31 Romantic, Unforgettable Things to Do in Atlanta, Georgia (US)

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Anyone living in Georgia will tell you that only outsiders call Atlanta Hotlanta. Just don’t do it. Still, you can be the one to bring the heat to the city when you plan your next romantic getaway or date here.

It doesn’t matter if you live in the state or you decide to make it your next romantic destination, there’s plenty of things to do in Atlanta for couples.

In fact, I’m about to share 31 romantic things to do in Atlanta. If you haven’t tried them all and you live here, you’ve got weeks of date nights at your fingertips.

You’re merely a reservation away from enhancing your love life. If you don’t live here but find this list enticing, you can plan a weekend getaway or week’s vacation and find plenty of romance waiting for you in this sultry Southern city.

31 Romantic Things to Do in Atlanta

When most people think of “romance” and “Georgia”, they’ll likely think of Savannah, Blue Ridge, or one of the coastal islands.

Yet, Atlanta is filled with romantic things to see and do. It might not be your first thought when it comes to romance, but you might not know about these 31 romantic things to see and do in the city.

1. Ride a Ferris Wheel at Skyview Atlanta

Skyview Atlanta, GA — Photo by Kyle Sudu on Unsplash

Atlanta finally got its own downtown Ferris Wheel, and this is certainly one of the romantic places to see if you find yourself in the city.

Skyview Atlanta is $17 per person — with discounts for students and military — with rides lasting from 7 to 12 minutes. You can even purchase tickets for two along with a box of chocolates for $37.50 + tax in their Love is in the Air package.

If you want the VIP package to skip the line, ride in Ferrari seats, and enjoy the glass floor view, that’ll cost you $50 per person for the ultimate Ferris Wheel experience. You can see all of downtown Atlanta from this extraordinary view.

2. Jazz Night at the High

Every third Friday of the month, the High Museum of Art offers Jazz Night. You’ll actually have three potential nights you can book at the High. The first Friday is High Frequency Friday with a DJ, dancing, and drinks.

The second Friday is themed as an Oasis night. You can explore the galleries, make art, do yoga, and sip a glass of wine with your sweetie.

On the third Fridays, Jazz night offers one of the most romantic date nights in the city. Enjoy drinks and live jazz as you tour the galleries with your date.

Members of the High Museum can attend for free. Non-members are $25 per person. You can choose which Friday night fits your dating style and partner best.

3. Candlelight Concerts

If you haven’t attended a Candlelight Concert, you’re missing out. I attended one that featured a tribute to the music of Billie Holiday and Amy Winehouse. It was spectacular. There are several venues that host these string quartet concerts.

These venues include the Trolley Barn, the Chapel on Sycamore, The Wimbish House, Guardian Works, and more.

Expect an evening of drinks, food, and a romantic candlelight concert — perfect for your next date night. It doesn’t matter if you love Vivaldi, Taylor Swift, ABBA, Jill Scott, Pink Floyd, or others, there’s sure to be an artist celebrated that you’ll enjoy.

4. Take a Stroll Through the Atlanta Botanical Gardens

During the summer months, you can enjoy Cocktails in the Garden every Thursday through Saturday night, but you can enjoy the garden as a perfect date location year-round.

It’s the perfect place to stroll for a daytime date or an evening with cocktails and beautiful scenery.

Enjoy coffee or lunch at the cafe and walk the gardens with a fellow nature lover. Don’t overlook the romantic potential of a garden. Tickets are $26.95 each.

If you’re looking for the same vibe with a lower price tag, you can make a day trip to nearby Athens, Georgia, for the State Botanical Gardens (entry is free, but donations are accepted and encouraged).

5. Enjoy Fernbank Date Night After Dark

You might not realize that museums are a prime location for romance in Atlanta. Each month, the Fernbank Natural History Museum offers events after dark for adults.

You can expect tapas, live music, a full bar, museum exhibits, science demonstrations, and even dancing. You can get your geek on while also enjoying a romantic evening for two. Tickets are $22.95 each and include museum admission and free parking.

6. See a Movie at Starlight Drive-In Theater

Nothing says romance quite like a drive-in movie, and happily, Atlanta has one. Take your main squeeze to the Starlight Drive-In Theater to see a double feature.

Tickets are only $10 for adults and include both films (unless only one is playing). This is a great way to snuggle with your sweetie under the stars while enjoying a new movie.

