How to spend one day in Savannah Georgia
Planning a Southeast US road trip? Make sure to add a visit to Savannah Georgia which is also known as the “Hostess City” because of its hospitality, and you definitely feel welcome when you visit Savannah.
Savannah is such a charming town with so much history to explore since it’s one of the oldest cities in Georgia.
From the moss-covered oak trees, the beautiful historic homes, and all the beautiful Squares, there’s so much to see on a one-day visit to Savannah Georgia.
On the blog, I will share how to spend one day in Savannah Georgia which includes some of Savannah’s main attractions.
You can easily see most of the main sites in Savannah in one day, but I highly recommend spending the weekend in Savannah to make the most of your visit.
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Where to stay in Savannah
When planning your visit to Savannah Georgia I recommend staying within the Historic District which puts you in the center of all the main attractions.
We loved the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside Hotel which is located along the Savannah River and is one of the most beautiful hotels in the city.
The lobby is one of the most unique with artifacts, geodes, and a silver dinosaur suspended on the ceiling, and is just so spectacular!
There are also three buildings within the hotel with three very different themes and decor. It’s definitely one of the most unique hotel stays in Savannah.
More Hotels in Savannah:
- The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa
- River Street Inn
- Hyatt Regency Savannah
- Homewood Suites by Hilton
- The Mansion on Forsyth
- The Marshall House, Historic Inns of Savannah Collection
How to get around Savannah
Old Town Trolley Tour
- One of the best ways to explore Savannah on a day trip is on the Old Town Trolley Tour. The tour takes you along some of Savannah’s historic spots with 15 different stops to hop on-hop off from.
- One-day tickets cost about $39.60 online for adults and $20.28 for kids 4-12. The complete tour takes about an hour and a half and the guides are very informative and friendly!
Explore Savannah on foot
- Savannah’s historic district is small enough that you can easily reach most of the main attractions on foot. Make sure to bring a stroller for the kids because there will be lots of walking.
- The good thing is that there are about 22 squares with benches, some with playgrounds, and lots of green open spaces to take a break and let the kids run around and have fun.
Old Savannah Tour
- Another hop-on-hop-off type trolley tour in Savannah where historical re-enactors may appear from time to time is on the Old Savannah Tour, which also offers a Savannah Ghost tour, and Historical tours as well.
- Hop-on-hop-off tickets cost $36 Adults Ages 12+ / $13Children Ages 5-11 / Ages 4 and under are free!
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Explore the Historic Squares
One of the best things to do in one day in Savannah is to explore all the beautifully manicured squares.
There are 22 historic squares to explore in Savannah and they were all named in honor of a person(s) or a historical event with many monuments, markers, and tributes in honor of them.
Some of the most beautiful squares in Savannah are Monterey Square, Madison Square, Johnson Square, and Chippewa Square which was made famous by the movie Forest Gump.
The bus stop scenes from the movie were filmed on the north end of the square, and you can visit the actual bench from the movie which is now at the Savannah History Museum which is set in a former rail passenger station.
Tickets to the museum cost $7 for adults / $4 for kids (2-12) and is open daily from 9am-5:30pm. The museum houses more than 10,000 artifacts to explore to learn more about Savannah’s history.
All the historic squares in Savannah are draped in moss-covered oak trees, beautiful gardens, and historic homes to admire. Take a stroll and visit each square which is an easy walking distance from each other.
Visit Forsyth Park
One of the most iconic spots to visit in Savannah on a day trip is Forsyth Park! Forsyth Park is one of the largest and oldest public parks in Savannah and is a popular gathering place for locals and visitors.
There is so much to do in Forsyth Park including two playgrounds for kids, walking paths, sports courts, and is surrounded by historic homes. There are also lots of events that happen here including a Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.
Forsyth Park is also home to one of the most photographed fountains and it’s so beautiful flanked by all the moss-covered trees!
The fountain was modeled after the one in Place de la Concorde in Paris which is just so beautiful. Nearby you can have a meal at Collins Quarters at Forsyth which is a popular brunch spot.
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Admire all the charming homes
Take a stroll and admire all the beautiful historic homes in Savannah. One of the most photographed spots in Savannah is the Rainbow Row houses located at 510 E Bryan St, and they are just so beautiful and charming with their pastel-colored houses.
You can find most of the historic homes located around Savannah’s squares so make sure to take a stroll and do a self-guided walking tour.
You can also book a historic walking tour of Savannah here and get to know more of this charming city with a local guide!
Some of the most historic homes that you can visit are:
- The Andrew Low House: 1840’s historic home located on Lafayette Square and was home to Juliette Gordon Low, who was the founder of the Girl Scouts. The Museum is open daily from 10am-4pm and tickets costs $12 for adults / $10 students (6-21) FREE (under 6 & Active military)
- Juliette Gordon Low House: Birthplace of the founder of the Girl Scouts which is now owned by the Girl Scouts of the USA and is a historical landmark. Guided tours costs $10-$15. Purchase tickets here
- Sorrel-Weed House: Historic home located on Madison Square was once owned by Francis Sorrel and is supposedly one of the most haunted homes in Savannah. Historic House tours costs $12 / FREE (ages 7 & under)
- Scarbourough House: Historic home which is now the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Open Tues-Sun from 10am-5pm. Tickets costs $10 adults / FREE 5 and under / $8 (Seniors, Military, & AAA members)
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Shop at Broughton Street
Don’t miss a stroll along Broughton Street in Savannah. This cute shopping street has so many cute boutique shops, restaurants, and galleries to visit.
