Savannah, Georgia…this is where elegant mansions sit across from shady squares, art galleries and boutique shops dot the city streets, and restaurants and rooftop bars make great hang out spots for both locals and visitors. In this post, we cover the 30 best things to do in Savannah.
Kara has called Savannah home for the past three years, while Tim and I have visited often, about 8 to 10 trips in that time. We KNOW Savannah.
The more time we spend here, the more we fall in love with this city. Our favorite things to do in Savannah are to walk the picturesque streets in the historic city center, spend some time in the shady squares, walk (or go for a run) around Forsyth Park, and the best thing to do…dine in Savannah’s long list of fantastic restaurants.
This is a very fun city to visit, as you’ll see in this guide.
Welcome to Savannah, Georgia.
Best Things to Do in Savannah
Visiting Savannah for the first time and just want the highlights? Here’s our quick list of must-do experiences without having to read the whole post.
- Go for a stroll through the historic city center, exploring the shady squares, Forsyth Park, and Jones Street, the prettiest street in Savannah.
- Visit the Plant Riverside District and go for a walk along River Street
- Dine in Savannah’s best restaurants
- Enjoy the view from a rooftop bar
- Go on a ghost tour or walking tour of Savannah
- Visit Bonaventure Cemetery
- Go on a day trip to Tybee Island and/or Wormsloe State Historic Site
- If you have an interest in history, tour one of Savannah’s historic homes
We’ve rounded up 30 amazing things to do in Savannah—definitely a long list! To make it easier to explore, we’ve grouped them into categories so you can find the experiences that interest you most.
Highlights of the Historic City Center
Savannah is the oldest city in Georgia. It was founded in 1733 on the Savannah River (for which it was named). Its historic district is one of the oldest and largest in the United States. According to Savannah.com, the Savannah Historic District is the largest National Historic Landmark District in the USA.
1. Visit the Historic Squares
Without a doubt, visiting the shady, parklike squares is one of the best things to do in Savannah.
These small parks are located throughout the historic district and they are spaced out a few blocks from one another, so you never have to walk far to get to the next one.
Of the 22 squares in Savannah, there are a few notable ones to mention. For the full list of squares, click here.
Monterey Square
This square is located one block away from Forsyth Park. Sitting on either side of this square is the Mercer-Williams House Museum and Congregation Mickve Israel, one of the oldest synagogues in the USA.
Monterey Square
Lafayette Square
The centerpiece of Lafayette Square is an aquamarine-colored fountain. This square is named for the Marquis de Lafayette, who aided American troops during the Revolutionary War. The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and the Hamilton-Turner House are located on Lafayette Square.
Lafayette Square
Chippewa Square
For fans of the movie Forrest Gump, this is the square where Forrest Gump sat on a park bench and said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
Since the movie filming, the park bench has been removed and replaced with landscaping but you can still see the location of the bench. On the north end of Chippewa Square, the park bench once sat just behind the Chippewa Square sign.
The bench that Forrest Gump sat on is now gone. It was located right behind the Chippewa Square sign in this photo.
2. Forsyth Park
Forsyth Park is a 30+ acre park that was named for the 33rd governor of Atlanta. The fountain which sits in the center of the park is one of the most photographed landmarks in Savannah.
Forsyth Park
Important: The fountain is currently undergoing a restoration project and the fountain and statues have been removed. The park is still well worth the visit but currently you will not be able to see the iconic fountain.
A farmers’ market is held here on the weekends, and numerous concerts and festivals are held here throughout the year.
Inside of the park is the Garden of Fragrance (a small garden that displays plants of certain fragrance and textures for those with limited sight) and the Civil War Monument.
If you’re looking for a place to go for a walk or a jog while in town, it is a one mile loop around Forsyth Park. You’ll see us out on a run here while we are in town!
3. Take a Stroll on Jones Street
It is said that Jones Street is the prettiest street in Savannah. On one of the ghost tours that we took, we were also told that it is one of the most expensive streets in Savannah to call home.
For several blocks, the long limbs of enormous live oaks arch over the brick-paved street. American flags hang from front porches and horse and carriages parade up and down the street.
Jones Street
Jones Street is one of the best streets in Savannah to go for a stroll. And if you get your timing right, you can stop into Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room for lunch.
