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CNN Studio Tours

*Please note: CNN studio Tour is permanently closed.

Get behind the scenes of Cable News Network (CNN), which is based right here in Atlanta, Ga. A 50-minute guided walking tour lets you peek into the newsroom, control room and much more. Be sure to keep your eyes wide open; there’s no telling who you might see while walking the halls.

Reasons to take the CNN Studio Tour

  • Your tour begins on a long ride up the world’s largest freestanding escalator (which, before CNN, used to take visitors up to “The World of Sid and Marty Krofft,” an indoor amusement park). In fact, during the Sid and Marty Krofft days, the space that is now CNN’s main newsroom was a human pinball machine. The escalator is 196-feet long and eight stories high.
  • You’ll see how a teleprompter works.
  • You’ll find out how the weather map works.
  • You’ll watch the action inside Studio 7, the largest studio CNN has ever built anywhere in the world.
  • You’ll get a better understanding of how newsman John King moves things around on the touch-screen on election night. 

Insider tips

  • Although the tour is permanently closed, you can still see the iconic CNN sign outside CNN Center. It is a popular photo spot.
  • The food court at CNN Center provides many options for dining.

Know before you go

When is cnn studio tours open.

CNN Studio Tours is permanently closed.

Where is CNN Studio Tours located?

CNN Studio Tours is located inside the CNN Center at the corner of Marietta Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive in Downtown Atlanta at:

One CNN Center, Atlanta, Ga. 30303.

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Cnn studio tour.

3 star rating

This tour of the world's largest newsgathering organization is lots of fun and a uniquely Atlanta experience. The CNN Center is headquarters for CNN, CNN International, and Headline News. During 50-minute guided walking tours, visitors get a behind-the-scenes look at the high-tech world of 24-hour TV network news in action.

You'll find the tour desk in the main lobby near the base of an eight-story escalator. While you're waiting for the tour to begin, you can have a videotape made of yourself reading the day's top stories from behind a CNN anchor desk. The tour starts in an exhibit area where you'll find timelines covering the history of CNN and Turner Broadcasting, interactive kiosks where you can surf the CNN websites or access clips from the top 100 stories that CNN has covered, memorabilia from some of those events, and a journalism ethics display. A theater that re-creates CNN's main control room allows you to experience the behind-the-scenes elements of a news broadcast.

Next, you'll enter a special-effects studio and get a glimpse of the technology that goes into the production of global news. Here you'll discover the magic of a high-tech Blue Chromakey system (it's what's used to broadcast that big map behind the weather folks), see how on-air graphics are made, and learn the secrets of the TelePrompTer.

On another level, visitors get a bird's-eye view of the main CNN newsroom from a glass-walled observation station. From here, you'll see the hustle and bustle of writers composing news scripts. If a live broadcast is in progress -- and chances are good that one will be -- you can see CNN newscasters at work. Tour guides are knowledgeable and can answer virtually any question.

The longer, more extensive VIP tour allows visitors to actually step out onto the main CNN newsroom floor and explore production areas not normally accessible to the public.

After your visit, stop by the Turner Store, which carries network-logo clothing and gift items, along with MGM movie paraphernalia. For sports fans, there's the Braves Clubhouse store, featuring the Atlanta Braves logo on every item you can imagine. There are several restaurants and numerous fast-food outlets in the atrium of the CNN Center, as well as a few shops. Remember that the tour includes quite of bit of walking and a very steep escalator ride, which carries you to great heights to begin your visit. Those afraid of heights might want to consider skipping the tour.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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CNN Studio Tours

In 2023 – after over 35 years – CNN bid farewell to its longstanding Downtown Atlanta location and relocated to their 30-acre Turner Techwood campus in nearby Midtown Atlanta.  All Downtown Atlanta CNN Studio Tours are permanently canceled as of March, 2020.

Atlanta is home to the world’s top news network – CNN. This worldwide leader in news has maintained its post as the most trusted source in news around the world. Previously located in the heart of Downtown Atlanta, directly across the street from Centennial Olympic Park and adjacent to the Philips Arena, the CNN Center was a landmark and major tourist attraction for those seeking to learn more about the leading news network.

