Best Time to Visit
March to May and October to November (18-28°C, azaleas in spring, comfortable humidity)
Language
English (Gullah-Geechee culture present on nearby islands)
Currency
US Dollar (USD)
Time Zone
EST (UTC-5), EDT (UTC-4) in summer
Airport
Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV)
Population
147,000 (city proper), 404,000 (metro area)
Climate
Humid subtropical, hot humid summers (32-36°C), mild winters (8-16°C)
Safety Rating
Generally Safe (Level 1) — historic district is very safe and walkable
Open Container
Legal to carry alcoholic beverages in to-go cups within the historic district boundaries
Savannah's iconic 30-acre park centered on a stunning white fountain (modeled after one in Paris's Place de la Concorde). Free entry, open 24 hours. Shaded by massive live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Saturday farmers market (9AM-1PM, March-November). The surrounding Victorian district has some of the city's finest architecture. Allow 1-2 hours.
Savannah's original city plan features 22 surviving park-like squares, each with unique character. Free to walk on your own (download a map from visitsavannah.com). Guided walking tours: $25-35 (2 hours). Key squares: Chippewa (Forrest Gump bench scene), Monterey, and Lafayette. The entire historic district is a National Historic Landmark. Allow half a day.
A hauntingly beautiful Victorian cemetery on a bluff above the Wilmington River, made famous by 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.' Free entry. Open daily 8AM-5PM. Sprawling 160 acres with oak-shaded paths, elaborate monuments, and river views. Guided tours: $20-30 (1.5 hours). The Bird Girl statue (now at Telfair Museum) was photographed here. Allow 2 hours.
Savannah is called America's most haunted city. Evening ghost tours: $25-35 per person (1.5-2 hours). Top operators: Ghost City Tours (walking), Hearse Ghost Tours (ride in a converted hearse, $25). Tours cover the Mercer-Williams House, Colonial Park Cemetery, and various haunted inns. Most depart from City Market or Johnson Square at 8PM or 9:30PM. Fun even for skeptics.
SCAD has transformed Savannah into a living art campus, restoring 100+ historic buildings for classrooms and galleries. SCAD Museum of Art: $10 (free for students). Open Tue-Sun 10AM-5PM. SCAD galleries along Broughton Street are free. The SCAD Film Festival (October) and sidewalk arts festival (April) are major events. Allow 2-3 hours.
A nine-block cobblestone waterfront along the Savannah River with converted cotton warehouses now housing restaurants, candy shops, and bars. Free to walk. Watch massive container ships pass within arm's reach. Try pralines at Savannah's Candy Kitchen (free samples) and Wet Willie's frozen daiquiris ($8-12, legal to walk with). Live music most evenings. Allow 2-3 hours.
A 1.5-mile avenue of 400+ live oaks draped in Spanish moss creating a tunnel-like canopy. One of the most photographed spots in the American South. Entry: $10. Open Tue-Sun 9AM-5PM. The avenue leads to tabby ruins of the 1736 Wormsloe Plantation. 10 miles south of downtown. Best in morning light for photos. Allow 1.5 hours.
Fly into SAV and head to the historic district — 2.5 square miles of live oaks, Spanish moss, and 22 park-like squares. The most walkable city in America.
Airport transfer to historic district(20 minutes)
Uber: $15-20
Forsyth Park walk(1.5 hours)
Iconic 30-acre park with the famous white fountain. Shaded by massive live oaks. Saturday farmers market (9AM-1PM, March-Nov)
Walk through the squares from Forsyth to City Hall(1.5 hours)
Free. Each of the 22 squares has unique character. Start at Monterey and work north through Calhoun, Pulaski, and Chippewa (Forrest Gump bench scene)
Get a to-go cocktail(15 minutes)
Savannah allows open containers in the historic district. Grab a plastic cup from any bar and walk the squares with your drink. 16 oz max
Dinner at The Grey(2 hours)
Chef Mashama Bailey's modern Southern cooking in a restored Greyhound bus terminal. Mains: $28-42. Reserve well ahead. One of the best restaurants in the American South
Waterfront wandering and Savannah's hauntingly beautiful Victorian cemetery.
River Street walk(2 hours)
Nine cobblestone blocks along the Savannah River. Watch massive container ships pass. Pralines at Savannah's Candy Kitchen (free samples). Wet Willie's frozen daiquiris ($8-12, to-go cups available)
Lunch at Vic's on the River(1 hour)
Upscale Southern in a cotton warehouse on the river. Fried green tomatoes: $12. Shrimp and grits: $22
Bonaventure Cemetery(2 hours)
Victorian cemetery on the Wilmington River bluff. Made famous by 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.' Entry free. Guided tour: $20-30 (1.5 hours). Oak-shaded paths and elaborate monuments. 160 acres
Afternoon to-go cocktail stroll(1 hour)
Walk Broughton Street — Savannah's main shopping artery. Independent shops, galleries, and SCAD-influenced design stores
Dinner at Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room(1 hour)
Family-style soul food since 1943. $25, cash only. Fried chicken, collards, mac and cheese — served communal style. Line by 10:30AM for 11AM seating
Savannah College of Art and Design has transformed the city into a living art campus. Then: America's most haunted city after dark.
