20 Best Things to Do in Savannah, GA: Squares & History
Savannah was laid out by hand in 1733, and you can still walk that plan today. Block after block, the streets open onto small squares shaded by live oaks and Spanish moss, each with its own monument, its own benches and its own character. Few American cities are this beautiful, and few have a past this painful sitting right beside the beauty. The best trips here take on both.
The best things to do in Savannah, Georgia are walking the historic squares, visiting Forsyth Park, touring Bonaventure Cemetery, driving the oak avenue at Wormsloe, seeing the Owens-Thomas House, strolling River Street, and spending a day at Tybee Island.
Skip the car wherever you can. The historic district is made for walking, and many of your best moments here will be unplanned ones between squares.
1. Walk the Historic Squares
Savannah has 22 surviving squares from its original colonial plan, and wandering through them is the top thing to do here. Each one is different, with fountains, statues and old churches nearby. You can’t take a wrong route. Start at Johnson Square, head south toward Forsyth Park, and turn whenever something catches your eye.
2. Spend a Morning in Forsyth Park
At the south end of the historic district, this 30-acre park has the fountain you’ve seen in all the photos, plus lawns, walking paths and a Saturday farmers market. Get there early to have the fountain without the crowds. Entry is free, and the whole city comes here to relax.
3. Tour Bonaventure Cemetery
Bonaventure became world-famous through the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, but it needs no help from a bestseller. Set on a bluff over the Wilmington River, it has moss-draped oaks and elegant old monuments. Consider a guided tour for the stories, and go early in the day when the light is soft.
4. Drive the Oak Avenue at Wormsloe
About 25 minutes from downtown, the long entrance at Wormsloe is lined with hundreds of live oaks, one of the most photographed scenes in the South. The state historic site charges a fee, and you won’t regret paying it.
Go beyond the avenue and you’ll find a museum, nature trails and the tabby ruins of the colonial home of Noble Jones, one of Georgia’s earliest settlers.
5. See the Owens-Thomas House
The Owens-Thomas House, run by Telfair Museums, is a striking Regency-style mansion, but what really sets it apart is what’s behind it. The tour goes into the carriage house and the preserved quarters of the people who were enslaved here.
These quarters are among the best-preserved urban examples of their kind, and they tell a story that too many house tours leave out. Don’t skip this one.
6. Stroll River Street
Built along the old cotton warehouses, River Street has shops, pubs and views of the big container ships passing by. Yes, it’s touristy, and you’ll still have fun, particularly in the evening. Watch your step on the cobblestones and the steep old stairs, and look for the Waving Girl statue while you’re down there.
7. Wander City Market
Close to Ellis Square, this pedestrian area has restaurants, galleries and street music. Stop for a drink, since the historic district lets you carry an alcoholic beverage in a to-go cup, within certain limits. Ask about the current rules on size and where you can walk with it.
8. See First African Baptist Church
This church is home to one of the oldest Black congregations in North America. Its members built the current building themselves, many of them enslaved at the time, and holes in the floorboards are said to have provided air to people hiding below as part of the Underground Railroad. Look up current tour times.
9. Visit the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum
This museum tells the story of the civil rights movement here, and how the city’s Black residents organized and pushed for change. You won’t hear this side of the city’s history on the carriage tours. Look up hours before you go, and give it at least an hour.
10. See the Telfair Academy
Housed in a beautiful old mansion, the Telfair is one of the oldest public art museums in the South. Admission is listed at $15 for adults, though prices can change. The ticket also usually covers the modern Jepson Center and the Owens-Thomas House, so ask about a combined pass.
11. Step Inside the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
This soaring French Gothic cathedral stands out above the rooftops and has beautiful stained glass inside. People still worship here, so be respectful and find out whether a service is on. Visitors are generally welcome at other times, and on a hot day you’ll appreciate the cool.
12. Visit the Mercer Williams House
Made famous by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, this grand home on Monterey Square was restored by antiques dealer Jim Williams. Tours show off its fine rooms and tell its story. If you’ve read the book, you have to go. If you haven’t, you’ll still see a great example of the city’s architecture.
13. See the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
The founder of the Girl Scouts was born here, and troops make pilgrimages from across the country. Even if you’ve never sold a box of cookies, you’ll get a good look at 19th-century Savannah life. Book a tour ahead of time, since groups can fill it up quickly.
14. Stop by Flannery O’Connor’s Childhood Home
The great Southern writer grew up in this modest house on Lafayette Square, right across from the cathedral. You can see the small house easily on a walk. Book lovers will enjoy it, and you may want to go read her stories all over again.
15. Eat at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
For a true taste of Southern home cooking, line up for this family-style lunch spot, where strangers share big tables loaded with fried chicken and sides. It usually serves only lunch on limited days, so look up the schedule and get there early. Then skip dinner, because you won’t need it.
16. Get a Scoop at Leopold’s
Leopold’s Ice Cream has been a Savannah favorite since 1919, and the line out the door is part of the experience. Tutti-frutti is the classic flavor. The line moves quickly, and even in winter you’ll welcome the break from walking.
17. Take a Ghost Tour
Savannah has a reputation as one of America’s most haunted cities, and the walking tours lean into it. Some are genuinely spooky and historically interesting, and others are mostly for laughs. Read the reviews, and choose one that fits your group. Go on a warm evening among the squares.
18. Catch a Show at the Lucas Theatre
This restored 1921 theater hosts films, concerts and events during the year, and the old place makes for a beautiful evening. See what’s playing while you’re in town. It’s also a major venue during the Savannah Film Festival, held each fall.
19. Explore Fort Pulaski National Monument
On the way to Tybee, this massive brick fort is a fascinating Civil War site, with walls that still show damage from Union rifled cannons. The National Park Service runs it and charges a small entrance fee. Bring bug spray, because the lovely marsh around it is also buggy.
20. Spend a Day at Tybee Island
The beach is about 30 minutes away, and Tybee is relaxed and slightly funky. Climb the historic lighthouse, walk the pier, and order some shrimp. Parking isn’t free, so get there early and use the local parking app.
Best Free Things to Do in Savannah
The squares, Forsyth Park, River Street and Bonaventure Cemetery are all free, and so is a walk through the old Colonial Park Cemetery. You can fill a good day without buying a single ticket.
Where to Stay and How to Get Around
Stay in the historic district if you can, and you’ll be able to walk nearly everywhere. Parking is expensive and time-limited, so leave the car at the hotel. A free shuttle has been offered around downtown, so ask your hotel about it. You can also take a trolley tour on your first day to get your bearings.
When to Visit and How Long to Stay
March and April are the most beautiful months, with azaleas in bloom, though they’re also the busiest. St. Patrick’s Day is huge here, so either plan for it or avoid it altogether. Summer is hot and humid. Fall and winter are mild and much calmer, a smart time to visit. Three full days will cover the city and a beach day, and Savannah is better when you don’t rush it.
Where to next? Try our guides to Brunswick, Hilton Head and Statesboro, or see the best places to visit in Georgia for the bigger picture. You can also browse all our travel guides on Decidel.
How we checked this guide: details were checked against official and published sources in November 2026. Prices and tour times can change, so confirm with the venue before you go.