The CNN Center became a part of the Downtown Atlanta horizon in 1976 as part of the Omni International Group but the actual offices and newsrooms didn’t move into the facility until 1987. In addition to the CNN offices and newsrooms, a world-class hotel, the Omni Atlanta Hotel Downtown was located within the CNN Center. The CNN Center also contained an impressive food court that was available to visitors, employees of CNN and patrons of the Philips Arena and other Downtown Atlanta attractions.

With the success of several news programs throughout the years, the CNN Center decided to create a special fifty-five minute guided tour which would enable visitors to take a peek into the inner workings of a twenty-four hour news network. During the tour, visitors got the opportunity to experience the state of the art technology utilized by many of the programs produced within the CNN Center as well as watch live tapings of shows from CNN, CNN International and Headline News to name a few.

The CNN Center was the epicenter of emerging new media, allowing visitors to witness how this news giant consistently kept its finger on the pulse of all things current, and made it one of Downtown Atlanta’s most popular attractions.

Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Ending in March of 2020 amid the emergence of Covid, CNN offered 50 minute walking tours that gave visitors behind-the-scenes access to the world headquarters of CNN.  The guided tour gave an inside look at how a live broadcast was produced and broadcast around the world. Visitors would have seen a more in-depth look at how the world’s largest news organization operated From the historic first newscast to the now living legacy, visitors learned how CNN became the worldwide leader in news.

Tour Times: The CNN Tour in Downtown Atlanta has been permanently discontinued as of March 2020.  Formerly, tours ran approximately every 20 minutes daily from 9am – 5pm.

Former Address: One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303

  • CNN Center Parking Deck: $10 per day per vehicle (excluding events)
  • Payments Accepted: American Express, Cash, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Public parking is available within walking distance of CNN Center

Southbound via I-75/85

  • Exit 249C Williams St
  • Turn RIGHT onto Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd
  • Turn LEFT onto Centennial Olympic Park Dr
  • Parking garage is on the LEFT after you cross over Marietta St. and pass the large CNN letters on your RIGHT

Northbound via I-75/85

  • Exit 249D Spring St./W. Peachtree St
  • Turn RIGHT onto Spring St. ramp toward Centennial Olympic Park Dr
  • Bear LEFT onto Centennial Olympic Park Dr
  • Stay on Centennial Olympic Park Dr

Eastbound or Westbound via I-20:

  • Exit I-75/85 North and follow Northbound via I-75/85

Bus Parking

Bus Marshalling — bus parking is available at the Georgia World Congress Center for $25 per entry per day. The area is secured and has a lounge for bus drivers to relax while their group is away.

There is also free street parking on Centennial Olympic Drive by Philips Arena, but drivers must stay with their bus and may be asked to move if the space is needed.

Public Transportation

  • MARTA stop W1: Dome/ GWCC/ Philips Arena/ CNN Center
  • MARTA stop N1: Peachtree Center — approximately a 10-minute walk from this station

Atlanta Streetcar

Use the Centennial Olympic Park stop and head south on Centennial Olympic Park Dr. The CNN Center is located on the corner of Centennial Olympic Park Dr. and Marietta St.

For more information, please call 1-877-4CNNTOUR or (404) 827-2300.

