Central Alabama Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Barber Motorsports Park featuring interior views
Discover the cultural heart of Alabama in the center of the state, where you will find engaging museums, stunning scenery and thrilling events, including car races and football games.

Experience the culture of southern America’s heartland in Central Alabama, a region that is incontrovertibly shaped by its past while looking forward to a bright future. Famous cities with fascinating historical attractions sit surrounded by scenery that includes picturesque lakes. Smaller towns are shaped by their proudly held traditions.

Start your journey to Central Alabama in Birmingham, the largest city in the state. One of the landmarks in this historic city is the Vulcan Statue, a 56-foot (17-meter) sculpture of the Roman god of blacksmithing, a symbol of the region’s industrial past. Visit the Sloss Furnaces for an enthralling insight into this era of history.

Explore Birmingham’s numerous museums for a complete picture of the city’s multifaceted history. Listen to the music of the greats in the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and discover a global array of paintings and sculptures at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Stop by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to learn about the city’s complex role in the 20th-century movement.

Wander around the historic campus of the University of Alabama in the charming city of Tuscaloosa. The campus area houses a wide array of museums, sports grounds and gardens. Watch the famous Crimson Tide play a thrilling game of football.

Central Alabama also has a proud history of motorsports. Get up close to vintage car models in the Barber Motorsports Park and the Wellborn Musclecar Museum. Join huge crowds of locals at the Talladega Superspeedway, famed for its high-speed NASCAR races.

Explore the landscapes outside the towns and cities of Central Alabama. Stroll through shaded woodland and rest by tranquil lakes in the state parks of the region. Cheaha State Park is the home of the highest point in Alabama and features hiking and biking trails. Cyclists will also enjoy the routes running through scenic Chewacla State Park.

Board a flight to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport to land in the heart of Central Alabama. The region remains warm throughout the year, although spring and fall are the best times to avoid the most humid months.

Where to stay in Central Alabama

Birmingham featuring a statue or sculpture and interior views

Downtown Birmingham

Downtown Birmingham is popular for its abundant dining options, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to McWane Science Center or Regions Field.

Downtown Birmingham
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Homewood

Travellers come to Homewood for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like Birmingham Zoo and Red Mountain Park while you're in town.

Homewood
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Vestavia Hills

Visitors to Vestavia Hills enjoy its restaurants, and if you want to do some exploring, Birmingham Ballet is worth a stop.

Vestavia Hills
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Mountain Brook

Mountain Brook is noteworthy for its restaurants, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Birmingham Zoo.

Mountain Brook
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Irondale

Visitors to Irondale enjoy its restaurants, and if you want to do some exploring, Train Watching Platform is worth a stop.

Irondale
Vulcan Statue featuring a city

Five Points South

4.5/5(5 area reviews)

Unique features of Five Points South include the theatres and live music. Make a stop by Regions Field or Vulcan Statue while you're exploring the area.

Five Points South
Sonesta Select Birmingham
Sonesta Select Birmingham
3 out of 5
4300 Colonnade Pkwy, Birmingham, AL
The price is Rp1.278.001 per night from 9 Jun to 10 Jun
Rp1.278.001
per night
9 Jun - 10 Jun
Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews.
7.8/10 Good! (1,004 reviews)
Great choice for a last minute stop on a long trip
"It was a good stay, we didn't have a view in our room but the neighborhood was nice and it was a good rest. They were short staffed but make everything look good for us, the ladies at the front desk were very friendly."

Reviewed on 21 May 2024

Sonesta Select Birmingham
Holiday Inn Birmingham-Airport, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Birmingham-Airport, an IHG Hotel
3 out of 5
5000 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL
The price is Rp1.569.109 per night from 24 May to 25 May
Rp1.569.109
per night
24 May - 25 May
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful ...
7.8/10 Good! (2,117 reviews)
"The staff was excellent. From the young man who checked me in to the hostess at breakfast, everyone was super friendly. That adds so much to an experience."

Reviewed on 21 May 2024

Holiday Inn Birmingham-Airport, an IHG Hotel
Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel
Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel
4 out of 5
1000 Riverchase Galleria, Hoover, Birmingham, AL
The price is Rp2.383.255 per night from 27 May to 28 May
Rp2.383.255
per night
27 May - 28 May
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,008 reviews)
Great stay!
"Easy check in and out. Staff was friendly and courteous! Would highly recommend."

Reviewed on 20 May 2024

Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Mint House Birmingham - Downtown
Mint House Birmingham - Downtown
4 out of 5
300 18th St S, Birmingham, AL
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a business centre and on-site car hire. Our guests praise the clean rooms in their reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (103 reviews)
"Nice, clean, well-designed rooms. The digital-only communication was awkward, but everything got sorted out."

Reviewed on 17 May 2024

Mint House Birmingham - Downtown
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Cities near Central Alabama