About Helen, GA

The first view of Helen is a surprise for many. Driving through the mountains of North Georgia, the first view of Helen as you top the rise and come around the corner is the red roofs of a Bavarian village. In town, the stuccoed walls of shops have murals of Alpine scenes and a horse-drawn carriage waits to take you on a tour. Here you can try authentic German breads and pastries, Wiener Schnitzel, sauerkraut and the unforgettable German potato salad. Dance the polka to a genuine oompah band and make friends with the other visitors in the FestHalle who, like you, never thought they’d be doing the funky chicken in public. And if you fall in love with that Lederhosen/Dirndl look, you can find your own in the shops here.
 
Helen is the home of the South’s longest running Oktoberfest, the nation’s only long-distance hot air balloon race and numerous parades and celebrations. Most everything is within walking distance, so park the car and stroll the main street, or duck into the alleys to see what unique little stores lie within. Helen is very much a village with one mind: that you’ll have a good time because we want you back. The shopkeepers are friendly and the hospitality staffs are helpful. While kicking back and enjoying a taste of the Black Forest, you’ll remember that you’re also in the heart of the North Georgia mountains, with reminders of the Appalachian culture and Native American influences nearby.
 
The beautiful Chattahoochee River, a trout stream this far north, flows right through town. Enjoy it from the deck of Helen’s Festhalle or from the porch of your rental cabin. You can fish for wily trout in town or in the mountains, or get a tube and join everyone else coolin’ it with a float down the river.
 
Unicoi State Park is next door to Helen with its outdoor recreation opportunities and Mountain trout dinners. The Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area is nearby and Smithgall Woods-Dukes Creek Conservation Area is just down the road. This is the place to spend a day in the woods hiking, biking or sight-seeing, then spend your evening in town enjoying the music and food.

To view additional attractions in Helen, Georgia, or other White County communities, please visit our Attractions Page.