4. Go for a Walk on Broughton Street
Broughton Street is one of the best streets in Savannah to go shopping. This is where you will find Leopold’s Ice Cream as well as The Paris Market (a lovely shop and café), the Portal Arcade, Chive Sea Bar and Lounge, as well as stores like Lululemon, Urban Outfitters, and Banana Republic.
5. Visit the City Market
The City Market is two blocks of cafes, restaurants and small shops. You can also visit the American Prohibition Museum, which documents the history of Prohibition.
City Market
Things to Do along the Savannah River
6. Visit the Plant Riverside District
The Plant Riverside District is a JW Marriott property. This area was once the power plant for Savannah, but it was recently renovated. It’s now one of the most luxurious hotels in Savannah, but it is much more than a hotel.
This property is home to several great restaurants and rooftop bars, a riverfront park, art galleries, shops, and a concert venue. Live music plays down by the Savannah River.
You don’t have to stay here to visit the Riverside District. Have lunch at the Tequila Co., visit the Electric Moon Skytop Lounge or the Baobob Lounge, and enjoy the live music. Step into the hotel lobby and see if you can find the ice cave bear (and you can’t miss the shiny dinosaur skeleton that runs the length of the lobby).
This is our go-to hotel when we visit Savannah. We love the location, the spacious rooms, and being close to the rooftop bars.
7. Stroll along River Street
River Street runs along the Savannah River, from the Riverside Plant to Emmet Park. There are lots of shops and restaurants along this street and few notable places to mention.
Along River Street, you can see the 1996 Olympic Yachting Cauldron, the African American Monument, the Waving Girl statue, and the Cracked Earth Monument, which is a World War II Memorial.
African American Monument
Just behind River Street is Factors Walk. Climb the historic steps (these are steep and uneven, so be careful!) onto the bluff and you will see bridges leading to boutique shops and cafes. These small businesses are located in what was once the waterfront warehouses.
Factors Walk
8. Take a Riverboat Tour
There are daily riverboat tours that leave from River Street. You can take a lunch cruise, a dinner cruise, or a sightseeing cruise. These last an hour and a half or longer, depending on the cruise you choose.
Historic Buildings & Museums
9. Tour the Mercer-Williams House Museum
Construction for the Mercer-Williams House began in 1860. It was disrupted by the Civil War and then completed in 1868. This house was designed for General Hugh W. Mercer, who was the great-grandfather of songwriter Johnny Mercer.
No Mercer ever lived in this house as it was sold to John R. Wilder before construction was completed.
In 1981, Jim Williams shot and killed his employee, Daniel Lewis Hansford, in this house. The murder is documented in the non-fiction book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, and retold as a movie in 1997.
Tours of the house last 20 minutes. Tour times vary throughout the year and you can get the schedule on the official website.
Mercer-Williams House Museum
10. Visit the Birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low is the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA. She was born on Halloween in 1860 in Savannah, Georgia. In 1886, she married William Low, but their marriage was not a happy one, as he had numerous affairs. They separated but never divorced, and after William died of a stroke, his money and his estate were left to Juliette.
Following Williams’ death, Juliette Low became involved in the Girl Guides, an offshoot of the Boy Scouts, and spread the movement throughout Savannah and the USA. The organization was later named to the Girl Scouts.
Tours are offered of the Andrew Low House, which is where William and Juliette were married, and this house is now known as the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. Get the tour schedule and book your tickets on the official website.
11. Tour the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters
Richard Richardson was a shipping merchant and slave trader. In 1816, construction began on his estate, which included his house, a carriage house, and slave quarters.
The Richardson family did not live here long, but in the few years they did, a fire destroyed half of the city and a yellow fever epidemic swept through Savannah. Richard’s wife, Frances, passed away, as well as several of his children, and then he relocated to New Orleans in 1824.
George Owens purchased the house in 1830, and he kept 9 to 15 enslaved people on the property. The house stayed in the family until 1951, when Margaret Gray Thomas died. She willed the house to the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences to be run as a museum.
To tour the property, you will download the self-guided audio on your phone. It covers the slave quarters, the main house, the carriage house and the gardens. Tours run every 10 minutes. You can get hours of operation here.
