Travel guide · United States
Savannah travel guide
Live-oak squares, Spanish moss and a walkable riverfront in Georgia's oldest city
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Seasider53, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Savannah was laid out in 1733 on a grid of wards around public squares, and 22 of those squares survive, each shaded by live oaks draped in Spanish moss. The historic district runs about 2 km from the cobbled warehouses of River Street south to Forsyth Park, so almost everything is walkable. Visitors come for the architecture and house museums, Southern cooking, ghost tours and to-go cocktails, with the beaches of Tybee Island about 30 minutes east. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are March–May and October–November.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- March–May and October–November
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- SAV
- Mid-range daily budget
- $220–$360 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Historic squares, Spanish moss, Forsyth Park fountain and River Street
Why visit Savannah
- Twenty-two garden squares, from Chippewa to Monterey, make the historic district one of the most pleasant city walks in the United States.
- House museums such as the Owens–Thomas House and the Mercer Williams House show Savannah's grand architecture alongside the lives of the enslaved people who built it.
- Southern food runs from family-style fried chicken and shrimp and grits to pralines on River Street and Leopold's ice cream on Broughton Street.
- Bonaventure Cemetery, Wormsloe's oak avenue and Fort Pulaski are all within a 20-minute drive of downtown.
- Tybee Island's beaches and lighthouse are about 30 km away for a day by the sea.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Park · Victorian District and Forsyth Park
Forsyth Park
Savannah's largest park covers about 12 hectares at the southern edge of the historic district, with a white cast-iron fountain from 1858, live-oak paths, a Confederate memorial, playgrounds and a fragrant garden.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · South Historic District
The historic squares
General Oglethorpe's 1733 plan placed a square at the centre of every ward, and 22 remain.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Waterfront · River Street and Plant Riverside
River Street and Factor's Walk
A cobbled street along the Savannah River lined with 19th-century cotton warehouses, where cotton factors once graded and sold bales.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Food
- Views
Historic site · Thunderbolt
Bonaventure Cemetery
A former plantation on a bluff over the Wilmington River, this Victorian cemetery is known for its avenues of moss-hung live oaks and sculpted monuments, including the grave of songwriter Johnny Mercer.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Historic site · North Historic District
Owens–Thomas House and Slave Quarters
An English Regency villa on Oglethorpe Square designed by William Jay and completed in 1819, run by Telfair Museums.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · North Historic District
Telfair Academy and Jepson Center
Telfair Academy, a Regency mansion on Telfair Square, opened as one of the oldest public art museums in the South and shows 19th- and 20th-century American and European art.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Where to stay
North Historic District is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers and shopping
North Historic District
City Market, Ellis Square and the shops of Broughton Street
$$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays, luxury and culture
South Historic District
Quiet squares, Jones Street and grand townhouses towards Forsyth Park
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and families
River Street and Plant Riverside
Cobblestone riverfront of converted cotton warehouses and ship-watching
$$ · Best for couples, families, quiet stays and budget
Victorian District and Forsyth Park
Painted Victorian houses and the city's big park with its white fountain
What to eat
- Shrimp and grits — Georgia shrimp over stone-ground grits with a gravy of bacon, peppers and onion; a Lowcountry staple served for brunch and dinner across the city.
- Southern fried chicken, family style — Lunch at long shared tables loaded with bowls of fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas, okra, mac and cheese, cornbread and banana pudding.
- Lowcountry boil — Shrimp, smoked sausage, corn and potatoes boiled together and spilled out onto the table, eaten with fingers.
- Pralines — Pecan-and-brown-sugar candies, still warm when made in the window of River Street candy shops, where staff hand out free samples.
- Leopold's ice cream — An ice cream parlour founded in 1919 by Greek immigrant brothers, known for tutti-frutti and seasonal flavours served in an old-fashioned soda fountain setting.
- Deviled crab — Blue-crab meat mixed with spices and breadcrumbs and baked in the crab's shell or a tin, a long-standing Savannah and coastal Georgia dish.
When to go
Savannah is at its best from March to May, when azaleas bloom in the squares and temperatures are warm but not oppressive, and in October and November, when humidity eases. Summer is hot, humid and stormy, with August to October the peak of hurricane season. Winter is mild and quiet, with the lowest prices; St. Patrick's Day week in March is the busiest and most expensive time of year.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Azaleas and dogwoods in the squares, warm days and major festivals; book early around St. Patrick's Day. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms; time sightseeing for mornings and evenings and head to Tybee Island in between. |
| Autumn | September–November | September is hot and in peak hurricane season; October and November bring comfortable weather, film festival and ghost-tour season. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild days, cool nights, holiday decorations and the lowest hotel rates. |
Getting there and around
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is about 15 km northwest of downtown, roughly 20 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing. Many visitors to Hilton Head also fly into SAV.
The historic district is a flat grid about 2 km from the river to Forsyth Park, best explored on foot. A free downtown shuttle and the free Savannah Belles Ferry cover longer hops, while Bonaventure, Wormsloe, Fort Pulaski and Tybee need a car, bike or tour.
Plan your days
Two days covers the squares, Forsyth Park, River Street and a house museum. A third day adds Bonaventure Cemetery, Wormsloe and an afternoon on Tybee Island; with five days you can add Hilton Head, Beaufort or Jekyll Island.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis, pedicabs and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per person for walking and ghost-tour guides.
The historic district is generally comfortable to walk, but use normal city precautions at night, keep to busier streets and lock valuables out of sight in cars. Summer heat and humidity are a real risk on long walks, and Tybee has rip currents and strong tidal flows near the river mouth. Follow official guidance during hurricane season.
Flights to Savannah
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Savannah?
Two days covers the squares, Forsyth Park, River Street and a house museum. A third day adds Bonaventure Cemetery, Wormsloe and an afternoon on Tybee Island; with five days you can add Hilton Head, Beaufort or Jekyll Island. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Savannah?
Savannah is at its best from March to May, when azaleas bloom in the squares and temperatures are warm but not oppressive, and in October and November, when humidity eases. Summer is hot, humid and stormy, with August to October the peak of hurricane season. Winter is mild and quiet, with the lowest prices; St. Patrick's Day week in March is the busiest and most expensive time of year.
+What is Savannah known for?
Historic squares, Spanish moss, Forsyth Park fountain, River Street, Ghost tours, Southern cooking and SCAD art and design. Twenty-two garden squares, from Chippewa to Monterey, make the historic district one of the most pleasant city walks in the United States.
+Is Savannah expensive?
Savannah is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $220–$360 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Savannah?
No for the historic district, where walking, the free shuttle and the ferry cover everything. Rent one for a day for Tybee Island, Wormsloe, Fort Pulaski and coastal day trips, or use tours and ride-hailing.