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CNN Studio Tours

cnn center tour

  • Book this CNN Studio Tour ahead of time to reserve your tour day
  • Get a behind-the-scenes look at CNN’s global headquarters in Atlanta 
  • Your guide shows you where the news is written, produced, and delivered
  • Learn about the technology behind weather maps and other on-air graphics
  • Bring home a souvenir photo of you behind a CNN news desk
  • See itinerary
  • Behind the scenes look at how CNN operates
  • Entry/Admission - CNN Studio Tours
  • Food and drinks
  • 190 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA Departure Point: One CNN Center Address: One CNN Center 190 Marietta St, NW Atlanta Georgia 30303
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • ADA Compliant tours are available at 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
  • You'll start at 190 Marietta St NW 190 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA Departure Point: One CNN Center Address: One CNN Center 190 Marietta St, NW Atlanta Georgia 30303 See address & details
  • 1 CNN Studio Tours Stop: 50 minutes - Admission included Present your voucher at the tour box office at the base of the escalator and receive your timed ticket for your journey into the heart of CNN's headquarters. On the Inside CNN Studio Tour, you'll get an up-close, in-depth look at the pioneer of the 24-hour television news format. The studio tour is an approximately 50-minute guided walking tour that provides a view into the newsrooms and studios to see firsthand how CNN gathers and reports the news. Learn about CNN's history from your informative guide and visit a control room theater, where you'll learn all about how news broadcasts are put together. Next, head inside a special effects studio to see how weather maps and on-air graphics are created. Watch live news feeds, see journalists at work in the main CNN newsroom, and maybe even see newscasters broadcasting live. Don't miss the chance to get a souvenir photo of you behind an anchor desk! Before or after your tour, explore the many shops and restaurants at CNN's massive headquarters. With tours running approximately every 10 minutes throughout the day, this fun, educational tour is easy to fit into your schedule and ideal for the whole family! Read more
  • You'll return to the starting point

cnn center tour

  • Ritzma 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles All over to soon This was a great experience and topped our expectations. The tour guide was simply excellent and the information very informative. It would have been great to actually attend some live shows/recordings. A bonus is the food court right in the center of where it all happens, had dinner there afterwards. Read more Written June 20, 2020
  • Fun-CDCTraveler 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles A disappointment Really wasn’t what was advertised. Didn’t really see anything. They said we would get to see some celebrities or filming. Really didn’t see much. Guess The upgraded tour was what you should get. I would have rather seen the NFL hall of fame, and I hate sports. Read more Written May 16, 2020
  • drchasev 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Closed for the Virus Looks pretty neat if you are a fan of the station and would like to see it live broadcast. But the recent world scare has the tours shut down so make sure and check for opening before planning on the tour Read more Written March 7, 2020
  • ahmad_alshihabi 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles CNN Studio GA Being close to the news room and watching the staff face to face is really nice. The hard work of these people can’t be understood unless you watch them closely. Read more Written March 5, 2020
  • Werni1904 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Interesting tour I had the small tour with my family and it was nice to get a sneek behind the scenes. the guide was really friendly and had an answer to all questions available. Next time I'll do the expended tour. you'll take a picture at the beginning and could buy it after the tour but the price is far too expensive! That's why I only give you 4 stars. Read more Written February 23, 2020
  • Andrew R 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Watched a presenter play with her cellphone during a commercial break! This tour was just under an hour in length and really interesting. Our tour guide this morning, Thomas, knew his stuff and was happy to answer questions (if which I asked many!). Seeing the newsrooms and some studios, as well as being shown a mockup studio complete with autocue and green screen was really interesting. This would have been a five-star review, it lost a mark because I actually wanted to do the longer VIP tour but this does not operate on a Sunday, so maybe next time. Thank you to Thomas and the team! Read more Written February 23, 2020
  • brianhA9558LM 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Behind the scenes look of news production Saw anchors providing news, the huge teams gathering and producing the news. Sit behind a broadcast desk. Guided tour with huge amount of information. Impressive amount of security. Read more Written February 22, 2020
  • MEHarse 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Should have done the VIP tour You don’t really get to see a lot with the general admission tour, although I wouldn’t say the tour was bad, it wasn’t really what I was hoping for. Read more Written February 16, 2020
  • theindianatraveler 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Not worth the time or money A very disappointing waste of time. There is little to see and not much that we learned. Not vibrant or interesting as one would expect from a major news organization. At the end of the tour we used the washrooms that were filthy and disgusting. I had to try six stalls before I found one that had a toilet that had been flushed. Door wouldn’t latch on first stall I tried. Stalls and doors are stainless steel and I can’t imagine when last they were cleaned. So disgusting I wouldn’t even hang my purse on the hook as I didn’t want to touch anything. Even the hand dryers, also stainless, were in need of cleaning. How dues a touch-less dryer get so grungy? My husband reported similar conditions in the men’s washroom. Read more Written February 8, 2020
  • alberts560 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles It’s a good visit if you like staircases There is nothing to see except a succession of balconies and staircases. you see everything on the CNN promo Read more Written February 6, 2020
  • BrunoHoke 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Be sure and take the VIP tour. Not only do you get to see the different segments of CNN but you get to go inside a number of control rooms and studio sets. The building, which used to be an OMNI hotel is really quite interesting also. Sit at a news desk, complete with prompter, and get you photo taken. Read more Written January 23, 2020
  • pk90210 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Worth seeing The tour is a bit short and you didn't get to see much of the CNN but it's definitely an eye opener to see how CNN operate their business. The security is everywhere you go and will be around to escort you for the length of the tour. The guide is very knowledgeable and able to answer to most questions from the visitor. Overall, it's not the best tour but worth spending your 55 minutes there. Read more Written December 26, 2019
  • Sarah T 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles An enjoyable and informative tour whether you like CNN or not The CNN Studio Tour is part of the City Pass deal that we purchased. We really enjoyed our tour and found it informative. The place is huge! It's a lot to take in. No pocket knives permitted. They hold those at the front security office. The tour begins in the lobby and ends in the gift shop. They show you all kinds of things about news broadcasting and the process in between. There are sections of the tour where you aren't allowed to take photos or video. They will let you know. Our tour guide was excellent. Read more Written December 25, 2019
  • Ken S 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles A Light Tour We enjoyed the tour; to us it was worth the money and the time (under an hour). It's a light tour in the sense that while you do get to see a few rooms and a description of what each is for, there is no "food for thought" whatsoever. The highlights of our tour were getting to listen in on the producer's audio channel during a live broadcast, and having Christi Paul wave to us during a commercial break. Lowlights included mandatory posing for photos which they later tried to sell us, and a lack of discussion of CNN as a news organization - I can easily think of a dozen questions off the top of my head that did not get answered. Read more Written December 17, 2019
  • afikam2013 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Tour and staff is dry There's a 15 minute tour that doesn't have much photo opportunity. The security guards treat you like you're in a prison, the tour guide was dry and unenergetic. The photos at the end of the tour an ridiculously expensive $38 for two pictures without digital options. 😒 It feels like something worth doing when you're in Atlanta, but it's 15 minutes and short and unexciting. Read more Written December 14, 2019