Your entrance ticket also covers the next two items on our things to do in Savannah list: the Telfair Academy and the Jepson Center.
12. Visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Called the “Sistine of the South,” this Roman Catholic church was built in French Gothic style. It was nearly destroyed by a fire not long after construction was finished, but after a renovation project, it was re-dedicated in 1900.
Over the past 120 years, there have been several more renovation projects, including a project to fix cracks in steeple that occurred after an earthquake 500 miles away in Washington DC.
In 2020, Pope Francis issued a decree granting the cathedral the title of Minor Basilica.
This cathedral is one of the most photographed landmarks in Savannah and it is located on Lafayette Square.
13. Congregation of Mickve Israel
Located on Monterey Square, Congregation Mickve Israel is the 3rd oldest Jewish congregation in the USA. The congregation dates back to 1733 and the synagogue was constructed in 1820.
Condé Nast named Congregation Mickve Israel one of the 15 most beautiful synagogues in the world.
Tours of the synagogue are offered Monday through Friday. Get the full details here.
14. Visit the First African Baptist Church
The First African Baptist Church is one of the oldest continuously operating African-American churches in North America. The congregation dates back to 1773, when the church was organized under the leadership of Reverend George Leile, a slave who was licensed to preach in Georgia. He was freed before the start of the American Revolutionary War.
In 1782, Leile and his family were evacuated by the British to Jamaica, where he founded another congregation at this new location. However, the members of the original congregation remained in Savannah and this church was constructed in 1859. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a speaker at this church.
Tours are offered several days of the week.
First African Baptist Church
15. Telfair Academy
This art museum is located inside of a two-story mansion that was built in 1819. The permanent collection houses American and European art from the 19th and 20th centuries.
This is where you will find the iconic Bird Girl statue. She once stood in Bonaventure Cemetery but was moved to the Telfair Academy for safekeeping.
Bird Girl Statue
Tickets to the Telfair Academy are bundled together with the Owens-Thomas House and the Jepson Center.
16. Jepson Center for the Arts
This modern building looks a bit out of place in historic Savannah and it is home to both traditional and innovative art. On display is modern art, an interactive children’s museum space, and technology based art.
Tickets to the Jepson Center are bundled together with the Owens-Thomas House and the Telfair Academy.
Ghost Tours & Trolley Tours
17. Take a Ghost Tour
Taking a ghost tour is one of several fun things to do in Savannah. With its role in the Revolutionary War, numerous yellow fever epidemics, a fire that destroyed nearly half the city, and a number of tragic deaths, it is said that Savannah is one of the most haunted cities in the United States.
We took two ghost tours while in Savannah.
Genteel & Bard’s Dark History and Ghost Encounter Tour
Genteel & Bard is a highly rated tour company that offers a variety of walking tours in Savannah.
The Dark History and Ghost Encounter Tour is a 2-hour walking tour of Savannah that is offered at night. This tour includes 7 sites in the Savannah Historic District (the Sorrel-Weed House, Colonial Park Cemetery, the Foley House Inn, and the “Hanging Square,” just to name a few). You will not go inside of any of these sites but you will see them from the outside.
Our guide was wonderful. He was well spoken, a great storyteller, and he could remember the name of everyone in our group, which was about 15 people. We listened to his stories on provided headsets, so we could space ourselves out while walking through the squares and still hear him.
The tales are a mix of ghost stories and Savannah history. These stories weren’t creepy or scary…instead, it felt more like a historical walking tour at night. This is a great option for those who want to learn the dark history of Savannah, but don’t expect to get creeped out on this tour.
Sorrel-Weed Mansion Ghost Tour
This ghost tour takes place inside of the Sorrel-Weed house, which is one of the most haunted houses in Savannah. This house has been featured on Ghost Hunters, the Travel Channel, the History Channel, and HGTV.
This mansion can be toured by day, but by night, your guide will tell you chilling stories about the tragic events that occurred inside of this house.
The Sorrel-Mansion ghost tour takes an hour and a half. This one was much creepier than the Genteel & Bard’s walking tour, and during the tour, our guide provided visual and audio evidence of paranormal activity inside of the house.
