One Day in Savannah: A Walking Tour Itinerary

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Only 90 minutes north of the Georgia-Florida state line, Savannah’s exit signs get little more than a passing glance. Sadly, millions of travelers ignore this charming colonial-American city as they rush-rush-rush down I-95.

Maybe it’s an American thing: We tend to focus on getting to our destinations and forget to take the time to savor the journey. But let’s be honest: Way too many of our deadlines are self-imposed.

Guilty as charged: When we visited Charlotte, North Carolina for an event, we planned to drive straight home after lunch the next day. (We always share the driving, so 9-hour drives are no big deal to us.)

And then we thought about it. What’s the rush? Would the world really end if we were to get home later than we’d originally planned?

How many times over the years had we said “We should visit Savannah” as we sped along the interstate? When, if not now? It’s such a historic city and there are so many things to do and see. Couldn’t we spare at least one day in Savannah? Or was it all talk?

Here’s what happened when we did.

Sign says from Savannah with love

Why visit Savannah, Georgia

If you exit from the speeding interstate, you’ll find that Savannah is the antithesis of rush. This colonial Grande Dame is a slow, Southern drawl of a city. Stately trees drip miles of lacy Spanish moss from their branches, creating shady, canopied streets and squares. everywhere you go.

The Savannah historic district is renowned for its beauty, peppered every few blocks with a lush miniature park that just begs visitors to “set a spell.” Indeed, no one, local or visitor, seems to hurry from place to place here.

Each of the city’s squares (22 to be exact) is different, named for a notable person, and surrounded with historic homes that are just as unique and just as enchanting as the next. Some of the squares may have fountains, others may have statues, but they all have benches.

Spanish moss drips from tree branches on a square in Savannah, Georgia

Plenty of people accept the benches’ unspoken invitation every day, enjoying the cool shade and watching frolicking children as birds chirp overhead and horses clop-clop around the square. We were no exception, and you won’t be either.

This is a long read, but Savannah is worth it. I’ll be your virtual tour guide on this Savannah walking tour itinerary and show you why.

How to visit Savannah in a day

back of Savannah cycle tour guide's shirt on left. Horse and carriage on right. Both are used to get around Savannah, Georgia

One of the best places to get accurate information about a city is at its tourist center. Along with plenty of brochures and tips, they have a map of the main attractions. It’s almost always free of charge.

Get one. If you plan on touring Savannah Georgia, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with a city map before you begin your walking tour.

The Savannah Visitor Center is easy to get to from the interstate. We arrived at 10:30 on a Sunday morning – later than we had planned – and left our car in the parking lot. Then we went inside to get our map and use the restroom before setting out.

ⓘ TIP: Visit Savannah on a weekend for less traffic and free parking.

What’s the best way to tour Savannah Historic District?

Savannah’s entire historic district fits into an area of less than one square mile. And even though Savannah’s Historic District is small, you could easily spend two or three days there and not see it all.

We find that guided tours are the best way to learn about a new city and make the most of limited time. And if you have a special interest, you can use sites like Get Your Guide and Viator to book everything from food tours to Civil War tours, to comedy and ghost tours. And while walking tours are the most popular, other options include trolley, bicycle, segway, and horse-drawn carriage tours. And as you might expect, there are Riverboat Sightseeing Cruises as well.

Or, maybe you simply want to explore on foot and soak up the city’s ambiance. For us, a self-guided walking tour of Savannah made the most sense.

We got a lot of exercise, but our feet got tired and hurt by the end of the day. If you plan to walk, wear good shoes. And consider resting your feet for a while by riding around on the hop-on/hop-off trolley.

Don’t make our mistake (please!)

Looking back, the biggest mistake we made in trying to see Savannah in one day was in not having a tour book ahead of time. Reading up on the Savannah attractions beforehand would have made our time there so much easier.

  • For one thing, we could have reviewed the Savannah historic district map and not had to backtrack as much as we did, and
  • for another, it would have helped us avoid stopping all the time to read about what we were seeing.

We found a walking tour booklet at the Visitor Center gift shop and chose an itinerary that promised to take us through half of the Historic District in an hour and a half.

Ha! Not in our case! In reality, it took longer because Dan had his camera and Savannah is chock full of beautiful things to see and photograph.