We loved the Paris Market which has two floors where you can find some of the most unique decors.
There’s also a cafe on the first floor serving up some coffee, desserts, and more! Don’t miss Coffee Fox for some of the most unique coffee flavors as well.
We loved the Horchata latte, which tasted amazing. Leopold’s Ice Cream is here as well and was voted the best ice cream in Georgia! They have so many unique flavors to choose from!
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Visit the City Market
The City Market is one of the oldest marketplaces in Savannah that was once a bustling market where locals would shop for groceries, trade, and socialize.
The market has stood the test of time surviving two fires, the Civil War, and a hurricane and is now home to some of the most popular restaurants, galleries and more in Savannah.
This pedestrian street covers about four blocks with many dining options to choose from including lots of cute shops, art galleries and sweets shops like Byrds Famous cookies which taste amazing!
Stop by the store and sample all the different flavors! We love the chocolate chips and triple chocolate cookie flavors.
Savannah’s Candy Kitchen is also here and you can sample some pralines! There are so many options to choose from to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Take a stroll along the Waterfront
On your day trip to Savannah make sure to take a stroll along River Street located along Savannah’s waterfront.
There is so much to do along the Savannah River, with a lot of the restaurants and shops located in restored cotton warehouses.
Don’t miss a visit to the outdoor River Street Marketplace where you can find some unique souvenirs including handmade art and jewelry.
Satisfy your sweet tooth at Byrds Famous cookies and sample the variety of flavors. We loved the chocolate chips, salted caramels, and lemon coolers.
Savannah’s Candy Kitchen is also located here and you can watch taffy being made and wrapped, which was so cool!
There are also lots of monuments and historical sites to explore along River Street including the Waving Girl Statue which is a tribute to Florence Martus who used to greet ships entering Savannah by waving a cloth in search of her long lost love.
Go on a Riverboat Cruise
Another one of the top things to do along Savannah’s waterfront is a river cruise. The Savannah Riverboat Cruise is the perfect way to sightsee Savannah on the water.
There are many boat cruises to choose from which include either an evening dinner tour, a mid-day brunch, and more. Visit the website here for more information and boat tour options.
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What to eat in Savannah
There are so many choices in places to eat in Savannah. Savannah is known for its emerging food scene where you can have a taste of the South, and a taste of the world as well.
Some of the most popular spots in Savannah are Collins Quarters at Forsyth Park which serves up a delectable menu in a stylish setting.
This place is known for its weekend brunch and I highly recommend making reservations!
Sample the flavors of Savannah on a food tour which you can reserve here , or this Savannah walking food tour here.
- Collins Quarters at Forsyth: Lunch and Brunch spot located at Forsyth Park
- The Olde Pink House: Southern cuisine in an elegant Colonial Mansion
- Fox & Figs Cafe: Plant based fare and espresso bar
- The Pirates House: Historic pirate-themed restaurant featuring hearty Southern cuisine
- Boar’s Head Grill & Tavern: Southern comfort foods in a pub-like setting
- The Shrimp Factory: Seafood restaurant in a historic restored cotton warehouse
- Spankys Pizza Galley & Saloon: Casual eatery known for it’s chicken fingers and pizza
- The Coffee Fox: Coffee house serving espresso drinks, pastries, and more. Try the Horchata Latte
- The Paris Market: Cafe serving up coffee, and espresso drinks including pastries, and house-made sandwiches
- Byrds Famous Cookies: Amazing cookie shop with a variety of flavors to choose from. These cookies are small and crunchy.
- Savannah’s Candy Kitchen: Candy shop featuring Pralines, and more sweets!
Visit the Wormsloe Historic Site
If you can spend a weekend in Savannah Georgia, I highly recommend a visit to the Wormsloe Historic Site to see the moss-covered oak-lined avenue which is just so stunning!
Wormsloe Historic site was once owned by Noble Jones who arrived in Georgia in the early 1700s with James Oglethorpe and the first group of settlers from England.
The site is the oldest standing structure in Savannah which include the ruins of Jones’ house, a museum that offers a short film to learn more about the site, and where you can view some unearthed artifacts as well
There is also a demonstration area interpreting colonial daily life with demonstrators in period costumes.
- Hours: Monday–Sunday 9am-4:45pm.
- Tickets:
- Adults (18–61): $10.00
- Seniors (62+): $9.00
- Youth (6–17): $4.50
- Children (under 6): $2.00
- Location: 7601 Skidaway Road Savannah, GA 31406
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Visit the Museums
If you have more time to spend in Savannah, I suggest visiting one of the many museums in Savannah. Here are just a few worth adding to your trip to Savannah Georgia.
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