Birmingham AL is a land of incredible diversity, with something to offer everyone who visits. There are many great places to visit in this city, but if you are looking for the ultimate Birmingham AL experience, then you need to head to one of the places below. Whichever part of Birmingham AL you choose to visit, you’re sure to have an amazing time.
The Best Place to Visit in Birmingham AL
Birmingham Zoo
- Address: 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.3 (7036)
- Phone: +1 205-879-0409
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: ClosedTuesday: ClosedWednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PMThursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PMFriday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PMSaturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PMSunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
5 Replies to The 15 Best Places To Visit in Birmingham AL (Rating and Reviews)
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Top 15 Tourist Attractions in Birmingham AL
Vulcan Park and Museum
- Address: 1701 Valley View Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (4098)
- Phone: +1 205-933-1409
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PMTuesday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PMWednesday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PMThursday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Reviews:
I love that this was a fun and easy hike up to from 5 points! I didn’t get to go exploring the trails, just the museum and statue, but still enjoyed it quite a lot. One $6 ticket allows you into the museum and a ride up the elevator to the feet of the statue (or you also have the option to walk the staircase *inside* the pillar, which is absolutely what I did!). The museum is nicely done, approximately 7-8 rooms with the history of the town, culture, community, and struggles. It also gives a history of why this spot was so important to Birmingham. I would have loved to see more of the cave aspect, but I can only imagine it’s not as safe or stable… You get a great overview of the city from even the base of the statue! There are binoculars to use, and a little drink and snack cart (with adult beverages!) to treat yourself after that hike. I loved that they had this really neat bicycle tuning tool near the parking lot! I’ve never seen anything like it! It had everything you could need to fix anything with your bike. How thoughtful!By Megan Morris (8 months ago)Small area and average park. Sufficient parking space available. You can see the entire downtown area from the Vulcan statue which is accessible via lift but you need to buy tickets for that. Good location for a morning walk or evening gathering. I didn’t see any outlets inside but there is a museum and a small souvenir store inside.By Jakir Hossain (7 months ago)A great stop after driving all day in the car. We walked up all 158 flights of stairs. The views were great. Tickets were 6 dollars and allowed entry to the museum as well. They are good all day. There is an elevator. A few steps down there is an entrance to an old mine. There was also a concession stand. The museum was well done and impressive. I would recommend this for a quick break from the car on road trips.By Laur Whitney (5 months ago)Unexpected, simple beauty. Great museum to learn some history of Birmingham, the Civil Rights movement, how the Vulcan came to be….even Coke and Pepsi. The park grounds are well manicured. Great views of the city can be had here without even climbing to the Vulcan’s highest level. Being able to take the stairs or the glass elevator up the statue is a great option. You are only able to get to the foot of the Vulcan which is still extremely high. Overall a great park.By marcus veazey (8 months ago)This was an interesting experience. I recommend the tour – it’s only $6 for adults. There’s a gift shop, stellar views especially if you go up to the Vulcan. Lots of educational signs too!By Elizabeth Ann (a month ago)
McWane Science Center
- Address: 200 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (4049)
- Phone: +1 205-714-8300
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: ClosedTuesday: ClosedWednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
- Reviews:
We love coming to the McWane Science Center! The itty bitty magic city is perfect for my one year old. The center itself is great, especially on a hot day. We also LOVE the new dragon exhibit.By Alyssa Lee (5 months ago)Absolutely must see if you have any dragon connoisseurs in your family. The 3rd floor is currently mostly a dragon exhibit. Great activities for engagement. The “Wings over Water” iMax documentary is very informative and interesting. The comment about parking are all accurate. It is a tight spot.By Robert Ball Jr (3 months ago)The first floor is wonderful for young kids to explore and have a lot of fun. Third floor dragons were absolutely amazing. The aquarium in the basement was a bit disappointing. One of the sharks had a big sore.By Nancy Taylor (3 weeks ago)Informative and fun. Not two words that you use together often. Aquarium in the Basement and three floors on top full of kid friendly activities. It was well worth the drive from Huntsville. One adult and two kids plus parking was around $56. This is great place for kids of all ages.By Paul Young (2 months ago)The family had a great time. Lots of fun and educational exhibits. My most memorable activity was playing a “guess who” game in the space center. The kids loved the Aquarium and IMAX theater was amazing.By Sarh Max (4 months ago)
Railroad Park Foundation
- Address: 1600 1st Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (3665)
- Phone: +1 205-521-9933
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PMTuesday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PMWednesday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PMThursday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PMFriday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PMSaturday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PMSunday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Reviews:
Fun park with lots of sights to take in and things to do! The trail is a nearly perfect .75 so two laps makes a great 1.5 mile loop around the outside. Loved working with the staff when we hosted a race here. You get the beauty of a park with the metro surroundings! Cool setup, if you’re in the area – check it out!By BradandJen McCleary (10 months ago)I love visiting this park. I just went for a walk after work today with a friend and we saw multiple photographers taking advantage of the golden hour. So many dogs running around and playing! There was also a small workout class going on that the park hosts. Such a beautiful asset to Birmingham!By Sara Bauer (2 months ago)It was a magnificent experience with my girlfriends yesterday at Railroad Park! The Rotary Trail was a joy and was safe and beautiful to see with plenty of bikers and walkers to boot. Love love love the atmosphere here and the beautiful lofts and businesses nearby are a huge plus all in walking distance ❤️By Tracy BrownBeauty (8 months ago)Great place to spend time with family…
This park is beautiful…
Beautifully landscaped greenwood
Not crowded in the morning
Definitely suggested for mediation and relaxation…By Trupti Shinde (11 months ago)Always a place to enjoy. Fresh at the Birmingham downtown area close to the Regions field stadium, pubs and coffee shops. You can walk in it or around in the way to Avondale.By Miguel Patiño (2 months ago)
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
- Address: 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (3615)
- Phone: +1 205-414-3950
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PMTuesday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Reviews:
We really enjoyed our trip. There was plenty to see, the benches were nice swings, a big variety of plants looked healthy and taken care of. It is right next to a busy road, so some parts can be fairly noisy. But overall it’s a very enjoyable experience. They have a couple of different public bathrooms and some vending machines for quick drinks. Plenty of shady areas to enjoy the scenery. We didn’t try the cafe, but there is one there that serves lunch. There’s no entrance fee, but they do ask for donations. It’s also mostly wheelchair accessible everywhere. Even the gravel paths aren’t too bad.By Dave Jackman (6 months ago)This is a beautiful place to spend the day. I can’t wait to come back thru in the spring and catch some of the blooms that I missed by being there later in the year. Free parking and free admission and great views, you can’t ask for much more. Spend the day walking the paths and sitting by one of the fountains and just enjoy nature.By Tim Wilson (3 months ago)Wish I could give this place a higher review, it seems like a great botanical garden, but I visited in November, and on a Monday (which the conservatory is closed on, apparently), and on the day I visited they had most of the water features turned off, likely for maintenance as there were a lot of guys walking around with tools working on PVC pipes. I guess its just a bad day, but I didn’t choose when work sent me to Birmingham. The Japanese garden was pretty good despite the cool weather and the fern garden was lovely.By A C (a week ago)Such a wonderful place to come and enjoy a beautiful Birmingham day. It’s always peaceful and nice here in pretty much any season. I love the Japanese section of the gardens and the boardwalk through the bamboo is very well done. Also don’t miss the moon tree next to the rose garden near the entrance. I feel like every time we come we discover a new section of the gardens. I highly recommend.By Kelly Finnegan (8 months ago)WOW, WOW, WOW! I never knew there were FREE botanical gardens until I stumbled upon this place! I only had an hour to spend here, so I went to the Japanese garden and the conservatory and they were both beautiful. I am so glad I stopped here because it is so stunning and free (even free to park). I would 100% recommend this place for a fun trip or a date. I hope to come back soon. 🙂By Victoria O’Tool (5 months ago)