SCAD Museum of Art(1.5 hours)
Entry: $10. Contemporary art in a restored railroad depot. Rotating exhibitions
SCAD galleries on Broughton Street(1 hour)
Free galleries throughout the city — SCAD has restored 100+ historic buildings. Check the Gutstein Gallery and Pei Ling Chan Garden
Lunch at Fox & Fig(1 hour)
Vegan cafe that converts even carnivores. Mushroom French dip: $16. On Bull Street near Forsyth
Wormsloe Historic Site(1.5 hours)
1.5-mile avenue of 400+ live oaks creating a tunnel canopy. One of the most photographed spots in the South. Entry: $10. Best in morning light. 10 miles south
Ghost tour(2 hours)
Ghost City Tours walking tour: $25-35. Mercer-Williams House, Colonial Park Cemetery, haunted inns. Depart 8PM or 9:30PM. Fun even for skeptics
Drive 20 miles east to Tybee Island — Savannah's beach, lighthouse, and laid-back island culture.
Drive to Tybee Island(25 minutes)
Rent a car ($30-50/day) or Uber ($20-30 each way)
Tybee Island Lighthouse(1 hour)
One of the first lighthouses in America. Climb 178 steps for ocean views. Entry: $12
North Beach morning(2 hours)
Quieter end of the island near the lighthouse and Fort Screven. Dolphins sometimes visible from shore
Lunch at The Crab Shack(1.5 hours)
Outdoor seafood institution on Tybee. Low-country boil: $28. Eat at picnic tables under the trees. Alligators in the pond
South Beach and pier(2 hours)
Main beach with pier, pavilion, and Marine Science Center. Wide sand, warm water
No plan. Walk the squares, sit on benches, eat Southern food, and let Savannah's gentle pace wash over you.
Brunch at Collins Quarter(1.5 hours)
Australian-inspired in the historic district. Lavender mocha: $6. Avocado toast: $14. Beautiful courtyard
Afternoon wandering the squares(2.5 hours)
Visit the squares you haven't seen. Johnson, Wright, Oglethorpe, Columbia. Each has a story. Grab a to-go cup
Mercer-Williams House Museum(1 hour)
Setting of 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.' Entry: $13. The guide tells the story of Jim Williams and Danny Hansford
Savannah's complex history — from founding through slavery to civil rights — and a farewell dinner.
First African Baptist Church(1 hour)
One of the oldest Black congregations in North America (1773). The holes in the floor boards are believed to be breathing holes for enslaved people hiding in the Underground Railroad. Deeply moving. Tours available
Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters(1.5 hours)
One of the finest Regency architecture examples in America. Entry: $20. The restored slave quarters are among the oldest in the urban South
Lunch at Sweet Potatoes Kitchen(1 hour)
African American-owned soul food. Oxtail plate: $18. Peach cobbler for dessert
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist(30 minutes)
Stunning twin-spire Gothic cathedral. Free entry. The stained glass and vaulted ceiling are breathtaking
Farewell dinner at Elizabeth on 37th(2 hours)
Elegant Southern dining in a 1900 mansion. Savannah red rice: $34. Reserve ahead. A fitting farewell
One last walk through the mossy squares.
Sunrise walk from Forsyth to River Street(1 hour)
The morning light through Spanish moss. Quiet squares. Dewy gardens
Breakfast at Clary's Cafe(1 hour)
Featured in 'Midnight in the Garden.' Hearty breakfasts since 1903. Huevos rancheros: $14. On Abercorn
Last pralines and shopping(45 minutes)
Savannah Bee Company for honey, River Street Sweets for pralines
International visitors need a valid US visa or ESTA (Visa Waiver Program countries, $21). Apply at esta.cbp.dhs.gov at least 72 hours before travel. SAV airport has direct flights from major hubs including Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Dallas, and Charlotte. Jacksonville (JAX) is an alternative airport, 2 hours south.
Savannah's historic district is a 2.5 square-mile grid that's one of the most walkable city centers in the US. Free DOT shuttle buses loop through downtown. For Tybee Island beach (20 miles east) or Wormsloe, rent a car ($30-50/day) or use Uber ($20-30 each way). Parking: metered street ($1.25/hour) or garages ($10-15/day). Horse-drawn carriage tours: $25-30 (1 hour).
The biggest pleasant surprise for visitors: Savannah allows open containers of alcohol in the historic district. Get a to-go cup (must be plastic, 16 oz max) from any bar and walk the squares with your drink. Most bars on River Street and Congress Street offer to-go cups automatically. This makes walking tours, square-hopping, and evening strolls especially enjoyable.
John Berendt's 1994 book 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' put Savannah on the tourism map. Many tours reference it. The Mercer-Williams House Museum ($13, where the story's events occurred) is worth visiting. Bonaventure Cemetery features prominently. Reading it before your trip adds layers to every corner of the city.
Savannah offers similar charm to Charleston at lower prices. Budget meal: $10-15. Nice dinner: $30-55 per person. Hotel in historic district: $120-250/night. B&B: $150-300/night. Free attractions: Forsyth Park, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, squares, SCAD galleries. Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room ($25, family-style soul food, cash only) always has a line — arrive by 10:30AM.
Summer heat is brutal — 95°F+ (35°C) with 90% humidity. Carry water and duck into air-conditioned shops. Mosquitoes and no-see-ums are aggressive near the river and in parks at dusk — bring bug spray. The historic district floods during heavy rain and king tides — wear waterproof shoes if rain is forecast. Hurricane season is June-November.
SeasonalPeak ghost tour season, comfortable walking weather, golden hour through Spanish moss, and Halloween events that the city was born to host.
Travel GuidesCan you really walk around with a drink? Is it too hot in summer? Are the ghost tours actually scary? 14 no-nonsense answers.
Travel GuidesColonial cemeteries, the Mercer-Williams mystery, and why every square after dark feels like a scene from a Gothic novel — Savannah's supernatural side.
