L
Worth a visit
Everything excellent, a very beautiful city.
Experience Birmingham - The Historic Highlights
+3 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3–4 hours
- Price from
- $100 / person
- Location
- Birmingham
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 45 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 3
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- The Birmingham Historic Touring Company
- Meeting point
- Vulcan Park and Museum...1701 Valley View Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209Meet at the ticket booth by the parking lot and sidewalk going up toward the statue
Description
Discover Birmingham’s story of iron, fire, and civil rights on a half-day tour of the city’s most iconic landmarks and hidden gems. See the best of the Magic City in just half a day. This guided 3–4 hour driving tour blends Birmingham’s most iconic landmarks with hidden gems only locals know. Begin at Vulcan Park, home to the world’s largest cast-iron statue, then explore the city’s early days at Arlington House, Birmingham’s only remaining plantation home. Discover the cultural heart of downtown with the Alabama and Lyric Theatres, and stand in the Civil Rights District at 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park, where pivotal moments of history unfolded. Along the way, enjoy stories of iron and industry, sports legends at Rickwood Field, and Southern flavors from tucked-away food stops. The tour is flexible, with time to tailor stops to your interests — from civil rights to architecture, sports, or local cuisine.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Heaviest Corner on Earth
The Heaviest Corner on Earth is a promotional name given to the corner of 20th Street and 1st Avenue North in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, in the early 20th century. The name reflected the nearly simultaneous appearance of four of the tallest buildings in the South, the 10-story Woodward Building (1902), 16-story Brown Marx Building (1906), 16-story Empire Building (1909), and the 21-story American Trust and Savings Bank Building (1912).
Our best preserved Victorian district...gaslights, cobblestones and all
We will stop by the best preserved Victorian District in the city and grab a bag of peanuts roasted in a building that has it's own mysterious history.
Five Points South
We pass through this ever evolving area (and the center of Birmingham's Foodie revolution) and discuss how our city is becoming a MAJOR food destination
This is an intriguing (and controversial) artwork
Vulcan Park & Museum
We will see the largest Cast Iron statue in the world, get a great view of the city and learn about the moon that never sets
Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens
Our only remaining Southern Plantation House
Rickwood Field Park
The Oldest Ballpark in America - home to both White and Negro League teams and site of several movie locations Currently undergoing renovations for a major League game in 2024 and closed to visitors
Civil Rights District
This area is the center of the Civil Rights Struggle that defined Birmingham in the 60's (and continues to do so even today)
16th Street Baptist Church
The very moving site of the bombing that slaughtered 4 children and cemented the Civil Rights Act of 1964
What's included
Included
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
We always carry premium, ice chilled bottles of water for our guests
This tour includes a stop at the Alabama Peanut Company, with complementary tastings of freshly roasted and boiled peanuts. We also provide Local potato chips for those who might have allergies.
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick up from any downtown area Birmingham, hotel or B&B
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
45 reviews
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Experience Birmingham - The Historic Highlights take?
Experience Birmingham - The Historic Highlights lasts about 3–4 hours. The itinerary has 10 stops.
How much does Experience Birmingham - The Historic Highlights cost?
Prices start at $100 per person for this Birmingham experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Experience Birmingham - The Historic Highlights for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. We will pick up from any downtown area Birmingham, hotel or B&B Pickup points include SpringHill Suites by Marriott Birmingham Downtown at UAB.
What languages is Experience Birmingham - The Historic Highlights offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 3 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Experience Birmingham - The Historic Highlights worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 45 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by The Birmingham Historic Touring Company.
Reviews(45)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
T
The Best Way to See Birmingham!
A wonderful way to learn about Birmingham. David was a great guide. He knows his stuff and I could not recommend any tour more highly. It includes a little of everything but David will let you customize somewhat if there is something you want to see beyond the standard tour!
1 people found this helpful
D
Sad
Booked and prepaid to secure a spot on tour. Called the number provided for the guide who was not scheduled for any tour. We showed up and the tour never happened. The guide told me that I would get a refund that still has not happened. I called my credit card to stop payment and I don’t believe they heard back either. A week later another guide called me to confirm a tour that was not scheduled?
S
Great
Very knowledgeable I really enjoyed my experience. Ot of fun and I truly enjoyed. Wonderful experience.
1
Birmingham history
Our tour operator was knowledgeable about the history and sites of Birmingham. He was accommodating to us. However the vehicle used smelled of smoke.
8
Birmingham, the city of so much history.
Our guide was very knowledgeable about interesting. We both learned so much.
K
Birmingham is awesome!
This was the best tour weve ever been on, and have been on alot! David was a wealth of information, fiercely loves the city, and excited to share. Excellent, highly recommend!
N
I was looking forward to a view of Birmingham, but the Tour Guide was very negative
David did nothing but bash the places that we went. I don’t think he actually likes anything about Birmingham?? He’s definitely homophobic and spends his entire tour mansplaining. DO NOT RECOMMEND.
S
Loved this tour and highly recommend. It was our private tour with no one else. Tourists at Volcano Mtn walked along w.
A++ David was excellent. He called ahead to tell us he was arriving. He was dressed like a tour guide, beautiful cape/ coat for a cold day, hat, and began telling us all about Birmingham as we drove.
F
Very nice tour.
David our tour guide gave my Wife and I a wonderful tour. He showed us around Birmingham for around 4 hours! Since we were going to the Sloss Iron Mill Tour the next morning, we skipped this part and showed us other interesting things. I would recommend this tour to anyone wanting to get an overall view of Birmingham's history.
Compare similar tours in Birmingham
- Lowest price: Birmingham Civil Rights Walk of Freedom Smartphone Audio App Tour — $10
- Best rated: Birmingham Civil Rights Tour- Riding & Walking — 5.0 (846 reviews)
- Shortest: Banshees of Birmingham Ghost Tour: The Furnace of the Forgotten — 1 hour
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experience Birmingham - The Historic Highlights | 3–4 hours | 4.6 (45) | $100 | |
 Birmingham Civil Rights Tour- Riding & Walking | 3 hours | 5.0 (846) | $70 | View |
 Birmingham Escape Game at The Summit | 1h 15min | 5.0 (382) | $44 | View |
 The Birmingham Ghost Walk - Hotels Churches and Riots Tour | 1h 30min–2h | 4.6 (150) | $59 | View |
 Birmingham Civil Rights Walk of Freedom Smartphone Audio App Tour | 1h–1h 10min | 4.7 (54) | $10 | View |
 Wild Cave Adventure Tour | 4 hours | 4.9 (49) | $125 | View |
 Banshees of Birmingham Ghost Tour: The Furnace of the Forgotten | 1 hour | 4.7 (43) | $25 | View |
from$100
4.6(45) Free cancellation