Things to do in Savannah – the ultimate guide for a first time visit

Last Updated on April 21, 2021

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Savannah is often described as one of the most haunted cities in America, and if you visit, you’ll understand why. It appears really charming at first, but as you get to know it better, you start uncovering the city’s dark secrets and many mysteries. I spent 3 days in Savannah and the city quickly became one of my favorite destinations. It’s green, insanely picturesque, charming and spooky at the same time. There’s no shortage of things to do in Savannah, making it a perfect weekend destination.

If there’s one piece of advice I can give you before visiting Savannah, is to pick up a copy of ” Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil “. I guarantee you, this book will make your Savannah visit that much better. John Berendt’s bestseller from 1994 follows the story of the murder of Jim Williams’ assistant ( and lover ). Through the book we get a peak at the city of Savannah, its social life and eccentric residents in a very entertaining way. You’d be surprised how quickly you’ll find yourself on a mission to find all the locations mentioned in the book. And ” The Book ” is exactly how locals refer to it. ” Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil ” brought a lot of attention to somewhat forgotten Savannah and had a huge impact on tourism in the city.

You can also join this small guided Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Tour, where you get to visit the locations known from the book and movie.

Things to do in Savannah

Visit Forsyth Park

One of the reasons I enjoyed Savannah so much was that as far as cities go, this one is really green. The streets are lined with trees, it’s home to 22 squares and the largest green space of them all : Forsyth Park. This 30 acre park, with the beautiful white fountain, is the heart of the city. There’s always lots of activity there, whether it’s people catching shade, walking their dogs or simply enjoying this beautiful green space.

Discover 22 Squares

Strolling through the city and exploring many of the squares, was one of my favorite things to do in Savannah. Out of the original 24, 22 remain and each has a name and a statue or a fountain in the center. They are perfect for catching a break from the sun, with the shade they provide.

One of the most known is Chippewa Square, that is best known from the Forrest Gump movie. This is where Forrest Gump sat on the bench telling the story of his life. However, if you expect to find the bench there, you’ll be disappointed. It was just a movie prop, that was moved to the Savannah History Museum. This doesn’t stop people from photographing the famous spot, and Chippewa Square remains one of the favorites.

Monterey Square is another great one. This is where Mercer- Williams House is, and naturally the Square was featured plenty in the ” Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”.

Visit one of the historic homes

The city has a lot of Historic Homes and strolling down the street and admiring their size and beauty was one of my favorite things to do in Savannah. Many of the houses are now museums, that you can visit on a guided tour and get a peak at the life of the wealthy in the South. Here are some of them:

Mercer – Williams House

Originally the house of Johnny Mercer, but better known as the residence of Jim Williams, who was a well known antique dealer in Savannah. Williams also played an active role in restoring a lot of great houses in the Historic District. The Mercer – Williams house is best known as the scene of the crime, that is documented in the ” Midnight in the Garden of Good Evil “. The house is now owned by Williams’ sister, who turned it into a museum, and can be seen on a guided tour.

Visiting Mercer – Williams House was high on my list of the things to do in Savannah. Having just read the book, I was thrilled to see the house, that was in the center of it all. Although I’m glad I did, I left the house tour a bit disappointed. The tour is limited to the ground floor only, and the topic of the book and murder is avoided. It’s safe to safe, that most people on the tour are there because of ” Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil “, so refusing to even mention the book or the murder seems a bit weird. The fact, that the book itself is for sale in the gift shop, seems a bit ironic.

Having said all that, if you are a fan of ” The Book “, Mercer – Williams house is not to be missed, even if you decide to just admire it from the outside.

429 Bull Street / ticket costs $12.50

Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace

This expansive home was the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts and is now owned by the Girl Scouts of the USA. I enjoyed seeing this house more than I expected. For anyone who’s ever been a girl scout, this is the one house to visit.

I visited Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace as part of the Ghosts and Gravestones tour, but the house can also be seen on a guided tour throughout the day.

10 E Oglethorpe Ave / ticket costs $15

Owens – Thomas House & Slave Quarters

This house was my favorite for variety of reasons. Aside from the obvious ( the house and the gardens are beautiful ), I loved the fact that the tour focused not only on showing the life of the wealthy, but also on life of the enslaved servants. Who in fact built this beautiful house. It was very refreshing, as it’s something that you don’t see very often.

Owens – Thomas is part of Telfair Museum. Ticket to the house includes admission to other Telfair Museum Sites: Jepson Center and Telfair Academy.

124 Abercorn Street / ticket costs $20

Take a walk down River street

My hotel was right across the street from River Street, so this is where I would start and finish each day in Savannah. What used to be a row of abandoned cotton warehouses is now a lively cobblestone street with restaurants, galleries and stores. Great place to take a walk along Savannah River, check out some of the quirky stores and people watch.

If you want to grab a drink at one of the bars, don’t be surprised if you get offered a To-Go cup. Savannah’s law allows carrying an open drink, as long as it’s in a plastic cup and not bigger than 16 oz.

Visit the Cathedral of St John the Baptist

If you enjoy seeing beautiful churches, this newly renovated French Gothic Cathedral should be on your Savannah itinerary. You can first see the Cathedral’s white and blue spires, as you cross the bridge entering Savannah. They are an integral part of the city’s landscape. As you walk through the inside, one thing that stands out are the beautiful stained glass windows. The Cathedral is free to enter, but you are asked for a small donation when you visit.