ⓘ TIP: By reader request, here is the Amazon link to the book we used for this walking tour. The author has done her research and created walking tours for a variety of interests. She shares a whole lot more information than any single article could ever include.

One day Savannah walking tour

Entry gate to Colonial Park Cemetery. D.A.R. is carved on the lintel and an eagle with his wings spread is atop the entry

As a city, Savannah is one-of-a-kind. It was laid out in 1733 by General Oglethorpe. His basic idea was to set up an easily expandable grid system: four open squares, each surrounded by four residential blocks and four civic blocks.

Anyone who walks through the historic district will agree that the original plan (now known as the Oglethorpe Plan) was absolutely brilliant.

History oozes from every well-planned block of this city. Most of Savannah’s squares were named in honor or in memory of a person, persons or historical event, and many contain monuments, memorials, statues, plaques and other historical mementos. Read on and you’ll see what I mean.

ⓘ TIP: When you tour Savannah GA, be aware that most historic sites and museums charge admission fees to cover costs of upkeep. Budget roughly $10 per ticket. If you want to visit a few of Savannah’s homes or museums, ask about combination tickets; they can offer considerable savings. Be warned, though: photography inside these buildings is sometimes not allowed.

Orleans Square

Columned front of Harper Fowlkes House, Savannah

Only a few short blocks away was our first stop: Orleans Square. It was laid out in 1815 and commemorates General Andrew Jackson’s victory in the Battle of New Orleans that year. The fountain in the center of the square honors early German immigrants to Savannah.

With four two-story-tall Corinthian columns in front, the Harper Fowlkes House (aka Cincinnati House) is hard to miss. Its dramatic portico was copied from the Temple of the Winds in Athens, Greece, which I’d guess is why many people consider it to be one of Savannah’s most unusual homes. It is now open to the public.

Chippewa Square

Statue of James Oglethorpe atop a concrete column

Chippewa Square was named for the Battle of Chippewa in the War of 1812. In the corner of the square is a monument to James Oglethorpe, who founded Georgia in 1735 with the following rules: No hard liquor. No Catholics. No slaves. No lawyers. We’re glad those first three didn’t stick, but it’s rather a shame that last one didn’t, ha-ha.

Anyway, this square is known for its nightlife and entertainment, partly because of the historic Savannah Theatre. The Savannah Theatre is one of the oldest continually-operating theaters in the United States and still produces shows nightly.

Nearby is the First Baptist Church, the oldest church building in Savannah, which welcomed troops from both sides of the conflict during and after the Civil War.

For some people, though, Chippewa Square’s biggest claim to fame is that this is where Forrest Gump sat while eating his box of chocolates and telling his life story to anyone who would listen.

Fun fact: They changed the traffic pattern during filming, in order to have the characters step off the bus right in front of the bench.

The bench was located on the north edge of Chippewa Square Park, at the corner of Hull and Bull Streets.

ⓘ TIP: Sorry, guys, but there’s no bench there now; it was just a film prop. If you want to see it, you’ll find it in the Savannah History Museum.

Forrest Gump sitting on Savannah park bench
The bench has been replaced by a small garden.

From Chippewa Square, we walked down Bull Street past Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace. The house was one of the first house museums in Savannah. We didn’t stop in, but having been there before we can say that if you’re interested in historic homes, it is well worth your time.

Also, if you were a Girl Scout, you should also visit the Andrew Low House, which is where she later lived.

ⓘ BUDGET TIP: There’s a Savannah Pass that includes admission to over 30 of the city’s top tours, attractions, and historic sites. You can make advance reservations, use interactive maps, and find detailed attraction information with the handy mobile pass and guide.

Three story house where Juliette Gordon Low was born
Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace

Wright Square

We quickly arrived at Wright Square, the square where the courthouse has always stood. A simple granite memorial stands in one corner as a tribute to Tomochichi, chief of the Yamacraw tribe, who became a good friend of General Oglethorpe and offered peace and cooperation with the settlers. This was his original grave site, but sadly, his bones were removed in order to erect a statue to William W. Gordon.

stone with plaque Memorial to Tomochichi
Memorial to Tomochichi

You can see the statue in the center of the square. Gordon brought immense wealth to Savannah by constructing a railroad which brought cotton into Savannah’s wharves from distant plantations. William Gordon was grandfather of Juliette Gordon Low.

