at the door
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park · Atlanta
Kennesaw Mountain normally charges a $5 daily entrance pass, but on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 (Veterans Day) it's one of the National Park Service fee-free days. Hike the mountain and battlefield trails at no charge.
The Alive in Roswell street festival returns to Historic Canton Street and the Roswell Antique and Interiors lot on Thursday, November 19, 2026, 5–9pm. This extra date replaces the June festival that was rained out. Admission is free, and leashed dogs are welcome. Food and drinks are sold separately.
On the last Saturday of the month the Atlanta Beltline hosts Walk with a Doc at Rodney Cook Sr. Park in Vine City: a short health talk from a medical professional, then an easy walk at your own pace. On Saturday, November 28, 2026 (9–10am) the topic is diabetes awareness and prevention, and Piedmont Healthcare's mobile health van offers free screenings. Meet at the outdoor classroom near the play area.
Georgia offers three free fishing days a year. On those days Georgia residents don't need a fishing license or a trout license to fish any public waters in the state, including lakes, streams, ponds and public fishing areas. The waiver covers public waters across Georgia, including Georgia public waters (Atlanta area). Eligibility: Georgia residents.
Black Men Run Atlanta meets every Monday at Lee + White on the Westside Beltline for a 3–5 mile run; all paces are welcome. It's part of the Beltline Free Fitness program, with sessions listed through December 28. Register through the group's Heylo page (Monday Night Run Group).
Verified Oct 27 · beltline.org
Catch: Run group for Black men · Register through the group's Heylo invite
Check out the Shakespeare Tavern Theatre Pass from an Atlanta-Fulton Public Library branch for two free tickets (general admission or two balcony seats). Pick a show, reserve by phone or email within the 14-day loan, and bring the pass and voucher on show night.
Verified Oct 27 · fulcolibrary.org
Catch: Atlanta-Fulton Public Library card; borrow at a branch (no holds, first come first served) · Reserve the show by phone or email within the 14-day loan · One performance per checkout; once every six months
Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University · Atlanta
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library card holders can check out a pass that admits up to six people free to Emory's Michael C. Carlos Museum. It covers general admission only, not audio tours or special exhibitions, and children must come with a parent. Pick it up at a branch and return it to the same branch within seven days.
Verified Oct 27 · fulcolibrary.org
Catch: Atlanta-Fulton Public Library card; borrow at a branch (no holds, first come first served) · One checkout every six months; general admission only · Late fees if returned after the 7-day loan
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library card holders can borrow a Breman Museum pass good for four free general admissions. Seven-day loan, one renewal, once every six months.
Verified Oct 27 · fulcolibrary.org
Catch: Atlanta-Fulton Public Library card; borrow at a branch (no holds, first come first served) · One checkout every six months · Late fees if returned after the 7-day loan
Cobb County Public Library card holders can borrow a pass for free general admission for up to four people at Smith-Gilbert Gardens in Kennesaw. It isn't valid for special events or exhibits.
Verified Oct 27 · cobbcounty.gov
Catch: Cobb County Public Library card; borrow the pass from a branch · General admission only, not special events · The venue may limit the pass to one use per year
Cobb County Public Library card holders can borrow a pass for free general admission for up to four people at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art. It isn't valid for special events or exhibits.
Verified Oct 27 · cobbcounty.gov
Catch: Cobb County Public Library card; borrow the pass from a branch · General admission only, not special events · The venue may limit the pass to one use per year
On the second Sunday of every month the High Museum of Art in Midtown is free for everyone. The museum is open noon to 5pm on Sundays (last ticket at 4pm), with family-friendly programming from 1 to 4pm. Free tickets are handed out at the door. Parking in the Arts Center garage is not included.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park · Atlanta
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park on Auburn Avenue has no entrance fee, and no park pass is needed. Check the park's site for visitor center hours and tour availability before you go.
The King Center on Auburn Avenue holds the crypt of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, the Eternal Flame, a peace garden and Freedom Hall's exhibits on the Kings, Gandhi and Rosa Parks. Admission and parking are free, daily 10am to 5pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Trails daily, 8am–9pm; visitor center Tue–Sat 10am–4pm, Sun 12–4pm
Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center · Johns Creek
Autrey Mill in Johns Creek has wooded trails, outdoor animal exhibits and a heritage village, and it's free to visit (donations welcome). The grounds and trails are open daily 8am to 9pm; the visitor center and farm museum open Tuesday to Saturday 10am–4pm and Sunday noon–4pm. Access can be limited during events, programs and summer camp.
The hand-carved marble and limestone Hindu temple in Lilburn is open to all visitors daily 9am–6pm, and entry is free. Clothing must cover shoulders and knees (wraps are provided), phones go off inside and photos are only allowed outside. The audio tour is an optional paid extra.
Historic Oakland Cemetery is free to visit from dawn to dusk every day. Download the free digital guide or map for a self-guided walk; guided tours and special events are ticketed separately. Parking in the lot across Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. is paid; street parking is nearby.
The Atlanta Beltline Partnership and Atlanta Track Club host a free 2- or 4-mile fun run/walk every Thursday, starting from a different brewery or restaurant along the Beltline. All fitness levels are welcome, dogs too, and no registration is needed. Check the Beltline events calendar for each week's host.
Atlanta-Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb and DeKalb public libraries all lend the Georgia State Parks ParkPass: a hang tag for free parking at state parks (normally $10 a visit) plus free admission to state historic sites. Borrow it from your own library system with your card; loans run about a week. Nearby options include Sweetwater Creek, Red Top Mountain and Etowah Indian Mounds.
Verified Oct 27 · cobbcounty.gov
Catch: Library card from Atlanta-Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb or DeKalb County Public Library; borrow from your own system · Historic-site pass covers 2 people (4 with Gwinnett); general admission only · Atlanta-Fulton: one checkout every six months; some parks excluded (Gwinnett)
Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve · Atlanta
DeKalb County's 2,200-acre preserve in Stonecrest has granite outcrop hikes, trails and Arabia Lake, open dawn to dusk with no fee for parking or trails. Leashed dogs are welcome, and fishing at the lake needs a Georgia fishing license.
SCORE pairs small business owners and people starting a business with volunteer mentors, free for as many sessions as you need, in person through a local chapter or by video. SCORE Atlanta is SCORE's local chapter. Eligibility: Anyone starting or running a small business.
Verified Oct 27 · score.org
Catch: For small business owners and would-be owners · Mentoring is free; some SCORE workshops and courses charge a fee
SCORE pairs small business owners and people starting a business with volunteer mentors, free for as many sessions as you need, in person through a local chapter or by video. SCORE North Metro Atlanta is SCORE's local chapter. Eligibility: Anyone starting or running a small business.
Verified Oct 27 · score.org
Catch: For small business owners and would-be owners · Mentoring is free; some SCORE workshops and courses charge a fee
Get my FreeBee list
A free account saves favorites and picks free things in Atlanta for you, plus the best ones every Thursday if you want them. No payment, ever.
