Location: Birmingham
Top Things to do in Birmingham
Countries
Top 10 Free Things to do in Birmingham, Alabama (AL)
It has been said that Birmingham is the last major Southern city in America, where a friendly "How y'all doin'," a hearty meal of country-fried steak with butter beans and a true taste of Southern hospitality await visitors. Whether you're into the history of the Civil Rights movement, a fan of jazz music or just looking for culture and a few fun activities for the family, Sweet Birmingham is the place for you. Spend the morning at the Birmingham Museum of Art, then have lunch at a traditional Southern tea room. Outdoor enthusiasts can tee off at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail or pack a lunch and spend the day hiking and enjoying the vistas at Ruffner Mountain. A world-class zoo, the innovative McWane Center and VisionLand, Alabama's first amusement park, are sure to keep families entertained and on the go. In the evening, listen to a blues show at an outdoor cafe and then spend the night at a small cozy inn or splurge for an elegant hotel.
Restaurants in Birmingham
1. The Market at Pepper Place
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 48 reviews
The Market at Pepper Place, in the heart of downtown Birmingham, is the largest producers' farmers market in the state, with over 200,000 visitors annually. Founded in 2000, it currently runs from mid April - mid December every Saturday. The Market offers over 100 tents during the summer months. The Market at Pepper Place is rain or shine farmers market. Alabama farmers, food vendors, makers and artisans bring their goods to the market each Saturday. Local live music is featured on multiple music stages, too! During the summer months, live cooking demonstrations and children's activities are available. A zyp bike station is nearby and on-street parking is free.
2. Avondale Antiques
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By 495reginab
This shop is a mid-century modern enthusiasts dream. Wonderful furniture, dinnerware, glassware and glass pieces along with light fixtures and a quirky garden area in the back. The owner, Fred, is only too happy to give recommendations for things to do or places to eat while visiting Birmingham. Definitely come to this store!
3. Kelly Ingram Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 281 reviews
Home to vivid sculptures of the Children's Crusade.
Reviewed By wombat1223 - Charlottesville, United States
This park is exceptionally moving. It's easy to navigate the monuments and to pay tribute to the many people and groups who made the Freedom Movement possible in Birmingham. Anywhere you enter you can pick up the thread of the difficult path that was taken by the various actors in the movement. Especially affecting is the memorial to the four girls killed in the 16th St. Baptist Church: Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, Carol McNair, and Addie Collins, the youngest at just 11. The statue is Susan Collins' last memory of that day before the bomb blinded her. Addie holds between her up stretched hands 6 doves: 1 for each girl and two for the boys also killed that day, Virgil Ware and Johnny Robinson. In addition to their memorial are installations remembering the Children's Crusade including water cannon replicas and a scene of two children against a wall. It's difficult to imagine but that water pressure was so high it could throw a 160 lb man in the air. The youngest of the child protesters was 6 years old. There is also a narrow dog lunging pathway to go through that simulates what it might have felt like to have dogs lunging at you. Another monument is dedicated to three local pastors (one if MLK's brother Andrew) who were instrumental in organizing various other aspects of the movement and voter registration campaigns. It was Porter (one of the three) who saved the life of a White Episcopalian minister who was being threatened by the Klan. He had him come to a funeral home and they smuggled him out in a coffin after having a full funeral. Memorials to Martin Luther King (statue) and his wife Coretta Scott King (roses) are also there. There is, in addition a small stage on which people still protest today. Kelly Ingram Park hasn't stopped being a place of protest for change. Its legacy continues.
4. 16th Street Baptist Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 329 reviews
Four young girls were killed when a Ku Klux Klan bomb exploded in this church in 1963. The girls are remembered with a shrine in the crypt where they died, and a vibrant stained glass window donated in sympathy by the people of Wales adorns the historic church.
Reviewed By charisma2015 - Wantage, United States
Very sad that four young innocent lives were lost for no reason by a bomb planted by the KKK. Unwarranted hatred. The visit was very well done with information and detail of a very disturbing event. The tour of the church was very nice and the guide very welcoming. The beautiful stained glass window donated by Wales is quite stunning. Across the street is the Kelly Ingram park which has powerful statues of the Civil Rights movement and some of the tragedies - including a beautiful statue of the four sweet young girls that lost their life in the 16th Street Baptist Church. A must if visiting this area.
5. Birmingham Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 538 reviews
This three-story museum houses an eclectic selection of art, including Wedgewood pottery, the largest collection of Asian art in the Southeast, Native American and African art, impressionism, contemporary art and American landscapes.
Reviewed By C_Athnos - Birmingham, United States
Very nice inside and provides a pretty large collection for viewing. Admission is free and it makes for a nice visit.
6. Civil Rights District
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 142 reviews
The neighborhood that was the center of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement is now a historic district with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute at its center.
Reviewed By latishan2018
an amazing history location we as adults loved the place we walked in the path of Dr martin Luther king jr saw amazing photos and visited the 16tth street Baptist church
7. Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 488 reviews
Historic iron manufacturing facility
Reviewed By bruggesfc - Miami Beach, United States
After reading the reviews on Trip Advisor we decided to visit Sloss Furnaces and found it to be very, very interesting. The visit is well laid out and the movie at the Welcome Center gives nice background to the entire grounds. The Sloss Furnaces really gives background to the history and background of Birmingham. Highly recommend a visit....our favorite on our recent visit to Birmingham.
8. Peanut Depot
9. Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 474 reviews
Reviewed By Belzoni627 - Portland, United States
We had time to kill and decided to stop by here and still talk about how great it was! So many flowers and plants etc They must have at least 30 different types of roses here which blew my mind because i thought they were just red or white... Try and look for all the hidden sculptures in all the different areas, some stand out easier than others !
10. Birmingham's Railroad Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 289 reviews
Reviewed By wruple - Oneonta, United States
I visited Railroad Park on a nice summer day and was completely surprised that a few blocks from downtown Birmingham there would be such a relaxing and beautiful spot. I highly recommend this park as there is plenty of walkways, nice views of the city and places to simply unwind and relax no matter what the season is. Anyone could spend a day here, walking, relaxing, playing Frisbee, having a picnic, enjoying the scenery, reading or having fun with friends. It was really a surprise for me and the layout on 19 acres gives the impression the site is larger than what it is. Visitors are urged to use two parking lots nearby at $2 or free parking around the perimeter of the park.
