Things to Do in Savannah, GA | 12 Stops Worth Your Time

Savannah rewards two or three days: walk its squares, tour a historic home, visit the riverfront, then add the coast.

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Savannah is compact enough to reward wandering, but its history is easy to flatten into pretty squares and ghost stories. A strong plan for things to do in Savannah, GA mixes the Historic Landmark District with one museum or historic house, a riverfront walk, and a coastal stop if you have a third day.

Plan for two full days in town. Add a third for Fort Pulaski National Monument, Tybee Island, or Pin Point Heritage Museum. During hot or humid weather, walk early, reserve midday for museums, and return to the squares near sunset.

How Many Days Do You Need In Savannah?

Two full days cover Savannah’s central squares, River Street, Forsyth Park, and one museum without turning the trip into a checklist. Three days leaves room for Bonaventure Cemetery and a coastal outing.

• One day: Walk from Forsyth Park through the squares, visit one historic site, and finish on River Street.
• Two days: Add Bonaventure Cemetery, Telfair Museums, or a food and history tour.
• Three days: Add Fort Pulaski and Tybee Island, or spend a half-day at Pin Point Heritage Museum.

A walking, food, or architecture tour works well on the first morning because it gives context to the streets you will revisit later. Compare current options here:

Savannah Activities Worth Building A Trip Around

Savannah’s strongest activities reveal the city from several angles: public squares, preserved homes, African American history, art, river trade, and the nearby coast. Choose one or two paid sites, then connect them with free walks.

Walk From Forsyth Park Through The Squares

Begin at Forsyth Park, then head north through Monterey, Madison, and Chippewa squares. Detour along Jones Street for brick sidewalks, stoops, ironwork, and closely spaced 19th-century homes; allow two to three hours if you stop for monuments and courtyards.

Ride The Savannah Belles Passenger Ferry

River Street is more useful as a walking route than a shopping stop alone. Follow the old warehouse fronts and Factors Walk, then ride the passenger ferry to Hutchinson Island for a broad view of the riverfront skyline.

Choose One Historic House Or Art Museum

The Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters gives the clearest single-site account of Regency architecture and the lives of both free and enslaved residents. A $30 adult Telfair Museums ticket currently covers the Owens-Thomas House, Telfair Academy, and Jepson Center for seven days; house tours can fill, so claim a time early.

Plan One Food Stop Around The Route

Savannah’s dining scene can consume half a day if every meal becomes a reservation. Pick one sit-down Southern or coastal meal, then use coffee, pralines, or a market stop around Bull Street, Broughton Street, or City Market to keep the walking plan intact.

Food tours suit travelers who want several small tastings paired with neighborhood history. Check whether the route includes seated breaks and whether alcohol is part of the ticket; families and non-drinkers may prefer a daytime tasting route with flexible stops.

The Historic District On Foot

The Historic Landmark District is easiest to understand on a south-to-north walk from Forsyth Park to the river. The linked squares create natural breaks, while Bull Street keeps the route simple for first-time visitors.

Start near the Forsyth fountain, continue through Monterey Square and Madison Square, then pause at Chippewa Square before reaching Johnson Square. From there, descend toward Factors Walk and River Street; the steep stone stairs and uneven cobbles can be difficult for strollers, wheelchairs, and anyone with limited mobility.

The City of Savannah’s fare-free downtown transit page confirms that the DOT network includes the Savannah Belles Passenger Ferry and downtown shuttle. Use the shuttle to shorten the return walk, especially in summer heat.

Practical pacing: Wear shoes with firm soles, carry water, and save River Street’s steeper ramps and stairs for daylight.

Where To Stay For Easy Access

The central Historic District is the easiest base for a first visit because most squares, museums, restaurants, and River Street are reachable on foot. Stay nearer Forsyth Park for quieter evenings, or closer to Bay Street for shorter walks to the riverfront.

The riverfront puts ferries and evening dining closest, but its cobbles, slopes, and late-night foot traffic may not suit light sleepers. The southern end near Forsyth Park feels more residential; the trade is a longer walk to River Street, offset by the free downtown shuttle. First-time visitors without a car usually gain more from a central room than from a lower rate near the airport or outer suburbs.

Use the map below to compare those areas against the places you plan to visit:

Museums And History Beyond The Squares

Savannah’s deeper history sits outside the postcard route. Bonaventure Cemetery, Pin Point Heritage Museum, and the Owens-Thomas House each cover a different part of the city’s story, so they are not interchangeable stops.

Bonaventure Cemetery

Bonaventure Cemetery is free and open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the City of Savannah. The grounds cover more than 100 acres, so use the office brochure or a reputable guided tour rather than trying to see every lane; treat the active cemetery as a place of remembrance, not a ghost-tour set.

Pin Point Heritage Museum

Pin Point Heritage Museum occupies a former oyster and crab factory in a Gullah Geechee community founded by formerly enslaved people and their descendants. Coastal Heritage Society currently lists admission at $15 for adults and $7 for children ages 3–12, with opening hours Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Old Fort Jackson Or The Railroad Museum

Old Fort Jackson is the stronger family choice when daily cannon programming is running, while the Georgia State Railroad Museum suits children who want machinery and train rides. Coastal Heritage Society lists adult admission at $15 for Old Fort Jackson and $20 for the railroad museum; check the daily program before choosing.

Guided cemetery, food, and architecture outings can reduce driving and add context that signs cannot carry. See current Savannah departures here:

Coastal Stops Worth The Drive

Fort Pulaski National Monument and Tybee Island make the most efficient coastal pairing because both lie east of Savannah. Wormsloe State Historic Site fits better with Pin Point Heritage Museum on a separate southside half-day.

Fort Pulaski currently charges $10 per visitor age 16 or older, while visitors 15 and younger enter free; the National Park Service lists daily hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and last entry at 4:30 p.m. Walk the fort, then use the trails or continue to Tybee Island for beach time.

Wormsloe’s live-oak avenue is only the entrance to the site. Georgia State Parks also lists a museum, an interpretive trail, longer nature trails, and roughly 20-minute shuttle tours that generally depart every half hour; verify the day’s tour schedule before leaving downtown.

What Should You Do If You Only Have One Day?

A one-day Savannah plan should stay inside the Historic District and use the free ferry rather than spending time driving to the coast. Pick one paid indoor stop and let the squares connect the rest.

1. Morning: Start at Forsyth Park and walk north through Monterey, Madison, and Chippewa squares.
2. Late morning: Tour the Owens-Thomas House or visit Telfair Academy and the Jepson Center.
3. Lunch: Choose City Market or Broughton Street, keeping the stop close to your walking route.
4. Afternoon: Continue to Factors Walk, River Street, and the Savannah Belles Passenger Ferry.
5. Evening: Return to the central squares for dinner and a slower walk after the daytime crowds thin.

Travelers with a second day should choose Bonaventure Cemetery plus Pin Point, or Fort Pulaski plus Tybee Island. That split preserves Savannah’s walkable core while giving the coast enough time to feel worthwhile.