Birmingham

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Founded in 1871 as a steel-making center, Birmingham exploded almost overnight, quickly growing into Alabama's largest city and earning the nickname "The Magic City." Today, it is a medical and financial center, as well as a bustling hub of culture and heritage that's famous for its beautiful golf courses, year-round calendar of entertainment, fabulous shopping and world-class dining.

On this page:

What to do | Where to stay
Where to Eat & Drink | Directions

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Road Trip No. 6: Taking it to the Streets, Downtown

What To See & Do

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Barber Motorsports Park

See one of the most beautiful racetracks in North America and the country's largest collection of vintage and modern motorcycles.

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McWane Science Center

Experience four floors of hands-on exhibits, larger-than-life IMAX films and other extraordinary programs.

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Vulcan Park & Museum

Home to the world’s largest cast-iron statue, the site also features interactive exhibits and spectacular panoramic views of Birmingham.

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Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

Now a museum of history and industry, Sloss Furnaces has become a center for creation and exhibition of metal art.

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Birmingham Zoo

Learn about the 750 animals that call the zoo home, including sea lions, kangaroos, elephants and endangered species from six continents.

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Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

A state-of-the-art facility housing exhibitions of historical events from post-World War I racial segregation to present-day racial progress.

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Oak Mountain State Park

The nearly 10,000-acre Oak Mountain State Park features more than 50 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails.

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Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

Hoover's Ross Bridge, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's crown jewel, is nestled in the peaceful valley of Shades Mountain.

View all Birmingham attractions

Where To Stay

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Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

This luxury hotel is surrounded by natural beauty and lush golf courses, just outside the city.

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Aloft

Aloft is a modern boutique hotel located in Homewood's upscale Soho Square development.

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The Tutwiler Hotel

Adjacent to a city park and bustling financial district, The Tutwiler is the perfect place to enjoy the vibrant city center.

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Sheraton Birmingham Hotel

Enjoy updated meeting spaces and guest rooms at this hotel adjacent to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

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Where To Eat & Drink

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Hot and Hot Fish Club

Owned by James Beard Award-winner Chris Hastings, Hot and Hot Fish Club is known for its dedication to local, seasonal ingredients.

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Irondale Cafe

Fans of the book Fried Green Tomatoes know that this place was the inspiration for Fannie Flagg's story of love, loss and life in the South.

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Highlands Bar and Grill

Since 1982, Frank Stitt's Highlands Bar and Grill has been the premier spot to entertain guests and celebrate special occasions.

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Jim ‘N Nick’s

Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q has served Birmingham for more than 25 years, and is known for its pulled pork, cheese biscuits and slaw.

View all places to eat and drink in Birmingham

Area Map

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Area Towns

  • Bessemer

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    Located right outside of Birmingham, Bessemer enjoys a rich history and boasts a broad array of companies and businesses with diverse backgrounds. Known as “The Marvel City,” Bessemer lies in the iron ore and limestone district of Alabama, in the southern part of Jones Valley.

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  • Center Point

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    Strategically located minutes away from Birmingham, Trussville and Pinson, Center Point is home to about 17,000 people. It is also located near Interstate 59 and Highway 75, making it convenient to get anywhere in the surrounding Birmingham area.

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  • Chelsea

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    Chelsea, in Shelby County, was incorporated on March 1, 1996. Its population has since blossomed to nearly 3,000 residents. Its motto is “It’s all about family.”

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  • Clanton

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    Clanton, a city in Chilton County, boasts a population of more than 8,000. It was founded by Alfred Baker in 1868 when Chilton County was formed.

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  • Cullman

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    Located 45 miles north of Birmingham, Cullman offers visitors a small-town atmosphere and a selection of attractions, including Ave Maria Grotto, the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, and Clarkson Covered Bridge.

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  • Fairfield

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    Home to U.S. Steel’s Fairfield Works, Fairfield was founded in 1910 and President Theodore Roosevelt spoke at the city’s dedication ceremony. Baseball player Willie Mays also attended school in Fairfield and graduated from Fairfield Industrial High School. This city currently has a population of more than 11,000.

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  • Forestdale

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    Forestdale is an unincorporated locale and census-designated place in Birmingham. It’s situated north of Ensley and it has a population of more than 10,000.

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  • Fultondale

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    A northern suburb of Birmingham, Fultondale is in Jefferson County and has a population of more than 8,000. The town’s name is derived from the combination of the names of two nearby communities, Fulton Springs and Glendale.

