BirminghamTravel Guide

Travel to Birmingham

Envisioned as a city of industry, Birmingham was founded on the intersection of two important railroad lines in Alabama, near a region that had great potential as an iron producer. During the Civil Rights movement, the events taking place in this city widened its spectrum of significance in the US, so that today, it is a centre both of commerce and culture.

Transportation to Birmingham

The Birmingham International Airport is located about five miles outside of the downtown area and sees an annual throughput of three million passengers. This is a single-terminal facility that operates eight airlines and sees as many as 150 flights a day.

Amtrak operates the rail service and connects this region to several other cities on the eastern seaboard, with service extending as far north as New York. The principal long-distance bus provider is Greyhound, and connections are possible to most major destinations in the US.

Just as Birmingham was founded on a railway intersection, it now sits on the crossroads of three major interstates. Interstate 459 forms a crescent around the city to provide several points of access into the downtown district; I-20 heads east to Atlanta, Georgia and west to Louisiana; I-59 veers northeast into Georgia and Tennessee; while I-65 is a north-south highway that connects the capital of Alabama, Montgomery to Memphis, Tennessee in the north. 

What to see

Birmingham affords visitors a view into quintessential Southern US culture. With such a variety of social influences, the city is cultural hub, with a broad range of investments from industry to the arts. The Alabama Theater was built in 1927 to showcase silent films. The original Wurlitzer organ is still in this theatre, which is now used as a venue for a variety of productions year-round. The Vulcan Statue is the largest iron statue ever cast, and it's located on Red Mountain, overlooking the city. The Botanical Gardens cover 67 acres and features several displays.

There are several museums in Birmingham. Outstanding among these institutes is the Civil Rights Institute which opened in the early 1990s to document the civil rights struggle, much of which was centred on events that took place in this city. The Birmingham Museum of Art is the largest municipal art museum in the southern United States.

Daytrips

There's plenty to see when heading into the surrounding area outside of Birmingham. Talladega is nearby, and visitors may have the opportunity to catch NASCAR race on the Talladega Speedway. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center is only five minutes drive from the downtown district. It is the second largest urban nature reserve in the United States.

Activities and leisure

Motor sports, especially NASCAR, are very popular in Alabama; and Talladega Speedway is home to one of the most popular NASCAR races in the United States. Birmingham has traditionally been the scene for jazz music, and visitors can still catch live, local performances at many of the nightclubs and downtown restaurants. There is natural beauty to behold as well, whether this involves a visit to Red Mountain, Ruffner Mountain Nature Center or the Appalachian Ranges to the north. 

Safety issues

For the most part, Birmingham is safe for visitors. However, the city has developed a reputation for armed robbery and related crimes, especially after-hours. The crime rate is higher in the outlying suburbs. In the downtown district, visitors are advised to travel in groups, especially after nightfall. Stick to the main, well-lit streets and don't carry more cash than you need to. It always pays to take out a travel insurance policy to safeguard against the calamities of loss or injury.