7 Things to Do During a Layover at Atlanta Airport (ATL)

I’ll have a seven-hour layover at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport while returning to California after visiting Antarctica and South America.

Welcome to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the world's busiest airport! Holding this prestigious title for the past 27 of 28 years, in exception to 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, millions of travelers touch ground at ATL. In 2024, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Internation Airport was awarded, by Airports Council International (ACI), Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Best Airport Over 40 Million Passengers in North America. ATL airport provides nonstop service to over 160 domestic and 80 international destinations.

On my return trip from Antarctica and South America, I have a seven-hour layover at ATL. Here are 7 things to do during layover at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

An airport lounge provides a comfortable place to relax, recharge and enjoy a quieter break during a layover at ATL.

1. RELAX AT AIRPORT LOUNGES

During your layover at Atlanta Airport, you can dine, relax and rejuvenate at one of the airport lounges. Lounges include:

American Airlines Admiral Club

• Located Concourse T past security close to gate T11

• Open Sunday – Friday 4:30AM – 8PM Eastern Daylight Time (only exception are Saturdays 5:00AM – 7:45PM)

• Amenities include:

  • Complimentary food and drinks

  • Full-service bar

  • Complimentary Wi-Fi

• Access:

  • One-Day Pass access to Admirals Club® lounges may be limited or not available based on lounge capacity

    • Available for purchase online and at select locations for $79 USD or 7,900 AAdvantage® miles

    • Domestic and international Admirals Club® locations (based on lounge capacity)

    • Guest Access: Up to 3 children under 18. Children must be accompanied by adult day-pass holder and present boarding pass for same-day travel on American or a partner airline.

  • Admirals Club® members

  • Qualifying First and Business travelers

  • Qualifying AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum Pro® and AAdvantage Platinum® members

  • Non-AAdvantage Oneworld® Emerald℠ and Sapphire℠ members

  • Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive cardholders

  • Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ cardholders

  • Citi Strata Elite℠ cardholders

  • Military

Delta Sky Club®

• 8 locations

  • Delta Sky Club, Concourse A in Center on 2nd level

    • Open daily 5:30am to 10:30pm

  • Delta Sky Club, Concourse A, Near Gate A17

    • Open daily 6:00am to 10:00pm

  • Delta Sky Club, Concourse B near Gate B18 - Includes Grab and Go Experience (To-go snack alternative to the full Delta Sky Club experience)

    • Open daily 5:30am to 10:30pm

    • Grab and Go is open from 7:00am to 8:00pm

  • Delta Sky Club, Concourse C, Near Gate C37

    • Open daily 6:45am to 10:30pm

  • Delta Sky Club, Concourse D Centerpoint, Near Gate D18

    • Open daily 6:00am to 10:00pm

  • Delta Sky Club, Concourse E, Across From Gate E15

    • Open daily 6:30am to 10:30pm

  • Delta Sky Club, Concourse F, Mezzanine Level

    • Open daily 6:45am to 12:00am

  • Delta Sky Club, Concourse T, Near Gate T6

    • Open daily 4:30am to 9:00pm

• There's also a The Centurion® Lounge, Concourse E, Next to Gate 11 exclusively for American Express Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card and American Express Platinum Card Members. Delta Reserve Card Members must be flying on a same–day Delta–marketed or Delta–operated flight

• Amenities at Delta's newest lounge Atlanta Delta Sky Club at D Centerpoint include:

  • 24,500 square feet with over 500 seats

  • Nature-inspired decor

  • Global artwork

  • Private phone booths

  • High-speed Wi-Fi

  • Ample charging stations

  • Southern-inspired flavors such as Georgia peaches and pecans

• For the other Delta Sky Clubs, amenities include:

  • Fresh and healthy food options

  • Premium beverage selections from THE BAR®

  • Fully stocked bars with complimentary craft beer, wine and spirits

  • Complimentary Wi-Fi access

  • Satellite TV

  • Concourse E & F Sky Clubs have showers for guests

• Access:

  • Guests are permitted to enter within 3 hours of scheduled departure

    • Connecting travelers can access Clubs any time prior to departure

  • Certain Delta Sky Club Members

  • Delta One® or SkyTeam Premium Cabin Passengers

  • Delta Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion Members

  • SkyTeam Elite Plus (Non-Delta Members)

  • Club Membership for Diamond Medallion Members

  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve and Reserve Business American Express Card Members

  • Centurion Card Members from American Express

  • Platinum Card Members from American Express

  • LATAM Business Class Passengers

  • LATAM Black Signature, Black or Platinum LATAM Pass Members

  • WestJet Business Class Passengers

  • WestJet Rewards Gold and Platinum Members

  • Delta SkyMiles Diners Club Card

  • Delta SkyMiles TRUST CLUB Platinum VISA Card

  • Delta SkyMiles TRUST CLUB Gold VISA Card

  • Depending on your membership level, travelers may or may not be able to bring additional guests, including immediate family; for more information click here