Oglethorpe Square

Tree frames the lower floor and entry of Owens Thomas House. I'm told it's one of the best  plantation tours in Savannah GA.

Turning onto York Street, we found Owens-Thomas House at the next square. Our guide book said that architectural historians consider the building to be one of the finest examples of English Regency architecture in America.

If you visit, you can also see the slave quarters in the carriage house, which contains items that were constructed and used by slaves. If you don’t, you can still peek through a gate to see the home’s beautiful garden.

Colonial Park Cemetery

gravestones at Colonial Park Cemetery
Wonder where the actual graves are for all these piled headstones? So do we.

Nearby is Colonial Park Cemetery. Used from 1733-1850, it’s now a peaceful city park.

The most famous person buried at Colonial Park Cemetery is Button Gwinnett. He signed the Declaration of Independence.

A stack of headstones is piled along one wall. When General Sherman’s troops camped there during the Civil War the soldiers decided that it would be entertaining to alter and move gravestones. Most of the stones were replaced after they left, but that pile contains the ones they could not relocate afterward.

My tour book said that some of the dates show that someone had died before he was born!

Columbia Square

Simple metal fountainshoots one stream of water directly upward. The pool around the fountain is made of brick
This simple metal fountain came from Wormsloe, a plantation near Savannah.

The next square on York is called Columbia Square. There’s a fountain in the center, which came from a nearby plantation that was owned by the wealthiest man in Georgia colony.

romantic old brick inn in Savannah

Kehoe House is a Renaissance Revival mansion that was built in 1892 and looks out over the square. It was built for William Kehoe, his wife Anne, and their ten children.

Mr. Kehoe ran an iron foundry, so many parts of the house were made of iron when it was built. It was beautifully fixed up, and now it’s a high-end bed and breakfast.

Davenport House

Another remarkable house on the square is the Davenport House, which is open to visitors. It boasts some of the finest wrought iron in town.

Even if you don’t go inside, look for the dolphin downspouts on each corner. Also check out the third step on the front staircase: there’s a boot scraper placed below a heart!

Greene Square

Second African Baptist Church

Laid out a short time after the Revolutionary War, this square was named to honor General Nathanael Greene, who was second in command to George Washington. (Greene, along with his son, is actually buried in Johnson Square. Go figure.)

Greene Square was once the center of Savannah’s African-American community. On one of the adjacent lots is Second African Baptist Church. It was here that General Sherman read the Emancipation Proclamation and promised the newly freed slaves “40 acres and a mule.” A century later, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood here as well, and practiced his famous “I had a dream” speech before delivering it in Washington, D.C.

Washington Square

rough surface of tabby sidewalk in front of Savannah row houses
Look closely and you can see the tabby on the sidewalk

They named it Washington Square to commemorate a visit from America’s first president.

This is where the Trustees’ Garden was, where they tried out different crops that could make money for the new colony. Most of these attempts, like growing mulberry (for silkworms), hemp, olives, and indigo, failed, but the peach trees did well. Yes, that’s how those well-known Georgia peaches got their start.

By the way, as you walk around town, you might notice the “tabby” material used to pave the streets. Roads and buildings were often made of tabby. It is a useful mixture of oyster shells, lime, sand, and water.

Pirate’s House

Pirate's House, a landmark Savannah restaurant

Walk to the end of Houston Street and look across Broad Street. The weathered building, known as Pirate’s House was once an inn for visiting seamen.

Now a restaurant, it has a shady history because, according to legend, a tunnel ran from the cellar to the river. Patrons of the tavern were given strong drinks and when they passed out they were carried, unconscious, to ships waiting in the harbor. When they awoke, they would find themselves at sea on a strange ship bound for a port half a world away.

Pirate’s House was an inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson as he wrote Treasure Island. Indeed, Savannah is mentioned in the book more than once.

Seems to me, though, that if there really is a tunnel under the city, there would be a tour or something. Wouldn’t you think?

Warren Square

Yellow row houses on a Savannah street
Want to buy a house? These are for sale in Historic Savannah.

