A Savannah weekend itinerary for first timers

Savannah is one of the most walkable and beautiful cities in the South, with shaded squares, moss draped oaks and historic homes on nearly every block. A weekend is just right: two days in the historic district and a third for cemeteries, plantations and the beach.

Before you go

Best time to visit

Spring is the most popular season, when azaleas bloom and temperatures are mild. Fall brings comfortable weather and fewer crowds. Summer is hot and humid, so plan outdoor walks for early morning and evening. Savannah's St. Patrick's Day celebration is one of the largest in the country and fills hotels fast.

Getting around

The historic district is a grid of streets broken up by public squares, laid out by James Oglethorpe when he founded the colony in 1733. You can walk nearly everywhere. Use a car or rideshare for Bonaventure Cemetery, Wormsloe and Tybee Island.

Where to stay

• Historic District: the heart of it all, with inns, hotels and restaurants near the squares.
• Near Forsyth Park: quieter streets and beautiful old homes.
• Riverfront: hotels close to River Street and the port.
• Tybee Island: a beach town about half an hour away.

Day 1: The squares and the historic district

Morning

Start at Forsyth Park, the largest park in the historic district, and see its famous white fountain at the north end. Then walk north through the squares. Savannah's historic district has twenty two squares, each with its own monuments and trees. Chippewa Square is where the bench scene in Forrest Gump was filmed. Monterey Square is home to the Mercer Williams House, made famous by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Afternoon

Visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, with its twin spires and stained glass. Tour one of the historic house museums, such as the Owens Thomas House or the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, the childhood home of the founder of the Girl Scouts. Stop at Leopold's Ice Cream, a Savannah favorite since 1919.

Evening

Have dinner in the historic district. Southern classics like shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes are on many menus. Afterward, take a ghost tour. Savannah is known as one of the most haunted cities in America, and evening walking tours are a local tradition.

Day 2: River Street and the market

Morning

Start with coffee and a walk to Johnson Square, the first square laid out in the city. Late in the morning, get in line at Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room, where Southern dishes are served family style at shared tables. Check current hours, because they serve only at certain times.

Afternoon

Walk down to River Street, a cobblestone street along the Savannah River lined with old cotton warehouses that now hold shops and restaurants. Climb the old stairs to Factors Walk, where cotton merchants once worked. Watch huge container ships glide by on their way to the port. Visit the Waving Girl statue honoring Florence Martus, who greeted ships for decades.

Evening

Explore City Market, four blocks of restaurants, galleries and shops with live music in the evenings. For dinner, pick a Lowcountry seafood restaurant, then enjoy a sunset riverboat cruise or a stroll along the river.

Day 3: Oaks, cemeteries and the beach

Morning

Drive to Wormsloe State Historic Site, where a long avenue lined with hundreds of live oaks leads to the ruins of a colonial estate. It is one of the most photographed places in Georgia. Arrive early for the best light and fewer people.

Afternoon

Visit Bonaventure Cemetery, a peaceful and beautiful cemetery on a bluff above the Wilmington River, with Victorian monuments shaded by moss draped oaks. Songwriter Johnny Mercer, a Savannah native, is buried here. Then drive out to Tybee Island and climb the Tybee Island Light Station, the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Georgia.

Evening

Watch the sunset on Tybee, have seafood by the beach and return to Savannah for a final stroll through the squares under the gas lamps.

More to explore

Museums and art

The Telfair Museums include the Telfair Academy, one of the oldest public art museums in the South, and the modern Jepson Center. The SCAD Museum of Art, run by the Savannah College of Art and Design, shows contemporary work in a renovated railroad building. Students from SCAD give the city a creative energy you will notice in its galleries and shops.

Fort Pulaski

On the way to Tybee Island, stop at Fort Pulaski National Monument, a brick fort built in the 1800s. During the Civil War, Union rifled cannons breached its walls, showing that brick forts were no longer safe. Walk the moat and the ramparts and look for the cannon damage still visible in the walls.

Where to eat

Look for Lowcountry dishes like shrimp and grits, she crab soup, crab cakes and fried shrimp. A Lowcountry boil of shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes is perfect on Tybee. Bakeries, coffee shops and casual cafes fill the squares, so you can graze all day.

A short drive away

If you have a long weekend, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina is less than an hour away, with wide beaches, bike paths and golf. Charleston is a longer drive up the coast and deserves a trip of its own.

Tips for a great weekend

• Wear comfortable shoes. Sidewalks are uneven in the historic district.
• Bring bug spray in warm months, especially for Wormsloe and Bonaventure.
• Check current hours for house museums and tours.
• Book a romantic inn early if this is a special trip; see our honeymoon planner guide for more ideas.

Planning it in Wander Off

Create a Savannah adventure and add each stop to the Plan tab by day, from Forsyth Park on Day 1 to Tybee Island on Day 3. Invite your travel partners so everyone can vote on restaurants and tours. Book flights, hotels and things to do in the Tickets tab, and ask the AI Travel Concierge for ideas near your inn. Your photos and videos land on the right day and place automatically, and when you get home you can make the adventure public so friends can copy it. For more Southern charm, see our New Orleans 3 day itinerary or our Nashville weekend itinerary.