Savannah: Travel Guide

Savannah at a Glance

Savannah, Georgia is one of the most architecturally intact 18th- and 19th-century cities in the United States. Founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe as Georgia’s first settlement, it was laid out on a grid of 22 public squares shaded by live oak trees draped in Spanish moss. That grid survives largely intact, which means walking from square to square through Savannah’s historic district is an experience unlike anything available in most American cities. The city is also the home of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), which has pumped creative energy into the local arts and restaurant scene since the 1970s. River Street along the Savannah River is the tourist-heavy waterfront; the better restaurants and most atmospheric neighborhoods are a few blocks inland.

Getting There and Getting Around

By air: Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is a small regional airport with direct connections to Atlanta, New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, and several other cities. It is approximately 8 miles from the historic district; rideshares cost approximately $20–$30.

By car: I-95 passes about 10 miles west of the city; I-16 runs east from Macon directly into Savannah. From Atlanta, the drive is approximately 4 hours via I-16.

By bus: Greyhound serves Savannah’s station at 610 W Oglethorpe Ave.

Within the city: The historic district is walkable — the 22 squares are roughly a mile and a half north-to-south and two miles east-to-west. The free DOT Downtown Connector bus runs a loop through the historic district and the riverfront. CAT (Chatham Area Transit) runs additional bus routes for reaching neighborhoods outside the historic core. Driving within the historic district is possible but the one-way streets and narrow lanes around the squares can be confusing; walking or cycling is more effective. Bikes are available for rent from several operators on River Street from approximately $20 per hour.

The Historic District and the Squares

The 22 surviving public squares (of the original 24) are the organizing feature of Savannah’s historic district, and understanding how they work makes the city much easier to navigate and appreciate. Each square is a small park, roughly half an acre, surrounded by historic buildings. They have individual characters — Chippewa Square has the bench from the film Forrest Gump’s opening sequences; Madison Square has the Green-Meldrim House where Sherman headquartered after his March to the Sea; Columbia Square has the Davenport House, one of the finest Federal-style houses in the South.

Walking a circuit of the squares — Bull Street runs through the five main squares north-to-south — takes approximately 90 minutes at an unhurried pace and costs nothing. The Savannah Tourism site publishes a free downloadable square map.

Top Attractions

Forsyth Park — Gaston St at Whitaker St, southern edge of the historic district. A 30-acre park with one of the most photographed fountains in the South (an 1858 cast-iron fountain modeled on ones in Paris). Free. Farmers market on Saturday mornings (open approximately 9 a.m.–1 p.m.). A band plays on the main lawn on Saturday evenings in warm months.

SCAD Museum of Art — 601 Turner Blvd. Open Tuesday–Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday–Sunday noon–5 p.m. Admission approximately $10 adults, free under 13 as of 2026. A well-curated contemporary art museum in a converted 1853 railroad depot; the Rooftop Garden is worth seeking out.

Telfair Museums — Three locations: Telfair Academy (121 Barnard St), Jepson Center (207 W York St), Owens-Thomas House (124 Abercorn St). A combined ticket covers all three for approximately $25 adults as of 2026. The Owens-Thomas House (1819) is one of the finest Regency-style houses in America; the behind-the-scenes architectural tour is worth the additional cost.

Bonaventure Cemetery — 330 Bonaventure Rd, approximately 3 miles east of the historic district. A Victorian garden cemetery on a bluff above the Wilmington River, famous as the setting of John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Free to enter. Self-guided walking maps available from the cemetery office. The moss-draped oak allées and antebellum family monuments are among the most atmospheric in the country.

River Street — The nine blocks of River Street along the Savannah River waterfront are the tourist epicenter — souvenir shops, restaurants, candy shops, and bars. It is worth an evening stroll but the better dining is elsewhere. The Cotton Exchange building at the east end and the historic Factors Walk (the elevated walkway connecting River Street to Bay Street) are worth looking at architecturally.

