Discover 33 Wonderful Things To Do in Savannah for an Enchanting Visit

Welcome to one of America’s most charming cities!

Savannah, Georgia, has it all – fine dining, sunny beaches, quant squares, southern hospitality, historical sites, and a dash of intrigue.

Discover the best things to do in Savannah and plan your trip to the seaside town!

The Best Things To Do In Savannah

Savannah packs so much into a small town. Georgia’s oldest city, established in 1733, covers a little under 115 square miles and hosts a population of around 150,000 residents.

Savannah bursts with fun activities despite its small size. I lived in this charming small town for two years and married a lifelong resident – let me help you uncover 33 of the best adventures in and around Savannah.

Explore River Street

When you first arrive in Savannah, head to River Street, the historic cobblestone road along the Savannah River.  

Don’t expect your GPS to guide you. River Street is closed to cars, so you’ll have to park and walk down the ancient stairways to enjoy the scenic views and visit the fantastic bars, shops, and occasional artisan markets lining the river.  

While strolling the path, don’t miss River Street Sweets, home to the best praline candies in Georgia. The smells are free, but I dare you to leave without at least tasting a sample of the delicious confection.

Relax in a Square

Savannah’s numerous squares offer tourists and residents alike a pleasant respite from the town’s bustling streets.

The small squares scattered throughout the historic and downtown region feature giant oaks covered in moss, park benches, pedestrian paths, and sculptures celebrating the city’s history. They give the city a European feel, contributing to Savannah’s charm and grace.

Enjoying a relaxing break in a square is one of the best things to do in Savannah, even for the busiest travelers.

Bar Hop

Savannah’s downtown district bursts with bars and clubs catering to nearly every nightlife taste imaginable. And since Savannah is one of the only cities in the US that allows you to take your drink to go, it’s easy to experience them all!

Start at Wet Willy’s on River Street for a delicious yet dangerous smoothie, then explore the historic downtown district with a drink in hand. Pop into a bar for a drink whenever needed, and enjoy your tasty beverage in one of the city’s charming squares or on the riverfront. 

Letting the night lead the way is one of the best things to do in Savannah.

Embark on a Ghost Tour

Some call Savannah the most haunted city in America. Its long history includes tales of intrigue, ghastly crimes, and strange happenings. Savannah was at the forefront of the American Revolution and the Civil War, and according to legend, many spirits remain. 

Discover the haunted history by embarking on a ghost tour. The tours will take you to the city’s most haunted locales, where the guide will regal you with sinister stories of otherworldly spirits trapped between the vale.

If you love ghosts, ghouls, and all things creepy, a ghost tour is the top thing to do in Savannah.

Visit a Graveyard

Graveyards and cemeteries don’t typically feature on traveler’s bucket lists, but you should make an exception while visiting Savannah.

Colonial Park Cemetery, in the heart of the downtown historic district, was established in 1750 and features some of the city’s oldest gravesites. It’s the final resting place of Revolutionary soldiers, artists, and signors of the Declaration.    

Bonaventure Cemetery on the city’s east side offers an eerie yet beautiful way to honor the dead. The ethereal-looking graveyard features tombs and mini-mausoleums honoring the city’s most esteemed residents, with a gorgeous backdrop of massive oak trees covered in Spanish moss.

Enjoy a Drink at a Speakeasy

Travel back in time to the roaring 20s with good drinks and good company at one of Savannah’s secret speakeasies.

The historic district features a handful of speakeasy bars, each bursting with 1920s décor and festivities. To add extra intrigue to your speakeasy adventure, head to the Mata Hari, which requires a secret passcode to enter (ask your hotel concierge!).

Congress Street Up’s menu only features drinks you could get during prohibition, while the Alley Cat Lounge has one of the largest cocktail selections in the city.

Prohibition Museum

During the day, the downstairs portion of Congress Street Up serves a history lesson on prohibition. The museum features 20 exhibitions highlighting prohibition’s birth in the 1850s temperance movement through its ultimate repeal in the 1930s.

Explore over 200 artifacts showcasing this fascinating period in American history while enjoying a tasty drink from the speakeasy upstairs.

Video Game Bar

Savannah features three unique gaming bars where people can play their favorite games while enjoying a tasty beverage.

Totally Awesome Bar transports you to the 1980s with jukeboxes, retro décor, and, of course, your favorite arcade classics. The Portal Arcade Bar offers true 1980s nostalgia, with cheap pizza, beers, and walls full of pinball.

For a more modern gaming experience, head to the Chromatic Dragon, where you can play Xbox, Switch, and party games with your friends. 

