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Before you go
Your trip to Birmingham.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Birmingham – Alabama Destination Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma about 145 km from Montgomery
How to get there
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Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) 8 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
BHM airport is about 8 km northeast of downtown, with taxis and ride apps. Interstates I-20, I-59 and I-65 intersect in the city; Atlanta is about two and a half hours by car, and Nashville about three.
How many days
One day covers the civil rights district and Sloss Furnaces. With two days, you can add Vulcan Park, the Southside neighborhood and Railroad Park.
When to go
April, May and October are the most comfortable months. Museums are open year-round, with regular weekly closure days.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
In the civil rights district, no: the institute, the church and the park are together. For Sloss Furnaces and Vulcan Park, use a car, taxi or ride app. Drive on the right.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Birmingham
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Morning
Civil Rights District
Visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and cross the street to 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park.
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Afternoon
Sloss and Vulcan
Tour the blast furnaces at Sloss Furnaces and climb to Vulcan Park to see the city from the overlook at late afternoon.
2 days in Birmingham
Day 1
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All day
Civil rights
Spend the morning at the institute and the afternoon at 16th Street Church, Kelly Ingram Park and a walk through downtown.
Day 2
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All day
Iron and view
In the morning, Sloss Furnaces; in the afternoon, Vulcan Park and the Southside neighborhood, with restaurants.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Birmingham, Alabama?
Explore the civil rights district with the institute, the church and the sculpture park, walk the old blast furnaces and see the city from the overlook beneath the Vulcan statue.
Does Birmingham, Alabama have a connection to the English city of Birmingham?
Only the name: the founders chose to honor the English industrial city because they also wanted an iron-and-steel center.
Is the A. G. Gaston Motel open for visits?
The motel, where Martin Luther King Jr. stayed in 1963, is part of the national civil rights monument and is undergoing a long renovation. Check the National Park Service website for the current status.
What is Birmingham’s time zone?
UTC−6 in winter and UTC−5 in daylight saving time, from March to November.