Explore Savannah, Georgia – a historic Southern city known for its architecture, culinary scene and hospitality. Discover its neighborhoods, things to do, places to stay and eat.
Savannah is a historic coastal city known for its cobblestone streets, oak tree shaded squares, and 18th-century architecture. Distinguished for its rich history, culinary culture, and Southern charm, Savannah offers visitors a perfect blend of heritage and hospitality.
- Location: Coastal Georgia near the South Carolina border; about four hours southeast of Atlanta.
- Vibe: Historic and artistic with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
- Accessibility: Served by Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport and major highways; the downtown area is walkable with trolley services (plus free bus) and riverfront access.
How to get to Savannah
Situated near the intersection of Interstates 95 and 16, as well as along U.S. Highway 17 (Coastal Highway), Savannah is easy to get to by car.
From the air the closest airport is Savannah/Hilton Head (SAV) and it sits about 10 miles from downtown. The Jacksonville, Florida airport (JAX) is about 140 miles south and Atlanta (ATL) is 250 miles northeast.
Taxi cabs and ride services like UBER and LYFT are readily available at the SAV airport to get you downtown, as are rental car agencies.
Best time to go to Savannah
There is an entire, in depth article written on this subject – Best Time to Visit Savannah where you’ll find all the details.
But, the bottom line is this. Every season has its pros and a few cons too. You’ll want to read up to decide what is best for your trip. Better yet – plan one for every season so you can compare them yourself!
How long to stay
The short answer here is to stay as long as you can. Whether you have a few hours or a month to spend in Savannah you will be glad that you came to this beautiful, history-filled and friendly southern city.
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For shorter visits, like 1-2 days you’ll probably want to concentrate on the area along the river (River Street/Plant Riverside District) and the historic district just immediately south of the Savanah River to Forsyth Park. This will give you easy access to shopping on Broughton Street, many of the squares, historic sites and a great number of places to eat and drink.
If you have longer (2-3 days) you’ll want to venture further into the Victorian District and Starland District. These neighorhoods have their own unique architecture and personalities, along with a great collection of fine dining, pubs, bars and shopping. We love the free Savannah DOT bus system that loops through the historic district and will take you all the way to Starland.
With 3-5 days you can explore even further out. Take a day trip to Tybee Island with one of these Tybee Tours: Savannah to Tybee (even if you don’t have a car). Add in a side trip to the two hauntingly beautiful sites – Bonaventure Cemetery and Wormsloe State Historic Site.
If you have a week or longer you’ve got time to fully immerse yourself in Savannah and the surrounding area.
We highly recommend venturing to the quaint fishing village of Darien, about 45 minutes south. There you’ll find Fort King George Historic Site, picturesque views of the local shrimp fleet and plenty of places to eat and shop. To stay overnight in Darien we recommend Oaks on the River Resort or, for a more natural, rustic setting but with upscale amenities, check out Emma’s Driftwood Farm.
With a little over an hour of driving time going south from Savannah you can also find yourself in the gateway town of Brunswick with great bars, restaurants and things to do as well as St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island.
Things to do
You’ll find lots of details in the Fun Things to Do in Savannah and Free Things to Do in Savannah articles, but here’s a quick rundown of the most popular activities:
- Take a riverboat cruise. Savannah riverboat cruises are on the paddle-wheel riverboats, the Georgia Queen and the Savannah River Queen, named one of the Top 8 Savannah tours.
- Bar hop the rooftop bars. Maybe home to more rooftop bars per capita than any city in the U.S., some Savannah spots have riverfront views so you can watch the barges and riverboats and some have city views, but they’re all fun!
- Tour the historic cemeteries – Bonaventure, as already mentioned, is a bit out from the historic district, but Colonial Cemetery is right in the middle of it, walkable from anywhere.
- Visit Savannah’s Breweries.
- Shop Broughton Street – It’s true that we could spend hours in Paris Market, but this shopping district offers a ton of variety. There’s even a whole area that’s exclusively sweets shops!
- Visit Forsyth Park – home to Savannah’s iconic fountain. There’s room to spread out, street artists and performers, as well as a Saturday farmers market.
- Visit SCAD – the Savannah College of Art and Design has its own museum, shop featuring art by students and a historic theatre.
- Seek out Savannah’s “dark side”. Often called the “most haunted city in America” the reports of sightings and the number of buildings said to be haunted will blow your mind! You can book any number of tours and even stay in one of Savannah’s haunted hotels. If coming in the fall check out the variety of haunted houses open for the season.