Warren Square was named for General Joseph Warren, a Revolutionary War patriot. He had been President of the Provincial Government of Massachusetts and was killed in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Several of the homes there were completely restored in the 1900s, but not all. A double house on the south side of the square was built in 1998.

We followed St. Julian Street to get there. This street has some of the oldest houses in the Historic District (from the 1700s). You can tell it because the architecture is completely different.

Reynolds Square

This square was named for Capt. John Reynolds, governor of Georgia in the mid-1750s. The bronze statue in the middle honors John Wesley, founder of Methodism. Wesley spent a few years in Savannah (1735–1738), during which time he founded the first Sunday school in America. He is shown preaching outdoors, just as he did when leading services for Native Americans.

Statue of John Wesley in Reynolds Square

Had it been open, Dan and I would have stopped for lunch at the Olde Pink House. Thanks to surviving a devastating city fire in 1796, it is Savannah’s only surviving 18th century mansion. It earned its name because the soft native brick began to bleed through the white plastered walls, and the Habersham house turned Jamaican pink.

Despite being closed, they kindly let us take a look around and shoot endless photos of the atmospheric dining rooms. I must say, I was surprised at how affordable the prices are, considering the incredible ambiance. The chef created a very well-thought-out menu, and best of all, he or she is very willing to work with people who need to avoid things like sugar or gluten. Brilliant!

collage of images of Olde Pink House, Savannah

Johnson Square

Remember Greene Square, named after Nathanael Greene? This is where his and his son’s remains are buried. The obelisk in the center of the square is a memorial to the general.

Memorial obelisk to Nathanael Greene

Also on Johnson Square are two fountains, as well as a sundial dedicated to Colonel William Bull, the namesake of Savannah’s Bull Street. Bull surveyed Savannah’s original street grid.

Bay Street and a nice walk run along the Savannah River

Bay Street

Time to take a break from Savannah square-seeing. Instead, we ambled over to Bay Street, where the hundred-year-old City Hall stands, its pretty gilt dome glittering in the noonday sun.

Domed building that serves as Savannah City Hall
Savannah’s City Hall

It wasn’t City Hall that interested us, though. Our goal was a close-up look at the historic Washington Guns.

Washington Guns

Washington Guns in Savannah Georgia
Is this one George, or Martha?

Sitting peacefully under an unassuming canopy near City Hall are two relatively nondescript “guns” (cannons?) that are fondly referred to as “George and Martha.” Tour guides will tell you that they were captured from the British during the American Revolutionary War and that they were a gift to the Chatham Artillery from George Washington when he visited in 1791.

Cotton Exchange

After checking out the historic weapons, we continued past the Exchange Fire Bell. Once upon a time, this old-fashioned method was how they used to alert citizens of fire.

The bell got its name because of its location: It’s near the old Cotton Exchange. Once upon a time, the world’s daily price of cotton was set in this very building. The men who negotiated the rate were known as Cotton Factors. I’ll tell you about that in a moment.

The fountain in front boasts a really nice-looking griffin in the center. Griffins are mythical beasts that were said to guard ancient treasure.

Old building that was once the Savannah Cotton Exchange. Griffin fountain in front.

Factors Walk

The Cotton Exchange is not far from my favorite part of Savannah, Factors Row and Factors Walk, both of which sit atop a bluff along the Savannah River. Factors Row is a unique collection of huge red brick buildings, two or three stories tall, that were used in the cotton trade back in the day.

Iron walkway at Factors Walk
Factors Walk: Look carefully and you’ll see the lower street, too.

The top floors once contained the cotton factors’ offices, while the lower floors were used as warehouses and faced the river. A series of iron and concrete walkways, known as Factors Walk, connected the buildings to the bluff.

Look down between Bay Street and the Factors Walk, and you’ll see a cobbled street and ramps leading down to the river. Their cobblestones were used as ballast when the empty ships sailed here from England. They were abandoned on the riverbanks as the ships were loaded with cotton.

These picturesque iron walkways aren’t just photogenic, they have an interesting history. The Cotton Factors would stand on these bridges and bid on the loads, as wagons full of cotton passed underneath.

These days, these historic buildings are occupied by pricey antique shops, historic inns, cafes, and exclusive offices.