7. Sips Under the Sea at the Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta — Georgia Aquarium- Photo by Crystal Jackson

One of the best ways to see the Georgia Aquarium is to attend Sips Under the Sea. This adult-only event features live music and cocktails while you enjoy the aquarium.

Tickets to the aquarium are $47.99 per person with discounts for buying online. Different events may have other pricing.

Sips Under the Sea isn’t the only romantic event you can enjoy at the Georgia Aquarium. There’s an Aqua Vino wine tasting event coming up along with several different variations of Wellness by the Water, which can include sound baths, Latin dance lessons, yoga, or other themes.

Any of these themed events can be a great romantic date night for couples in Atlanta.

8. Take Me Out to the Ballgame at Truist Park

Sporty couples might prefer a romantic date at Truist Park for a Braves baseball game. Of course, Atlanta is known for its professional sports teams.

You can find football, soccer, basketball, and more here. Whether you’re into college sports or professional leagues, there’s a game here for you.

Take your date out to your favorite ballgame and show them that romance is more than candlelit dinners. It can also be a date to one of their favorite sporting events. Don’t forget the crackerjacks!

9. Enjoy the View at The Sundial Restaurant

One of the more romantic things to do in Atlanta is enjoying the view at The Sundial Restaurant. It rotates with a 360-degree view of the city.

This isn’t the best romantic destination for those with a fear of heights … or motion sickness. Otherwise, this is a wonderful location for brunch, dinner, or drinks. The view is unmatched, and the food is just as good.

10. Shop at Ponce City Market

Shopping at Ponce City Market may not sound romantic to you — but wait! This charming city market is packed with intriguing shops and delicious restaurants.

You can easily spend a day or evening shopping, stopping for lunch or dinner, enjoying sweet treats, and then taking a walk at the nearby skyline.

Don’t underestimate the romantic potential of this type of date. If you plan it well, you can treat your date to some shopping at a specialty store they’ll love, have dinner or drinks, and then enjoy an enchanting walk together.

11. Play at Skyline Park

You might want to consider combining your Ponce City Market date with a trip to Skyline Park.

While these can certainly work as stand-alone dates, if the date is going well, why not extend it to a rooftop amusement park?

Skyline Park features vintage amusement park games, miniature golf, drinks, food, and more. There are even vintage park rides for the daring couple to enjoy. It’s just one of the many things to do in Atlanta for couples.

If amusement parks aren’t your thing, you can still visit the Skyline for cocktails or the terrace view of the city. There’s even access to the Atlanta Beltline from there, which is included on this list.

Tickets to the Roof and Skyline Park start at $7, and 9-Mile Station, the rooftop terrace, does require reservations in advance. Annual passes start at $79 and include free entry and unlimited gameplay.

12. Walk Through the Van Gogh Immersive Experience

Another option for romantic things to do in Atlanta includes immersive experiences. One local favorite is the Van Gogh Immersive Experience.

The experience features a 360-degree view of Vincent Van Gogh’s art, a virtual reality experience, a museum about the artist, and a chance to try your hand at creating a painting of your own.

If you want to really pull out all the stops, you can even bring your date sunflowers as a nod to Van Gogh.

13. Spray Paint n Sip by Studio W.I.P.

If you’ve ever wanted to unleash your inner street artist, a date night with Spray Paint n Sip by Studio W.I.P. is the best way to go!

This 90-minute street art class will unleash your inner artist. Tickets are $40 per person. Drinks are available to purchase for adults 21 and older.

Making art can be a romantic date night for two and could be a great ice breaker for a first date.

14. Have a Drink at the Garden Room

The Garden Room Bar & Restaurant in Atlanta is one of the more romantic places you can go for brunch, dinner, or drinks. This lush garden makes a beautiful setting for your romantic interlude, but it does require advanced reservations to get in and features a dress code.

This is the type of date night you plan for — not one you spontaneously go on without giving your date a heads up about proper attire for the evening. Still, if you and your main squeeze love plants or just want to be surrounded by beautiful blooms, The Garden Room is not to be missed!

15. Enjoy Illuminarium Atlanta: After Dark Immersive Nightlife Experience

The Illuminarium After Dark event is one that you’ll want to add to your date night list if you’re 21 or older. This immersive experience will take you out of this world — as a 360-degree experience.

You can opt to visit Wild: A Safari Experience, Space, or Waking Wonderland’s immersive Alice in Wonderland experience.

