Central Alabama Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Birmingham
Barber Motorsports Park featuring interior views
Barber Motorsports Park showing interior views
Birmingham which includes interior views
Barber Motorsports Park

Discover the cultural heart of Alabama in the centre 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-metre) 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
Birmingham featuring a statue or sculpture and interior views

Central City

While visiting Central City, you might make a stop by sights like Sloss Furnaces and Birmingham Museum of Art.

Central City
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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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University Area

If you're spending some time in University Area, Paul W. Bryant Museum and Coleman Coliseum are top sights worth seeing.

University Area
Holiday Inn Birmingham-Airport by IHG

Holiday Inn Birmingham-Airport by IHG

3 out of 5
5000 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL
Fully refundable
The price is £83 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
£83
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the restaurant and ...
7.8/10 Good! (2,290 reviews)
"They could improve in offering more comfort food and not the typical breakfasts offered at regular hotels. The staff was extraordinarily friendly and paid attention to detail in everything!"

Reviewed on 17 Aug 2025

Holiday Inn Birmingham-Airport by IHG
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Birmingham Homewood

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Birmingham Homewood

3 out of 5
60 State Farm Pkwy, Homewood, Birmingham, AL
The price is £68 per night from 25 Aug to 26 Aug
£68
25 Aug - 26 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star family-friendly hotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
7.6/10 Good! (291 reviews)
"Quiet. Room was very comfortable."

Reviewed on 17 Aug 2025

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Birmingham Homewood
Days Inn by Wyndham Hoover Birmingham

Days Inn by Wyndham Hoover Birmingham

2 out of 5
1800 Riverchase Dr, Hoover, Birmingham, AL
The price is £54 per night from 25 Aug to 26 Aug
£54
25 Aug - 26 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly motel in Birmingham. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,004 reviews)
Nice area
"The service was excellent and the room was decent for a quick stop. Beds were very comfortable. Only complaint is the floor was dirty and needed to be mopped."

Reviewed on 14 Aug 2025

Days Inn by Wyndham Hoover Birmingham
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.
Landing Midtown

Landing Midtown

4 out of 5
2014 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, in-room washers/dryers and an in-room coffee maker. Popular attractions The Summit and Heaviest ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (41 reviews)
"Consistently consistent. Clean and comfortable"

Reviewed on 21 Jun 2025

Landing Midtown
Postcard Cabins Talladega Valley

Postcard Cabins Talladega Valley

2 out of 5
215 Cosper Bend Rd, Childersburg, AL
Stay at this cabin in Childersburg. Enjoy free parking, patios and climate control. Popular attractions Sally West Park and The Meadows Golf Course are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (29 reviews)
"The quiet of the woods was just what we needed. It's a nice little place to get away a couple nights. I love that they had bundles of firewood and fire starter for us. I would stay here again."

Reviewed on 30 Jul 2025

Postcard Cabins Talladega Valley
Downtown Birmingham Apartments by Landing

Downtown Birmingham Apartments by Landing

4 out of 5
600 19th St N, Birmingham, AL
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and in-room washers/dryers. Popular attractions Don Kresge Memorial Museum ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (44 reviews)
"The property was as described on the website. It was conveniently located where we needed to go and it was easy to get to other places too. The apartment literally had everything we needed for our stay and I'm happy I picked this property."

Reviewed on 5 Aug 2025

Downtown Birmingham Apartments by Landing
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.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Cities near Central Alabama