Things to do in Savannah
Spring and fall bring warm, comfortable days, blooming azaleas, and Spanish moss at its prettiest. Summer is hot, humid, and prone to afternoon thunderstorms; winter is mild and quiet.
Best months: March, April, October, November
What is worth your time in Savannah
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the BaptistDo not miss
Savannah's twin-spired French Gothic cathedral, glowing inside with Bavarian stained glass and soaring murals.
Architecture · 45 min4.8
Forsyth ParkDo not miss
Savannah's grand 30-acre green, anchored by an iconic white fountain framed by live oaks dripping with Spanish moss.
Park · 1.4 hr4.8
Bonaventure CemeteryDo not miss
A hauntingly beautiful Victorian cemetery of moss-draped oaks and ornate statuary made famous by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Historic Site · 1.5 hr4.7
Chippewa SquareDo not miss
The most famous of Savannah's squares, ringed by oaks and the spot where Forrest Gump waited on his bench.
Landmark · 33 min4.7
River StreetDo not miss
A cobblestone riverfront lined with restored cotton warehouses now full of restaurants, candy shops, and pubs along the Savannah River.
Neighborhood · 1.8 hr4.7
City MarketDo not miss
A lively four-block district of galleries, courtyards, live music, and patio dining at the heart of the Historic District.
Market · 1.5 hr4.6
Mercer-Williams House MuseumDo not miss
The elegant Italianate mansion at the center of the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil story, filled with antiques.
Historic Site · 1 hr4.6
Telfair AcademyDo not miss
One of the South's oldest art museums, a Regency mansion home to the original Bird Girl statue from Bonaventure.
Museum · 1.4 hr4.6
Jepson Center for the ArtsDo not miss
A luminous Moshe Safdie-designed museum of modern and contemporary art on Telfair Square.
Museum · 1.4 hr4.5
Wormsloe State Historic SiteDo not miss
An unforgettable 1.5-mile avenue of 400 live oaks leads to colonial tabby ruins on a marsh-fringed estate.
Historic Site · 2 hr4.5
Jones Street
Reputedly the most beautiful street in America, a canopy of oaks over brick row houses and gas lamps.
Scenic Route · 33 min5
Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home
The preserved Lafayette Square townhouse where the celebrated Southern Gothic writer spent her early years.
Historic Site · 45 min4.9
Pin Point Heritage Museum
A moving tribute to the Gullah-Geechee community set in a former oyster and crab factory on the marsh.
Museum · 1.4 hr4.9
Lafayette Square
A graceful square anchored by the cathedral's spires, a fountain, and the Flannery O'Connor childhood home.
Landmark · 33 min4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- The compact Historic District is wonderfully walkable; explore its grid of 22 leafy squares on foot.
- Savannah has an open-container law in the Historic District, so you can carry a to-go cup down River Street and through the squares.
- Summers are hot and very humid; plan outdoor squares and cemeteries for the morning and duck indoors midday.
- Wear comfortable shoes and watch the uneven cobblestones and ramps along the riverfront.
- A standard tip is 18 to 20 percent at restaurants and a few dollars per tour for guides and drivers.