History · Savannah · United States
8 historic sites to see in Savannah
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daniel Mayer, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with The historic squares, Bonaventure Cemetery and Owens–Thomas House and Slave Quarters. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 9–12 hours across 5 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 9–12 hours
- Areas
- South Historic District, Thunderbolt and North Historic District
Historic sites in Savannah
Neighbourhood · South Historic District
1.The historic squares
Chippewa Square is where the bench scenes of Forrest Gump were filmed, Monterey Square is overlooked by the Mercer Williams House and the Temple Mickve Israel, and Lafayette Square faces the cathedral's twin spires.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Historic site · Thunderbolt
2.Bonaventure Cemetery
It appeared in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and is about 6 km east of downtown.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Historic site · North Historic District
3.Owens–Thomas House and Slave Quarters
The tour gives equal weight to the urban slave quarters behind the house, where a ceiling painted 'haint blue' by enslaved people survives.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Historic site · South Historic District
4.Mercer Williams House
Guided tours cover the ground floor and Williams's collection.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Religious site · South Historic District
5.Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
It is a working cathedral that welcomes visitors between services.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- History
Religious site · North Historic District
6.First African Baptist Church
The present church was built by its members, many of them enslaved, in the 1850s; guided tours cover its history and the pews and floor patterns from that period.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
7.Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum
Boulevard, the museum covers Savannah's civil rights movement, including lunch-counter sit-ins and the local campaigns of the late 1950s and 1960s, with a recreated lunch counter and photographs.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
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Historic site · Isle of Hope
8.Wormsloe State Historic Site
Trails lead through the marsh-edge forest, and a small museum and living-history area explain the colonial period. It is about 15 km southeast of downtown.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Photo spot
- History
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Couples
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| South Historic District | The historic squares, Mercer Williams House and Cathedral of St. John the Baptist | 2–3 hours + 45 minutes + 30 minutes |
| Thunderbolt | Bonaventure Cemetery | 1.5–2 hours |
| North Historic District | Owens–Thomas House and Slave Quarters and First African Baptist Church | 1 hour + 1 hour |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard | Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum | 1–1.5 hours |
| Isle of Hope | Wormsloe State Historic Site | 1.5–2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 3 low cost, 2 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is The historic squares; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (South Historic District): The historic squares → Mercer Williams House → Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Thunderbolt and North Historic District): Bonaventure Cemetery → Owens–Thomas House and Slave Quarters → First African Baptist Church, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Isle of Hope): Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum → Wormsloe State Historic Site, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- January: highs of 16°C (61°F), about 9 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Mild days, chilly nights and few visitors; the lowest-priced time for historic inns and good for walking.
- February: highs of 18°C (64°F), about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds. Camellias and early azaleas start to bloom; festivals and the build-up to St.
- December: highs of 17°C (63°F), about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds. Festive decorations in the squares and historic inns, mild weather and quieter streets.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- North Historic District — City Market, Ellis Square and the shops of Broughton Street
- South Historic District — Quiet squares, Jones Street and grand townhouses towards Forsyth Park
More of Savannah
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Savannah?
The historic squares. General Oglethorpe's 1733 plan placed a square at the centre of every ward, and 22 remain.
+Which of these are free in Savannah?
The historic squares, Bonaventure Cemetery and Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.