An aerial view of historic Savannah, Georgia. In the foreground are several antique brick buildings surrounded by trees among the streets; the lower half of the photo includes scenery like this, and along the horizon is the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. The sky is painted orange and purple by a Georgia sunset.

Savannah, Georgia. Photo courtesy of Visit Savannah

Guide to Savannah

One of the country's oldest planned cities, Savannah is full of reasons to visit. Here are a few quick tips for fun things to do in Savannah, places to stay, great restaurants and events you'll love.

Savannah, Georgia, one of America's first planned cities, is a Southern escape nestled on Georgia's coastline. In this historic city, art, architecture, trendy boutiques, electrifying entertainment and haunted stories all create an experience unmatched anywhere else.

Nicknamed the Hostess City, Savannah was first settled in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe, making it one of the oldest cities in the country. It was one of the first planned cities, set up on grids with squares in between. Historic preservation saved many of the iconic buildings that the city is known for today.

Things to Do

There’s no shortage of things to keep you busy during your trip to Savannah. Fill your day strolling through Instagrammable spots, iconic locations and enchanting experiences that make Savannah the perfect playground.

1. Enmarket Arena

The highly anticipated Enmarket Arena might be Savannah's biggest addition of late. The 9,500-maximum-seat capacity sporting and events venue is located about a mile west of Savannah's Historic Landmark District. Attendees to the arena can catch big-name performances and concerts like Bon Jovi, Pit Bull, Andrea Bocelli and more. For sports fans, catch a Savannah Ghost Pirates hockey game during their winter season. The completion of Enmarket Arena is the first milestone in a larger development plan for Savannah's west side.

The lobby of the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District in Savannah, Georgia, which is busy with art pieces and brick walls and stained-glass windows. The inside of the hotel is industrial-looking, with exposed brick and metal framing visible. In the foreground of the photo is a display of a chicken-nugget sculpture lit up from below.
Lobby of the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District in Savannah, Georgia. Photo by @gcalebjones

2. Plant Riverside District

Among the fun things to do in Savannah for adults, this one is a must. Explore the restaurants, shops, rooftop bars and more at Plant Riverside District, the new entertainment district on historic River Street. The former power plant has been transformed into a vibrant destination for nightlife, entertainment and sightseeing. Plan to stay close to the action when you book a room on-site at one of three unique JW Marriott hotel buildings.

3. Bonaventure Cemetery

Go on a historical tour or ghost hunt at Bonaventure Cemetery, the marshside cemetery that is the final resting place of Johnny Mercer and Conrad Aiken. Spanish moss-draped trees and spring azaleas make it a favorite spot of photographers. Stroll through the winding pathways to reflect on Savannah's history and its former residents.

A parent reaches down to hold the small hand of their small child on a cobblestone path in Savannah, Georgia. The parent and child are wearing the same outfit — a jean jacket with white pants. Around them are tall, thick trees, lawns of grass and stately-looking buildings. The two people in the photo are facing away from the camera, so their backs are visible.
Woman and child in Savannah, Georgia. Photo by @bronstonphotography

4. Historic Landmark District

Savannah's Historic District is sprinkled with 22 historic squares, stunning period architecture and beautiful cobblestone streets, each with unique elements and stories. Take a walk down "America's Most Beautiful Street," Jones Street, take photos in front of the iconic Forsyth Fountain, and stop at places like Chippewa Square, best known as the site of the bench scene from the movie "Forrest Gump."

5. Savannah Museums

Spend a day wandering the three Telfair Museums, including The Jepson Center for the Arts, featuring modern works, The Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters Museum, a historic home in the English Regency design, and the Telfair Academy, which is home to the famous Bird Girl statue from "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia, stands tall and towering against a slightly-cloudy, blue sky. There are tall palm trees lining the property and the building is painted an orange-yellow color.
St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia. Photo courtesy Visit Savannah

6. Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist

Explore the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, one of the many stunning church spires that make up Savannah’s “skyline” of sorts. Viewing this living history is one of the best free things to do in Savannah. Aptly named the "Sistine of the South," this French Gothic cathedral dates back to 1876, making it the oldest Roman Catholic church in the state. Admission to the cathedral is free, and viewing the interior is a must-do for all Savannah's visitors.

