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Explore Birmingham's past and present on foot, by tour and through its landmarks
From Civil Rights walks to Sloss Furnaces, guided and self-guided tours offer deep dives into the Magic City's history, industry and culture.
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Birmingham is a city built on iron, steel and a history that reshaped the nation. Visitors and locals alike can now tap into that story through a wide range of guided and self-guided tours that cover everything from the Civil Rights Movement to industrial heritage, street art and snacks.
Red Clay Tours, a local operator, runs multiple daily guided experiences across the city, including Civil Rights, historical, brewery and BBQ tours, according to the company's website. The Civil Rights walking tours are consistently recommended as the top option, with guides offering local insight into the key 1960s locations. Those tours run 2-3 hours and cost between $20 and $35 per person, with wheelchair-accessible routes available.
Industrial giants and iron men
No tour of Birmingham is complete without a stop at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. The site, once a working blast furnace, now offers guided tours at 10:30am and 2pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. Guided admission is $7 per person; self-guided tours are $5. Advance booking is required, according to the venue's tour information.
Just up the hill, Vulcan Park and Museum offers a different kind of industrial marvel. The park is home to the world's largest cast-iron statue, a 56-foot-tall figure of the Roman god of fire and metalwork. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children. The park is open Sunday through Thursday from 10am to 8pm, and Friday through Saturday from 10am to 9pm.
For those who want to see how Birmingham's modern snacks are made, factory tours are available at Golden Flake (Mondays and Wednesdays, 9am-12:45pm) and UTZ Snacks (Monday through Thursday, 9:30am-12:30pm), both requiring reservations. Cahaba Brewing Company offers free taproom tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm.
Self-guided and offbeat options
Not every visitor wants a group tour. The Questo app now offers six self-guided outdoor escape walking tours in Birmingham, each costing from $9.99 per person and lasting 1-2 hours. These app-based experiences turn a simple walk into a puzzle-solving adventure through the city's streets.
Other thematic tours available include the Banshees of Birmingham Ghost Tours, street art walks and industrial heritage routes, according to local tour listings. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens remain open year-round and free to the public, while the Birmingham Museum of Art is free Tuesday through Saturday (closed Mondays).
For those who prefer to set their own pace, the city also offers self-guided options at Sloss Furnaces and Vulcan Park, plus free admission to several major museums. The range of prices, from free at the gardens to $35 for a guided Civil Rights walk, means there is something for every budget.
Whether you are a first-time visitor or a lifelong resident, Birmingham's tours offer a chance to see the Magic City through the eyes of those who know it best. With options available every day and at multiple price points, there is no shortage of ways to explore.