Exploring Atlanta Airport: Things To Do While Waiting

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the world, with over 104 million passengers travelling through its concourses each year. With around 2,100 arrivals and departures daily, it's a frequent stopover point for many global travellers. But what is there to do at the airport during a layover?

Passengers can enjoy diverse dining options, from local cuisines to fast food, and relax in one of the many airport lounges. There are rotating art exhibits to peruse, wellness facilities to take advantage of, and unique shopping experiences to enjoy. If you're travelling with kids, the ATL Airport Aviation Park is a great spot for plane watching and has a playground.

If you're looking to venture outside the airport, the regional train system, MARTA, can take you to various city points for sightseeing.

Eat at local restaurants like Ecco and El Taco

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world, with over 104 million passengers travelling through its concourses each year. If you're looking for a bite to eat, there are plenty of options, including local restaurants Ecco and El Taco.

Ecco, located in Concourse F, offers modern European cuisine in a contemporary, upscale setting. On the menu, you'll find an array of cured meats and cheeses, hearth-roasted cauliflower, seared salmon salad, charred shishito peppers, and flatbreads. They also serve up fried goat cheese drizzled with honey—a dish beloved by Atlanta locals. Ecco is open daily from 12 pm to 7 pm.

El Taco, Hartsfield-Jackson's favourite neighbourhood taqueria, serves fresh Tex-Mex cuisine in Concourse C, across from Gate 12, and in the mezzanine of the International Terminal Concourse. Their menu features a variety of tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and more. You can wash it all down with a beer, a margarita, or a tequila flight. El Taco is open daily from 12 pm to 8 pm.

In addition to these local favourites, the airport offers a diverse range of dining options, including sit-down restaurants serving Southern cooking, burger and beer joints, pizza places, cafes, Asian cuisine, and seafood spots. So, whether you're craving a quick bite on the go or a more leisurely dining experience, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has something to satisfy your taste buds.

Visit the Zimbabwe Sculpture Exhibition

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is not just an airport, it's a destination. With over 104 million passengers moving through its concourses each year, it claims the title of the busiest airport in the world. And it's not hard to see why. The airport boasts world-class dining, unique shopping, and restful spots to relax, as well as a surprising number of art installations.

One such installation is the Zimbabwe Sculpture Exhibition, a permanent exhibit of 20 sculptures by some of Zimbabwe's best-known artists. The exhibition, titled "Zimbabwe Sculpture: A Tradition in Stone", is sponsored by the city's Aviation Arts program and is located in the pedestrian tunnel between Concourse A and Terminal T.

The exhibition is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and admission is free. However, as it is located after security, a boarding pass is required to access it. The exhibition is an educational and emotional experience, with each sculpture exuding grace, passion, and strength, despite being carved from stone. The sculptures cover a range of themes, from the effects of AIDS in Africa to family and community.

The exhibition is a cohesive showcase of Zimbabwean artistic talent, with similar materials and techniques used throughout. Each sculpture also has an informational plaque at its base, containing the artist's biography and an explanation of their work. Some of the artists featured include Gladman Zinyeka, whose piece "Who Will Raise The Child" portrays the devastation of AIDS on African families, and Lameck Bonjisi, whose sculpture "Caring Mother" stands out from the other artworks due to the rich green stone used.

So, the next time you're passing through Atlanta Airport, remember to set aside some time to visit this unique and unexpected exhibition. It's definitely worth pausing your travels for.

Take the Plane Train and SkyTrain

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world's busiest airport, with over 104 million passengers travelling through its concourses each year. The airport is vast, with two main terminals and seven concourses. Luckily, there is an efficient and easy way to get around: The Plane Train.

The Plane Train is an automated people mover system located at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It connects all the airport's terminals and concourses, operating in the secure area of the airport. The system is currently run and maintained by Alstom, which acquired the previous operator, Bombardier Transportation, in 2021. It was built by Westinghouse Electric Corporation and is the world's most heavily-travelled airport people mover.

The Plane Train operates in two outer tunnels of the airport's Transportation Mall, with three tunnels running through the centre of the airport. Trains run bi-directionally in a pinched-loop configuration, with eight stations in total. During peak hours, trains stop at the eastbound side of the Concourse F platform, unload, and then proceed to a cross-over track to return to the westbound side of the platform. At the west end, trains use a cross-over track to switch tunnels. The system has two maintenance workshops, one at Concourse E and another at Concourse F.

The Plane Train runs every two minutes during the day, and every ten minutes between 11 pm and 4 am. During this reduced service, only two trains run back and forth on a single track. The system is shut down on Wednesday mornings at 1 am for maintenance.

If you are arriving at the airport, you can take the Plane Train from the international terminal (before baggage claim) to the domestic terminal. The train operates inside the secure area of the airport, so departing international passengers entering the international terminal can also use it to access Concourse E or other concourses. However, arriving passengers ending their journey at the international terminal cannot use the train and must take a ground transportation detour to access facilities outside the airport.

Colour video displays inside the trains and on the platforms provide system information in eight languages, as well as dining and shopping options. Audible announcements deliver station information and warn of the train's movements, using the NATO phonetic alphabet to identify each terminal station.

If you want to venture outside the airport, you can take the ATL SkyTrain, which runs 24/7 between the domestic terminal and the rental car centre. This automated people mover is located outside the airport's secure zone and is elevated, taking passengers on a swift five-minute loop. The SkyTrain arrives every two minutes during the day and every ten minutes at night. It is free of charge and easily accessible from the domestic baggage claim area.

Explore the airport's art and music scene

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is not only the busiest airport in the world, but it is also a destination in itself, boasting a wide range of art and music offerings for travellers to enjoy.

ATL aims to "integrate art into the daily fabric" of its operations, and it does so by displaying permanent and rotating art collections throughout the airport. One standout exhibition is the Zimbabwe Sculpture Exhibition, located in the Terminal T Concourse. The airport also features an Atlanta History Exhibit, showcasing the city's rich past.

In addition to visual arts, ATL also offers a diverse array of musical performances. Local musicians often grace the Atrium with their talents, and travellers can enjoy violin and saxophone performances while waiting in the airport's security lines, especially during the holiday season.

For those looking to explore, the airport's Plane Train is an excellent option. This underground train connects all concourses within the airport, providing easy access to the various art and music offerings. The airport also has an extensive Aviation Park, which is perfect for plane watching and features informational plaques about different aircraft types.

So, whether you're a fan of art, music, or both, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has something to offer, ensuring that your time spent there is enjoyable and enriching.

Relax in airport lounges

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the world, with over 104 million passengers travelling through its concourses each year. If you're one of them and are looking for a place to relax, ATL has a range of airport lounges to choose from.

Delta Sky Club

The Delta Sky Club is located in all concourses of the Hartsfield-Jackson airport. It offers an array of amenities, including complimentary refreshments, Wi-Fi, and workspaces.

Minute Suites

Minute Suites offers private suites for napping, relaxing, or working, and even has a shower service. It is located past airport security in Concourses B, E, and F.

XpresSpa

XpresSpa is the perfect place to unwind before your flight or between flights. They offer massages, manicures, and other spa services. XpresSpa has two locations in the airport.

Airport Lounges

Many airport lounges at ATL invite travellers from any flight class to check in and take advantage of quieter, comfier spaces, food, news, and WiFi. To enter, you can pre-purchase a lounge pass online or pay at the door. Some lounges even offer shower facilities!

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