United Club

• Located North Terminal, Concourse T, between Gates 11 and 12

• Open 7 Days a week from 5:30AM – 7:30PM Eastern Daylight Time

• Amenities include:

  • Complimentary food and nonalcoholic beverages

  • Self-service bar

  • Comfortable seats

  • High speed Wi-Fi

  • 24 hours of free access to digital magazines

  • Generally, pets are allowed; if pet isn't a service animal, they're required to stay inside carrier

• Access:

  • Base, Standard or Flexible Fare in United Polaris®

  • United Business® (International Flights)

  • First class on a Star Alliance™ member airlines

  • Business class on a Star Alliance™ member airlines

  • United MileagePlus Star Gold and Above

  • Other Star Alliance airline frequent flyer programs

  • Eligible Star Gold members

  • Read more about access details, including guest policies, here

The Club at ATL

• Located in Concourse F on the Mezzanine level; can be accessed from all ATL concourses through ATL's "Plain Train"

• Open daily 6:00AM - 10:00PM Eastern Daylight Time

• Amenities include:

  • Free, fresh, seasonal meals and beverages

  • Spacious seating arrangements with views of runway

  • Private showers provided

  • Fast, reliable Wi-Fi

  • Buffet style dining

  • Workspaces

• Good to know:

  • Can book visit up to 6 hours before your flight for $50/person USD

• Access:

  • Guests permitted to enter within 3 hours of scheduled departure; Priority Pass & Lounge Key members allowed to enter within 2.5 hours of scheduled departure

  • Children of all ages are allowed into lounge; children under the age of 2 are free, children ages 2+ require a pass and must be accompanied by an adult 18+

  • All travelers departing from ATL regardless of airline are welcome to The Club

  • Airline-operated lounge memberships are not accepted

Exploring airport art adds culture, creativity and an enjoyable walking break to a layover at ATL.

2. ENJOY AIRPORT ART

ATL airport has over 1,000 works of art and is one of the largest public art sites in the Southeast region of the USA. Some of their collections include:

• Good Trouble: A Tribute to Congressman John Lewis

  Collection was dedicated to former USA Congressman John Lewis, who passed away on 17 July 2020. Congressman Lewis was known as a civil rights icon and an American hero. Installation is located on the East Side of the Domestic Terminal atrium Pre-Security.

• Zimbabwe: A Tradition in Stone

  Designed by various artists; located in Transportation Mall between Concourse T and Concourse A.

• A Walk Through Atlanta History by Gary Moss

  Learn more about Atlanta's rich history; located in Transportation Mall between Concourse B and Concourse C

• Georgia on My Mind by Yuriko Yamaguchi

  A 11' x 27' wall cast bronze; located in Concourse T North Corridor

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Wall

  An exhibit divided into 5 cinematic sections provides a historical overview of the civil rights movement and an intimate look into the life of Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister and American civil rights activist leader; located in Concourse E

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has several rotating exhibits as well. The program has partnered with NASA, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Atlanta Film Festival and several others for their exhibitions.

Enjoy a sit-down meal and sample local Atlanta flavors between flights during your layover at ATL.

3. EAT

ATL airport currently has over 160 eateries to dine at, with a range of flavors and options including American food, bakeries, bars, barbecue, Chinese, coffee shops, deli's, Italian food, Mexican food, seafood and vegetarian/vegan.

• Domestic Terminal includes: Burger King, ihop express, Louisiana Kitchen, Starbucks, Taco Bell and TGI Fridays

• Concourse T includes: Atlanta Stillhouse, Auntie Anne's Pretzels, The Coffee Bean, Dunkin' Donuts, Jamba Juice, Uncle Maddio's Pizza, Subway

• Concourse A includes: Asian Chao Oriental Eatery, Boar's Head, Chick-fil-A, Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, Lucky Box, P.F. Changs, McDonalds

• Concourse B includes: Atlanta Bagel Co., Blue Moon, Buffalo Wild Wings, Fresh To Order, Roast Coffee House, Willy's Mexicana Grill

• Concourse C includes: Baja Fresh, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Charley's Philly Steak, Famiglia Pizzeria, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Krispy Kreme Donuts

• Concourse D includes: A-Town Market, Chicken + Beer, Einstein Bros Bagels, Mustard Seed Bar-B-Que, Wolfgang Puck

• Concourse E includes: Arby's, Half Moon Empanadas, Johnny's Chicken & Waffles, Nathan's, Panda Express, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Starbucks, Subway

• Concourse F includes: Atlanta Bread, The Original El Taco, The Pecan Bistro, Pei Wei Asian Diner, Starbucks

• International Terminal includes: Starbucks

Browsing ATL’s airport shops is an enjoyable way to find gifts, travel items and souvenirs during a layover.

