Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the most beautiful city in the American South. The statement is less contested than it sounds — twenty-two park squares laid out in 1733, live oaks draped in Spanish moss forming canopies over brick-paved streets, and antebellum architecture in a state of preservation most American cities sacrificed to progress. Savannah kept its streets, kept its squares, and kept a pace of life that rewards the traveler who slows down to match it.
Day One works the Historic District's squares as waypoints, from the riverfront south to Forsyth Park. Day Two moves to the edges — Bonaventure Cemetery, Tybee Island's beach, and the Victorian District where the city's independent food scene concentrates. The open container law means a drink from any bar can go with you into the streets — plastic cups only.
Your 48 Hours
| Day One — The Squares · River Street · Forsyth Park | |
| 8:30 AM | Johnson Square & the Northern Squares Savannah's oldest and largest square, laid out by Oglethorpe in 1733. Walk south through Chippewa, Wright, and Telfair Squares. The best time to walk them is before 9am, when the light is soft and the oak canopy quiets the streets. |
| 11:00 AM | Forsyth Park Thirty acres anchored by the cast-iron fountain most associated with Savannah — where the city runs, walks dogs, and holds the Saturday farmers market. The fountain was cast in the same mold as one in Prades, France, and installed in 1858. |
| 2:00 PM | SCAD Museum of Art One of the most interesting contemporary art museums in the South, housed in a restored 1853 Romanesque Revival building. SCAD has restored more historic buildings in Savannah than any other single entity. |
| 3:30 PM | River Street & Factor's Walk A cobblestoned commercial strip along the riverbank, with the more interesting Factor's Walk — 1820s iron bridges connecting bluff-level streets to the warehouses — above it. The cobblestones were ships' ballast, brought from Europe and deposited as ships loaded cotton cargo. |
| 7:00 PM | Dinner: The Grey The finest restaurant in Savannah, housed in a restored 1938 Art Deco Greyhound terminal — a menu built around the Georgia coast. Book well ahead at thegreyrestaurant.com; the bar has walk-in seats if the dining room is full. |
| Day Two — Bonaventure · Tybee Island · Victorian District | |
| 9:00 AM | Bonaventure Cemetery A Victorian cemetery on the Wilmington River — live oaks draped in Spanish moss and marble monuments, three miles east of the Historic District. Walk quietly and respectfully — it's a functioning cemetery. Take a rideshare. |
| 11:00 AM | Tybee Island Seventeen miles east — a small barrier island with a broad beach and a historic 1736 lighthouse, the oldest and tallest in Georgia. The Back River side is quieter and better for walking. Bring sunscreen — the reflected light is serious. |
| 2:30 PM | The Owens-Thomas House The finest Regency architecture in America, designed by William Jay in 1819 — the first indoor plumbing in Savannah and original paint colors. Book at telfair.org — timed entry, small groups. |
| 4:00 PM | Telfair Academy The first public art museum in the American South, housed in William Jay's 1818 mansion. The Bird Girl sculpture is here. The combined Telfair Museums ticket covers all three sites — the best-value arts purchase in Savannah. |
| 7:00 PM | Dinner: The Florence The finest Italian restaurant in Savannah, wood-fired and seriously sourced, in the Victorian District. Waters Avenue and its cross streets have the city's best casual dining. |
Savannah's Table
Is Savannah Safe?
| Area | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Historic District squares | Very safe | The visitor core — safe and walkable at any hour. |
| River Street / Factor's Walk | Safe | Touristy and busy — standard pickpocket awareness. |
| Forsyth Park area | Safe | Beautiful and safe in daylight; use caution after dark. |
| Victorian District | Use caution | Transitional — fine during the day, caution advised at night. |
| Eastside / Westside | Avoid | High crime areas, well outside the visitor itinerary — avoid as a visitor. |
Savannah requires more situational awareness than its moss-draped appearance suggests. The Historic District squares are genuinely safe and ideal for solo exploration, but the boundary between safe and unsafe territory can shift quickly once you leave the tourist core. Use rideshare after dark rather than walking back from bars or restaurants, and treat Forsyth Park as a daytime destination. Full neighborhood guidance and emergency contacts are in the companion Safety Guide, free with this guide.
When to Visit
Navigating Savannah
| Walking | Free | The Historic District is entirely flat and walkable — Forsyth Park to River Street is a 20-minute walk. |
| DOT Free Shuttle | Free | Loops through the Historic District connecting major visitor areas — flag and board, no app required. |
| Rideshare | Varies | Essential for Bonaventure Cemetery (10 min), Tybee Island (30 min), and the Victorian District. |