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
- Address: 6030 Barber Motorsports Pkwy, Leeds, AL 35094, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.9 (3596)
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark
- Address: 20 32nd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (1991)
Birmingham Museum of Art
- Address: 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (1844)
Red Mountain Park
- Address: 2011 Frankfurt Dr, Birmingham, AL 35211, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (1475)
Ruffner Mountain
- Address: 1214 81st St S, Birmingham, AL 35206, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (1103)
Kelly Ingram Park
- Address: 500 17th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (1052)
Southern Museum of Flight
- Address: 4343 73rd St N, Birmingham, AL 35206, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (473)
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
- Address: 520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (463)
The Vulcan
- Address: Unnamed Road, Birmingham, AL 35205, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (320)
Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens
- Address: 331 Cotton Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (235)
Negro Southern League Museum
- Address: 120 16th St S, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (182)
Birmingham AL is a world-famous tourist destination, and it’s no wonder why. Here is our list of the top 15 best place to visit in Birmingham AL – based on expert opinions and customer reviews. Did your favorite spot make the cut? Let us know in the comments above!
Glow Wild at the Birmingham Zoo is absolutely incredible. There are many lighted sculptures and it’s fun to meander around and try to see them all. The train ride is about 8 minutes and you get to see a lot of different areas. This is a great family-friendly event that’s totally enjoyable for adults as well. Have a hot chocolate with Schnapps to take the chill off and wander around the fairy tale grounds. Highly recommend! Also can’t wait to visit the Zoo in the daylight hours and see the real animals which are not part of Glow Wild since it’s dark.
We visited yesterday for Memorial Day. There wasn’t a line to enter so that was great. The zoo layout is good and the pathways provide a combination of sun and shade so we weren’t too hot. I believe the majority of the animals were out for us to see. They don’t give you a physical map and the digital one was confusing. It is better to use the large maps throughout the park.
Now for the cons. A lot of the exhibits with glass were hard to see through because it was so dirty. It made seeing and taking decent pictures nearly impossible. The food and drinks are so overpriced. Pack your own water to avoid paying $5 a bottle. There were quite a few off exhibit display signs so I’m not sure which animals we didn’t get to see.
Overall a good experience. We enjoyed ourselves.
We came to celebrate my nephews first birthday. I enjoyed the Zoo so much. I want to get a season pass and come out more. I love that they have many shaded areas along with a splash pad for the kiddies. I love that you can rent a wheelchair, electric cart , or strollers for the kids. I love that the Zoo has upgraded and I actually enjoyed the food here too.
My family and really enjoyed this zoo. It wasn’t over crowded and had many of the animals we wanted to see. The zoo had map boards posted so it was very easy to navigate around. We had a great time and I highly recommend this zoo.
We had such a fun day. At the gate you can purchase tickets for the train ride, carasel and general admission. You can purchase tickets to feed the giraffes, as of Sept 24, 2022 it was $4 per person, kids under 2 is free. The zoo employee was sweet in handing us lettuce to give to the giraffes and take pictures for us. We loved seeing the primates and the elephants. There are loads of animals to see such as zebras, ostrich, red pandas, sand cat, lion, jaguar, and so on. They are adding some new exhibits very soon. If you do the train make sure to check the times for when it departs, we made a mistake of not checking and ended up not being able to get onto the train by the time we left the zoo. If you need strollers or wheelchairs you can rent those, the kiosk is on the outside of the gift shop. They don’t hand out maps, there is a QR code you can scan to get the map on your phone. The gift shop is very nice, we bought only a magnet but they sell toys, stuffed animals, clothes, hats, jewelry, hand soaps, posters and many more things.