Savannah is known as the most iconic and most haunted city in the US. It is an absolutely gorgeous city filled with beautifully preserved Victorian and Georgian homes.
There are romantic squares everywhere with large oaks growing among them and all over the streets. It’s also a place to indulge in fresh seafood. Coming from Toronto, I gorged myself on fresh seafood before heading back home because it’s rare to find such freshness in our local restaurants. Savannah is a truly stunning city and exploring it in 5 days will allow you to indulge in city and island experiences.
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Essentials
Language: English with that beautiful southern drawl and lots of charming Yes ma’am and Y’all have a good day now!
Currency: US dollar
Voltage: The US uses the 2 prong plug. See my post on Essential Items to Pack in your Carry-on for tips on what plug adapters to buy.
Major Airport: Savannah Hilton Head International Airport
Best Time to Visit: During the summer months and between the end of US Thanksgiving and the beginning of December. The summer months, as hot as it gets, is a great time to visit as most tourists visit during the winter months when it’s cold everywhere else in the US. There’s also a lull after Thanksgiving and before the holiday season starts so the city is fairly empty and makes it easier to get a reservation. Bring sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses! It will get scorching so stay cool and hydrated.
Getting There
Buy tours with Viator to explore Savannah with local guides. A good, curated tour saves you the hassle of commuting and planning. Check out my list of curated Viator tours to Savannah!
I flew into Washington from Toronto and transferred to Savannah. Depending on your country of origin, you may be able to score a direct flight instead. Savannah Hilton Head International airport is only about 30 minutes from historic downtown Savannah. A quick Uber ride will get you there. Downtown Savannah has the free DOT shuttle that runs from early morning to early evening which you can hop on and hop off of. Savannah is a very walkable city though, and you can get anywhere just on foot. I highly recommend walking everywhere, if possible, so you can catch all the hidden gems and highlights of this charming city.
Where to Stay
Airbnb has some nice places and we stayed in a charming carriage house with superb hosts. We stayed in the Victorian District, which I highly recommend, as it’s only a 30 minute walk to East River Street where the actual river is. I personally don’t suggest staying in downtown Savannah Historic District where all the main shops and pubs are. As cool as that is, it was very noisy and busy. I found the real charm is in Victorian District or by South Historic District near Forsyth Park. There are lots of historic inns there (and they might be haunted if that interests you!) surrounding Forsyth Park. The whole area is filled with Victorian and Georgian architecture which is the real star of the city. And the whole area is a lot quieter and more peaceful.
What to See and Do
Walk down Savannah’s historic districts, take a ghost tour, or even head out to Tybee Island if you’ve got the time to discover Savannah in 5 days!
Downtown Historic Savannah
I recommend taking a Hop-on/Hop off tour that takes you around the city in a historical trolley. The tour talks about the history of the place and the significance of the buildings.
It’s a wonderful introduction to the stunning city that is Savannah. Savannah gets hot so a trolley ride with the wind blowing through is a nice way to get out of the heat.
You must visit River Street in Historic Savannah where you’ll be right next to the river. The enormous cargo ships pass through here and they are a sight to see. It’s also a nice stroll to walk along the river with a drink in hand. Savannah has an interesting open-container policy, and, as of the writing of this article, you’re allowed to drink alcohol from an open plastic cup. So enjoy a nice something-something by the river as you watch the ships sail by.
Walk by the Waving Girl statue who was said to have waved to passing sailors, without fail, everyday for 45 years. Legend goes she was waving because her lover was lost at sea and she hoped he would see her and return if she stood and waved by the shore. Turns out, her lover died at sea and she waved until she died. Sometimes, people say you can see her silhouette in the dark and waving to passing ships, as the ghost story goes.
Stroll in the Squares
Savannah has lots of serene and tranquil square parks dotted throughout the city. Some of the more famous ones include Reynolds Square featuring a statue of John Wesley, the founder of the methodist church. Other famous squares include Wright Square (where a memorial stone of Tomochichi was placed) and Telfair Square where the Telfair museum is located.
Forsyth Park
A large, tranquil park to stroll through. There’s a stately fountain right in the middle of the park that gives you a sense of what Savannah must have looked and felt like in 1733. There’s a farmers market here every weekend with food stalls and artists looking to sell their goods. It’s great for souvenir shopping. Walk on the main thoroughfares to get a sense of the grandeur of live oaks and Spanish moss hanging over you.
Wormsloe Historic Site
Now this is a true gem of a place to visit. It’s about a 30 minute car ride outside of downtown Savannah, but it is absolutely worth the trip. Uber these days makes travelling outside of town pretty easy. Entrance fee was about $12 USD as of August 2024. Though a national historic park, eight generations of the descendants of Noble Jones (one of the colonists of Georgia) still own large parts of the land and their private residence is in the park. Wonder in awe at the Avenue of Oaks as you walk down it. And take your time! Soak in the majesty of the oaks and marvel at how the branches of the live oaks intertwine above your head.
Spend about 3 hours here to take pictures and admire the greenery. There’s a spot with a short walkout where you can view the salt marshes. Salt marshes are coastal wetlands covered by grass making the land look like the plains of Africa. Apparently, this inspired the founder John Oglethorpe to name the place Savannah when he first landed.