You can even purchase an All-Day Pass to see each of the exhibits. This can be a romantic night out for couples in Atlanta. Reservations are required, and tickets should be purchased in advance.

16. Walk Through Klimt: The Immersive Experience

This is one you’ll want to add to your list for future dates. The Gustav Klimt immersive experience is coming soon to Atlanta. You can join the Waitlist to be notified as tickets become available.

This immersive experience is a perfect date night option. Why not recreate The Kiss in front of the immersive painting? Lovers and art lovers alike will enjoy this romantic art experience.

17. Dine in the Dark Together at Pitch Black

If you haven’t tried dining in the dark, it can be a romantic way to spend an evening with your favorite person. You can Dine in the Dark at Pitch Black in Atlanta.

There’s a set menu, and you must be 18 or older to attend. This is a traveling exhibit, so it’s not always available in Atlanta, but you can sign up for the waitlist to be notified when reservations are open.

Dining in the dark can allow you and your date to savor the food and wine — and each other.

18. See a Broadway show at The Fox Theatre

The Fox Theater hosts Broadway shows, live musical performances, ballet, and more. It’s definitely got the makings of a romantic date night for couples in Atlanta.

You’ll want to check out their website for upcoming performances, ticket prices, and other pertinent information to plan your date.

19. Take a Cooking Class Together at Irwin Street Cooking School

Irwin Street Cooking School hosts cooking classes that are sure to spice up your date night! You can learn to make an entire meal with drinks with your plus-one. It can be a fun way to learn how to make a new dish or two while having fun in a relaxed environment.

Check the class schedule, and make sure to talk to your date about any allergies in advance. Classes range from $75 to $105 per person, making this one of the more expensive date nights on the list.

20. Have Dinner at the Rooftop L.O.A.

If you haven’t had dinner at the Rooftop L.O.A., here’s your reminder to schedule it for one of your date nights in Atlanta.

Enjoy 360-degree views at the wraparound terrace at Riva restaurant, sip drinks and enjoy the ambience on the rooftop at the Grove, or book pool access for the day at the Pool Club.

You can also check their calendar for Happy Hour, yoga, and brunch events. This is sure to delight any couple looking for romance in Atlanta.

21. Have a Picnic at Piedmont Park

Nothing says romance quite like a picnic in the park, and Piedmont Park has everything you need to plan a romantic picnic for two.

There are restaurants, food carts, and concessions inside the park, but you’re also welcome to bring your own packed picnic lunch for your date.

Scout a scenic location and set up in advance, or simply carry a picnic basket to your favorite place in the park with your plus-one.

If you want the romance of a picnic with none of the work, you can book a luxury picnic from The Garden Party.

Your picnic includes setup and breakdown of your luxury picnic, rugs, blankets, picnic table, candles, flowers, napkins, glasses, flatware, utensils, card games, and a chalkboard welcome sign.

You can add to your picnic charcuterie, jumbo games, a teepee, canopy, tent, umbrella, or even the supplies for a paint and sip wine party. A two-hour luxury picnic starts at $250 with food prices added to that unless you choose to bring your own.

This might be more in the serious relationship or proposal zone than first date material, but if you’re looking for a grand gesture, a picnic in the park can be a simple way to roll out the romance.

You don’t need to go all-in on the luxury picnic if that’s not in your budget. Even a simple prepared picnic basket, a blanket, and a view is all you need for the perfect romantic picnic in the park.

22. Walk, Crawl, or Bike the Atlanta Beltline

The Atlanta Beltline is a historic 22-mile railroad corridor with multiuse trails for walking, pub crawls, or cycling.

There’s plenty to see and do along the Beltline for your next romantic date outdoors. If you don’t own a bike, you can rent one for one of the many bike tours offered on the Beltline.

You can even check the monthly calendar for free fitness events for the health-conscious couple.

While a boot camp class or yoga session might not be your idea of romance, it can be very romantic to a fitness enthusiast to have a date planned that caters to their interests. Combine it with drinks or a meal over at Skyline Park or Ponce City when you’re done.

23. Create Your Own Pottery at MudFire Studio

If you’ve ever swooned over that pottery wheel scene in Ghost (or know someone who has), then you’ll want to book your date night at MudFire Studio in Atlanta.

These date nights last two hours, and you’ll get to make two to three pieces of your own pottery on the pottery wheel.