Sorrel-Weed House
18. Take a Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour of Savannah
If you want to visit Savannah’s highlights without doing a lot of walking, take a hop-on hop-off trolley tour. Old Town Trolley Tours offers one and two-day tours that give you unlimited re-boarding at their 15 stops. This is a very popular thing to do in Savannah.
Historic Cemeteries
19. Colonial Park Cemetery
This cemetery dates back to 1750 and was active for 103 years, with its last burial in 1853. In 1896, it became a city park.
The cemetery is open and free to visitors in the daytime. It’s a nice spot to add onto your visit to the Savannah Historic District, but the more interesting cemetery to visit is Bonaventure Cemetery.
Colonial Park Cemetery
20. Bonaventure Cemetery
A visit to Bonaventure Cemetery is one of the best things to do in Savannah. It is not located in the historic district. This cemetery is located just outside of town, about a 10-minute drive from the historic city center.
This cemetery became famous when it was featured in the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The statue of the Bird Girl attracted so much attention that it was moved to the Telfair Academy for safe keeping.
At 160 acres, this is the largest cemetery in Savannah. There is no admission fee and it is open to the public from 9 am to 5 pm.
This is a beautiful cemetery to visit, with its enormous live oaks adorned with Spanish moss and intricately carved statues and tombstones. Famous sights to see include the tomb of Little Gracie Watson, the Lawton Grave, the Theus Tomb, and Johnny Mercer’s gravesite.
Bonaventure Cemetery
Restaurants & Rooftop Bars
21. Eat Your Way through Savannah
There are a great restaurants in Savannah. Over the years, we’ve dined at many of Savannah’s restaurants—some more than once—we’ve found a few favorites we keep going back to. Here are the best places to eat in Savannah. You can see a longer list in our Savannah Restaurant Guide ↓
Eat Like a Local: The Top Restaurants in Savannah
From cheap eats to award winning restaurants, here are the best places to eat in Savannah.Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room. Wait in line for a meal at one of Savannah’s most famous restaurants. Located on Jones Street, this restaurant serves homestyle Southern cooking family style.
Collins Quarter (on Bull Street). This is our favorite restaurant in Savannah. It’s great for dinner and amazing for brunch. This Australia-style café serves gourmet dishes and great cocktails. We dine here at least once when we come to Savannah.
The Savannah Tequila Co. This Mexican restaurant is located on the JW Marriott property at the riverfront. Great guacamole, tacos and margaritas. You can take the “Tyler challenge,” and see if you can eat a plate of 10 street tacos.
Savannah Tequila Company
Repeal 33. We dine at this underrated restaurant every time we visit Savannah. Typically, we order a bunch of appetizers and share them (our favorites are the Alsatian flatbread, street corn, and warm sourdough bread) but on the list of main dishes, the tamarind salmon is very good. For an interesting spin on and Old Fashioned, try the Bon Appetit, which is made with bone marrow infused bourbon.
The Olde Pink House. Like Mrs. Wilke’s Dining Room, this is another historic, highly rated restaurant in Savannah. On the menu is traditional southern fare.
The Gryphon Tea Room. We had lunch here but should have had afternoon tea (the little cakes and biscuits looked amazing!). This restaurant is located across the street from SCADstory.
Lunch at the Gryphon Tea Room
Turbine Market + Café. This is our favorite breakfast spot. It is located on the JW Marriott property and the omelets are amazing.
Lulu’s Chocolate Bar. If you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, this is the place to go (although you won’t go wrong at Leopold’s either). Chocolate tarts, cakes, pies, specialty cocktails…everything we had was wonderful.
Other great restaurants include Alligator Soul, b. Matthew’s Eatery, Cotton & Rye, The Grey, and Chive Sea Bar and Lounge.
Another option is to take a food tour of Savannah. This 3-hour food tour includes stops at six specialty food shops to taste the local cuisine, such as shrimp and grits, pork belly sliders and Sheperd’s pie.
22. Have a Sweet Treat at Leopold’s Ice Cream
A visit to Leopold’s Ice Cream shop is a must-do in Savannah. They have been making their ice cream from scratch since 1919 and it is delicious! The ice cream sandwiches are very good and we are fans of the rum raisin and the Savannah Socialite flavors.
