Your Weekend Guide to Savannah

If you want to feel like you’ve traveled back in time, Savannah is the place to go. It’s a beautiful city filled with rich history, quaint charm, and some of the best food in the south. Many travelers assume that Savannah is simply a smaller version of Charleston, but coming from someone who lived in the latter for over three years, I can assure you that the two cities are uniquely their own.

For one, the way that Savannah is laid out is quite different from other colonial cities. The historic downtown is a perfect example of the Oglethorpe Plan—an urban planning idea that uses a distinctive street network with repeating squares of residential blocks, commercial blocks, and most notably, beautiful green spaces. These neverending parks are what make the city come to life and ensure visitors never grow tired of wandering from street to street.

If you’re interested in visiting Savannah, the good news is that the city is small enough that you can truly cover its entirety over the course of a weekend. My husband, Alex, and I drove down on a Friday from Charleston and were able to see everything of significance by Sunday afternoon. Keep scrolling to read my recommendations for a weekend well spent in Savannah, Georgia.

What to Do

Explore the 22 squares

If I had to pick one thing to do in Savannah, this would be it. The 22 squares that make up Savannah’s historic district are each unique, filled with live oak trees, fountains, monuments, and cute sitting areas. It may seem overwhelming to try to see all 22 squares, but you can easily make the journey by foot in a few hours—and that’s factoring in time for pictures and pit stops along the way.

If you fancy a bit of exercise on your trip, a great introduction to the squares is by jogging through them. The route is only 4 miles long and it’s a great way to get a feel for where you want to spend more time. The squares are not all created equal and your favorites will quickly become apparent.

If you don’t have time to visit all the squares, the four that I enjoyed the most are Chippewa Square, Chatham Square, Monterey Square, and Madison Square. In general, the squares that are in the center and closer to Forsyth Park are more interesting.

Speaking of which, while you’re in the area, be sure to stop by Forsyth Park and admire the fountain that has become the trademark of Savannah tourism.

Tour the city by trolley

If the idea of walking the historic district sounds exhausting (or like the recipe for a heat stroke in the summer months), another good option is to tour the city by trolley. As soon as you enter Savannah, you won’t be able to miss the open air trolleys cruising up and down the streets.

The most popular tour by Old Town Trolley Tours includes 15 stops and is fully narrated by the driver, making it perfect for those who want to soak up the city’s history. I also appreciate that you can hop on and off at the different stops, allowing you to spend more time at the attractions you care about most.

Admire the beauty of Jones Street

Jones Street is often referenced as America’s most beautiful street and with good reason. Every ten steps, I was pulling out my camera to take another picture. Alex had to keep reminding me that the purpose of a walk is to, in fact, keep walking.

If you’re not sure where to begin your exploration, start at the corner of Bernard and Jones and walk east. The road will eventually end at East Broad Street, at which point your camera will need a breather.

Jones Street doesn’t really have any attractions per se, it’s more of an attraction in itself. It’s a quiet, beautiful place for a morning walk with a cup of coffee.

Take a stroll by the river

Savannah’s riverfront area is definitely the most touristy district of the city, but it’s not without its charms. There are quite a few local shops and restaurants on the water’s edge that are worth a few hours of exploration. This area is also home to some of Savannah’s best nightlife.

Tour a historic home

As you’re walking (or riding) by all of Savannah’s historic homes, you’ll inevitably come to ponder, “I wonder what these look like on the inside.”

There are a number of historic homes that offer tours in Savannah, but two of the most popular are the Owens-Thomas House and the Mercer Williams house. The Owens-Thomas House is interesting because it’s a great example of English Regency architecture. The tour also highlights some of Savannah’s dark history by focusing on the carriage house and the enslaved workers who lived there, including the butler, nanny, and cook.

The Mercer Williams house is popular for other reasons entirely. This was the home of Jim Williams, an antiques dealer and a historic preservationist who was tried four times for the 1981 murder of Danny Hansford. This murder mystery is one of Savannah’s most famous and was the subject of the popular book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, published in 1994.

If you decide to visit the Mercer Williams house, be warned that this famous story is interestingly missing from the tour’s narrative. That’s because the Williams family still owns the house and would prefer to highlight Jim’s impressive collection of antiques from around the world.

Where to Stay

Since Savannah is so small and walkable, you really can’t go wrong with the location of your accommodations as long as you’re downtown. If you want the true Savannah experience and prefer peace and quiet, try to find an AirBnB or hotel that is south of Oglethorpe Avenue.

There are quite a few nice hotel options on Bay Street which hugs the Savannah River, but as a warning, that area tends to be more congested at night and noise can be an issue.

When to Go

Listen, people are not exaggerating when they say southern summers are insufferable. The combination of heat and humidity can be unbearable, especially when you’re spending a large amount of time outdoors. Knowing that, try to avoid touring Savannah in the peak summer months.

On the other hand, visiting in the dead of winter leaves something to be desired due to the lack of vegetation. That means your best options are the spring or the fall. If you go in April, May, September, or October, you’ll experience pleasant temperatures, smaller crowds, and plenty of greenery.

Savannah is a city unlike any other in the US. It’s the perfect place to spend a long, relaxing weekend. If you’re planning on taking a longer trip and considering adding Charleston to your itinerary, be sure to read my post, Top 5 Things to Do in Charleston! As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’m always happy to help others plan the perfect getaway.

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My name is Kolby Tallentire and I’m the creator of Tallentire Travels. This site formed out of my unending love of travel! My goal is to bring you the most unique and affordable travel recommendations for every destination. Learn More