Classes cost $50 each and require a $10 deposit to hold your spot. The pieces you make will be glazed and ready for pickup within four to six weeks.

This will give you a lasting memory of your date — adding to the romance. Even if you aren’t a natural potter, you can still have fun learning something new with your date and exploring your creative side.

24. Visit a Korean Bath House

Another interesting idea for a romantic date night is to enjoy the luxury of a Korean Bath House. The two most recommended in Atlanta are Jeju Sauna Spa and Gangnam Sauna. Jeju separates bathers by gender while Gangnam has a co-ed option.

Both spas offer several treatments. Relax in the bath house luxury as a part of your special date night.

Keep in mind that nudity is involved, so this might not be the best planned first date or date with someone who is self-conscious about their body.

25. Have Drinks at City Winery

City Winery is a great place to enjoy wine, live music, or a comedy show. It’s also a great place to grab dinner or drinks. The atmosphere is perfect for a romantic night out. See the calendar on their website to plan for the perfect evening entertainment.

26. Get Your Game on at Game-X Atlanta

Romance is all about the individual and what appeals to them. If you’re a gamer or dating one, you might want to consider making your next date night at Game-X Atlanta.

You can watch sports, have a drink, or play over 60 arcade games at Game-X. There’s even a casino with legal gambling options. This can be a fun way to enjoy an evening with your favorite gamer.

27. Explore the Sippin’ Safari at Zoo Atlanta

Animal lovers will enjoy a romantic date night at Sippin’ Safari at Zoo Atlanta. Couples attending this event will enjoy a live Prince cover band, a variety of wine samples, and nighttime viewing of zoo animals.

You must be 21 or older to attend, and admission starts at $65 per person. Not a wine drinker? Beer is also an available option, and non-drinkers will find a selection of other beverages available. Your admission includes complimentary carousel rides.

28. See a Classic Film at the Plaza Theatre

When you’re considering a romantic date night, don’t overlook the romantic simplicity of a movie night — especially if you plan that movie night at the Plaza Theatre.

You can see new movies or cult classics here. There’s even an annual horror festival perfect for the ghoulish couple. There’s even a live version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Choose a film that suits you or your date and enjoy a night of classic film fun.

29. Enjoy Yoga with Llamas at Llamaste Llama Alpaca Yoga East ATL

You’ve probably heard of goat yoga, but have you considered llama yoga yet? It could be a fun and romantic date for a fellow animal lover.

You can book a llama and alpaca yoga session in a beautiful, reclaimed barn on an urban farm.

Classes are $50 per person and include carrots to feed the animals. This is sure to delight lovers of animals and yoga — and it’ll make your date so much more interesting than the usual meet-for-drinks plan.

30. Pick Out Books for Each Other at Read Shop Atlanta

Book lovers will enjoy a bookish date at Read Shop Atlanta where you can enjoy coffee, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches and select your next read.

To make this a romantic breakfast date, you and your plus-one can wander the shelves and select a book for each other.

Instead of buying your bookish date a drink (although you can certainly pay for their coffee), you can opt to buy their next book instead. Believe me when I say real readers will swoon at this date option.

31. Visit the Paddle Shack for Paddle Boarding for Two

Outdoor adventure enthusiasts may enjoy renting kayaks or paddle boards from the Paddle Shack in nearby Sandy Springs. Prices start at $30 per hour.

This can be a romantic date location for fitness enthusiasts. Enjoy the view in a peaceful setting while paddling with your plus-one. Fiercely independent adventurers can rent their own board to paddle by your side, or you can share a kayak for two.

Conclusion

You’ll find many romantic things to do in Atlanta for couples but remember that the romance is all in the planning. To plan the perfect date, you’ll need to know what your partner likes best.

Planning a thoughtful date doesn’t need to be difficult. You don’t want to take an introvert into a situation with forced proximity to others.

Maybe skip the interactive murder mystery date for someone who would find it cringe-worthy to be the center of attention.

Equally, you don’t want to take a committed couch potato to a series of fitness-focused dates and call that “romance”.

What’s really romantic is to take a reader to a bookstore for coffee, treats, and uninterrupted book bliss. Romance is taking an animal lover on an evening safari adventure or booking that llama-tastic yoga session.

Customize your romantic plans for the person you’re planning them for (or with). Romance in Atlanta is easy, and these 31 events can get you started igniting — or reigniting — your relationship.