10 Magical Things to Do in Atlanta in Winter

It may be tempting to settle in for a long winter’s nap, but Atlanta is just as magical in the colder months as it is any other time of year! These are some of my favorite things to do in Atlanta in winter.

I love Atlanta in the winter — the weather is crisp but mild, the holiday lights glow from November through January, and the crowds (aside from the big holiday weeks) are refreshingly light. Winter is actually one of the best times to visit Atlanta, with cheaper flights, lower hotel rates, and plenty of festive events across the city.

From sparkling holiday displays to cozy cold-weather activities, there’s no shortage of winter fun in the ATL. Here’s how to make the most of the season!

Best Things to Do in Winter in Atlanta

1. Stroll the Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden quickly became my favorite Atlanta holiday tradition.

There are nearly 2 billion dancing lights tucked into the trees and sleeping flowers of the Gardens, twinkling in sync to music, changing color, and lighting up the beautiful landscape. There’s a good reason why this is one of the be best winter activities in Atlanta!

Starting mid-November through early January, the Gardens are transformed into a winter wonderland.

Read my guide to Garden Lights, Holiday Nights.

2. Go Outdoor Ice Skating

Ice skating is one of my favorite hobbies, so you know I love it when it gets cold enough to skate outside! Atlanta has a surprising number of open-air ice skating rinks during the winter.

Head to Midtown for Atlanta’s largest outdoor skate rink, or head to Alpharetta if you want that Rockefeller Center feel. There are all different types of outdoor ice skating rinks for any budget.

Seasonal ice rinks in and around Atlanta open in November and run through February.

Read my guide to Atlanta’s outdoor ice skating rinks to learn more and find the closest outdoor ice skating rink to you.

3. Enjoy Christmas at Stone Mountain

Stone Mountain Park is also transformed by lights and Christmas decorations in the winter.

You can meet characters from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, see Stone Mountain Village glistening with holiday lights, ride the Singalong Train, and take a much cooler hike up Stone Mountain.

Winter activities start in mid-November and last through early January.

Read my guide to Christmas at Stone Mountain.

4. Have Fun in the Snow at License to Chill Snow Island

License to Chill Snow Island at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands is a winter wonderland filled with snow. Go snow tubing down one of the largest snow slides in the country, have a snowball fight in the snow play area, and practice your figure-eights at the outdoor ice rink.

Snow Island is the only place where you’re guaranteed to have a White Christmas in the metro-Atlanta area.

Check out my review of License to Chill Snow Island at Margaritaville here.

After your day in the snow, take a drive through an extravagant light display with festive seasonal music at the Magical Nights of Lights, a Lake Lanier tradition that is back and better than ever.

License to Chill Snow Island and Magical Nights of Lights open in November and run through February.

5. Enjoy Winter Days at Zoo Atlanta

Winter may not seem like the ideal time to go to the zoo, but if you want a discounted admission price, less of a crowd, and to see the cold-weather animals, then definitely visit Zoo Atlanta during the winter!

You get to see animals that are more active in the cold, like the red pandas. The zoo also has a lot of indoor habitats where you can view the animals who don’t like the cold, like the elephants and the rhinos.

And don’t forget to look out for the special seasonal events, like the lighting of the Christmas tree every December!

Here’s what you need to know for visiting Zoo Atlanta in the winter.

6. Explore Atlanta’s Winter Hiking Trails

Now that the weather has cooled off, you can finally go out and explore Atlanta’s amazing trails without suffering in the heat!

Just a couple hours from Atlanta, Cloudland Canyon State Park’s Waterfalls Trail is great during the winter because the water doesn’t evaporate as quickly, so the waterfalls are generally flowing stronger and more constant and are more picturesque.

There are plenty of great winter hikes all around Atlanta, like Stone Mountain or even the urban Atlanta Beltline trails. You’ll have no problem choosing a hike.

Find many more Georgia Hikes here.

7. Drive Through the Lights of Life University

Can’t get enough holiday lights? Drive through the completely transformed campus of Life University in Marietta during the Lights of Life University event.

Along with the holiday lighting displays, the event also has train rides, a petting zoo, and concessions.

Drive through the Lights of Life University starting Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.

8. Attend the Smyrna Christmas Tree Lighting

Smyrna, Georgia’s annual holiday celebration is loads of Christmas cheer with concerts by local school and church choir groups, activities for kids, a parade, and visits with Santa Claus. Best of all, it’s free!

Santa even lights the giant Christmas tree in the middle of the Village Green. All around the Village Green is lit up with with fun holiday scenes and lights in nearly every tree.

Don’t miss the Big Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony every year in early December.

9. Cozy up at a Candlelight Concert

Candlelight Concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience like you’ve never seen before to awe-inspiring locations all around Atlanta. They feature different themes, from classical music to tributes to your favorite contemporary pop artists.

During the winter, you’ll definitely want to cozy up with the Holiday Special Candlelight Concert featuring music from “The Nutcracker” and your favorite Christmas classics.

Candlelight Concerts have select dates throughout the season. Get your tickets to the Holiday Special Candlelight Concert here.

10. Challenge yourself with a Christmas-Themed Escape Room

Gather your friends and family and try your hand at Saving Christmas, a fun holiday escape room from Time to Escape: The Escape Room Experience in Downtown Atlanta.

Put your problem-solving skills to the test and see if you can help Santa make his yearly route happen. You’re Santa’s last hope at bringing Christmas cheer!

Saving Christmas is playable year-round.

Winter Weather in Atlanta

Atlanta winters are pretty mild, but that’s to be expected in the South.

For Atlanta in December into February, you can expect daytime highs averaging around 50 to 60 degrees and evening lows around the 30s. Some evenings drop into the 20s.

Atlanta doesn’t usually get snow, but we do get ice. And if it does snow, there’s almost certainly ice underneath, so no one leaves their house if they don’t have to.

Why can’t Atlanta handle a little snow? ➡️ Find out here!

Don’t expect a White Christmas in Atlanta. The last time it snowed on Christmas Day in Atlanta was 2010, and that is the only official White Christmas on record for the city.

If you go for a winter hike, temperatures in the higher elevations of the North Georgia Mountains are about 10 to 20 degrees cooler. Mountain hikes like Brasstown Bald may shut down their access roads due to ice in the winter. Snow is more common in this region.

The sunset in Atlanta happens around 5:30 p.m. in November and January, around 5 p.m. in December, and around 6 p.m. in February.

For what to pack and wear during winter in Atlanta, I recommend layers, a coat, a scarf, gloves, and boots. You won’t need your heaviest winter jacket or snow boots, but you’ll want enough to stay warm. When packing your layers, keep in mind that you could be ice skating in short sleeves and 60 degree weather during the day but need a coat for the 40 degree nights looking at holiday lights.

Atlanta in the Winter FAQ

Atlanta in Winter Map

Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia in winter? Use the map below to plan out your winter vacation!

I hope you have a great winter in Atlanta!

• Atlanta Christkindl Market: Top Christmas Market in Atlanta
• How to Spend Christmas in Atlanta, Georgia
• 34+ Christmas Lights in Atlanta You Won’t Want to Miss
• What to Know About Visiting Zoo Atlanta in Winter
• IllumiNights at the Zoo: Atlanta Chinese Lantern Festival
• Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden
• 19+ Magical Christmas Events in Atlanta
• Where to Go Ice Skating in Atlanta (from a Figure Skater)

Cheers!

Paige

What’s your favorite winter activity in Atlanta? Let me know in the comments!