Top Things to Do & Sights to See in Savannah
Savannah, Georgia is the epitome of southern grace, hospitality and history. Here are our top things to do and sights to see in Savannah. I absolutely loved spending time wandering the streets, stopping at monuments and sipping some coffee while considering all the history this coastal town has had. The buildings and history alone are worth a visit to this beautifully designed city.
My favorite sights were it’s 22 park-like squares surrounded by historic homes, museums and monuments along with the breathtaking tree-lined canopied streets dripping with spanish moss. But there is plenty more things to do and sights to see in Savannah. Keep reading for our recommendations on where to go and what to do along with lots of photos to highlight this charming, southern city.
1. Visit the Unique City Squares.
Savannah was founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe who designed the city around squares, laid out in a grid for all development to center around each square, making Savannah quite unique in its design.
Savannah’s historic district, the largest National Historic Landmark District in the United States, is comprised of 22 city park squares, each uniquely named, with monuments, museums, historic architecture and shops. The best way to view some of these squares is by foot. Take your time, and your camera, and wander along the cobblestone streets and rest and enjoy these mini parks.
Following are a couple examples of what you can see and experience at the Squares. You may have to choose just a few to explore on your first visit, unless you have lots of time. Try our favorites then venture out to find your own.
Madison Square:
Madison Square was named after the fourth President of the United States, James Madison, and surrounding it are some of the most important and interesting buildings in the city. The William Jasper monument commemorates a Savannahian of the Revolutionary War, Sgt. William Jasper.
Saint John’s Episcopal Church
This historic church, built in 1852, is known for its melodious chimes and magnificent stained glass windows depicting various scenes from the New Testament. Try to arrive in time to hear the bells. It’ll be worth it!
The Green-Meldrim House
This historic house is one of the South’s finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture and the Civil War headquarters of General Williams Tecumseh Sherman when the Union occupied Savannah in 1864. It’s been said that the owner, Charles Green, a wealthy English cotton merchant, hoping to buy Sherman’s good will and keep his inventory of cotton safe from confiscation, offered his mansion on Madison Square for military headquarters. Hence, this house became General Sherman’s headquarters and was spared much war damage. Want more on this interesting story? Read here. There are Civil War structures and stories everywhere in Savannah. Wonderful for this author’s history loving brain.
Telfair Square:
Originally named St. James Square, the name was changed to Telfair Square in 1883 to honor the Telfair family and their contributions to early Savannah history and culture. Surrounding the square are the Telfair Museum, the Trinity Methodist Church and several other historic buildings.
The Telfair Academy Art Museum
A must see!! This was the mansion home of the Telfair family until 1875, when Mary Telfair, an early patron of the arts and last of the Telfair line, left the mansion and its furnishings to the Georgia Historical Society in 1875 to be used as a museum. Later enlarged in 1883, the museum serves as a regional and national resource for art, culture and history.
The massive and skillfully restored rooms exhibit exquisite furniture and numerous art and sculpture pieces. You’ll be amazed by the beauty of the rooms and the stunning artwork. You can take several hours to view all the pieces, from grand paintings to small drawings and intricate furnishing.
The “Bird Girl” sculpture, made famous by the non-fiction book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”, was originally in the Bonaventure cemetery, but is now housed in the Telfair Museum. It was definitely a highlight to see the famous piece.
Trinity Methodist Church
This church was erected in 1848. The older Wesley Chapel that was established in 1807 by John Wesley, was combined with Trinity Church in 1862. It’s a beautiful example of Greek Revival architecture.You can imagine the sermons being preached in the simple but elegant interior and we especially appreciated their welcome message.
Monterey Square
Monterey Square was laid out in 1847 and was named to commemorate the capture of the city of Monterrey, Mexico in 1846. The parks center monument, The Casimir Pulaski Monument, is a tall statue of a wounded soldier which pays tribute to General Casimir Pulaski, a young Polish nobleman who fell as a hero during the American Revolution.
Monterey Square is also home to the Mercer-Williams house. A beautiful house in it’s own right, but also has ties to the book, “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil”. Apparently, this book is about real people and real places in Savannah. I wish I would have read it before coming, but it’s definitely on my list of books to read. If you have a chance, read it before coming and you’ll have even more appreciation for Savannah and particularly Monterey Square.
2. Enjoy Forsyth Park and Fountain:
No visit to Savannah would be complete without visiting Forsyth park and experiencing the famous fountain, and clicking some great travel pics too. From Monterey Square, you are a short walk to Forsyth Park. It’s a huge park to walk your dogs, get in some recreation, or just relax and soak up the giant, moss-draped trees and, of course, the much-photographed, and well loved, Forsyth Fountain, an ornamental, cast-iron piece dating to 1858. Interestingly, the fountain was actually ordered from a catalog.
3. Wander the Streets
Be sure to wander off the beaten path away from the city squares, as well. Although, the squares are definitely a highlight and not to be missed, any street or alleyway is full of history, wonderful architecture and charming cobblestone pathways. Stop to see the details like the stairs, the cornices of buildings or the grandness of a restored house and soak in the richness of Savannah.
Colonial Park Cemetery
Another stop as you wander the streets and absorb the history is the Colonial Park Cemetery. Established about 1750, it is the final resting place for many of Savannah’s earliest citizens. Although there are no confederate soldiers laid to rest here as it was closed to burials before the war.
There are many interesting tombstones and edifices in this cemetery. To me, one of the more interesting ones is the Graham Vault, where Major Nathaniel Green from the Revolutionary War was interned for 114 years before being moved to the monument in Johnson Square.