Ellis Square

children romping in the Ellis Square fountain

Rested and refreshed, we were ready to tackle the rest of the city. Ellis Square marks one end of an area known as City Market. This has been an area for public marketing since 1755. The beautiful market building once located here was demolished in the 1950s so that they could build a parking garage on the site.

After years of complaints about its ugliness, Savannah finally caved and demolished it. The space is now a public square ABOVE an underground parking garage. The new public square features a bronze statue of songwriter-lyricist Johnny Mercer (“Moon River,” “Days of Wine and Roses”), and fittingly, has open spaces for public concerts.

There’s also a small tourist office, which was staffed when we were there. In good weather, children romp and play in a spot where water spurts from the ground in patterns. The fountain was still running, as were the kids, when we were there on a warm mid-October day.

City Market

Pedestrian area of Savannah city market, restaurant, sign and shops

Tucked between Ellis and Franklin Squares, there’s a pedestrian shopping area known as City Market. A shopper’s paradise!

Expect live music, cute boutiques, quirky art galleries, tempting sweet shops, trendy bars, and mom and pop restaurants to vie for your attention.

ⓘ TIP: This is also a good place to arrange for a bicycle taxi or horse-drawn carriage tour.

Franklin Square

Haitian soldier statue in the middle of Franklin Square

Franklin Square was named for Benjamin Franklin, who had died the year before. In the middle of the square is a statue honoring the many Haitian soldiers who fought for America’s independence in the Revolutionary War. That Haitians had defended the Colonies was a surprise to me.

First African Baptist Church overlooks the square. This still-vibrant church is the oldest African American congregation in the U.S. Much of the building’s features are original.

As a part of the “Underground Railroad,” members would hide slaves in the church before their flight north to freedom. They hid them on a finished sub-floor four feet beneath the lower auditorium floor.

The church has a museum and offers tours. Check their website for details.

First African Baptist Church in Savannah

By this time we had worked up a good thirst from all our walking and the waterfront along River Street began to beckon us. What could be better than to enjoy the breezes along the water and a bit of refreshment as we rested our feet and watch the boats tooling along on Savannah River?

Telfair Square

By the way, I have no idea how I managed it (I was in charge of the map) but somehow we completely missed seeing Telfair Square. I only realized my error after we got home. (Dang, it was right nearby!)

I’m very disappointed actually, because Telfair Square contains tributes to the Girl Scouts of the USA, founded here in Savannah by Juliette Gordon Low. I have fond memories of my times as a Girl Scout, from Brownie to Senior.

Telfair Square was one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in early Savannah and it is the only square honoring a family rather than an individual. One of the original mansions on the square was owned by Mary Telfair. She deeded it to the city in her will and it opened as Telfair Academy in 1886.

I hope her kids weren’t too upset when the lawyer read her will.

Heading to River Street

Cobbled street leading from Bay Street to Savannah River Walk

Always suckers for cobbled streets we walked back along Bay Street to Factor’s Row and descended to the lower level. Now we were at the lower levels of the cotton warehouses, below Factor’s Walk.

Here’s a Choose Your Own Adventure decision:

  1. head down the cobbled ramp to the middle of River Street or
  2. follow the narrow street to the end?

Option #2 was a great idea in theory, but we quickly realized we’d have to pay attention to where we stepped. Those cobbles aren’t smooth and it would be so easy to take a nasty tumble!

The waving girl

As we approached the end or the street, a trolley passed us heading down to the water. We followed its path to a park with a statue that has long been a Savannah landmark. The sculpture portrays a woman waving to passing ships.

Waving Girl statue in Savannah. Dog at her feet

The real life woman, Florence Martus, had once lived on nearby Elba Island with her parents and brother. When their parents passed away, she became the housekeeper and her brother took over the duties as lighthouse keeper.

From the age of 19 until her death, Florence waved to every ship entering or leaving the harbor. She became known as the “waving girl.”

Now felt like a good time to give our feet a break. Heaven: A bottle of cold water and a table overlooking the river.

Cold water and camera on a wrought iron table on River Street in Savannah

The blazing sun couldn’t reach us as we sat under an umbrella, and a cooling breeze wafted from the river. We watched the passersby and marveled at the variety of trinkets for sale in a nearby shop.