7. American Prohibition Museum

Located within the bustling Savannah City Market, the American Prohibition Museum (the only one in the United States) stretches over 6,000 square feet. It contains 13 different galleries packed with artifacts from the Prohibition era. The self-guided tour will eventually lead you to the museum's speakeasy, designed to embody an authentic 1920s speakeasy bar. Here, you can marvel at the gorgeous antique wood bar while sipping on cocktails served by costumed bartenders.

On the left of the photo, the Tybee Island Pier reaches out to end in the ocean, whose white waves stretch to the horizon of the photo. A seagull on the righthand side of the photo flaps its wings in the wind. To the left of the photo peering through the gaps in the pier is the red-orange sun of an early sunrise. The sky above is a light blue, pink and orange.
Pier on Tybee Island, Georgia. Photo by @gcalebjones

8. Tybee Island

A visit to Savannah is not complete without a few nights on Tybee Island, Savannah’s nearby beach town. Transport yourself to a nostalgic beach experience only 20 minutes from downtown Savannah. You can browse the shops, dine out or simply spend the day relaxing. Learn about the history of the island at the Tybee Island Lighthouse/Museum, Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse, or explore Fort Pulaski National Monument, a civil war defense structure. Families flock to the newly built, 5,000-square-foot Tybee Island Marine Science Center to learn about Georgia's coastal ecosystem and marine life.

The back of a red Jeep drives away on a street in Savannah, Georgia. On either side of the road are cars parked and streetlights, trees and businesses in old brick buildings. There are several signs lining the buildings. The sky above is light blue and peppered with gray-and-white clouds.
Street scene in Savannah, Georgia. Photo by @gcalebjones

9. Shopping in Savannah

Explore the historic City Market district, which offers four blocks of shops, restaurants and art galleries in former grain warehouses. It’s the perfect spot to pick up souvenirs! Another area that transformed industrial spaces into retail and dining is River Street, which has former cotton warehouses. Here you’ll find some of the city’s most popular bars, which let you take your drinks to go.

The Talmadge Memorial Bridge stands tall in the background, and in the foreground is the Georgia Queen Riverboat in Savannah, Georgia. The sky is dusty blue with whispy clouds and on the horizon is an expansive, dense forest of green trees.
Georgia Queen Riverboat in Savannah, Georgia. Photo by @gcalebjones

10. The Georgia Queen Riverboat

While you’re on the river, take a dinner cruise or gospel brunch cruise on The Georgia Queen, a paddlewheel riverboat. It has an open deck up top and an air-conditioned interior. You'll garner unparalleled views of historic River Street and the Savannah River. Plus, with educational activities for the whole family, this cruise is just one of the many fun things to do in Savannah with kids.

The art-covered, long, red-roofed building of the Pin Point Heritage Museum in Savannah, Georgia, sits on the left of the photo. There is a palm tree stretching up to the sky to the right of the building, and two people next to the building are walking away from the camera. The sky above is deep blue and cloudless.
Pin Point Heritage Museum in Savannah, Georgia. Photo by Geoff Johnson

11. Pin Point Heritage Museum

Immerse yourself in Gullah Geechee heritage and culture in Savannah's Moon River District at Pin Point Heritage Museum, which educates visitors on the freed slaves that make up the coastal communities.

Find more things to do in Savannah

Places to Stay

1. The Thompson Savannah

Find luxury along the Savannah River’s edge where the Historic District meets the Eastern Wharf, a modern destination in the making. A stepping stone to experiencing the city’s best, Thompson Savannah is an urban oasis to relax, revitalize and rejuvenate. Minutes from the city’s treasured historic sites, let Thompson Savannah, a premier modern luxury hotel, be your springboard to exploring it all. As a bonus, this hotel is also pet-friendly.

The interior of a room at the Perry Lane Hotel in Savannah, Georgia, displays two cleanly-made, white-sheeted beds adorned with pillows. The walls are painted a deep green and scattered with hanging framed photographs. To the right of the photo is a large window dappling sunlight.
Perry Lane Hotel in Savannah, Georgia

2. Perry Lane Hotel

The Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection property, has a stylish contemporary design with a rooftop bar and two additional restaurants. Amenities in the rooms and suites include Italian linens and robes, top-of-the-line bath products and room service. The hotel also is pet-friendly.

3. River Street Inn

Each hotel and inn in Savannah has its own unique history. River Street Inn was an 1800s cotton warehouse that overlooks the Savannah River and the River Street entertainment district below. Rooms feature exposed brick walls, four-poster beds and flat-screen televisions.