23. Visit a Rooftop Bar
For drinks with a view, you have a lot of great options in Savannah. Here are our favorites but you can see the full list in our article Best Rooftop Bars in Savannah.
Electric Moon Skytop Lounge. This bar has both river views and views over the historic district of Savannah. There is an outside play area for kids and even a slide (great for adults once they had a drink or two…definitely one of the most fun things to do in Savannah). And the little tacos that you can order off of the bar menu are one of the best things we ate in Savannah.
Electric Moon Skytop Lounge
Myrtle and Rose Rooftop Garden. This very pretty rooftop bar has one of the best views of the Savannah River and the riverwalk area. It is located on the JW Marriott property, just a short walk from Electric Moon, so you can visit both of these on the same night.
Myrtle and Rose Rooftop Garden
Bar Julian. This rooftop bar is located on top of the Thompson Savannah, a new hotel in town. It is located outside of the historic district, so from here, you get a great view of the entire historic district of Savannah.
Bar Julian
View from Bar Julian
Rocks on the Roof. Located on top of the Bohemian Hotel, this is another one of our favorites. It is located along the Riverwalk and it’s a great spot to take a break, have a drink, and enjoy the view.
The view from Rocks on the Roof
The Peregrin at Perry Lane. Located on top of an upscale hotel, this bar has a lovely outdoor lounge area with decent views of Savannah.
The Peregrin
Visiting the Rooftop Bars with kids. On our first visit to Savannah, Kara was 17 years old. She was permitted at the rooftop bars until 6 pm, but after 6 pm, you had to be 21 years old to enter.
24. The Baobab Lounge
This is one of our favorite bars in Savannah. With its African art and décor, unique appetizers, and great drinks, we loved this place, and you will see us here again on a return visit to Savannah.
Baobab Lounge
Get to Know SCAD
SCAD (the Savannah College of Art and Design) is an art school that is located in and around the city center. Over the years, the college has purchased many of the old, dilapidated buildings in Savannah, renovated them, and expanded the college. SCAD has been instrumental in reviving the historic district of Savannah.
There are a few interesting buildings to visit, even if you (or your son or daughter) aren’t planning on attending college here.
25. SCADstory & shopSCAD
We may be biased, but a visit to the historic Savannah Volunteer Guard Armory, the location of SCADstory & shopSCAD, is one of the best things to do in Savannah.
SCADstory is a short, interactive multi-media story about the founding of SCAD. It is extremely well done and it looks and feels more like you are in line for a Disney ride than getting a history lesson about an art school. If you are visiting Savannah with kids, don’t miss this! Even if you have no interest in SCAD, this is very entertaining and inspiring for all ages.
shopSCAD is located inside of the same building. In this small shop, you can purchase artwork produced by SCAD students.
Savannah Volunteer Guard Armory
26. SCAD Museum of Art
This contemporary art museum is designed to enrich the education of SCAD students but it also makes a wonderful place to visit for those with an interest in art and fashion.
Four times a year, the exhibits change, featuring international artists, including Vogue’s Andre Leon Talley. There are also permanent collections displaying contemporary art, African American art, photography, and costume design.
Day Trips from Savannah
27. Wormsloe State Historic Site
The Wormsloe State Historic Site is one of the best things to do in Savannah. It sits just outside of Savannah and to get here, you will need to rent a car.
If you don’t have a car, you can take a tour that includes Wormsloe with Bonaventure Cemetery.
This site was once the Wormsloe Plantation. It was founded by Noble Jones, one of Georgia’s colonial founders, on what is called the Isle of Hope. This site is 822 acres in size and became a state historic site in 1979.
This is the place to see live oaks covered in Spanish moss. You will enter the park through an old, stone archway. Beyond this entrance is the beautiful sight of the long lane, flanked on either side with large live oak trees. Their branches arch over the road, creating a tree tunnel.
There is no parking along this road and it is about a mile long. Kara and I walked most of it; Tim picked us up after we got the photos we wanted.
Beyond the tree tunnel is a parking area. From here, you can walk to the Tabby Ruins, see the colonial life area, and the viewpoint of Skidaway River.
