Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, public domain (Library of Congress), via Wikimedia Commons
Savannah is Georgia’s oldest city, founded by James Oglethorpe on February 12, 1733, and laid out on a grid of streets and squares that still shapes the historic district today. Live oaks, Spanish moss, house museums and a working riverfront make it one of the most walkable cities in the South. It sits about 249 miles southeast of Atlanta, near the mouth of the Savannah River, and Tybee Island’s beach is only 20 minutes away. Here are the best things to do in Savannah.
- From AtlantaAbout 249 miles, 4 hours 35 minutes without traffic
- CountyChatham County
- Known forIts 22 historic squares, River Street, house museums, Bonaventure Cemetery and St. Patrick’s Day
- Visitor infoSavannah Visitor Information Center, 301 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in the old Central of Georgia rail station
Top Things to Do in Savannah
1. Walk the historic squares
Twenty-two squares survive from Oglethorpe’s plan, each with its own monuments and history. Our Savannah squares guide covers them all, from Johnson Square, the first, to the later squares on the south side.
2. River Street and Factors Walk
Cotton warehouses along the Savannah River now hold restaurants, shops and bars. Above them, the iron walkways of Factors Walk show where cotton brokers once worked. Walk up to City Market for galleries and dinner.
3. Wormsloe State Historic Site
A mile-long avenue of live oaks leads to the tabby ruins of Noble Jones’s fortified house, with a museum and about 7 miles of trails. Daily 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; adults $12.
4. Bonaventure Cemetery
A city cemetery since 1907 on a bluff above the Wilmington River, known for its oak-shaded lanes and Victorian statuary. Free; go early for the softest light.
5. Owens-Thomas House
William Jay’s English Regency mansion on Oglethorpe Square, with one of the best-preserved urban slave quarters in the South interpreted alongside the main house.
6. Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
The 1820s Regency townhouse where the founder of the Girl Scouts was born in 1860, furnished with family pieces. A pilgrimage stop for scout troops.
7. Savannah’s Black history sites
First African Baptist Church traces its congregation to 1773, and the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum tells the story of Savannah’s civil rights movement.
8. Old Fort Jackson
The oldest standing brick fort in Georgia, on the river east of downtown, with cannon firings that rattle the windows of passing container ships.
9. Georgia State Railroad Museum
The Central of Georgia Railway’s roundhouse and repair shops, a National Historic Landmark, next to the Savannah History Museum in the old passenger shed.
10. Fort Pulaski and Tybee Island
On the way to the beach, Fort Pulaski National Monument shows how rifled cannons broke a brick fort in 1862 ($10 ages 16 and up, cards only). Then spend the afternoon on Tybee Island.
Advertise in Savannah
Own a rental, inn, restaurant, charter or outfitter in Savannah? Put it in front of visitors planning their trip. See our advertising options or download the 2026 media kit (PDF).
Events and Seasons
Spring is Savannah’s best season, with azaleas in the squares and the city’s huge St. Patrick’s Day parade in March (book rooms early). Summers are hot and humid, so plan walks for morning and evening. Fall brings mild weather, and December means candlelight tours and lights downtown (see coast and islands Christmas lights). For nature, the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge and Skidaway Island State Park are best from fall through spring.
Nearby Towns and Trip Planning
Pair this trip with Tybee Island, Darien or St. Simons Island, or see every stop in our 20 best things to do on the Georgia coast. Our historic Savannah page covers the churches, squares and forts in more depth. For a walking plan, use our perfect weekend in Savannah itinerary. For a ready-made route, follow the perfect 3-day Georgia coast itinerary, and see our best beaches in Georgia, Georgia lighthouses guide and lodging and accommodations listings.
Common Questions
What is Savannah, GA known for?
Savannah is best known for its 22 historic squares, live oaks and Spanish moss, River Street, house museums, Bonaventure Cemetery and its St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
How far is Savannah from Atlanta?
Savannah is about 249 miles from downtown Atlanta, roughly 4 hours 35 minutes by car without traffic.
How many days do you need in Savannah?
Two days covers the squares, River Street and a couple of house museums. Add a third day for Wormsloe, Bonaventure Cemetery, Fort Pulaski and Tybee Island.
Is there a beach in Savannah?
Savannah itself is on a river, not the ocean. The nearest beach is Tybee Island, about 20 minutes east on U.S. 80.
Sources we checked
Facts on this page were checked against official sources and our own detailed pages. Drive times are from downtown Atlanta (Five Points) using OpenStreetMap routing and do not include traffic. Hours, fees and event dates change, so confirm before you go:
- Visit Savannah: visitor center location and seasonal events
- Georgia State Parks: Wormsloe and Skidaway Island hours and fees
- National Park Service: Fort Pulaski entrance fee ($10 ages 16 and up, cards only)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.