4. SHOP

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has over 100 shops to peruse and purchase items such as travel accessories, electronics, hygiene, beauty, over the counter medications, clothing, etc.

• Domestic Terminal shops include: InMotion Entertainment, Piedmont Park Travel Mart, Z-Market

• Concourse T shops include: Brookstone, CVS, Lather, News Express, Patricia Nash

• Concourse A shops include: Brighton, InMotion Entertainment, L'Occitane, MAC, Simply Books, Travel@Ease, TUMI

• Concourse B shops include: 11 Alive Travel Store, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Global Beauty, Kiehl's, Kylie Cosmetics, Sunglass Icon

• Concourse C shops include: InMotion Entertainment, Kylie Cosmetics, Midtown Magazines

• Concourse D shops include: All ATL, Bijoux Terner, Diverse, Johnston & Murphy, Vera Bradley

• Concourse E shops include: Better +, Brooks Brothers, Duty Free Americas, Global News, The Goods at ATL, Michael Kors, Pandora, Soundbalance, Spanx

• Concourse F shops include: 5th & Sunset, Brookstone, Duty Free Americas, Kiehl's, TUMI

• International Terminal shops include: CNN International, Fuel Rod Chargers

An airport spa or salon service can turn an ATL layover into a relaxing and restorative travel break.

5. PAMPER YOURSELF

Get yourself pampered at ATL airport with its onsite nail salons, spas, shoeshine and massage services. Most concourses have lounges and pampering services.

• Domestic Terminal includes: Mastershine

• Concourse A includes: The Chiroport, Mastershine, XpresSpa

• Concourse B includes: Be Relax

• Concourses C, D & E includes: XpresSpa

A long or overnight ATL layover provides time to rest or take a nap before continuing the journey, especially in a hotel or private sleep suite.

6. NAP & SLEEP

While Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport doesn't have any hotels inside the terminals, you can nap in a private suite at Minute Suites. Minute Suites is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with locations at Concourse B, Concourse E and Concourse F.

Included with booking a Minute Suite:

• Private, lockable suite

• Daybed with trundle

• Workspace and desk

• Smart TV with streaming

• High-speed Wi-Fi

• Charging outlets

• Sound masking system

• Concourse E location includes shower facilities (ensure to book ahead of time)

Good to know:

• Costs start at $65 USD for 1-hour reservation

• Reservations can last as short as 1 hour and longer depending on availability

• Walk-ins are allowed, though it's recommended to reserve ahead of time to ensure your visit.

• Priority Pass members get a complimentary 1-hour visit.

• If you only want to book a shower, ensure to reserve online

If you have a longer or overnight layover and rather stay at a hotel, you can take ATL airport SkyTrain to:

• Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway Hotel: A 4-star hotel including amenities such as 5 on-site restaurants, meeting space, gift shop, complimentary fitness center and convenience store, valet dry cleaning, same-day dry cleaning, wake-up calls, daily housekeeping, unique artwork, plush bedding, high-speed Wi-Fi access and modern bathrooms

• Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway: A 3-star hotel with amenities such as soundproof windows, pillowtop beds, Smart TVs, ergonomic workspaces, 24-hour fitness center and indoor saltwater pool

A six-hour or greater ATL layover may allow time to visit a local Atlanta garden when transportation, security lines and flight timing are carefully planned.

7. LAYOVER OVER 6 HOURS...VISIT NEARBY ATL ATTRACTIONS

If you have a long layover that's greater than 6 hours, take the MARTA train and visit nearby popular attractions such as:

• Georgia Aquarium: Great for travelers of all ages and open daily, see sea animals such as sharks, penguins, whales and alligator

• Centennial Olympic Park: Iconic location that was a gathering space for the 1996 Summer Olympics and lots of greenery

• Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site: Location where legendary Martin Luther King Jr. was born, raised, worked and buried at open 7 days a week with ranger lead activities, food trucks on Saturdays, tours and concerts

• Atlanta Botanical Garden: Open Tuesday-Sunday with 30 acres of outdoor gardens with an award-winning children's garden, unique canopy walk and picturesque skyline garden

• Ponce City Market: Open 7 days a week with locally owned businesses, events such as live jazz and rooftop with activities such as mini golf, skating and dining

If you're planning to leave the airport to visit nearby attractions, ensure to arrive back to the airport several hours before your flight is scheduled to depart to ensure enough time to go through security and reach your flight.