Why buy all that stuff? It was probably all made in China, I thought, cynically. Same worthless dust collectors as every other touristy place, just with a different city’s name stamped on the t-shirts.

Okay, so I was partially wrong.

Sure, they had a lot of knick-knacks, but the market had just as many craft stalls staffed by local artisans. One woman had some gorgeous silver earrings I almost succumbed to but (unfortunately) didn’t.

Serves me right, I suppose.

Entry to River Street Market in Savannah Georgia

River Street

Trolley tracks lead down the cobbled road at Savannah River Street

With the variety of unique nightspots, elegant inns and hotels, quaint brew pubs, and fabulous restaurants, I would imagine that River Street glitters after dark. By day, it’s the century-old cotton warehouses that tempt visitors, with all their antique shops, jewelry boutiques and galleries.

Actually, there is something for everyone along the cobbled street, including those made-in-China souvenirs. And of course, there is food galore, from grilled fish to cappuccinos to ice cream to hand-made pecan pralines.

Tell you what, I’d have liked to visit the honey tasting room we passed beneath the Hyatt Hotel. If it hadn’t been for our diet….

Cruising the Savannah River

River cruise ship docked along Savannah River Street

If the tang of the ocean in the air gets too tempting, you can board a boat for a Savannah River cruise. It’s a popular option, with everything from a daytime tour to a dinner cruise with live entertainment.

That would be a nice way to end a day in Savannah.

The other half of Savannah’s historic district

Sigh. Time to leave the river.

Here it was, mid-afternoon, and we’d only seen half of the historic district! We hadn’t seen Forsyth Park or the eight squares on the other side of Liberty Street … but we didn’t think we could manage a whole ‘nother walking tour.

Nope, our feet were loudly complaining that they had had enough. So we found a way to finish our tour the energy-efficient way.

How about a pedicab?

touring Savannah GA on a bicycle taxi

Always eager for new experiences, we hired a pedicab at City Market. As soon as we learned that he could charge for a set amount of time we asked him to give us a half-hour tour so we could see the few squares we had missed that morning.

I told him he could take any route he wanted, but please make it a point to go around Lafayette Square and pass the fountain in Forsyth Park.

ⓘ TIP: It really pays to check multiple resources before you start a trip. Aside from the Visitor Center, advice from locals, blog posts, and YouTube videos, try clicking “Images” in Google’s search results. That’s how we discovered that gorgeous fountain.

Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square is a “don’t miss” spot because it has three notable buildings on it:

  • Andrew Low House, built by Juliette Gordon Low’s father-in-law, was where she spent most of her life and the site of the first Girl Scout headquarters.
  • Hamilton Turner Mansion, which was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s famous “Haunted Mansion” and
  • Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, which rivals the sky with its brilliant blue steeples. Its stained glass windows were made in Austria and its wood carvings of the stations of the cross came from Bavaria.
View of two blue steeples for Savannah's cathedral
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

Temple Mickve Israel

We also wanted to see Temple Mickve Israel on our tour. The temple is remarkable for two reasons:

  1. It is the only purely Gothic revival synagogue in the United States
  2. It has the oldest Torah in the country
  3. The congregation received a perpetual charter from Governor Telfair in 1790, which makes it the third-oldest congregation in the U.S.
exterior of Temple Mickve Israel, Savannah, Georgia

Had it not been a weekend, we’d have liked to visit the temple. We understand that the tour is very interesting. (Tours are available from Monday-Friday 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm.)

If you visit and have more than one day, consider spending a while in Forsyth Park, too. It fills the space that two of Savannah’s squares should occupy. We rode past its dramatic fountain but unfortunately, Dan’s photos didn’t come out.

Before we knew it, our half-hour ride was over and we were back at the Visitor Center. Time to get out and cross the street to our car.

Bonaventure Cemetery

On the way out of town, we stopped by Bonaventure Cemetery. Three locals had recommended it so highly that we wanted to see why.

Once we got there, we understood.

Columns that mark the gated entry at Bonaventure Cemetery
Main gate to Bonaventure Cemetery (there’s a Jewish gate nearby)

We drove through its gates at 5 pm with the late afternoon sun slanting through the branches and Spanish moss overhead. Here and there the rays cast golden light onto grave markers, birds chirped and shadows grew long. It was quite peaceful, and not just because there were only two or three cars in the entire place.

