United States Alabama Birmingham, Alabama Top Ten Tourist Attractions Fun and interesting things to see and do in "The Magic City" By Megan Romer Updated on 06/26/19 Fact checked by Michelai Graham Fact checked by Michelai Graham Michigan State University American University Michelai Graham is a technology and business reporter who has written for The Urban Institute and Scoop News. She reports for AfroTech, Lifewire, and The Plug. TripSavvy's fact-checking Share Pin Email Birmingham, with a population of over 1.2 million people, is Alabama's largest city, and by extension, offers an impressive array of activities for visitors with a variety of interests. Whether you enjoy fine arts or nature, motorsports or history (or all of the above), Birmingham has something for you. 01 of 11 Vulcan Park and Museum TripSavvy / Jackson Vance View Map Address 1701 Valley View Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209, USA Get directions Phone +1 205-933-1409 Web Visit website Statues, Monuments & Memorials 4.6 This massive likeness of the God of Fire is the world's largest cast iron statue, weighing 50 tons and standing at 56 feet tall. Vulcan looms over Birmingham from the top of Red Mountain, and visitors can enjoy the same view, as well as a small museum that focuses on the history of Birmingham and the story of the iron industry in the region. The museum also houses a Birmingham visitor's center, so make it one of your first stops in the city. Additional Information: Vulcan Park and Museum Website 02 of 11 Birmingham Civil Rights Institute TripSavvy / Jackson Vance View Map Address 520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203-1911, USA Get directions Phone +1 205-328-9696 Web Visit website History Buffs 4.8 This interpretive museum and research center, located across the street from the 16th Street Baptist Church (known for the horrific 1963 bombing that killed four young girls) memorializes the heroes and she-roes of the Civil Rights Movement, and the ongoing history of human rights in the United States. The museum, which is part of the Smithsonian museum group and meets the highest curatorial standards, displays a variety of informative and powerful permanent exhibits as well as traveling exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, children's events, and more. The subject matter may be a bit intense for the youngest children, but it is appropriate for any child in later elementary school and up. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a Birmingham must-visit. Additional Information: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Website 03 of 11 Birmingham Zoo TripSavvy / Jackson Vance View Map Address 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223, USA Get directions Phone +1 205-879-0409 Web Visit website The Birmingham Zoo is Alabama's most visited attraction, and it makes for a nice long afternoon stop, especially for families with kids. The main attraction is the menagerie of over 750 animals, including giraffes, gorillas, rhinos, tigers, hippos, and lions. The zoo also features a playground, a carousel, a train, a cafe, and a splash area in the summer, so remember to bring along a change of clothes. Additional Information: The Birmingham Zoo Website 04 of 11 Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark TripSavvy / Jackson Vance View Map Address 20 32nd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222, USA Get directions Phone +1 205-254-2025 Web Visit website Iron production was Birmingham's primary industry for its first century as a city, and Sloss Furnaces are being preserved as a monument and museum of the local iron industry. These former blast furnaces, which once produced pig iron, are the only blast furnaces in the United States that are being federally preserved, and the majority of the site is open for public touring. If you like history or science, this is a good stopover. There are also rumors of ghosts afoot, so if that is your interest, be on the lookout. Additional Information: Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark Continue to 5 of 11 below. 05 of 11 Alabama Symphony Orchestra TripSavvy / Jackson Vance View Map Address 3621 6th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222-2407, USA Get directions Phone +1 205-975-2787 Web Visit website Culture Vultures 4.4 The Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is one of the South's largest and most respected symphonies. Their schedule of performances is packed year-round with everything from masterworks to pops, performed by the full symphony, complete with chorus, and any number of smaller chamber groups, chorales, and other smaller performance ensembles. A special series for children is also part of the symphony's offerings. Worth noting is the free Symphony in the Summer Concert Series, held in Railroad Park each summer. It is a favorite among locals, for good reason. Location: Various locations in addition to the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Avenue SouthTelephone: 205-975-2787 (Box Office Information)Additional Information: Alabama Symphony Orchestra Website 06 of 11 Birmingham Botanical Gardens TripSavvy / Jackson Vance View Map Address 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223-1802, USA Get directions Phone +1 205-414-3950 Web Visit website Plant Moms 4.8 With 67 sprawling acres of horticultural beauty, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens are one of the city's loveliest attractions. Featuring over 12,000 different types of plants arranged in over two dozen unique gardens, as well as outdoor sculpture, a children's garden, and miles of walking paths, the gardens are a beautiful place to spend part of a day. And the best part: touring the gardens is absolutely free to visitors. Additional Information: Birmingham Botanical Gardens Website 07 of 11 Birmingham Museum of Art TripSavvy / Jackson Vance View Map Address 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35203-2205, USA Get directions Phone +1 205-254-2565 Web Visit website Culture Vultures 4.2 If the fine arts interest you, the extensive collections of the Birmingham Museum of Art will delight you (as will the free general museum admission). Of particular note is the world-renowned Asian art collection, as well as the Kress Collection of Renaissance and Baroque European art. The museum's African, Native American, and Pre-Columbian collections are also wonderful, as are the European and American art collections, and the rotating exhibits are well-curated and consistently excellent. Admission may be charged for special exhibitions.Additional Information: Birmingham Museum of Art Website 08 of 11 McWane Science Center TripSavvy / Jackson Vance View Map Address 200 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203, USA Get directions Phone +1 205-714-8300 Web Visit website Science Attractions & Museums 4.3 This hands-on museum makes science fun and accessible for children of all ages. Four floors of exhibits get kids digging for dinosaur bones, petting stingrays, forming giant bubbles, playing in the giant water table, crawling through a giant scale model of a bass, dancing on the giant floor piano, and generally having a great time while learning. The McWane Science Center also features an IMAX Dome Theater; IMAX tickets are separate from admission tickets. Additional Information: McWane Science Center Website Continue to 9 of 11 below. 09 of 11 Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens TripSavvy / Jackson Vance View Map Address 331 Cotton Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211-1465, USA Get directions Phone +1 205-780-5656 Web Visit website Though this Greek Revival plantation home is a short diversion, it is a worthwhile one, particularly if you are interested in Civil War era history or the decorative arts. The house, which dates back to 1845, is older than the city itself, and the collections of fine household items (including furniture, silver, and ceramics) are presented beautifully, as are the manicured gardens. The staff is knowledgeable about the history of the house and the city that arose around it over 160 years. Docent-led tours may be available if requested in advance. Telephone: 205-780-5656 10 of 11 Barber Motorsports Park and Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum TripSavvy / Jackson Vance View Map Address 6030 Barber Motorsports Pkwy, Leeds, AL 35094, USA Get directions Phone +1 205-699-7275 Web Visit website Sports 4.5 Barber Motorsports Park features a 16-turn road course, used by Grand-Am Racing Series and AMA Superbike, as well as other exciting racing events. The track is also home to several schools of racing, including the Porsche Driving Experience. The other big attraction on the site is the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, which houses over 1200 vintage and modern motorcycles, the oldest of which dates back to 1902, as well as an extensive collection of cars, which includes 43 exceptionally rare Lotus race cars, among other impressive models. Location: Off I-20 at Exit 140 Leeds, Alabama, east of downtown Birmingham Telephone: (Park Ticket Office) 877-332-7804Telephone: (Museum) 205-699-7275Additional Information: Barber Motorsports Park WebsiteAdditional Information: Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum Website 11 of 11 More Birmingham, Alabama Travel Planning Birmingham, Alabama Hotels - Rates, Reviews and Reservations Alabama Airports Birmingham, Alabama Mileage and Estimated Driving Time Typical Birmingham, Alabama Weather - Month-by-Month Alabama Food Trails (including the Taste of the Magic City Trail featuring six stops in Birmingham) The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau Website Birmingham IN Guide App About Megan Romer: Megan works as a new media strategies consultant and staff writer for various organizations. She is the guide for New Orleans Travel and the former guide for World Music. You can learn more about Megan on her Twitter and LinkedIn pages. 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