Athens, Georgia – As the back-to-back College Football National Champions of 2021 and 2022, the University of Georgia’s Bulldogs are aiming for a three-peat this year. On game days, Athens lights up with loyalty to support their undefeated team, creating an unmatched tailgating scene and hosting home games at the heart of the campus, Sanford Stadium. With all this excellence, Athens is the ideal destination for any football fan’s dream weekend.
What to Do
- The Athens Beer Trail Trolley Tours or Athens Brewery Tours & Transportation bring visitors to one of Athens’s six craft breweries. They can plan ahead to book their favorite spot but be sure to check for special gameday hours!
- The vibe and energy that gave birth to R.E.M., The B-52s, and Widespread Panic is alive and well today through a variety of events and attractions, like the Athens Music Walk of Fame. Visitors can also experience shows every night at the renowned Georgia Theatre and 40 Watt Club in downtown Athens.
- Head into town a day early to take part in the UGA Special Collections Libraries’ Friday Football Tours. Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall houses the Georgia Bulldog Hall of Fame with a variety of tales and memorabilia that will have Bulldog fans in awe.
- Make sure to experience all the Bulldog Traditions, from Dawg Walk the morning of a game to calling the dawgs!
- Explore the unique boutiques, vintage stores, and locally owned shops in the Classic City’s walkable downtown area.
Where To stay
- Hotel Indigo, a 9-minute walk from UGA’s campus, is a beautiful boutique hotel offering a farm-to-table breakfast and outdoor patio space, making it the perfect gameday hotel!
- Graduate Athens is situated near the heart of downtown Athens and UGA’s campus, offering The Foundry, a restaurant with amazing meals and live music and Poindexter, a coffee shop that is a favorite of guests and students alike.
- Hyatt Place Athens Downtown has a rooftop bar, Hybar, perfect for a midday drink and is within walking distance of all the best tailgating in Athens.
Where To Eat & Drink
- Cutter’s Pub is a fan favorite for those seeking a place to have a cold beer and catch the day’s games. Paloma Park, a restaurant focusing on small plates, has an open beer garden and Jumbotron, offering visitors the ability to watch four games at once.
- Big City Bread Cafe and Mama’s Boy are staples for a gameday brunch or as a celebratory meal after a Georgia Bulldog victory!
- For those looking for a more upscale dining experience, The Expat and The National are a must-try for delicious pasta dishes or Mediterranean-inspired favorites.
- To experience Athens like a local, visitors can enjoy delicious breakfast options, burgers, milkshakes and more at ADD Drug. This lunch counter spot and full-service pharmacy has been serving Athens since 1961.
Fun Fact
- Sanford Stadium’s seating capacity of 92,476 is the tenth-largest stadium in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It is renowned for the English Privet hedges that encompass the field.
