Helen Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Helen
Helen
Helen
Helen showing signage and wild flowers
Helen

The Bavarian-style pitched-roof houses, cuckoo clocks and Oktoberfest might sound like the Alps, but this riverside village is actually in the Appalachians.

Discover a little slice of Alpine Bavaria in Helen, a cosy town on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Stroll down streets lined with half-timbered houses and traditional pubs in this enchanting getaway, where the South meets Southern Germany. Nestled in the valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Helen features a remarkable backdrop of wooded hills and nature reserves. Explore forest trails, pristine waterways and vine-laced hillsides in this picturesque corner of northern Georgia.

Get acquainted with Helen’s Alpine character when you stroll through the re-created Bavarian Village. Learn about the village’s history, which includes Cherokee Indian heritage, gold-mining settlers and a local logging industry. Find over 200 specialty and import stores showcasing a range of souvenirs, gifts and handicrafts. Purchase candles, blown glassware, cuckoo clocks or hand-woven quilts. Have a delicious meal at one of the restaurants and pubs, which serve traditional German and Southern American fare. If you’re visiting in September or October, experience Helen’s Oktoberfest celebrations and sample tasty imported beers. For local flavours, check out Habersham Winery or the Nora Mill Granary.

Visit Unicoi State Park & Lodge and experience Helen’s beautiful backyard. The park has an exciting network of hiking and biking trails, as well as the magnificent Unicoi Lake, ideal for summertime swimming, boating and kayaking. Go fishing from the wheelchair-accessible docks or cast a line in the trout streams. Select from plenty of picturesque spots to spread out a picnic and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. If you’re feeling energetic, hike through the woods in the Chattahoochee National Forest and reach the tumbling Anna Ruby Falls.

Helen is located in northeastern Georgia. It is 86 miles (139 kilometres) from AtlantaOpens in a new window's international airport. Stay in a quaint German-style resort or Alpine chalet or book a room in a motel. The town is busiest in the fall, when the leaves of the Chattahoochee Forest are turning and Oktoberfest is in full swing.

Super 8 by Wyndham Helen

Super 8 by Wyndham Helen

2 out of 5
8171 South Main Street, Helen, GA
The price is AU$148 per night from 5 Nov to 6 Nov
AU$148
5 Nov - 6 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Helen. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular ...
6.8/10 (777 reviews)
The hotel is old and could use remodeling. The rates have gone up and the rooms are not up to the quality of the money you pay for them. We were in a pinch this time so we booked here, have stayed here before but it's not our previous place.

Reviewed on 17 Oct 2025

Super 8 by Wyndham Helen
Alpine Valley Inn

Alpine Valley Inn

2 out of 5
749 Brucken Strasse, Helen, GA
The price is AU$182 per night from 21 Nov to 22 Nov
AU$182
21 Nov - 22 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Helen. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular ...
7.6/10 Good! (861 reviews)
Clean room, comfortable bed, easy check in and out. A short walk to downtown Helen. The parking lot is well lit. Breakfast is sausage biscuits, cereal and fruit. I would definitely stay there again.

Reviewed on 19 Oct 2025

Alpine Valley Inn
River’s Edge | Cozy Riverside Cabin Near Downtown Helen, GA

River’s Edge | Cozy Riverside Cabin Near Downtown Helen, GA

Helen
Stay at this cabin in Helen. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Charlemagne's Kingdom and Unicoi Hill Park are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (72 reviews)
All needed was provided.,Views were amazing. Close enough to downtown area and,entertainment m. We,had,a restfull stay, able to sit on deck and watch the river

Reviewed on 17 Oct 2025

River’s Edge | Cozy Riverside Cabin Near Downtown Helen, GA
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.
Alpine Crest Resort

Alpine Crest Resort

3.5 out of 5
273 Carrie Cox Dr, Helen, GA
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Helen. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a picnic area. Popular attractions Unicoi Hill Park and Charlemagne's Kingdom are ...
7.6/10 Good! (138 reviews)
Great experience. Only issues would be spiders and spiderwebs in corridor and bathrooms.

Reviewed on 8 Oct 2025

Alpine Crest Resort
River’s Edge | Cozy Riverside Cabin Near Downtown Helen, GA

River’s Edge | Cozy Riverside Cabin Near Downtown Helen, GA

Helen
Stay at this cabin in Helen. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Charlemagne's Kingdom and Unicoi Hill Park are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (72 reviews)
All needed was provided.,Views were amazing. Close enough to downtown area and,entertainment m. We,had,a restfull stay, able to sit on deck and watch the river

Reviewed on 17 Oct 2025

River’s Edge | Cozy Riverside Cabin Near Downtown Helen, GA
Peaceful cabin-Hot tub - short walk2town-Campfire

Peaceful cabin-Hot tub - short walk2town-Campfire

Helen
Stay at this cabin in Helen. Enjoy free WiFi, a water park, and patios. Popular attractions Alpine Mini Golf and Helen Arts & Heritage Center are located ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (302 reviews)
The cabin was very clean. It had everything you needed to enjoy the stay. We enjoyed the peacefulness to unwind in the evening after a full day of being on the go.The host was very quick and responsive to any questions I had.

Reviewed on 14 Oct 2025

Peaceful cabin-Hot tub - short walk2town-Campfire
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

Activities

Cities near Helen

Other places like Helen

Explore a world of travel with Expedia