A Guide to Historic Savannah, Georgia
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We spent 4 nights in Savannah, GA at the end of March and the weather was beautiful. The highs were in the low 70s every day and the lows were in the high 50s each night. It was the perfect weather for walking around and exploring a new city.
Have more time in the south? Check out my Guide for Charleston, South Carolina, which is only a 2-hour drive from Savannah.
Getting There
You can fly into Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), which is only 10 miles from downtown Savannah.
You can also fly into Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International (ATL) in Atlanta, but it’s 242 miles from Savannah which is almost a 4-hour drive.
We chose the drive from South Florida. It took us about 7 hours. We stopped and visited friends in New Smyrna Beach on the way up. This was the halfway point for us and a perfect way to break up the drive. On the way home we stopped in Daytona, for a couple of hours to have lunch and stretch our legs.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the Perry Lane Hotel and when we go back, it’s definitely where we will stay again. It was centrally located and within walking distance of everything. They had a rooftop lounge, where we enjoyed some appetizers and drinks one afternoon. Other amenities include valet parking, a rooftop pool, a gym, room service, a full-service coffee bar, on-site bar and restaurants, an arcade, a boutique and a library to relax in.
Other great hotel options include:
JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District
The Marshall House, Historic Inns of Savannah Collection
Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Historic District
Where We Ate
Trying new restaurants is one of our favorite things to do. The food in Savannah was delicious! We were looking forward to lots of She Crab Soup and Fried Green Tomatoes. They did not disappoint! In addition, you are also allowed to have an open container (alcohol) when walking around downtown which is nice.
Breakfast
Franklin’s – Franklin’s is an adorable little cafe and coffee shop. We both ordered the breakfast burrito and sat at a table outside. 5/5
Clary’s – Clary’s is a traditional diner on the corner of Abercorn St. and Jones St. We sat outside, enjoying the views of the beautiful trees and homes. We loved their grits, breakfast potatoes and bacon. 5/5
Mirabelle’s - Mirabelle’s is known for their indulgent waffles. We sat outside, overlooking The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. We tried the peach cobbler and the lemon zinger waffles. They were both delicious. My husband had the Breakfast Sammie with eggs, chives, bacon, cheddar, harissa tomato tam, pressed on sourdough that he loved. They also had really good cold brew coffee and peach iced tea. 5/5
J. Christophers – J. Christophers is another spot with a bit of a modern diner vibe. We ordered a traditional breakfast and pancakes. It was all delicious. 5/5
Lunch
Savannah Smokehouse - We grabbed lunch at Savannah Smokehouse on our first day for some BBQ. All of the sides were good. I had the pulled pork sandwich. It had good flavor but could’ve had more meat on it. 4/5
Peregrin – Peregrin is the rooftop bar and lounge on top of the Perry Lane Hotel where we stayed. We shared a couple of appetizers and they were both delicious. 5/5
Dinner
The Pirate’s House - The Pirate’s House is a very unique restaurant with a long and interesting history that you can learn about when you go there. I thought the food was 4/5, but I loved learning about the restaurant’s past.
Vic’s on the River - Vic’s on the River is a high-end restaurant in an old cotton warehouse overlooking the Savannah River and Historic River Street. The food and service were 5/5.
Savannah Seafood Shack – The Savannah Seafood Shack is a casual restaurant on Broughton Street with delicious seafood. We had the fried fish and fries. They did not disappoint. 5/5
Some other popular places for breakfast are The Collin’s Quarter and Maple Street Biscuit Co. For dinner, The Olde Pink House is very popular but you need reservations at least a month in advance.
Things to Do
There is so much to do and see in Savannah. If you’d like to take a tour check these out:
1.5 Hour Trolley Tour Around Historic Savannah
90-minute Candlelit Walking Ghost Tour in Savannah
Savannah has 22 squares that are located across a one-square-mile area of the historic downtown. We loved walking through them. Each one has a different statue or fountain at the center.
Forsyth Park is a 30-acre park with a beautiful fountain, 2 playgrounds, sports courts, a green space and an outdoor event space. You can also grab brunch at Collins Quarter.
Broughton Street is popular for shopping and dining. It is also home to the famous Leopold’s Ice Cream.
Leopold’s Ice Cream was founded in 1919 by three brothers from Greece. The ice cream is still made in downtown Savannah using the same original, secret recipes.
River Street has shops, galleries, restaurants, pubs and hotels overlooking the Savannah River. It is also where you will find the Georgia Queen which you can take a Savannah River Boat Cruise. While you’re walking along the river, check out the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District. They have multiple outdoor bars and restaurants and you can head inside to check out their dinosaur and geode exhibit.
One of our favorite streets while we were walking around was E Jones Street. The architecture and the trees were incredible.
We also walked through the City Market. City Market is four blocks of shops and restaurants that are closed to cars located in between Franklin Square and Ellis Square.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic cathedral. It’s beautiful inside and out and definitely deserves a quick stop to check it out.
If you’re traveling with kids, you may want to check out the Savanna Children’s Museum and the Train Museum.
Outside of Savannah
We took a couple of trips beyond downtown Savannah.
Our first stop was the Fort Pulaski National Monument. Not only can you explore the fort which we loved, but there are also nature trails, a visitor center with a 20-minute film that highlights the history of Fort Pulaski and a gift shop. They also have guided tours.
Our next stop was Tybee Island. It wasn’t a beach day when we went but it was nice to drive around and check out the Tybee Island Lighthouse.
The Oatland Wildlife Center is a 175-acre environmental education center with a two-mile nature trail through forest, salt marsh, and pond habitats. We saw alligators, birds of prey, farm animals, wolves, bobcats and bison.
We also drove through Bonaventure Cemetary which is known as the most beautiful cemetery in the US. I wish we had taken a guided tour so we could have learned more about it’s history instead of just driving through. It definitely had a stunning view of the Wilmington River.
When you visit the Wormsloe Historic Site you will explore the tabby ruins of Wormsloe, the colonial estate of Noble Jones (1702–1775). Wormsloe's tabby ruin is the oldest standing structure in Savannah. There are guided tours, interactive historical interpreters, there are 7-miles of walking trails and a gift shop.
Whatever it is that you’re into whether it be, Southern food, American History, architecture or ghost stories there is something for everyone in Savannah.
Have more time in the south? Check out my Guide for Charleston, South Carolina, which is only a 2-hour drive from Savannah.
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