4. Visit The River District
Once you’ve taken in the architecture and beauty of the Historic District, make your way to the River District along River Street, bordering the grand Savannah River. Park on top at Bay Street and before going down the steps, check out the old Cotton Exchange building. Imagine the importance of this building and business at the height of King Cotton.
Take the Stairs
I loved the stairs down to River Street; so old, yet still so functional. I can imagine lovely dressed Southern woman tiptoeing gracefully down these stone steps in their big hoop skirts. It must have been an experience and sight to see. I also thought the sign stating, “Historic Steps. Use at Own Risk”, was humorous, especially considering there wasn’t any other convenient way to get down to River Street. Ha!
Once you’ve made it to the Historic River Street, paved with 200-year-old cobblestones, that runs along the length of the Savannah River, you’ll find a street filled with eclectic shops, restaurants, pubs, art galleries and of course, souvenirs. Rather than the grand, elegant mansions of the historic district, on River Street you will find centuries old brick buildings that once housed merchants and cotton warehouses. These buildings have been renovated and transformed into a wonderful place to explore and enjoy.
Find Some Fun Treats!
We loved the Savannah Peanut shop. It’s Georgia. You have to get peanuts! And the Savannah Candy kitchen has been making salt water taffy for 100 years. You can check out the taffy pulling machine inside and try a sample, or buy a bag for the rest of the trip.
Take a River Cruise or Stroll the River Walk
You’ll also have a chance to see the river and watch ships from around the globe sail into one of the busiest ports in America. If you have a chance, catch a river cruise on the Georgia Queen paddleboat or the smaller ‘Juliette Gordon Low’ tugboat. You’ll get to see the old warehouses from the water, as they did in the past.
Another highlight in the River district is the walk itself. Be sure to stroll down the street and enjoy the small parks and sculptures along the way.
4. Our Food & Drink Recommendations:
There are so many restaurants, pubs, cafes and upscale eats, that it would be hard to summarize all of them. So I thought I’d share the couple that we were fortunate enough to experience.
Dinner:
Our favorite by far was Bubba Gumbo’s Seafood Restaurant just outside Tybee Island. It’s a small, local place that is a bit hard to find, at least in the dark. But well worth the effort. Fresh seafood, oysters and shrimp. Try the fried shrimp and hushpuppies. And if you are a bit adventurous, ask for the grilled oysters. Yum! I have a more indepth review in my southern food post.
Breakfast:
The Goose Feathers Cafe has a wonderful selection of freshly made breakfast treats and good coffee and espresso drinks. We enjoyed the covered outside patio, especially since we had our dogs and it was raining. Another great, unique thing about Goose Feathers is they deliver, on a bike. Cool! So if you’re staying right in downtown, give them a call and you won’t have to leave your room. Sweet!
Mid-day coffee:
Visit Savannah Coffee Roasters for a quick pick-me-up while you are exploring the Historic district. Nice atmosphere and they have a selection of coffee shop favorites like pastries and sandwiches if you missed lunch and need a bite. Chill a bit in their comfy chairs before heading off to the next Square or shop.
Late afternoon cocktail:
The Toasted Barrel. Great attentive service and a fun selection of house made cocktails made with locally made spirits and liquors. Sit outside and watch the passersby or chat with your neighbor in the table next to you, (or post your pic of your drink to IG! 😉 ). Here’s another option: get your drink to go and stroll along the streets. Yes, it’s legal to drink on the streets in Savannah. Whoa! Now, that’s a fun city.
5. Visit Tybee Island, ‘Savannah’s Beach’:
Tybee Island is the laid back little sister of Savannah. Quiet, charming, eclectic, this small coastal town and beach should not be missed. We were fortunate to find an RV park in the middle of Tybee Island, River’s End Campground and RV park. The park is very nice and clean with a dog park and easy access to both Tybee town and Savannah, which is only 25 minutes away. Here are a few of our favorite things to do on the Island.
1. The Beach!
The Atlantic Ocean awaits, whether you visit in winter or summer. If you make it here in winter, like us, you will often find the beach all to yourself to wander and snap some pics. It may not be swimsuit weather, but wonderful nonetheless. And you can still kick your shoes off and get those toes in the sand. AHHHHHHHH…..
2. Tybee Island Historic Lighthouse
This iconic lighthouse is the oldest one in Georgia, dating back to 1736. It stands as a beacon and a landmark for the whole island. Surrounding the lighthouse and all along the beach are old stone ‘batteries’, once used for defense. They are an interesting addition to the scene and there is a museum inside one of them you can check out for you history buffs.
3. Get out and ride!
Riding around on a bike is the best way to see the island. The streets are quiet, drivers are courteous and the sea air is great to breath in and enjoy. Especially since parking is all pay-to-park, cycling lets you see the area up close and not worry about finding a parking spot. In addition, there are designated bike trails everywhere and convenient bike racks along the way.
4. The Shoppes at 1207
For some eclectic shops all locally owned, check out the quaint Shoppes at 1207 right on US Hwy 80 as you enter the town. Fun, quirky shops and art galleries offer art, clothing, body care essentials, and seaside souvenirs. Also stop in to Tybean Art and Coffee for a yummy espresso and fun, local art.
Phew! You made it through all the recommendations on our top things to do and sights to see in Savannah. Are you excited to visit? I know for me, I want to go back and see even more and soak up more of that southern hospitality. I hope you can visit Savannah soon and experience the Historic District with its park-like Squares; the River District and all the shopping and eating; seeing Forsyth Fountain and the Colonial Cemetery; and taking time to wander the streets of this historic town. You will love it!
Let me know if I missed any of your favorite spots. And if you found this information fun and useful, please leave a comment and let me know. Till next time, keep making your Someday, Today. Cheers! 
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