Everyone’s been to Atlanta. Not everyone has stayed the night, or grabbed a bite at some Southern eatery, or taken in a show, but at one point or another, everyone’s technically been here.
It’s the airport. It’s huge. It’s the global hub for Delta Airlines. There are five runways. 207 gates. Seven concourses. A quarter million people come and go through ATL every day, whether they’re grabbing a puddle skipper to Birmingham, or embarking on one of the world’s longest non-stops (Johannesburg, South Africa, if you were curious).
Atlanta takes a great deal of pride in its airport. The city actually owns the place, and since first impressions are everything, there’s an incentive to keep it top-notch. This manifested itself especially a few years back, with the opening of the Maynard Jackson International Terminal: with a price tag of $1.4 billion, it’s one part transportation hub, one part Atlanta showcase, boasting a lineup of local shops and satellites of some of the city’s favorite eateries, from white napkin establishments like Ecco (try the goat cheese balls—trust us on this) and One Flew South (consistently ranked as one of the best airport restaurants in the world), to easy-going international joints like Virginia-Highland transplant The Original El Taco.
MARTA’s rail service terminates at the Domestic Terminal of the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. If you are traveling outside of the United States, passengers should check in at the International terminal. Contact your airline for specific check-in requirements.