Birmingham

Alabama

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2026

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Downtown Birmingham, Alabama

Why visit Birmingham

Birmingham is a confluence of leafy green space, fantastic bars and restaurants, and innovative public space projects. It's also a far more liberal town than you may expect given the political proclivities of its home state. This town may lack the name-brand recognition of musical powerhouses like New Orleans and Nashville, or business centers like Atlanta and Houston, but as mid-sized cities go, Birmingham is hard to beat.

Lonely planet’s trusted travel insurance provider

Dreaming of Birmingham? Protect your trip

Travel with confidence. Protect your trip and your wallet.

LEARN MORE

We don’t represent World Nomads, we receive a fee from quotes using this link. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Take your United States (USA) trip with Lonely Planet Journeys

Pick one of our ready-to-book trips or fully customize your own with help from our local experts.

bookable trip

Road Trippin' Across the American West

11 days / 10 nights

highlights

  1. 1 Riding a historic cable car to see the seals of San Francisco's Fisherman’s Wharf
  2. 2 Whitewater rafting along the thrilling South Fork American River
  3. 3 Hiking past Liberty Cap and Half Dome on a guided tour of Yosemite's highlights
from $5,780

per person

book this trip see trip details

Explore more trips

  • Hawaii's Big Island and Oahu's Big City in 8 Days
    The USA

    8 days / 7 nights

    Hawaii's Big Island and Oahu's Big City in 8 Days

    FROM $5,493

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • New York, New York: 7 Days in the Big Apple
    The USA

    7 days / 6 nights

    New York, New York: 7 Days in the Big Apple

    FROM $3,240

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Alaska: Glimmering Glaciers, Brown Bears, and Fantastic Fjords
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    Alaska: Glimmering Glaciers, Brown Bears, and Fantastic Fjords

    FROM $7,900

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Lei'd Back Hawaii: Maui and Kauai
    The USA

    8 days / 7 nights

    Lei'd Back Hawaii: Maui and Kauai

    FROM $5,090

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Easing up East: New York, Cape Cod, and Boston in 11 Days
    The USA

    11 days / 10 nights

    Easing up East: New York, Cape Cod, and Boston in 11 Days

    FROM $5,395

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • From Bayside to Coastside: California's San Francisco Peninsula in 10 Days
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    From Bayside to Coastside: California's San Francisco Peninsula in 10 Days

    FROM $4,940

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Maine's Marvelous Coastline: 10 Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    Maine's Marvelous Coastline: 10 Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden

    FROM $3,795

    per person

    See Trip Details
Want our experts to design a custom trip for you?
start planning

Top places to visit in Birmingham

Discover the best attractions in Birmingham from must-see sights to unexpected hidden gems.

Explore all

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Birmingham