And of course you will see Spanish moss everywhere as they hang off the live oaks. Spanish moss are actually part of the pineapple family and use the oaks as support to grow. If you notice some empty branches with no Spanish moss growing, they say it’s because Spanish moss does not grow where innocent blood has been spilled.
Bonaventure Cemetery
One of the most iconic and beautiful cemeteries ever. A lot of Savannah’s elite are buried here and you can visit their graves. I have a cardinal rule of never taking pictures in a cemetery because I’m superstitious about the souls of ghosts being sucked into my camera and following me home. A totally irrational fear but that’s what superstition is!
However, this was such a gorgeous cemetery that I broke my cardinal rule and took pictures. And I’m glad I did. The sculptures and monuments are simply majestic. Make sure to take a respectful look at Corinne E. Lawton’s tomb (there’s a beautiful sculpture of her). It was my personal highlight when visiting Bonaventure Cemetery.
Tybee Island
Definitely buy a Tybee Island tour to visit this island with the famous lighthouse. The Tybee Island tour we bought took us on a trolley ride to Tybee Island for a dolphin cruise, to see the lighthouse, and for an awesome lunch at The Original Crab Shack (get the devilled crab cake sandwich!). You’ll also get to see gators in a pen at The Original Crab Shack. For me, that was a new and awesome sight.
As you’re touring in the trolley, you’ll see the salt marshes extending out into the distance and it’s an incredible sight. Spot the Cockspur Lighthouse in the distance and even climb up Tybee Lighthouse if you like for a great view, so I’m told. I declined to climb it in the baking heat.
Visit the Prohibition Museum
It only costs about $20 USD to visit this museum and it’s almost a bargain. The museum was filled from beginning to end with the most amazing Prohibition era relics. You’ll see original newspaper clippings, photographs of the rise of gangsters (and their murders), and original artefacts like posters and $1000 bills of that time. It was an incredible experience and you will learn lots after reading all the plaques on the wall. And trust me, you’ll want to read EVERYTHING. It’s a brilliantly curated experience.
Souvenir Shopping
There’s great shopping to be done on Bull Street for some independent and brand name stores. But walk down some side streets to discover some boutiques like Lalka Beauty and Co. on Gaston Street which sell the most adorable hair and makeup accessories. The owners are professional Hollywood makeup artists too, so get your makeup done if you’re heading out for a glamorous evening out!
I couldn’t resist getting an adorable rooster hair clip for myself. My Chinese zodiac is a rooster so I fall for everything rooster related!
Make sure to visit 18LOVESART whose store is right on River Street. She makes the CUTEST artwork of all time. Her postcards are colourful and adorable. How can you not feel joy when you see those colours? Buy some postcards and send them right then and there in her cute postal box. Pick up a few magnets and greeting cards while you’re at it and you’ll have some pretty unique, handmade souvenirs from a local Savannahian!
Where to Eat
Savannah is known for its fresh seafood and I definitely recommend filling up on fresh seafood if you come from a landlocked city like I do.
The Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park
THE place to have breakfast if you’re in the area. They serve great brunch dishes too, but I’m a huge fan of their breakfast and coffee options. I ate there almost everyday during my 5 day trip because it was just lovely sitting on their patio in the middle of Forsyth Park. I recommend trying their Bircher if you like a lighter breakfast. It has oats, coconut milk, caramelized granny Smith apples, sun dried cranberries, Greek yogurt, and almond milk. It’s a light and healthy start to the day. Definitely get a cortado too to go with your nice breakfast.
Sentient Bean
Located just outside of Forsyth Park (literally, just steps outside the park) is Sentient Bean which is great for small, light affordable breakfasts. It’s a nice alternative if Colin’s Quarter is too full.
Sorry Charlie’s
A great dinner joint where I had my first po’boy sandwich. It. Was. SCRUMPTIOUS. I’ve never had better fried fish. The fish was perfectly fried. It wasn’t greasy at all and the fish was still flaky while the breading was perfectly crisp without being too thick. I had it with a side of red rice and the entire meal ensemble was pitch perfect. It was my first perfect meal in Savannah.
The Fitzroy
I say this was my favourite place out of all the places I got to try on this list. The server at Colin’s Quarter recommended us to come here and I’m super happy we did. The service is wonderful and the food is fantastic. I had crab cake with chermoula and ahi tuna with jasmine rice. It. Was. Divine. Don’t forget to finish off with the flourless chocolate torte if you have room for dessert!
Coastal 15 (The Bohemian Hotel)
We stumbled into this little join on River Street past the funky Christmas store. I had a beautiful gazpacho lump crab soup and fish and grits for my main course. It was absolutely delicious and a great spot to hang out after a hot, long day.
The Original Crab Shack
This place is located on Tybee Island so definitely give it a try if you make it that far. It serves a lot of boiled seafood (the kind where you put on gloves and rip into the shrimps or crab legs). But I had a devilled crab sandwich which was a great treat. Sit back and enjoy the water view with your beer and sandwich and it really does feel like you’ve been transported to paradise.
Savannah is a gorgeous place with great food and great people. I felt so welcomed by the Southern charm everyone showed me. Spending 5 days in Savannah should give you a real nice introduction to the place with more to follow next time you return.
Planning for some dream trips or bucket-list journeys? Check out my other travel guides to the United States and Canada for more tips and tricks on planning your ultimate dream getaways.