Colonial Life Area
28. Visit the Pin Point Heritage Museum
Pin Point is a small African American fishing village. It was founded in 1890 by freed slaves. This village is part of the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, which runs from northern Florida to North Carolina. This is where the descendants of enslaved people lived and farmed.
Pin Point is also the birthplace of US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
The museum can be visited on a tour. Tours run most days of the week and you can get the schedule here.
Pin Point Museum
29. Visit Tybee Island
Tybee Island is just 30 minutes from Savannah. If you want to get in a little beach time, this is the place to go. Visit the pier, have ice cream at the Sundae Café, and spend some time on the beach.
Tybee Island in February
30. Tour the Old Fort Jackson Historic Site
This National Historic Landmark is located on the Savannah River near the historic district. You can stroll the fort on your own, but the highlight is watching a cannon firing.
I liked this much more than I expected to. Our guide gave us a brief history of the fort and then fired a very small cannon. It was educational, it was entertaining, and it was LOUD! I can’t imagine what it would sound like if the cannon were any bigger.
Get the cannon firing schedule, hours of operation, and pricing on the official website before you go.
Map of Savannah
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
Free Things to Do in Savannah
- Visit Forsyth Park
- Stroll along Jones Street
- Visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
- Explore the historic squares and gardens
- Visit the Plant Riverside District
- Go for a walk along River Street
- Visit Tybee Island
- Go window shopping on Broughton Street
Savannah on St. Patrick’s Day
Savannah is one of the best places in the United States to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the largest in the country, coming in behind New York City and Chicago.
The holiday is celebrated not just on one day, but over an entire weekend.
We were in Savannah to celebrate St. Patricks’ Day in 2024 which also happened to be the 200th anniversary of the parade. It was one of the biggest events in the city’s history.
In 2024, St. Patrick’s Day officially fell on a Sunday. The parade and most of the festivities were held on Saturday. We arrived on a Thursday afternoon. Hotels, restaurants, and bars were decorated in green, brilliantly green T-shirts were on sale throughout the city, and Savannah was in a very festive mood.
The parade started at 10:15 am and lasted about 4 hours. People camp overnight for a good spot along the parade route. If that doesn’t sound like something you want to do, there are bleachers set up along the route. Make a reservation in advance and you are guaranteed a seat. We had prime seating right in front of the Cathedral of St. John.
After the parade comes to end, most people head down to the waterfront area, which becomes a sea of green T-shirts. Lines to get into the top rooftop bars are extremely long, with waits of an hour or more. Many bars and restaurants offer to-go cups and you are allowed to walk around with alcoholic beverages.
If you plan to be in Savannah for St. Patrick’s Day, make your hotel reservations at least 3 months in advance and be prepared for high prices. This is probably the most expensive time to visit Savannah.
This is a beautiful time to visit the city, with warm weather and azaleas and flowers in bloom. We had such a great time we are planning to do it again, so maybe we’ll see you in Savannah on St. Patrick’s Day.
Green water in the Forsyth Park fountain for St. Patrick’s Day
Best Time to Visit Savannah
In general, the best time to visit Savannah is during the spring and fall months.
In the spring (mid-March through mid-June) the weather is warm and sunny. High temperatures during this time range from 70 to 90 degrees and rain showers are common. This is a beautiful time to visit Savannah, when everything is in bloom. In March, azaleas in the squares are in full bloom, making this a great time to visit Savannah.
Savannah hosts the second largest St. Patrick’s Day festival in the United States. If you plan to visit during this time, make your hotel reservations far in advance.
Summers are hot and steamy. High temperatures are usually in the 90’s, sometimes cresting the 100-degree mark. But what makes it even more uncomfortable is the high humidity.
Temperatures cool off in the fall, and like the spring months, daytime temperatures are warm and rainfall chances are slightly less than April, May and June.
Winters are cooler, but the high temperatures sit in the 60’s, which might feel quite warm this time of year, depending on where you are coming from.
Our favorite time to visit Savannah is from early February through mid-March. The weather is generally warm during the day with cool nights. Beginning in March, the azaleas are in bloom, making this a beautiful time to visit the city. The photo below was taken in mid-February.