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  • Gardendale

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    Located in Jefferson County, Gardendale is a northern suburb of Birmingham. It has a population of more than 13,000.

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  • Helena

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    Helena is in Jefferson and Shelby counties with a population of more than 16,000. Helena has grown into a town that offers the conveniences of a larger city yet still maintains its family-oriented atmosphere.

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  • Homewood

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    Located in southeastern Jefferson County, Homewood is a suburb of Birmingham and has a population of more than 25,000. It has one of the highest population densities in Alabama.

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  • Hoover

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    When plans were made in the late 1950s to widen Highway 31 southward from Birmingham, William Hoover knew that things were about to change for the largely undeveloped area just south of Vestavia Hills. He bought as many acres of land as he could, opened an insurance company, and thus planted the seed that grew into the city of Hoover.

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  • Hueytown

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    Home to the legendary NASCAR Alabama Gang, this city also has a part in the steel-making and coal-mining history of Jefferson County. Boasting a population of more than 16,000, this city is located about 20 minutes from downtown Birmingham. Hueytown also made international headlines in 1992 with the “Hueytown Hum,” an unexplained low-frequency hum heard in the city…

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  • Irondale

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    Located adjacent to Birmingham, Irondale has a population of more than 12,300. Fried Green Tomatoes, written by Irondale native Fannie Flagg, is loosely based on the town and the Irondale Cafe. This city is also home to the headquarters of the Catholic broadcaster Eternal Word Television Network.

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  • Leeds

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    Leeds is an eastern suburb of Birmingham with a population of more than 11,000. It was incorporated on April 27, 1887.

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  • McCalla

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    McCalla, named for Richard Calvin McCalla, is an unincorporated community in Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties.

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  • Moody

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    Located in St. Clair County, Moody has a population of more than 11,000.

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  • Mountain Brook

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    Known as the wealthiest city in the state of Alabama, Mountain Brook is a suburb of Birmingham, with a population of more than 20,400. It is the hometown of actors Wayne Rogers, Kate Jackson and Courteney Cox.

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  • Mt. Laurel

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    A quiet town nestled south of Birmingham, Mt. Laurel features homes built in the Craftsman style. The town was designed by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company and is in keeping with New Urbanism ideals.

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  • Pelham

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    Pelham is a suburb of Birmingham in Shelby County named for famed Confederate Civil War officer John Pelham. Its population has grown to more than 21,000 people.

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  • Pleasant Grove

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    A suburb of Birmingham, this city is located in western Jefferson County. Pleasant Grove’s nickname, “The Good Neighbor City,” suits it well. First established in 1889, but incorporated in 1937, this city now has a population of about 10,000.

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  • Tarrant

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    Incorporated in 1918, Tarrant prides itself on being a “Gateway to Progress.” This city is located in Jefferson County and has a population of more than 6,000.

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  • Trussville

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    One of the Birmingham area’s most rapidly-growing communities, Trussville has seen major residential and retail construction in recent years. It was incorporated as a town June 10, 1947, and on May 31, 1957, the town officially became a city.

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  • Tuscaloosa

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    Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama, is located on the Black Warrior River.

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  • Vestavia Hills

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    One of Alabama’s fastest-growing business communities, this city is located in Jefferson county. Vestavia Hills is a suburb of Birmingham and has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal for the high quality of its school system. Home to the Dogwood Festival, this city is also home to more than 34,000 residents.

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  • Warrior

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    Warrior, a northern suburb of Birmingham, is in Jefferson and Blount counties. The city takes its name from the Warrior coal fields, which J.T. Pierce opened in 1872 in the vicinity. It has a population of more than 3,000.

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Nearby Areas

Getting there by plane
Getting there by car
Getting there by bus or train

Birmingham serves as the major hub of travel for the state. The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport offers 130 daily flights to 51 airports in 48 cities throughout the United States.

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
5900 Messer Airport Highway
Birmingham , AL 35212

205-595-0533

Birmingham is accessible via several major interstate highways, including Interstate 65, the state's main north-south route; Interstate 20; and Interstate 59.

Greyhound offers daily bus service, including holidays, to and from Birmingham. The station is near downtown's Linn Park and you will need to arrange transportation to your destination from the station. Hours of operation are subject to change. Call to verify information before making travel plans.

618 19th St. N.
Birmingham , AL 35203

205-252-7190

Amtrak offers daily train service to and from its station located in downtown Birmingham. You will need to arrange transportation to your destination from the station.

Amtrak
1819 Morris Ave.
Birmingham, AL 35203

205-324-3033

amtrak.com