- See the famously beautiful squares of Savannah. If you’re feeling energetic get on your walking shoes and try to hit all 22. If you need a break don’t forget about the free Savannah bus.
- Visit Oatland Island Wildlife Center. A bit out from town, but worth a visit this is Savannah’s answer to a zoo, but it’s so much better!
- Wormsloe Historic Site – A breathtakingly beautiful oak lined avenue leads to the tabby ruins of Wormsloe. This is the oldest standing structure in Savannah. There is a museum, nature trails, gravesites.
- Stroll down Jones Street – said to be the “prettiest street in Savannah”. It is amazing, but with so many beautiful streets in this city it’s hard to choose just one.
- Walk down River Street – no visit to Savannah is complete without a walk down the iconic River Street with its infamous “stairs of death”.
- Cathedral of St. John the Baptist – This Gothic-Revival church is often called the “Sistine Chapel of the South,” and once you step inside, you’ll understand why.
- Explore the lobby at the Plant Riverside Marriott. Here, you’ll find an incredible lobby that is like a natural history museum! Stoll around to check out the enormous geodes and dinosaur bones on display.
- Attend an event or two. Savannah is host to hundreds of event each year from the St. Patrick’s Day Festival to the Savannah Film Festival and many others – small and large. The best way to stay up to date is to subscribe to our short, but informative newsletters or follow us on Instagram. Better yet – do both!
Places to stay in Savannah
The options are practically endless when considering accommodations in Savannah.
We often get asked “is it better to stay on River Street or in the historic district?” These are both great choices! When considering what’s best for you think about what’s important for your Savannah trip. If you like being in the heart of the action or if a river view is important to you choose a River Street hotel.
If you enjoy a location that’s a bit quieter, though still accessible to so much the city has to offer – a Savannah historic district hotel may be best.
Prefer a bed and breakfast, or small inn type experience? There are lots to choose from. A personal favorite of ours is Bellwether House.
There are also tons of options that give you a little more room to spread out, like a cottage or carriage house apartment. If that’s your style, be sure to browse through the Savannah listings on VRBO.
Where to Eat and Drink
The restaurant scene in Savannah is immense and varied. Just a few highlights are below, but we recommend joining a couple of Facebook groups before you visit and ask for recommendations. This works best if you let everyone know your preferences (like fine dining, casual, etc) plus a cusine if you’re looking for something specific and the area you’ll be in.
Start here and then look around and ask locals for more ideas:
- The Olde Pink House (make reservations in advance)
- Vic’s on the River
- Best Burgers in Savannah – this leads to a whole list
- Clary’s Cafe’ for Breakfast
- Collins Quarter – especially for brunch
- Any of the Treylor Park restaurants (to include Hitch and Double Wide)
- Hit as many of the Savannah Breweries as you can – they’re all great
- Lucia Pasta Bar
- 17Hundred90
- Abe’s on Lincoln (our favorite dive bar)
- Alley Cat Lounge (our favorite speakeasy)
- Screamin’ Mimi’s for pizza
- Leopold’s for ice cream
- River Street Sweets for pralines and more
Hidden Gems and Local Tips
Parking can be very expensive in Savannah, particularly hotel valet parking. We recommend using one of the public parking garages.
If you didn’t make reservations at the famed Olde Pink House try the basement bar. It’s got a dark, dreamy vibe – often with a piano player – and the menu is the same as upstairs.
Want to get out on the water but don’t have a lot of time or money? Take the free ferry across to the Westin and back. It’s a fun way to see River Street from the river itself.
Plan Your Savannah Trip
All of the articles about Savannah are listed here in one place:
- Tybee Island Tour from Savannah: 3 Perfect Ways to See the Island
- Christmas in Savannah
- Guide to the Best Savannah Ga Beaches
- Bellwether House Savannah: A Historic Hotel
- Dot Shuttle – Savannah’s Downtown Free Bus
- The Best Time to Visit Savannah
- Free Things to Do in Savannah
- Books about Savannah Georgia
- Spookiest Savannah Haunted Houses
- Savannah’s Zoo – Oatland Island
- Fun Things to Do in Savannah
- The Ultimate Guide to a Savannah Bachelorette Weekend
- The Best Burgers in Savannah
- The Best Breweries in Savannah
- Savannah’s Haunted Hotels
- Savannah’s Best Rooftop Bars
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