4. Hamilton-Turner Inn

The AAA Four Diamond Hamilton-Turner Inn is a historic property set among the live oaks of Lafayette Square. The home, which was featured in “The Book,” is furnished with period antiques and crystal chandeliers. Enjoy daily wine receptions and chef-prepared breakfasts. You didn't hear it from us, but guests often experience haunting encounters while staying here.

A regal, multi-storied, brick, Victorian building adorned in more than 10 windows sits tall and stately on a street. This building is the Kehoe House in Savannah, Georgia. Thick leaves of trees cover the top left of the photo, and beneath those leaves in front of the building is a red-and-black Old Town Trolley.
The Kehoe House in Savannah, Georgia

5. Kehoe House

One of the best bed and breakfasts in town is Kehoe House, an 1892 Renaissance Revival mansion with 13 guest rooms furnished with antiques. Amenities include daily breakfast, wine reception, and evening coffee and cookies.

6. Foley House Inn

Across from famous Chippewa Square, the Foley House Inn is set around a lush garden courtyard. Some rooms come with fireplaces, balconies, private porches and Jacuzzis. Your stay includes a full Southern breakfast and access to their library.

7. The Gastonian

Another favorite inn is The Gastonian, made up of two adjoining Regency Italianate mansions from 1868. The award-winning bed and breakfast has 17 rooms that offer daily gourmet breakfast, afternoon wine receptions, and coffee and dessert nightly.

8. Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa

Across the river, The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa has famous Heavenly beds and a spa, a PGA championship golf course, access to downtown by ferry and access to a beach club on secluded Daufuskie Island.

Find more places to stay in Savannah

Places to Eat

The interior of Zunzibar in Savannah, Georgia, features a lot of colorful and flashy decor, lights and futniture. In the middle background of the phtoo is a grass wall with a neon-light display of a blue glass with a rainbow paper umbrella. There are stools and tables lined up across the room next to other seating, and the floor is decorated in checkerboard pattern.
Zunzibar in Savannah, Georgia

1. Zunzibar

A hybrid eatery combining the delicious food menu of Zunzi's with the imaginative drink menu of Treylor Park is now open! Zunzibar is a fusion of two fan-favorite Savannah restaurants in the heart of historic Savannah. Come for the conquistadors, stay for the craft cocktails.

2. Ardsley Station

One of Savannah's newest restaurants is located off the beaten path, just north of Victory Drive. Ardsley Station's menu features a variety of options, from rich dishes like poutine and truffle lobster mac to light bites and hand-crafted cocktails. With outdoor patio seating, this Starland eatery is a fun hangout for date nights, small gatherings, or private events.

3. Franklin's

If you fancy sipping your coffee in a gorgeous space, then head straight for Franklin's Coffee Shop on Liberty Street. This Instagram-worthy spot not only has a delightful cafe beverage menu, but they also serve up delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch items. The croque-monsieur is life-changing, and be sure to wash it down with a boozy coffee in typical Savannah fashion.

4. Common Thread

Nestled in Savannah's Victorian District is the city's newest cornerstone of farm-to-table dining experiences. Common Thread is founded on the commitment to producing, providing and serving only locally sourced foods.

An overhead view of table featuring plates of pecans, sliced bread, potato salad, golden-brown buns with a side of creamy dip, plus three colorful drinks at The Grey in Savannah, Georgia.
The Grey in Savannah, Georgia

5. The Grey

Make reservations for The Grey, the most praised restaurant in the city that is set in a former Greyhound bus station. James Beard Award-winning Chef Mashama Bailey brings together regional ingredients with traditional dishes.

6. The Olde Pink House

One of the city’s most popular restaurants, The Olde Pink House is an 18th-century mansion that has long welcomed guests for Southern fare with outdoor dining and live entertainment every night.

An up-close photo of a salad at The Collins Quarter in Savannah, Georgia. The plate is white, circular ceramic topped with greens, sprouts, sliced radishes and roasted squash.
The Collins Quarter in Savannah, Georgia

7. The Collins Quarter

For Aussie-style coffee and photogenic brunch dishes, visit The Collins Quarter, a cafe with an emphasis on farm-to-table ingredients and specialty coffee. Don’t miss their champagne breakfast and brunch or their sister location inside Forsyth Park.