Tour a Haunted Mansion

Take a peek inside a real-life haunted mansion with a tour through the creepy Sorrel Weed House. The ghost tours provide a glimpse into the lives of the historic residents who never left and a chance for a supernatural encounter.

Those who want a more intense experience can join paranormal investigators as they collect evidence of the haunting or opt for the paranormal lock-in tour, which allows them to explore the strange happenings in small groups.

Forsyth Park

While visiting the city, you must take a stroll through Forsyth Park, a 30-acre square featuring a gorgeous white fountain.

Forsyth bursts with activity. On regular days, you’ll find residents walking their dogs, college students lying in the grass, and children playing. The park also hosts numerous special events throughout the year, like farmer’s markets, jazz festivals, sidewalk chalk art competitions, and more. 

Georgia Railroad Museum

Learn about America’s iconic railway system with a trip to the Georgia Railroad Museum.

The museum’s location at the Old Central of Georgia Railway Repair Shops Complex sets the scene, while interactive exhibits, such as touring historic railcars, showcase what life was like on the rails. 

Enjoy Southern Cuisine

While in the South, you must sample fine homestyle dining that defines Southern cuisine.

Savannah features an abundance of restaurants showcasing the city’s historic food culture. Visit the Olde Pink House, a fine dining experience based on homestyle southern cooking nestled in one of the city’s oldest structures, or The Grey for a fine dining experience in a more modern, upscale venue.

For southern fare on a budget, check out Sisters of the New South, which features a limited menu, low prices, and mouthwatering food.

Fort Pulaski National Monument

History buffs should head to the eastern shore, where Fort Pulaski National Monument proudly rests.

Fort Pulaski’s history starts with the War of 1812. After the short battle, the president realized the country needed more fortifications along the coast. Construction began in 1829.

However, it wasn’t until the Civil War that Fort Pulaski saw military action. Its strategic location on the Savannah River, between South Carolina and Georgia, made it prime real estate for the opposing forces. The Confederacy held it after Georgia succeeded, but Union Forces seized control after a battle in 1862.

Today, you can still see the massive craters left by cannon fire and tour the rooms where captured Confederate soldiers were imprisoned.

Tybee Island

If you want to get your beach on while visiting Savannah, head to Tybee Island, the quaint beach town on the eastern coast.

The island features five major beaches, from the bustling South Beach in the restaurant district to the serene North Beach for those who want a more natural setting. Enjoy sunbathing, water sports, and coastal cuisine for a relaxing day away from Savannah’s bustling downtown district.

St. Patrick’s Day

Savannah hosts one of the country’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Thousands of revelers descend upon the city every March to partake in the annual festivities, which include a massive parade, festival, and, of course, all the Irish pubs.

The celebrations start a few weeks before St. Patrick’s Day with the annual Greening of Forsyth Park Fountain, where city officials dye the water Green in honor of the coming events.

Savannah’s biggest party of the year kicks off on the weekend near St. Patrick’s Day, where merrymakers spill into the closed-off streets and squares to celebrate the occasion.

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Voyage the seven seas without leaving land by visiting the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, featuring nine galleries of ship models, maritime artifacts, and artworks celebrating the shipping industry.

Located in the historic William Scarbrough house, the museum offers a trip through time with its stunning architecture, splendid gardens, and maritime history on display.

Telfair Academy

The Telfair Academy of Art and Science, located inside the historic Telfair Mansion, serves as Savannah’s premier art museum.

The Academy features primarily European and American artworks from the 19th century to the present, many of which came from Telfair’s private collection. The works are hosted in the mansion-turned-museum, so the galleries were once bedrooms and dining rooms.

Jepson Center

The Jepson Center and Telfair Children’s Art Museum are only a short walk from the Telfair Academy and are an important part of the Telfair Museum family. While the Telfair Academy celebrates art history, the Jepson Center looks to the future with a collection of modern and contemporary artworks.

The Telfair Children’s Art Museum, located inside the Jepson Center, offers interactive activities to spark children’s interest in the arts.

Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters

The Owen-Thomas House & Slave Quarters doesn’t shy away from Savannah’s nefarious history as part of a slave state. This third and final piece of the Telfair Museum family explores the complex relationship between the Southern gentry and slaves of the 19th century through art, history, and architecture.

Though the mansion embodies the wealth and power of Southern slaveholders, tours focus on how the wealth was built on enslaved people’s backs and highlight the life and labor of the people who were forced to work there.

Savannah History Museum

Discover everything about Savannah from its founding through today with a journey through the Savannah History Museum.

Start with exhibits about Savannah’s first residents, then discover what the city was like during colonial times and how shipping and agriculture played massive roles in its development. Learn about Savannah’s role during the American Revolution, Civil War, and World Wars.