Where to Eat

The Grey — 109 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (in the 1938 Greyhound bus terminal). One of the most acclaimed restaurants in the American South. Chef Mashama Bailey cooks Georgia food with serious culinary precision — Port City Southern cooking is the term she uses. Entrees approximately $32–$55. Reservations are essential and often require booking two to three weeks ahead on weekends.

The Grey Market — 109 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (adjacent to The Grey). A counter-service lunch spin-off by the same team, serving sandwiches, salads, and prepared foods. Most items approximately $12–$18. Open for lunch and early dinner Tuesday–Saturday.

Husk Savannah — 12 W Oglethorpe Ave. Chef Sean Brock’s Sean Brock’s Southern ingredients manifesto, in a beautiful 1896 Victorian house. Menus focus exclusively on ingredients grown and produced in the South. Entrees approximately $28–$52.

Cotton & Rye — 1801 Abercorn St, Starland District. A reliable neighborhood restaurant in the SCAD-adjacent Starland area with well-executed Southern comfort food and an excellent weekend brunch. Entrees approximately $18–$36.

The Ordinary Pub — 217 W Bryan St, City Market area. A relaxed British-style pub with a serious kitchen serving well-sourced local seafood and Savannah-area produce. Entrees approximately $16–$28.

Leopold’s Ice Cream — 212 E Broughton St. A Savannah institution since 1919. The ice cream is made on-site with house-made flavors including Tutti Frutti (the original) and Honey Lavender. Single scoops approximately $5–$6. Waits in summer can stretch 30–45 minutes but the line moves steadily.

Where to Stay

The Mansion on Forsyth Park — 700 Drayton St. A 126-room luxury hotel directly on Forsyth Park, with an art-filled interior and the 700 Drayton restaurant. Rates approximately $250–$500 per night as of 2026.

The Perry Lane Hotel — 256 E Perry Lane. A 167-room luxury boutique hotel in the heart of the historic district, with a rooftop pool and bar. Rates approximately $280–$520 per night as of 2026.

Kehoe House — 123 Habersham St (Columbia Square). A beautifully restored 1892 Romanesque Revival inn with 13 rooms and exceptional breakfasts. Rates approximately $220–$380 per night as of 2026.

The Brice, A Kimpton Hotel — 601 E Bay St. A 145-room boutique hotel in a converted warehouse near Factors Walk, with a courtyard pool. Rates approximately $200–$380 per night as of 2026.

Andaz Savannah — 14 Barnard St (Ellis Square). A 151-room Hyatt-brand boutique hotel on Ellis Square, with a rooftop bar and one of the better locations in the historic district. Rates approximately $200–$360 per night as of 2026.

Hyatt Regency Savannah — 2 W Bay St. A full-service convention hotel on the Savannah River with river-view rooms available. Rates approximately $180–$320 per night as of 2026.

Budget: Savannah has a genuine hostel option. HI Savannah (304 E Hall St, Victorian District) is located within the historic grid, approximately a 10-minute walk from Forsyth Park — dorm beds from approximately $35–$50 per night as of 2026. For budget travellers who prefer a private room with more character, the Thunderbird Inn (611 W Oglethorpe Ave) is a 1964 retro motel near the Historic District with rates from approximately $100–$140 per night as of 2026 — one of the better-value options in the city given its location and personality.

Practical Information

Best time to visit: March through May is peak season — the St. Patrick’s Day celebration (the second-largest in the country after New York) fills the city around March 17 and requires booking months ahead. Fall (October–November) is the best combination of comfortable weather, manageable crowds, and accommodation pricing. Summers are hot and very humid (85°F–95°F with high humidity); October averages around 72°F.

Open container: Savannah permits open containers of alcohol in the historic district, making it legal to carry a drink between restaurants or take a cocktail from a bar to the street. To-go cups from bars and restaurants are common. This applies to the historic district only, not citywide.

Georgia sales tax: Chatham County sales tax is approximately 8% on most goods as of 2026.