22 E Harris Street

Check out Antique Stores

What better city to shop for antiques than Savannah. There are a few antique stores around the city, but one of the best and definitely the biggest is Alex Raskin’s Antiques. This old mansion, all 4 floors of it, is packed with all the things imaginable. The house itself is a sight see, as it’s completely unrestored. It’s worth checking out, whether you want to buy something or just look around.

Visit Bonaventure Cemetery

Visiting old cemeteries is something I really enjoy in my travels, so I couldn’t miss a beauty that is Bonaventure. Some might see such activity as creepy, but I find it really peaceful and beautiful. Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, spread around 160 acres, has to be among my favorites. Really old grave sites and tomb stones under the moss draped live Oaks make the cemetery a really spooky and picturesque place. If you enjoy photography, visiting Bonaventure Cemetery is one of the must things to do in Savannah.

Bonaventure cemetery is a final resting place for Johnny Mercer and other important Savannah figures. But the most visited grave site to be found there is that of Little Gracie. Gracie’s father was a popular fixture in Savannah, as he managed Pulaski Hotel, one of the fanciest in town. His little daughter was often seen entertaining and charming the guests and was adored by them. Sadly, when she was 6, she got sick with pneumonia and died 2 days before Easter. It’s believed that Gracie’s spirit lives on and can be seen throughout Savannah.

Bonaventure Cemetery is located 3 miles outside of the Historic District of Savannah, so you will need a car ( or an Uber ) to get there. If you appreciate the beauty of old cemeteries, this will be one of the best things to do in Savannah. This cemetery is really big, and you can pick up a map at the visitor’s center to help you navigate through it. If you prefer to visit with a tour, there are plenty of guided tours to choose from. The cemetery is also a frequent stop on many of the Haunted Tours.

Go on a Haunted tour

Along with cities like Charleston and St Augustine, Savannah is considered to be one of the most haunted cities in America. So when you visit, going on a haunted tour is pretty much obligatory. You can pick from walking to trolley tours, and even a hearse tour. They all have a couple things in common: they take place after dark and visit the most haunted spots in Savannah. And the city sure transforms after dark, from the charming and picturesque to quite spooky. I went on a tour with ” Ghosts and Gravestones “ and really enjoyed it.

Where to stay in Savannah

Savannah is a city best explored on foot, and if you stay anywhere in the Historic District, you’ll be able to do so. All the places and attractions mentioned above, with the exception of Bonaventure Cemetery, are within walking distance.

My personal hotel recommendation would be The East Bay Inn, a boutique hotel I chose for my 3 day stay in Savannah. I could not have been happier with my choice, as the hotel was a definition of Southern hospitality and perfect in a lot of ways. The location right across the River Street cannot be beat, the rooms are beautiful and spacious. Also, if you are traveling with a dog, your four legged companion will be treated like royalty.

Marshall House is another great place to stay right in the heart of the Historic District. Built in 1851, the hotel is believed to be among one of the most haunted places in Savannah.

For a bit of an upscale place you might want to consider Hamilton Turner Inn, a beautiful B&B right off Lafayette Square. Built in 1873, it was the first house to have electricity. Those who read ” Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil ” might recall that Hamilton Turner Inn was where the lavish parties thrown by Joe Odom took place.

Where to eat – best restaurants in Savannah

Mrs Wilkes

If you want a fix of true Southern cuisine, you can’t miss the iconic Mrs Wilkes. This communal seating style restaurant is an institution in the city. There’s no reservations, it’s first come, first serve, and people start lining up way before it opens for lunch at 11. For a flat fee of $25 ( cash only ! ), you get to indulge in Southern cooking at its best. Menu changes daily, but it’s always full of Southern staples: fried chicken, meat loaf, biscuits and collard greens, just to name the few.

Mrs Wilkes Dining is located at 107 West Jones Street. It’s open Monday – Friday 11 am – 2 pm. NOTE: the restaurant is closed in January.

Olde Pink House

The elegant Olde Pink House is considered one of Savannah’s best places to eat. The restaurant just reopened after some hiatus following a fire in one of the ballrooms.

23 Abercorn Street

Leopold’s Ice Cream

It’s not unusual to see a long line in front of Leopold’s, as the ice cream is often described as the best in the world.

212 E Broughton St

Best time to visit Savannah

• March – June is the peak season in Savannah. The weather is perfect and everything is in bloom. March 17 is the busiest day in season in Savannah, that holds the biggest St Patrick’s Day Parade. Best to avoid that day, if you are not into massive crowds.
• July and August ( and even September ) can get really hot, muggy and buggy. On the upside, you’ll have a higher chance of scoring good deals on hotels.
• Fall is another great time to visit, when the oppressive heat ends, and pleasant weather starts again.
• January and February are winter months in Savannah and what’s considered low season. That’s not to say it won’t be nice. I visited beginning of February, and it was 70 F and sunny most of the time. You will also be able to find better deals both on flights and accommodations.

How to get to Savannah

Getting to Savannah by car

Savannah can easily be reached by car. If you’re traveling anywhere along the East Coast, Historic District is about 20 minutes off of I 95 ( via I-16 ).

Getting to Savannah by airplane

A lot of airlines fly to Savannah/ Hilton Head International Airport. Check out Skyscanner to find reasonable flights. The airport is located some 12 miles away from the city center.

If you enjoyed this article, you can download it via the GPSmyCity app – it will give you access to the guide, you will be able to use, even if you’re offline. Download it here.

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