Savannah in February
Getting to Savannah
The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is just a 20-minute drive from the historic district of Savannah.
If you have plans to rent a car, you can do so from the Savannah airport. When making your hotel reservation, inquire about where to park your car. Parking can be a challenge in some parts of the historic district.
If you do not plan to rent a car, there are a few ways to get from the airport to the city. You can use Uber/Lyft (this is what we typically do), hire a taxi, or hire a private driver. Click here for a list of taxi companies and limousine/private drivers.
Getting Around Savannah
The historic district is small and compact. It’s flat and easy to walk to everything, although you will log a few miles over the course of the day.
We primarily walked to everything in the historic district. Occasionally we used Uber to get to a place that was farther away, and to get out to the Savannah Thompson hotel (to visit Bar Julian, the rooftop bar here).
You can also book a ticket on the Old Trolley Hop-On Hop-Off bus and use this to get around the city, getting off at the stops that interest you.
Gingerbread House
Where to Eat
Earlier in this guide we listed some of our favorite restaurants in Savannah. For more recommendations, photos, and links to each restaurant, read our article Best Restaurants in Savannah.
Where to Stay
As far as location is concerned, the historic district is the best area to stay in. From here, almost everything on this list is within walking distance.
Historic Inns
Foley House Inn. The Foley House has an excellent location in the historic district. It’s also one of the most popular inns to stay in, since it is considered to be haunted (we visited this house on the Genteel & Bard’s ghost tour).
Catherine Ward House. At the time that I am writing this, the Catherine Ward House is the highest rated property in all of Savannah, getting a near perfect score. This bed and breakfast is a 2-minute walk from Forsyth Park. Children over 14 are welcome here.
The Marshall House. The Marshall House was built in 1851 and was used as a hospital for Civil War soldiers. It’s another property in Savannah that is considered to be haunted. The Marshall House has a great location on Broughton Street, very close to Leopold’s Ice Cream, and some rooms can accommodate up to four people.
Eliza Thompson House. Stay on Jones Street, the prettiest street in Savannah. Rooms are beautifully decorated with antique furnishings. Included with your stay are gourmet breakfasts, an afternoon wine reception, and dessert and coffee each evening. This is a place I would like to stay in on a return visit to Savannah. Children are not allowed.
Luxury Hotels
JW Marriott Plant Riverside District. This is where we stay when we visit Savannah and have had a great experience every time. This new, beautiful property is located at the northwest end of the historic district, so it is a longer walk to some sights (or just Uber there). But with its large, comfortable rooms, outdoor pool, and nearby restaurants and bars, this is one of the best hotels in Savannah.
Perry Lane Hotel. This 5-star hotel is more centrally located in the historic district. It is also home to the Peregrin Bar, one of the rooftop bars mentioned earlier in this guide. The Perry Lane Hotel has an outdoor pool and fitness center.
The Alida. This hotel also has a great location in the historic district. Rooms are beautifully decorated and can accommodate up to 5 people, so this makes a good choice for families or small groups of travelers. We visited the rooftop bar in this hotel, the Lost Square, but it wasn’t one of our favorites.
Mid-Range Hotels
Homewood Suites Historic District/Riverfront. The Homewood Suites is located on the eastern end of River Street. It has a rooftop area with a heated pool, a fire pit, and a rooftop bar. It’s another great pick for families.
Justine Inn. If you want to stay in a historic inn that does not have a big price tag, this is a great option. The Justine Inn is located only two blocks from Forsyth Square. It is a small property with five rooms and all are decorated with antique furnishings. Children are not allowed.
DoubleTree by Hilton. The Doubletree is located in the northwest corner of the historic district, very close to the JW Marriott. Rooms are contemporary in design and the hotel has a private pool and fitness area.
Budget Hotels
Holiday Inn Express – Historic District. The Holiday Inn is located on Bay Street, just a few blocks away from the riverside district.
Green Palm Inn. This bed and breakfast is located in a historic Victorian house. Rooms are decorated with British-Colonial furnishings. Breakfast is served daily and in the afternoon, you can enjoy the complimentary wine social.
If you have any questions about the best things to do in Savannah, or if you want to share your favorite experiences, restaurants, or rooftop bars, let us know in the comment section below.
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