- Connect via Atlanta or another US hub, or drive about 4 hours from Atlanta
- The historic district is compact and best explored on foot
- Open-container rules let you carry a drink in the historic district
- Easy to combine with Charleston, about two hours away
- Airports
- Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV), about 20 minutes to the historic district
- Best time to go
- March-May and October-November
- Type
- City
Savannah is one of the most beautiful cities in the American South. Founded in 1733 by the Englishman James Oglethorpe, its historic district is laid out around 22 garden squares, shaded by live oaks hung with Spanish moss and lined with grand townhouses and churches. It has a slow, sociable pace and a slightly spooky reputation that fuels countless ghost tours.
It is a natural stop on a Deep South road trip, between Atlanta and Charleston. For the wider picture, see our Georgia guide, and continue north to Charleston.
Things to do in Savannah
- The historic squares – wander between them; Chippewa, Monterey and Madison are among the prettiest.
- Forsyth Park – a large park with a famous white fountain and a Saturday farmers' market.
- River Street – cobbled waterfront with bars, shops and ships passing on the Savannah River.
- Historic homes – tour the Mercer Williams House, the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters, and the Andrew Low House.
- Bonaventure Cemetery – an atmospheric Victorian cemetery beneath moss-draped oaks.
- Ghost tours – walking tours of the city's haunted history.
- Southern food – shrimp and grits, fried chicken and family-style dining.
- Tybee Island – a relaxed beach town about 30 minutes away.
Where to stay
- Historic District – boutique hotels and B&Bs in restored mansions, walking distance of everything.
- River Street – waterfront hotels close to the bars.
- Forsyth Park area – quieter, leafier streets with grand inns.
- Tybee Island – beach cottages and hotels for a seaside stay.
Getting there
There are no direct flights from the UK. Connect through Atlanta, Charlotte, New York or another US hub to Savannah's airport, or fly direct to Atlanta and drive about four hours. You need an approved ESTA. The historic district is very walkable, with free DOT shuttles and ferries across the river. A car is useful for Tybee Island and onward travel to Charleston.
Best time to visit
Spring is the highlight, with azaleas in bloom and St Patrick's Day celebrations in March that are among the biggest in the US. Autumn is warm and pleasant. Summers are hot and humid, and hurricane season runs from June to November. Winter is mild and quiet.
Explore the squares early in the morning or in the evening, when it is cooler and the light through the oaks is at its loveliest.
Top attractions in Savannah
NatureCentral Park
Manhattan's 843-acre green heart, with lakes, meadows, bridges and woodland stretching for 51 blocks between Midtown…
LandmarkStatue of Liberty
The copper colossus in New York Harbor, a gift from France in 1886, visited by ferry with Ellis Island on the same trip.
Savannah on the map
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Savannah?
Two or three days is ideal for the squares, a house tour, a ghost tour and a trip to Tybee.
Savannah or Charleston?
Both are lovely and only two hours apart. Savannah is more relaxed and quirky; Charleston more polished, with a bigger food scene. Many visitors do both.
Can you drink outside in Savannah?
Yes, in plastic cups within the historic district, under its open-container rules.
Is Savannah walkable?
Very. The historic district is compact and flat, with a square every few blocks.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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