Birmingham, Alabama may be the most underrated city in the whole United States of America. However, if you are reading this, you are likely the sort of person that gets bored of seeing the same city breaks, plastered all over social media. We are here to save you from that & share the beauty of Alabama’s Magic City with you.
We recently spent 48 hours in Birmingham on a road trip from Florida to Memphis. Birmingham was the perfect stop over for a couple of days living the city life. In this guide, we will walk you through how to make the most of two days in Birmingham and why it deserves to be on your USA bucket list!
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Furthermore, this post is written in collaboration with In Birmingham who hosted us during our stay & organised many of the awesome activities we are going to share below. Therefore, a huge thank you goes out to them.

The best time of year to visit Birmingham, AL?
Birmingham is an all-year-round destination. One of the greatest things about taking a city break, is that cities change throughout the seasons. Offering something for everyone throughout the year. Meaning, there is no wrong time to visit.
However, we will say that when we visited Birmingham in mid-September, it was a beautiful time to experience the city. There were no summer crowds, yet the air was still warm. With temperatures hovering consistently around 30 degrees Celsius during the day & dropping to the mid 20’s at night.
We always advise travelling anywhere during the shoulder seasons. As this almost guarantees that you will have a much more pleasant experience, with less crowds, more affordable accomodation & ideal weather.
Where to stay in Birmingham
The city offers a plethora of accomodation options for a mix of budgets. The most important aspect is location. You will ideally want to be located within the city centre, this gives you access to the best activities & restaurants all within walking distance. Yes, Birmingham is definitely walkable!
The Kelly by Hilton is a beautiful hotel right in the heart of the city. They offer classy yet comfortable rooms, with great views across Birmingham & the surrounding hills. There is also an onsite bar to sip your evenings away in.

How to get around?
The best way to reach Birmingham & get around once you’re here, is definitely by car. Moreover, the United States is set up for driving, rather than taking public transport. Moreover, some of the spots in this guide would be a struggle to reach without a car. We rented a car from Miami & road tripped to Memphis, stopping by Birmingham on our way. We like to compare car rentals through, Rentalcars.com.
Day 1: A Welcome to Birmingham‘s History
Vulcan Park
On your way into the city, the best place to stop to get a feel of Birmingham before diving straight in, is most definitely Vulcan Park. Situated on the picturesque Red Mountain overlooking the city is this gorgeous park, with incredible sweeping views of Birmingham & the surrounding landscape.
Vulcan Park is most well-known for its Vulcan statue which is where it lends its name. The Vulcan statue is the world’s largest cast iron statue. Designed by an Italian artist called Giuseppe Moretti in 1904. To this day, it still stands high above the city. As a symbol of the beloved iron and steel industry in Birmingham.
Whilst at Vulcan Park, you can take an elevator to the top of the statue, for even better views of the city from a higher angle. If heights aren’t really your thing, then don’t worry because there is still a lower viewing platform to enjoy the magnificent scenery. Moreover, there is an onsite museum which highlights the Vulcan story & the history of Birmingham, this is a great place to start to get a feel for this southern city.
Admission fees: Free to just wander around the park & 6USD + tax for entry to the statue & museum.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Sticking with our theme of history, you cannot visit Birmingham without taking the time to learn about its important role in the Civil Rights Movement, during the 1960’s. The city was the site of key events during the movement, and today the institute works as a cultural and educational research centre, with an aim of preserving and telling the Birmingham story.
On your visit you will be taken into an interactive exhibition, which will help you to understand the role Birmingham played during the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the wider picture of the movement & how it has impacted Human Rights in the United States today. Allow for at least 1.5 hours to visit the institute as there is a lot of information to digest & it is best to take your time.
Across the street from the Institute, you can also visit the 16th Street Baptist Chruch, a key site of a tragic event that unfolded during the Civil Rights Movement. The Church became well known across the world, when in 1963 a bomb exploded in the church, killing four young girls.
Admission fees: 15USD per person.

Birmingham Food & Drink Highlights
Birmingham is well known for having some great restaurants and is a hotspot for rising chefs. The city not only incorporates traditional southern barbecue, but it takes inspiration from across the world and somehow puts a southern twist on it. Below are our top picks for your lunch & dinner reservations on day one in the Magic City.
Lunch at El Barrio (Mexican)
El Barrio is located downtown and offers multi-regional Mexican cuisine, they also boast that their meats are humanely farmed, which is always great to see. You will be able to order your favourite Mexican classics, such as Burritos, Quesadillas & of course Tacos! Everything we ate here was mouth wateringly delicious & we found the prices to be decent too.
Dinner at Helen (Southern)
Again, located in downtown Helen calls itself a contemporary Southern grill, which pays homage to the Chef’s grandmothers’ style of homemade, traditional cooking. This restaurant is upmarket and has a great atmosphere once inside. The menu is fascinating and has a style of ordering that we certainly aren’t familiar with, whereby you order which meat dish you would like and then add your sides, quite like you would with Tapas.
The dishes are great for sharing, because they come in huge portions too. To this day, we cannot stop dreaming about the corn ribs we ate here, that were lathered in a creamy yet spicy sauce, too good!
After dinner drinks at The House of Found Objects
Situated right around the corner from Helen, you will find The House of Found Objects, much like its name suggests this bar is quirky, to say the least. However, despite its quirkiness it offers a unique setting for an after-dinner cocktail or two. They have a delicious menu and insist that even if something you want isn’t on the menu, they are more than happy to make it for you.
Whilst you enjoy your drinks, there are card games to play on each table and maybe you will find yourself being covered by a bubble machine like we were. In addition to the main bar area, there is a secret room at the back called ‘the womb room’. This bar is strange but has a fun atmosphere at the same time.