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cnn center tour

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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CNN Studio Tours provided by CNN Studio Tours

cnn center tour

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cnn center tour

CNN Atlanta Studio Tour

  • Inside CNN Studio Tour in Atlanta
  • Take a behind-the-scenes look at CNN's global-headquarters on this 50-minute guided walking tour
  • Learn how television news is written, produced and delivered, with the possibility of seeing anchors at work in a live studio broadcast.
  • Get a souvenir photo of you behind a CNN anchor desk!
  • Explore the shops and restaurants in the CNN Center before or after your tour

Inclusions & Exclusions

  • Admission to Inside CNN Studio Tour
  • Food and drinks

Departure & Return

One CNN Center

Tours depart approximately every 10 minutes from 9am to 5pmThe Inside CNN Studio Tour is a walking tour that descends 8 flights of stairs. ADA Compliant tours are available at 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm

What To Expect

This tour takes place at One CNN Center in downtown Atlanta "” where the main newsrooms and studios for several of CNN's news channels are located. Take the voucher to the tour box office and receive a timed ticket for entry to CNN's worldwide headquarters.On this exciting, 50-minute Inside CNN Studio Tour, get an in-depth look at the CNN headquarters and learn about the history of the network from the guide. CNN is known internationally as the first television channel to provide 24-hour news coverage and the first all-news television channel in the United States. In the control room theater, learn how news broadcasts are assembled. Check out the newsrooms and studios and see how a television news broadcast is written, produced and delivered to the world. Some of the CNN anchors or correspondents might even be seen working on a live broadcast.Then, inside a special effects studio, see the technology behind the weather maps and on-air graphics that highlight the broadcasts and find out how they are created. Watch news feeds from live broadcasts and see journalists at work in the main CNN newsroom.There will also be an opportunity to have a souvenir photo taken behind a news anchor's desk.Before or after the tour, don't forget to explore the many shops and restaurants in the CNN Center.

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • ADA Compliant tours are available at 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel At least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Your Contact Details

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