Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Birmingham travel guide

Birmingham Tourism | Birmingham Guide

You're Going to Love Birmingham

With a population of 212,237, Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama, United States by the number of inhabitants. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Birmingham has to offer.

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Where to Eat in Birmingham

If you’re looking for affordable options, Perry's Steakhouse & Grille - Birmingham (4 Perimeter Park South) and Seasons 52 - Birmingham (245 Summit Blvd) are great picks.

When to visit Birmingham

Birmingham in September
Estimated package price
$120
2 travelers
Flight to Birmingham
3 nights at hotel
Birmingham in September
Estimated package price
$120
2 travelers
Flight to Birmingham
3 nights at hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Birmingham in July, when the average temperature is 80.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 91.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 33.8 °F, with an average temperature of 44.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in March, when precipitation is around 5.2″. In contrast, October is usually the driest month of the year in Birmingham, with an average rainfall of 3.4″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Birmingham

Plane

When flying to Birmingham, you’ll arrive at Birmingham (BHM), which is located 4 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Birmingham include American Airlines, Delta and WestJet. The shortest domestic flight to Birmingham departs from Nashville and takes around 55m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Birmingham. The train journey from Birmingham to Alexandria takes 18h 56m and costs around $144 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New York, expect to pay about $159 for a 23h 45m trip. The train station in Birmingham is called Birmingham, and is located 0.3 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Birmingham is to pick up a car rental from Atlanta, which is about 140 miles from Birmingham. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Turo, among others, in Atlanta.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Birmingham, including Tornado Bus, FlixBus and Greyhound. From Greenville, the bus ride to Birmingham takes 295 miles and will cost you around $130. From Houston, the ticket costs about $180 for a journey of 959 miles. The most popular bus station is Birmingham 2427 Acton Rd, located 8 miles from downtown Birmingham. Birmingham Cahaba is also a commonly used station, and is 0.9 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Birmingham, you’ll arrive at Birmingham (BHM), which is located 4 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Birmingham include American Airlines, Delta and WestJet. The shortest domestic flight to Birmingham departs from Nashville and takes around 55m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Birmingham. The train journey from Birmingham to Alexandria takes 18h 56m and costs around $144 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New York, expect to pay about $159 for a 23h 45m trip. The train station in Birmingham is called Birmingham, and is located 0.3 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Birmingham is to pick up a car rental from Atlanta, which is about 140 miles from Birmingham. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Turo, among others, in Atlanta.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Birmingham, including Tornado Bus, FlixBus and Greyhound. From Greenville, the bus ride to Birmingham takes 295 miles and will cost you around $130. From Houston, the ticket costs about $180 for a journey of 959 miles. The most popular bus station is Birmingham 2427 Acton Rd, located 8 miles from downtown Birmingham. Birmingham Cahaba is also a commonly used station, and is 0.9 miles from the city center.

Airports near Birmingham

MGMMontgomery Dannelly Field
BHMBirmingham
HSVHuntsville

Airlines serving Birmingham

KLM
Good (1,471 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,846 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,784 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,286 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,134 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,740 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,421 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,544 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,541 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,712 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,800 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,371 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (12,035 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (1,128 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,475 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,202 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,730 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,917 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,567 reviews)
Gulf Air
Good (231 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Birmingham

Where to stay in Birmingham

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Birmingham Downtown and Suburban Studios Birmingham Homewood I-65. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Birmingham, with prices from $61 to $350 per night. Five Points South is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Birmingham are about 51% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Birmingham by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Birmingham

Most booked hotels in Birmingham

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Drury Inn & Suites Birmingham Lakeshore Drive
3 stars
Excellent (9.2, 1180 reviews)
$141+
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Drury Inn & Suites Birmingham Grandview
3 stars
Excellent (9, 2129 reviews)
$129+
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Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1563 reviews)
$143+
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La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Birmingham Hoover
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1313 reviews)
$88+
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Four Points by Sheraton Birmingham Homewood
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 302 reviews)
$131+
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Holiday Inn Birmingham - Hoover By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 546 reviews)
$124+
View

Renting a car in Birmingham

Renting a car in Birmingham costs $56 per day, on average, or $169 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Dollar are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Birmingham is the Dollar branch at 5600 Airline Drive, which is 4 miles from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 1% more expensive than at Birmingham.

Expect to pay $3.37 per gallon in Birmingham (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $40.43 and $53.90. Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Birmingham, while also 49% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Birmingham costs $56 per day, on average, or $169 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Dollar are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Birmingham is the Dollar branch at 5600 Airline Drive, which is 4 miles from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 1% more expensive than at Birmingham.

Expect to pay $3.37 per gallon in Birmingham (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $40.43 and $53.90. Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Birmingham, while also 49% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Birmingham

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$30/day

Compact

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$31/day

Full-size
Find car rentals in Birmingham