Guidebook for Chattanooga
Food Scene
Family owned and operated Greek restaurant and grocery store. You order at the counter and they bring the food to your table. The food is really good.
Olive Branch Mediterranean Foods
3992 Ringgold RdFamily owned and operated Greek restaurant and grocery store. You order at the counter and they bring the food to your table. The food is really good.
Great burgers, include a grass-fed burger choice. It's usually very busy.
88 locals recommend
Urban Stack
12 W 13th StGreat burgers, include a grass-fed burger choice. It's usually very busy.
Taco Mamacita
109 N Market StIt's always busy and the food is great!
Drinks & Nightlife
It's fairly new and I've not yet been personally but I'm hearing good things about it. They have a $12 tour and tasting.
78 locals recommend
Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery
1439 Market StIt's fairly new and I've not yet been personally but I'm hearing good things about it. They have a $12 tour and tasting.
Sightseeing
This aquarium is one of the best. There are two - a fresh water and a salt water. Each takes you to the top and you wind your way down with great views of the tanks and off-shoots to special exhibits along the way. I never get tired of it!
481 locals recommend
Tennessee Aquarium
1 Broad StThis aquarium is one of the best. There are two - a fresh water and a salt water. Each takes you to the top and you wind your way down with great views of the tanks and off-shoots to special exhibits along the way. I never get tired of it!
This historic passenger railway starts in historic St. Elmo (a short drive from downtown Chattanooga) and goes up the side of Lookout Mountain in a 15 minute ride to the top. If this is too scary you can drive to the top nearly as fast.
249 locals recommend
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway station
3917 St Elmo AveThis historic passenger railway starts in historic St. Elmo (a short drive from downtown Chattanooga) and goes up the side of Lookout Mountain in a 15 minute ride to the top. If this is too scary you can drive to the top nearly as fast.
ee the city and the surrounding views from a different perspective. There are different cruises throughout the day, some including meals.
76 locals recommend
Southern Belle Riverboat
151 Riverfront Pkwyee the city and the surrounding views from a different perspective. There are different cruises throughout the day, some including meals.
After touring downtown a bit in this WWII amphibious vehicle, race down the boat ramp into the Tennessee River and learn more about our unique history. It's a lot of fun. Tours begin March 3rd for the 2018 season.
83 locals recommend
Chattanooga Ducks
151 Riverfront PkwyAfter touring downtown a bit in this WWII amphibious vehicle, race down the boat ramp into the Tennessee River and learn more about our unique history. It's a lot of fun. Tours begin March 3rd for the 2018 season.
Parks & Nature
You might think this is just a "tourist trap". I suspected so for many years before I visited; then it became my favorite spots and bought a season pass. When it's terribly hot in Chattanooga it's much more comfortable on Lookout Mtn. There is no other spot quite like this, with rock paths, rock formations, history, views, a swinging bridge, rare spotted deer and more. At Christmas it is transformed into a wonderland of lights for night walks.
229 locals recommend
Rock City Gardens
1400 Patten RdYou might think this is just a "tourist trap". I suspected so for many years before I visited; then it became my favorite spots and bought a season pass. When it's terribly hot in Chattanooga it's much more comfortable on Lookout Mtn. There is no other spot quite like this, with rock paths, rock formations, history, views, a swinging bridge, rare spotted deer and more. At Christmas it is transformed into a wonderland of lights for night walks.
Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center is a 317 acre property that was once a private estate. There is a driving loop, hiking trails, paddling on Lookout Creek, and a native animal exhibit (including the rare Red Wolf.)
50 locals recommend
Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center
400 Garden RdReflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center is a 317 acre property that was once a private estate. There is a driving loop, hiking trails, paddling on Lookout Creek, and a native animal exhibit (including the rare Red Wolf.)
This is a great walking (biking) path. It's wide with a paved surface that follows the Tennessee River for several miles from Chickamauga Dam through downtown and toward historic St. Elmo at the other extreme. It is easily accessible from downtown though there are multiple access points along the river whether at The Boathouse Restaurant, public parks or the dam.
22 locals recommend
Tennessee Riverwalk
Tennessee RiverwalkThis is a great walking (biking) path. It's wide with a paved surface that follows the Tennessee River for several miles from Chickamauga Dam through downtown and toward historic St. Elmo at the other extreme. It is easily accessible from downtown though there are multiple access points along the river whether at The Boathouse Restaurant, public parks or the dam.
Entertainment & Activities
Take a ride on a historic steam train. There are shorter trips and longer trips to choose from. It's a great way to experience a little history while seeing some great scenery.
69 locals recommend
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
4119 Cromwell RdTake a ride on a historic steam train. There are shorter trips and longer trips to choose from. It's a great way to experience a little history while seeing some great scenery.
This rock climbing gym is great for beginners or experienced climbers of all ages. Try it!
124 locals recommend
High Point Climbing
219 Broad StThis rock climbing gym is great for beginners or experienced climbers of all ages. Try it!
We're lucky to have an IMAX 3D theater right here in Chattanooga. It's a lot of fun for a special occasion.
69 locals recommend
Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater
201 Chestnut StWe're lucky to have an IMAX 3D theater right here in Chattanooga. It's a lot of fun for a special occasion.
Getting Around
Bike Chattanooga is a bike sharing system with over 300 bikes at 38 stations across Chattanooga. Designed for quick trips around town, Bike Chattanooga is a fun, flexible and convenient way to get around.
Bike Chattanooga
1250 Market StBike Chattanooga is a bike sharing system with over 300 bikes at 38 stations across Chattanooga. Designed for quick trips around town, Bike Chattanooga is a fun, flexible and convenient way to get around.
Free Electric Shuttles in the downtown area run continually until 11pm along Broad Street from the Chattanooga Choo-Choo on the south side to Coolidge and Renaissance Parks and the trendy Frazier Avenue shopping area on the north shore. Free wireless Internet is also available on certain "smart buses." You can park in garages on Frazier Avenue on the Northshore and at the Chattanooga Choo Choo on the Southside. Parking fees apply. Visit http://www.carta-bus.org/maps/shuttlemap.pdf to learn more.
Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority
1617 Wilcox BlvdFree Electric Shuttles in the downtown area run continually until 11pm along Broad Street from the Chattanooga Choo-Choo on the south side to Coolidge and Renaissance Parks and the trendy Frazier Avenue shopping area on the north shore. Free wireless Internet is also available on certain "smart buses." You can park in garages on Frazier Avenue on the Northshore and at the Chattanooga Choo Choo on the Southside. Parking fees apply. Visit http://www.carta-bus.org/maps/shuttlemap.pdf to learn more.
Arts & Culture
The Art District boasts the Hunter Museum but there's a lot of art outside to enjoy for free, especially if the weather is nice. This neighborhood sits on a bluff overlooking the Tennessee River and has some great views.
Stroll along and check out the statues and sculptures along the way. Relax with coffee and pastries at Rembrandt's Coffee House or have a full meal at either Tony's Pasta Shop & Trattoria or the Back Inn Cafe.
93 locals recommend
Bluff View Art District
411 E 2nd StThe Art District boasts the Hunter Museum but there's a lot of art outside to enjoy for free, especially if the weather is nice. This neighborhood sits on a bluff overlooking the Tennessee River and has some great views.
Stroll along and check out the statues and sculptures along the way. Relax with coffee and pastries at Rembrandt's Coffee House or have a full meal at either Tony's Pasta Shop & Trattoria or the Back Inn Cafe.