Rainy day · Savannah · United States
8 things to do in Savannah when it rains
Indoor sights that make a wet day feel planned rather than lost.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: JeffersonLH, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Owens–Thomas House and Slave Quarters, Telfair Academy and Jepson Center and Mercer Williams House. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 9–10 hours across 3 areas; 1 is free. July is usually the wettest month, with about 13 rainy days.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 9–10 hours
- Areas
- North Historic District, South Historic District and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Savannah on a rainy day
Historic site · North Historic District
1.Owens–Thomas House and Slave Quarters
A Telfair combination ticket covers this house, the Telfair Academy and the Jepson Center.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · North Historic District
2.Telfair Academy and Jepson Center
Visit the Jepson for modern art and the children's gallery, then cross the square for the period rooms at the Academy.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Historic site · South Historic District
3.Mercer Williams House
Even if you skip the tour, the view of the house across Monterey Square at dusk is one of the best in town.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Religious site · South Historic District
4.Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Visit on a sunny morning when light comes through the windows, and dress respectfully.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- History
Religious site · North Historic District
5.First African Baptist Church
Book a tour time in advance and allow a little extra for questions; guides are knowledgeable about the congregation's history.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
6.Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum
Combine it with First African Baptist Church for a half-day on Black history in Savannah.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · North Historic District
7.SCAD Museum of Art
Check what is on before you go; exhibitions change often and range from fashion to large-scale installations.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · North Historic District
8.Georgia State Railroad Museum
Combine it with the Savannah History Museum and the Battlefield Memorial Park across the street.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| North Historic District | Owens–Thomas House and Slave Quarters, Telfair Academy and Jepson Center, First African Baptist Church, SCAD Museum of Art and Georgia State Railroad Museum | 1 hour + 2 hours + 1 hour + 1–1.5 hours + 1.5–2 hours |
| South Historic District | Mercer Williams House and Cathedral of St. John the Baptist | 45 minutes + 30 minutes |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard | Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum | 1–1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 1 free, 4 low cost, 3 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Telfair Academy and Jepson Center; 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 (North Historic District): Owens–Thomas House and Slave Quarters → Telfair Academy and Jepson Center → First African Baptist Church, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (North Historic District and South Historic District): SCAD Museum of Art → Georgia State Railroad Museum → Mercer Williams House → Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard): Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, at least 1 hour.
The wettest months
- July: highs of 33°C (91°F), about 13 rainy days, moderate crowds. The hottest month; heat and humidity are intense, but hotel rates drop in the city.
- August: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds. Very hot, stormy and quiet in town; hurricane season becomes more active.
- June: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds. Hot and humid with daily storms; sightsee early and spend afternoons indoors or at the beach.
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?
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.
+Which of these are free in Savannah?
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.