Savannah Travel Guide: Squares, Sea Islands, and Southern Eats

Plan your Savannah itinerary

A Savannah travel guide works best when you treat the city as a walking museum. Most historic highlights cluster within a two-square-mile area, making navigation easy on foot. You can walk from Forsyth Park to River Street in about twenty minutes, passing through several famous squares along the way.

Two days is enough to hit major landmarks like the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, but three to four days allows you to linger at places like the Mercer-Williams House. Timing your visit is just as important. Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) offer the most comfortable weather for exploring cobblestone streets. Summer brings intense heat and humidity, which can make walking between sites exhausting.

Start your days early to beat the crowds. The squares are most atmospheric in the morning light, and many of the best breakfast spots near the historic district fill up quickly. By planning your route around the grid of squares, you’ll naturally discover hidden gardens and historic homes that often get missed by rushed tourists.

Explore the historic district squares

Savannah’s historic district is built around a grid of twenty-two original squares. These spaces serve as primary navigation points, offering shaded rest stops and immediate access to significant landmarks. Walking between them is the most effective way to experience the architectural density of the area.

Start at Johnson Square, the largest of the squares and the site of the original town plan. Here you can see the Telfair Academy, a neoclassical building that now houses a prominent art museum, and the monument to General James Oglethorpe. From here, a short walk north leads to Wright Square, named after General Horatio Gates. This square features a statue of Nathanael Greene and is bordered by the historic Marshall House hotel.

Continue west to Chippewa Square, perhaps the most famous square due to its appearance in the film Forrest Gump. The bench featured in the movie sits near the monument to General William J. Hardee. Nearby, you will find the Owens-Thomas House, a rare example of Regency-style architecture in the United States.

As you move toward the river, Franklin Square offers a quieter atmosphere with its ironwork fences and the monument to Count Casimir Pulaski. From Franklin, a brief stroll east brings you to the edge of River Street, where the cobblestones give way to the bustling port area. This transition from quiet green spaces to commercial activity marks the end of the core historic grid.

The layout of these squares creates a natural walking loop that covers the majority of the district’s top sights. Most squares are within a five-minute walk of each other, making them ideal for a self-guided tour. For those who prefer not to walk the entire distance, the city’s hop-on hop-off trolley system stops at nearly every major square.

Visit Wormsloe and Bonaventure

For a Savannah travel guide focused on atmosphere, two sites stand out for their haunting beauty and deep historical roots. Wormsloe Plantation offers a glimpse into colonial life through its towering oak-lined drive, while Bonaventure Cemetery provides a poignant, artistic look at Southern history. Both are located just outside the historic district, requiring a short drive but offering a stark, beautiful contrast to the city's squares.

Wormsloe State Historical Site is best known for its 2.5-mile avenue of live oaks, which creates a natural cathedral effect. The site includes the ruins of a 1730s plantation house and a museum detailing the Skidmore family’s history. It is open daily, and entry fees apply for vehicles and pedestrians. The site is roughly 10 miles south of downtown, making it an easy afternoon trip. Visitors often recommend going early in the morning to avoid heat and crowds, especially for photography.

Bonaventure Cemetery, located on the north side of the city, is less a graveyard and more an open-air sculpture garden. Famous for its angel statues and sprawling moss-draped trees, it has inspired writers like Margaret Mitchell and Truman Capote. There is no entry fee, but donations are appreciated. The cemetery is open from 7 a.m. to sunset. It is about 10 miles from downtown, accessible via Abercorn Street.

Planning your route between these two sites is straightforward. Wormsloe is south on Highway 17, while Bonaventure is north on Abercorn. They are on opposite sides of the city, so visiting both in one day requires a full afternoon. Many travelers pair Wormsloe with a stop at Tybee Island, while Bonaventure is often combined with a tour of the historic district’s northern squares. Allow at least 1.5 hours for each site to fully appreciate the grounds and history.

Relax on nearby Sea Islands beaches

Savannah is a city of squares, not sand. If you are looking to swim in the Atlantic or walk along a wide shoreline, you need to leave the historic district. Fortunately, the Sea Islands and nearby barrier islands offer some of the best coastal experiences in the Southeast, all within a short drive from your Savannah hotel.

Tybee Island is the closest option, sitting just 18 miles east of downtown. You can reach the beach in about 20 minutes via US-80 East. The Tybee Island Pier offers classic seaside views, while the sandy shores of Fort Pulaski National Monument provide a quieter, more natural setting with historic fort ruins nearby. It is the perfect half-day escape if you want to combine history with a beach walk.

For a more upscale, resort-style experience, head south to the Sea Islands. Hutchinson Island and Jekyll Island are accessible via the Skidaway Bridge. Jekyll Island, a National Historic Landmark, features pristine beaches, maritime forest trails, and historic cottages. It feels worlds away from the city, offering a slower pace and exclusive atmosphere.

Wilmington Island, home to Fort Pulaski, also offers direct beach access with fewer crowds than Tybee. The drive takes roughly 30 minutes. These locations provide the salty air and ocean breeze that define a Georgia coastal trip, even if the city itself remains firmly rooted in its cobblestone streets and oak-lined avenues.

Dine on Southern classics and new spots

Savannah’s food scene balances historic institutions with modern favorites, making it a core part of any Savannah travel guide itinerary. The city’s culinary identity is rooted in Lowcountry cuisine—think shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, and fried green tomatoes—but the execution ranges from century-old institutions to innovative new concepts.

Historic institutions and modern favorites

The Grey has redefined Savannah fine dining since opening in a former Greyhound bus station. Chef Mashama Bailey’s menu draws heavily on African American culinary traditions, offering dishes like the famous buttermilk fried chicken and oyster po’boy. Reservations are essential and should be made weeks in advance, especially for dinner service.

The Olde Pink House, located in an 18th-century mansion on East Broad Street, offers a more traditional Southern experience. Known for its pink stucco exterior and garden courtyard, it serves classic dishes like shrimp and grits and fried chicken in a historic setting. It’s a staple for visitors seeking a taste of Savannah’s colonial past.

For a more casual, local experience, Starland Food Hall in the Starland District offers a variety of vendors under one roof. It’s a great spot for groups with different tastes, featuring everything from wood-fired pizza to Korean tacos. The industrial-chic space is a popular lunch destination for both tourists and locals.

Practical dining tips

Savannah’s restaurant scene is concentrated in the Historic District, making it easy to walk between meals. Most restaurants are within a 10-15 minute walk of each other, though sidewalks can be uneven. Consider booking dinner reservations at least a week in advance for popular spots, especially on weekends.

Use the map below to locate these restaurants within the Historic District. Most are within walking distance of each other, making it easy to plan a food-focused walking tour.

Checklist for your Savannah trip

Before you pack your bags for this Savannah travel guide destination, ensure your logistics are solid. The city’s walkability is its greatest asset, but the heat and humidity demand preparation. Use this checklist to confirm you’ve handled the essentials, from booking the historic district’s most sought-after spots to navigating the cobblestones safely.

Questions about visiting Savannah

Planning a Savannah travel guide itinerary? First-time visitors often wonder about logistics, from navigating the walkable grid to timing their visits. Here are the practical details to help you move through the city with ease.