When you’re finished in the museum, head across the street to honor our fallen in Battlefield Memorial Park, one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center

Visit the Oatland Island Wildlife Center just outside the city to get up close and personal with the other creatures who call Savannah home. The center protects over 100 acres of native coastal forest and provides a home for 95 animals across over 30 species.

Visitors can see alligators, bobcats, and eagles while learning about the massive diversity of species that rely on us to conserve their habitats. In its mission to connect guests with the natural world, the Oatland Island Wildlife Center offers educational activities for kids of all ages.

See the Savannah Bananas

Go “Bananas” while cheering for Savannah’s exhibition baseball team.

The Bananas, known for their crazy celebrations, choreographed dances, silly walks, and wild tricks, transform the sport into an iconic show you’ll never forget. It’s the best thing to do in Savannah that you won’t find on most lists. 

Take a Stroll Down Jones Street

According to legend, General Sherman spared Savannah in his infamous “march to the sea” because the city was too beautiful to burn to the ground.

Experience the renowned beauty with a stroll down Jones Street, rated as the prettiest street in the gorgeous Southern town. The area features a brick-paved road, wide brick sidewalks, historic homes, and sturdy oaks draped in Spanish moss. The homes have facades ranging from brick to colorful siding.

A walk down Jones Street truly is a walk to remember.

Savannah City Market

The Savannah City Market sprawls across four blocks of the historic downtown district. It features some of the city’s best markets and restaurants, along with trendy galleries and rotating exhibits.

Explore the bustling City Market to find resident artists, tasting rooms, bars, bakeries, trolly tours, and more. As the town center, it also hosts a visitor’s center for tourists who need information.

Black History Tour

Don’t ignore the dark side of Savannah’s history. The Southern city was home to slaveowners and enslaved people during the 19th century, was a strategic location during the Civil War, and saw its share of protests and struggles during the Civil Rights Era.

While exposing yourself to the history of slavery and oppression in America can be an uncomfortable experience, it’s crucial so that we don’t make the same mistakes of the past.

Book a Black History Tour during your trip to Savannah and learn the truth so we don’t repeat it.

Historical Walking Tour

Savannah bursts with history, and a walking tour provides a great way to discover it.

Numerous historical walking tours take you through the heart of Savannah, showing you the city’s most famous landmarks, sharing tales of famous residents, and explaining how the charming city became what it is today.

Trolly Tour

If you don’t feel like walking, consider hopping on a Savannah Trolly Tour. The trolleys can cover more ground than foot tours, allowing you to explore the city beyond the small historic district.

The hop-on-hop-off trolly tour passes 17 of Savannah’s most popular destinations. Guests can hop off, explore the site at their leisure, then hop on again to travel to the next location.  The narrated tours let you relax while riding through Savannah’s picturesque cobblestone streets and learning about the city’s intriguing past.

River Tour

One of the best things to do in Savannah is see the city from a new perspective. Cruise in style on the Georgia Queen, a historic riverboat, while learning about Savannah’s rich maritime history and viewing the port that helped the city grow.

Numerous riverboat cruise options, ranging from a 90-minute historical tour to a dinner or sunset cruise, are available to provide you with plenty of options for a romantic boat ride.

Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist

While touring Savannah, you’ll probably notice the e twin church spires standing guard over the city. Those spires belong to the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.

The church, built in the mid-19th century, experienced a devastating fire near the turn of the century, which only left the spires standing. It has been rebuilt and restored numerous times since then and today stands as the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Georgia.

Visitors can marvel at the architecture and take self-guided tours to view the majestic artwork. However, this is an active church, and it’s closed to visitors during worship services, weddings, funerals, and other religious services.

Savannah African Art Museum

The Savannah African Art Museum provides guests the opportunity to learn about African arts, history, and culture. It features objects hailing from 28 countries across Africa and hosts various traveling exhibits throughout the year.

Discover spiritual objects, crafts, and traditional apparel while learning to appreciate the vast diversity of African cultures.

Wormsloe State Historic Site

Get a taste of colonial life in Savannah with a visit to the Wormsloe State Historic Site, an 18th-century estate built during the city’s founding.

Today, Wormsloe is a museum and protected archeological site. Visitors can explore the artifacts uncovered here while wandering the undisturbed grounds cloaked in giant oak trees covered with Spanish Moss. You’ll feel as though you really traveled back to the 1700s while visiting the exhibits on colonial life.

The site is one of the best things to do in Savannah for history lovers and families with small children.

Mercer Williams House

History, art, and architecture lovers will want to tour the Mercer Williams House, a Civil War-era residence built by famed New York architect John. S. Norris.

