Covering twenty-one acres in the downtown area of Atlanta, Centennial Olympic Park was created for the Olympic Games in 1996. The park now hosts a range of events over the course of the year with millions of people visiting from around the globe. The location of the park means that when you visit you will also be able to take in an array of other landmarks and sites including the Georgia Dome, the Philips Arena, and Georgia World Congress Center to name but a few. The park has many great features to enjoy, one of the main ones being the beautiful Fountain of Rings.

It was the 1996 Centennial Olympic Summer Games that turned Atlanta into the direction it is now heading. It took an otherwise seedy neighborhood and transformed it into a tourist friendly haven. The Centennial Olympic Park was created as the beehive for all relevant activities, from the sales of official Olympics souvenirs to sponsor exhibits to the presentation of medals. It was also the site of a tragic bombing that marred the year's games. Today the park is still the center of activity but is now surrounded by tourist attractions like the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola and the CNN Center. The College Football Hall of Fame joined the neighborhood in 2014, along with the Center for Civil and Human Rights. The park serves as a home for concerts and movies, especially the popular Music Midtown Festival, as well as a playground for children in the Olympic Rings Fountains, which perform a water show daily.By Caroline Eubanks, AFAR Local Expert

Centennial Olympic Park is a 21-acre public park located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia owned and operated by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. It was built by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games(ACOG) as part of the infrastructure improvements for the Centennial 1996 Summer Olympics. It plays host to millions of visitors a year and several events, including a summer popular music concert series and an annual Independence Day concert and fireworks display.

Constructed when the city hosted the 1996 Olympic Games, Centennial is in the heart of downtown and adjacent to city’s most popular attractions like the National Center for Civil & Human Rights, CNN Center, the College Football Hall of Fame, Georgia Aquarium, Children’s Museum of Atlanta, and the World of Coca-Cola. The walking tour available via the park’s mobile website gives an overview of downtown’s history, architecture, and the legacy of the Olympic Games, and the Fountain of Rings show features dancing water choreographed to music, sound, and lighting effects. Check the schedule for special events, like ice skating in the winter and music festivals like SweetWater 420 Fest and Shaky Knees Music Festival in the spring and summer.

Built for the 1996 summer games, Centennial Olympic Park hosts millions of visitors every year on its wide lawns and walking paths. Many visitors come for concerts at the park's amphitheater, but you'll also want to check out the Fountain of Rings and the Skyview Ferris wheel. Be sure to look down as you walk through the park--the bricks beneath your feet are engraved with messages of people who donated money to build the park. By using our Atlanta tour itinerary planning app, you can arrange your visit to Centennial Olympic Park and other attractions in Atlanta.

Located Downtown, this park provides spectacular views of the Downtown skyline. It was created for the 1996 Olympics and there are plenty of spots for picnics. Visitors can also be entertained by free music and lots of public art. Those who enjoy photography should take advantage of all the photo opportunities the park affords you. One of the big draws, at least for children in the summer, are the fountains. Kids love splashing around in these fountains on hot, humid summer days. Sometimes there are free concerts and movies in the park. Located near transit, so parking isn't an issue.