Get to Know Athens

You'll see a lot of red and black in Athens—the colors of the University of Georgia, or UGA, as the locals call it. College football is king around here. When the Bulldogs are playing, the city pauses to concentrate on the game. But if you think of Athens as just a college town, you're in for a surprise. Named after Greece's ancient center of higher learning, Athens' nickname is the Classic City. You'll find that this Southern hamlet on a hill contains an alluring mix of history and culture that does justice to its moniker.

Best Times to Visit

Saturdays in fall are sublime. This has as much to do with the crisp autumn weather as the game-day atmosphere when the Dawgs are playing. Once the game starts, the city is calm everywhere beyond Sanford Stadium and the downtown pubs. If football isn't on your agenda, spring is a great time to be in Athens, when the dogwoods are in bloom and folks seem to have some extra pep in their steps. Summers are hot, humid and less crowded, with most of the students gone; while winters are relatively mild, with an occasional freeze.

Gardens, Theaters and Culture

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia calls Athens home. This isn't your ordinary botanical garden with just a few greenhouses, ornamental outdoor floral arrangements and a fountain. It's a massive 300-plus-acre facility with a greenhouse as big as a hotel atrium, miles of hiking trails, and a chapel in the woods. Major cultural attractions in Athens include the historic Morton Theatre, the Georgia Museum of Art on the UGA campus and Ciné, an art house cinema complex that screens independent films. The Classic Center stages major concerts and hosts UGA's hockey team in its ice arena, where you can also ice skate in season.

Sound of Music

UGA is the engine that makes Athens run. If people don't work directly for the university, they likely work in an industry that supports or benefits from it. One of these is the renowned Athens vibrant music scene, which spawned such hit makers as The B-52s and R.E.M. Experience the best of it each June at AthFest, a family-friendly outdoor music festival featuring the best Athens-based musical acts. Not here in June? Pick up a walking tour map from the downtown Athens Welcome Center to help guide you around the town’s music history hot spots.

Buses and Bikes

Athens Transit serves the locals well, but it’s also useful for out-of-towners, especially on game days, when it has special bus routes. Otherwise, it's best to drive downtown and use the ample public parking options. Adjacent to UGA, it's an easy walk from the downtown area to Sanford Stadium, the Georgia Museum of Art and the historic buildings on the north side of campus. Bring, rent or borrow a bike, because Athens is a very bike-friendly town. The city is home to miles of multi-use trails, dedicated bike lanes and a bike culture that both road cyclists and mountain bikers will find refreshing and appealing.

Ready to travel? Find hotels in Athens.