In 1969, Savannah preservationist James A. Williams bought the property, restoring it for his private use and decorating it with pieces from his vast personal collection. These pieces, consisting mostly of 18th—and 19th-century portraits and Chinese porcelain, are still on display, even though the home has been transformed into a museum.

JW Marriot Plant Riverside Lobby

Savannah’s newest entertainment district, located on the far west side of River Street, features a stunning JW Marriot Hotel that’s far more than a place to stay.

The lobby features an industrial-looking museum gallery filled with weird exhibits ranging from fossils to gemstones. The hotel also features riverfront dining options and a spa, giving you a wide range of things to do in Savannah in one spot.

Where to Eat in Savannah

We already covered some fine dining options for Southern cuisine, but if you want to eat like a local, check out these fantastic Savannah restaurants!

Slys Sliders and Fries

Slys perfected the slider. This tiny burger shack offers a robust menu of tantalizing slider combinations. Try Uncle Reuben for a slider take on the classic sandwich or the Boardwalk for a taste of a traditional cheeseburger.

Sly’s really shines with its fries and delicious toppings, so be sure to order a side when you grab your sliders!

B&D Burgers

For a more robust burger experience, head to one of the B&D locations scattered around the city.

B&D allows you to craft your perfect burger with delectable toppings like pimento cheese, bacon aioli, and all the fixings you could want.

The Flying Monk

Enjoy Asian fusion at the Flying Monk noodle house. The Flying Monk offers a wide range of noodle dishes inspired by some of the best Asian flavors.

You’ll find delicacies from Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, and more at this delicious noodle house.

Ordinary Pub

Enjoy brunch all week long at the Ordinary Pub!

The Ordinary Pub serves up delectable twists on brunch favorites, like the pork belly mac & cheese or chicken & waffles gyros. Their weekend brunch menu offers southern favorites like shrimp & grits and bread pudding.

Whenever you find yourself at the Ordinary, you’re sure to enjoy extraordinary dining.

Collins Quarter

For a delicious weekend brunch and fantastic coffee options, head to The Collins Quarter, a cozy restaurant nestled in the historic district. It offers various brunch options for those with fine dining palettes.

You don’t need to order brunch to savor their delicious coffees. Head to the coffee counter and order a drink to go!

Funky Brunch Café

It’s funky, it’s brunchy, and it’s serving delicious food all week!

The Funky Brunch Café specializes in breakfast and lunch foods, offering a variety of egg, pancake, and French toast dishes to help you soak up last night’s party.

The Green Truck Pub

You’ll have to head a little south of downtown to sample the local’s favorite restaurant, but it’s worth it. The Green Truck Neighborhood Pub offers a wide range of burgers and sandwiches in a casual atmosphere for a reasonable price.

It’s no wonder all the locals love the Green Truck.

Rise Biscuits

For the best breakfast biscuits in town, head to Rise Biscuits on Broughton.

Their savory sandwiches feature chicken fried to perfection on the most perfectly flaky, buttery Southern biscuit imaginable. While there, you must grab a blueberry biscuit. I’m not the biggest fan of blueberry pastries, but my friend bought me one, and I was hooked. There’s no going back.

Mellow Mushroom

If you love pizza, head to Mellow Mushroom for a variety of personal, stone-baked pizzas in a fantastical setting with fun mood lights and intriguing artwork.

Mellow Mushroom offers a wide range of pizzas and bar bites, like wings, baked pretzels, and cheese bread, for all your snacking needs. It’s the perfect spot for an easy meal in a relaxed atmosphere.

Jazz’d

If you’re in the mood for small plates, head to Jazz’d for a wide range of shareable tapas. The robust menu features American dishes with a Spanish flair, like fried green tomatoes, truffle mac and cheese, and fire-roasted bruschetta.

Enjoy your tapas in a cozy lounge environment while enjoying live music, which Jazz’d features Wednesdays through Sundays.

Where to Stay in Savannah

A touristy place like Savannah offers many lodging options, but to make the most of your trip, I recommend staying at a charming bed and breakfast in the historic district.

Opting for a B&B allows you to stay in a historic home and experience the true meaning of Southern hospitality. As a bonus, you’ll get served a delicious homestyle breakfast every day of your stay.

If B&Bs aren’t for you, stay in the downtown region to easily access most tourist activities. If you’re traveling to Savannah on a budget, you can book a hotel in Pooler or Georgetown for a lower price and drive into the city. It doesn’t take more than 20-30 minutes to get downtown from any suburb (depending on traffic). 

Explore Savannah

Savannah jams a lot into such a small city. It’s Georgia’s best city (sorry Atlanta), bursting with energy, history, and fun activities for tourists of all types. 

Visit Savannah and explore all the fantastic things you can do in the city!