Chattanooga Express Trolley Tour
A narrated trolley loop through the highlights of downtown Chattanooga, the riverfront, the Bluff View area and the North Shore, with a guide telling the Scenic City story from the seat of a vintage-style trolley.
Tennessee
Chattanooga
Chattanooga is the Scenic City, a Tennessee River town ringed by ridges where a steep historic incline climbs Lookout Mountain, a riverfront aquarium follows a watershed from mountain stream to sea, and a pedestrian bridge leads to a park with a carousel.
This guide covers the best of Chattanooga: narrated trolley tours and a trolley and train combination, the Tennessee Aquarium, the Incline Railway, Rock City and Point Park, the Walnut Street Bridge and Coolidge Park, art and history museums, whitewater rafting on the Ocoee, kayaking, caves, ghost and food tours, plus nine hotels from the railroad landmark at the old terminal to boutique and suite stays near the river, and six travel guides to plan the trip.
Don't miss
Chattanooga Express Trolley Tour
A narrated trolley loop through the highlights of downtown Chattanooga, the riverfront, the Bluff View area and the North Shore, with a guide telling the Scenic City story from the seat of a vintage-style trolley.
Chattanooga Heritage Tour: Trolley Ride and Coker Museum
A longer trolley experience that pairs a narrated ride through Chattanooga with a stop at the Coker Museum, built for visitors who want the stories behind the city and not just the views.
Derailed Adventure: Chattanooga Trolley and Train Combo Tour
A combination experience that pairs a narrated Chattanooga trolley tour with a heritage train ride, a natural fit for the city that gave the world its most famous railroad song.
Tennessee Aquarium
A riverfront aquarium that follows a single watershed from Appalachian mountain streams to the open ocean, with river otters, butterflies, penguins, sharks and a dedicated focus on freshwater life.
Things to do in Chattanooga
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Chattanooga Heritage Tour: Trolley Ride and Coker Museum
A longer trolley experience that pairs a narrated ride through Chattanooga with a stop at the Coker Museum, built for visitors who want the stories behind the city and not just the views.
Derailed Adventure: Chattanooga Trolley and Train Combo Tour
A combination experience that pairs a narrated Chattanooga trolley tour with a heritage train ride, a natural fit for the city that gave the world its most famous railroad song.
Tennessee Aquarium
A riverfront aquarium that follows a single watershed from Appalachian mountain streams to the open ocean, with river otters, butterflies, penguins, sharks and a dedicated focus on freshwater life.
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
One of the steepest passenger railways in the world, a historic cable-hauled climb up Lookout Mountain with glass-roofed cars and sweeping views of the city, the river and the surrounding ridges.
Rock City Gardens
A mountaintop garden trail on Lookout Mountain winding through narrow rock passages, over a swinging bridge and out to Lovers Leap, with a view said to take in seven states.
Walnut Street Bridge and Tennessee Riverwalk
A restored 1890s truss bridge turned pedestrian walkway across the Tennessee River, linking downtown to the North Shore and joining a long riverside greenway ideal for walking, cycling and sunset views.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
Coolidge Park and North Shore Segway Tour
A lively riverside park with a hand-carved carousel, fountain play area and open lawns, set in the walkable North Shore district, with a guided Segway tour for those who want to cover more ground.
Hunter Museum of American Art and Bluff View Art District
An American art museum on a bluff above the Tennessee River, set beside a small neighborhood of galleries, gardens, cafes and inns that is one of the most atmospheric corners of Chattanooga.
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
A working railroad museum east of downtown that preserves historic locomotives and runs excursion trains through the Chattanooga area, including a ride through the historic Missionary Ridge tunnel.
FreeChickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and Point Park
The nation first and largest military park, preserving the Civil War battlefields around Chattanooga, with cliffside views and exhibits at Point Park on Lookout Mountain and a vast battlefield across the Georgia line.
2 to 4 hoursDetails →
Ocoee River Whitewater Rafting
A guided whitewater rafting trip on the Middle Ocoee, the river that hosted the 1996 Olympic slalom events, with Class III and IV rapids, scenery and options for first-time rafters.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$Chattanooga Choo Choo
Southside / Terminal District
The railroad hotel built around the historic Terminal Station, a landmark complex where the famous song gets its name, with gardens, restaurants and rooms in a lively old-station setting.
Check rates →The Westin Chattanooga
Downtown
A full-service downtown hotel with a modern design, a wellness focus and an easy position for the Aquarium, the riverfront and the convention district.
Check rates →The Edwin Hotel Autograph Collection
Downtown Riverfront
A boutique-style downtown hotel in the Autograph Collection, with distinctive design, a stylish bar and restaurant scene and a position close to the river and the Aquarium district.
Check rates →Bluff View Inn
Bluff View Art District
A small inn in the Bluff View Art District, set among galleries, sculpture gardens and cafes above the river, ideal for couples and quiet getaways.
Check rates →
$$$Chattanooga Marriott Downtown
Downtown / Convention District
A large downtown Marriott beside the convention center, with a full-service restaurant and bar, spacious rooms and an easy walk to the Aquarium and the riverfront.
Check rates →Courtyard by Marriott Chattanooga Downtown
Downtown
A mid-priced downtown Courtyard with practical rooms, a bistro-style lobby and a convenient position for the riverfront, the Aquarium and the city center.
Check rates →Residence Inn by Marriott Chattanooga Downtown
Downtown
An all-suite downtown hotel with kitchens and separate living areas, a good fit for families and longer stays near the riverfront and the Aquarium.
Check rates →SpringHill Suites Chattanooga Downtown Cameron Harbor
Downtown / Cameron Harbor
A suite-style hotel in the Cameron Harbor area near the downtown riverfront, with roomy suites and an easy walk or ride to the Aquarium and the attractions around it.
Check rates →Hampton Inn and Suites Chattanooga Downtown
Downtown
A friendly mid-priced downtown hotel with practical rooms and suites, a breakfast option and an easy walk to the riverfront, the Aquarium and the city center.
Check rates →Chattanooga guides
Chattanooga for First-Timers: What to See, Where to Stay and How to Get Around
Everything a first visit to Chattanooga needs: how the city is laid out, the must-see sights, how to move between downtown and Lookout Mountain, and what to book ahead.
Chattanooga Trolley Tours: Express, Heritage and Trolley-and-Train Compared
How to choose between the Chattanooga Express Trolley Tour, the Heritage Tour with the Coker Museum and the Trolley and Train combination, with timing, planning and pairing tips.
Three Days in Chattanooga: A Practical Itinerary
A three-day plan for Chattanooga covering the riverfront, Lookout Mountain and a day of outdoor adventure, with meal ideas, timing and rainy-day swaps.
Where to Stay in Chattanooga: Neighborhoods and Hotels Compared
A guide to choosing where to stay in Chattanooga, comparing downtown, the Bluff View Art District, the Southside terminal district and suite hotels near the riverfront.
Chattanooga with Kids: Aquarium, Trains, Trolleys and Outdoor Fun
A family guide to Chattanooga with children: the best attractions by age, how to pace days, rainy-day options and where to stay.
A Day on Lookout Mountain: Incline Railway, Point Park and Rock City
How to spend a full day on Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga: riding the Incline, walking Point Park, exploring Rock City and adding an aerial view.