The exterior of Leopold's Ice cream in Savannah, Georgia, is a beige building with two stories and long, vertical windows. In the foreground are two hands holding up a cup of ice cream as well as a waffle cone topped with a few scoops of a pink ice cream. There are more people facing away from the camera in line for ice cream behind the subjects of the photo.
Ice cream at Leopold's in Savannah, Georgia. Photo by @missbrittleighh

8. Gryphon Tea Room & Leopold's Ice Cream

Operated by the Savannah College of Art and Design, the Gryphon Tea Room has authentic tea service in a cozy 1920s building. After tea, indulge your sweet tooth at Leopold's Ice Cream, a classic soda fountain dating back to 1919, with more than 20 flavors.

9. Hop Atomica

This brewery turned distillery gastropub serves up rotating beers and hard seltzers perfectly paired with seasonal menu items like squash tacos and sweet potato pizza. Hip and trendy visitors and locals flock to Hop Atomica in the up-and-coming Baldwin Park neighborhood.

A hand holds two halves of a bagel sandwich with the background of a dark-green shrub littered with bright-pink flowers. The sandwich is from Big Bon Bodega in Savannah, Georgia, and its vibrant colors of ham, bacon, guacamole, arugula and tomato radiate through the photo.
Big Bon Bodega in Savannah, Georgia

10. Big Bon Bodega

Owner Kay Heritage and Chef Jay Langfelder serve up a blend of New York-style pizza with an authentic Korean influence at Big Bon Bodega in Savannah's Starland District. Swing by this bodega in the morning for a New York City-style bagel (with a twist) or grab some friends for a wood-fire pizza experience in the evenings. Two visits in one day? We won't judge!

11. Pizzeria Vittoria

From the chef that brought you Pizzeria Vittoria in Starland Yard, comes Lucia. Chef Kyle Jacovino is known for his pizza dough, so it comes as no surprise that he's opening up a casual eatery dedicated to grinders (sub sandwiches) this summer. Not far behind is Brochu's Family Tradition. Andrew Brochu, chef to one of Chicago's most acclaimed restaurants, is setting roots down in Savannah to open this new Starland District establishment. This informal, coastal-inspired joint will mirror the crab boils and barbecues he enjoyed growing up.

12. Sisters of the New South

With a laidback, family-friendly atmosphere and cafeteria-style serving, Sisters of the New South is the place to go if you want to know where the locals get their soul food. Choose from Southern favorites like candied yams, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, fried chicken and more.

13. Good Times Jazz Bar & Restaurant

Enjoy great Southern fare, fine wines and the best jazz in a sophisticated, relaxing atmosphere at Good Times Jazz Bar & Restaurant. If you’re looking for a great night of entertainment and good food, look no further!

Find more places to eat in Savannah

Events

A few lines of bagpipe players march down a street at the St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah, Georgia. There are spectators on either side of the performers all clad in bright green, cheering on the performers. There are willows in the foreground and background whose branches nearly reach the ground.
St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah, Georgia

While the St. Patrick’s Day festivities are among the largest in the nation, it’s not the only big event held in Savannah.

1. Savannah Music Festival

The Savannah Music Festival in late March through mid-April also hosts big acts every spring and fosters arts education. Check out more live-music events in Savannah.

A singer dressed in a patterned skirt and shirt holds a microphone to their mouth. In their other hand, they have a Shekere (a West African percussion instrument with a handle, ball-shaped bulb covered in beads that make noise when shaken). Behind them, a bass player, guitar player and drummer all play their instruments and smile, performing at the Savannah Music Festival in Savannah, Georgia.
Savannah Music Festival in Savannah, Georgia

2. Savannah VOICE Festival

The Savannah VOICE Festival in August emphasizes opera, musical theater, and song.

3. Savannah Jazz Festival

The Savannah Jazz Festival offers up exciting jazz musicians across the city in September.

4. SCAD Savannah Film Festival

SCAD Savannah Film Festival in late October through early November honors actors, directors, and films. Don't miss out on other film festivals in Georgia.

5. Savannah PRIDE Festival

In Savannah, y'all means ALL! The city's big PRIDE festival serves up a fierce parade, kid-friendly performances as well as after-dark experiences over Halloween weekend.

Find more events in Savannah

Published: March 2024

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