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.

Days Inn by Wyndham Helen

Days Inn by Wyndham Helen

2 out of 5
101 Edelweiss Strausse, Helen, GA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is AU$176 per night from 28 Oct to 29 Oct
AU$176
28 Oct - 29 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Helen. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (487 reviews)
"Clean room and bathroom"

Reviewed on 30 Sept 2025

Days Inn by Wyndham Helen
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! (70 reviews)
"Everything was great"

Reviewed on 29 Sept 2025

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

Alpine Valley Inn

2 out of 5
749 Brucken Strasse, Helen, GA
The price is AU$86 per night from 5 Oct to 6 Oct
AU$86
5 Oct - 6 Oct
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! (831 reviews)
"This is the best hotel in Helen"

Reviewed on 25 Sept 2025

Alpine Valley Inn
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! (136 reviews)
"We loved everything about this location. It could use a larger TV downstairs, hotels don't have 19" tv anymore. There is a steep hill to walk down to take the path to downtown, not advisable for seniors. But you can park at the bottom by the path of you don't want to walk up the very steep hill. ..."

Reviewed on 28 Sept 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! (70 reviews)
"Everything was great"

Reviewed on 29 Sept 2025

River’s Edge | Cozy Riverside Cabin Near Downtown Helen, GA
Luxury Cabin On The Chattahoochee River - Short Walk To Downtown Helen

Luxury Cabin On The Chattahoochee River - Short Walk To Downtown Helen

Helen
Stay at this cabin in Helen. Enjoy a beach locale, a water park, and a garden. Our guests praise the property condition in our reviews. Popular attractions Charlemagne's ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (303 reviews)
"Check -in was a breeze. The outdoors of the house was great. Location, couldn’t have been better. Indoors was fine, but could use some updating… especially with mattresses. We had a good stay overall."

Reviewed on 25 Aug 2025

Luxury Cabin On The Chattahoochee River - Short Walk To Downtown Helen
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.

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