Day 2: Nature, Baseball & More Birmingham
Hiking at Ruffner Mountain
Birmingham has the advantage of being sat in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Which if you don’t know is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, dating back a whopping 1.1 billion years. Nature is at your fingertips with a visit to the Magic City and it only adds to the allure of Birmingham as a great city break.
To reach Ruffner Mountain you will need to drive around 10 minutes to this car park (note that it is paid parking via an app). From here you will find yourself at the trailhead for multiple hikes that lead into Ruffner Mountain Reserve. We would highly recommend that you take the trail that leads to Hawk’s Head Overlook, from here you will get spectacular views over Birmingham. The trail is mostly flat and follows an easy path through the stunning forest, which will offer you shade on your way. The trail is super quiet, especially in the morning.
The hike to Hawk’s Head Overlook is around 2 miles out and back, although you could combine this with other trails for a longer hike. Always come prepared with good walking shoes, plenty of water, snacks and suncream.

City Walk Birmingham
Birmingham is unique in many ways, but perhaps something that stood out most to us is how the city is trying to regenerate areas that were once run down and create a space for the community to enjoy. This is particularly clear at City Walk, which is a recreational area that has been built underneath the interstate bridges.
At City Walk there are different areas to enjoy activities such as: Skateboarding, Pickleball, Roller Skating & a Playground for children. In addition to this, there is also areas dedicated to concerts, performing arts, a dog park, a beer garden, food trucks and so much more! It is a really fascinating and unique space to check out and enjoy on your visit to the Magic City.
Baseball game at Regions Field
Whilst you are in town it would be rude not to watch a Baseball game, Birmingham has its own team, the Birmingham Barons who play in the Southern League. We aren’t massive Baseball fans and certainly don’t understand all the rules. However, it feels like something you must do whilst visiting the US, so we did and actually ended up having a great time.
It is worth knowing that if you can catch a game on a Thursday, they offer $2.50 beers and if you purchase a Club Lounge ticket you will also have access to a free buffet. We did this and it was such a fun time, enjoying the game with free food and cheap beer, perfect.

Birmingham Food & Drink Highlights
Breakfast at Hero
If you are looking for a quick breakfast for on the go, then you must stop by Hero whilst you are in Birmingham, there are a few dotted around the city. Hero is like stepping into your classic all-American diner, with the booths and the food to match. Grab yourself a delicious donut or perhaps if you are after something bigger, they also offer larger breakfast options.
Whilst in Alabama you absolutely must try Sweet Tea, it is essentially iced tea, but they make it taste so good down here. At Hero you can order a Sweet Tea and have free refills, perfect for getting your morning fix.
Lunch at SAW’s Barbecue
Voted as Alabama’s best Barbeque, SAWs in Avondale offers traditional Southern Barbecue dishes that will leave your mouth watering. This is the perfect place to stop for lunch after hiking at Ruffner Mountain. Think burgers, hot dogs, southern fried chicken and more, you can get it all here. From the outside this restaurant looks very unassuming, but step inside and you will be greeted by that well-loved Southern hospitality, that this part of the world is so well known for.
Craft Beer at Avondale Brewing
A couple doors down from SAW’s you will find Avondale Brewing, this casual brewery offers a friendly setting to enjoy a couple of great beers, with great company. From American Lager’s to IPA’s, you can find something to tickle your fancy here and what’s more is they all taste fabulous. What makes Avondale Brewing unique is that not only is it a working Brewery, but they also have a concert hall and frequently have artists perform here. You can purchase tickets via their website.

Final thoughts in Birmingham, Alabama
Overall, our time in Birmingham, Alabama was short but sweet. The city truly surprised us as it offered a blend of history, nature and culinary delights along the way. All of which make for a perfect weekend city break. Whether you are a domestic or international traveller, we believe that you’ll find something to do in Birmingham.
We hope this guide has given you some inspiration for your visit the city. For more inspiration and tips, you can always join us over on Instagram, where you’ll be able to watch our entire visit to Birmingham.

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