All we knew when we entered its gates was that there’s a scenic bluff that overlooks the Wilmington River. We didn’t know who the famous people buried at Bonaventure Cemetery were … and we didn’t care to look for their resting places anyway. We just drove around as the mood took us, which was super fun. Besides, we didn’t have a map, haha.

carved headstones at Bonaventure Cemetery

It wasn’t long before we arrived at the bluff, where we found a convenient spot to park. We climbed out and found some dramatic grave markers nearby.

It would have served us right if we were locked in overnight. After all, we had entered at closing time and the cemetery hours were clearly posted on the gate. Still, a little time is better than none at all; it was certainly worth just the few minutes we were able to spend there.

Most of our “one day” experiences include dinner and evening activities, but this time we had to cut our visit short. Time to head home to Florida. A shame that we had to, because Savannah is full of inviting places to enjoy an evening meal.

There are so many things to do in Savannah that one day is not enough.

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Colonial homes along a sidewalk in Savannah, Georgia. Text overlay says "How to spend one day in Savannah Georgia"

Where to stay in Savannah

The best historic hotels in Savannah include:

  • The Suites at Bay offers four quaint apartment-style homes on the riverfront. Located in the Oglethorpe Lodge Building, a historic landmark dating from 1822.
  • Kehoe House faces Columbia Square. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, each of its 13 guest rooms is appointed with elegant furnishings and antiques. Guests must be over 21 years old to stay there.
  • Hampton Inn Savannah Historic District is a good option if you’re not into historic hotels. It’s conveniently located on Bay Street near Reynolds and Johnson Square, River Street Market Place Shopping Center and Owens-Thomas Museum.

Where to eat in Savannah

Welcome to the coastal South, where you can expect to find shellfish and pork on nearly every menu. Actually, some places don’t offer much else. If you’re not a fan, this is one place where it pays to inspect the menu beforehand.

Besides The Olde Pink House and the Pirate House (which we’ve already mentioned), two other well-known places to eat are:

  • Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room (107 W. Jones St.) began as a boardinghouse in 1943 and now serves its food family style. Eating here means lining up outside, then sharing a table-for-ten with other hungry visitors. It may be hit-or-miss as to whether you’ll like what’s being served. Just like at home, they bring out the food in big dishes and soon your table will be crowded with traditional Southern specialties like fried chicken, meat loaf, cornbread dressing, sweet potato souffle, black-eyed peas, okra gumbo, corn muffins and biscuits.
  • On the other end of the spectrum, The Lady and Sons (102 W. Congress St.) has no lines because it requires reservations. Savannah natives Paula Deen — celebrity chef from the Food Network — and her two sons offer a buffet of Southern dishes as well as a varied menu for those who’d prefer to eat something healthier. (If you have an allergy, be aware that they cook with peanut oil.)

For a fast and budget-friendly option, try Five Guys Burgers (on Bay Street near Ellis Square). Their burgers and hot dogs (Hebrew National brand) are prepared to order, and you can even get them served without a bun. Beware if you’re counting calories, though: One order of their fresh-cut French fries is more than enough for two people!

ⓘ TIP: If you want to try a variety of authentic Southern cuisine, book a culinary tour of Savannah. You’ll hear fun stories from Savannah’s past and visit some of the best foodie spots in the historic district. This tour sells out fast.

Savannah Southern Flavors Food, Pub Crawl, and History Combo Walking Tour

Plan your Savannah visit

For more photos of this beautiful city, see our Savannah photo gallery.

This walking tour was based on the book, A Self-Guided Tour of Savannah by Maryann Jurkofsky.

You can find advertised tours in travel brochures and magazines. They are available at Georgia Welcome Centers, many highway rest stops and Savannah Visitor Center. Some are discount coupons. If the one you want is booked, some ticket agents will honor competitors’ coupons.

Follow this itinerary for a walking tour that can be done in one day in Savannah, Georgia.

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Written by Linda

Linda is multilingual and has been to over 50 countries. Her insatiable love of travel, cuisine, and foreign languages inspired her to create As We Saw It, where she documents her trips, shares practical itineraries, and offers insider tips. She’s passionate about helping fellow travelers save time, money, and hassle, and loves to discover new places to explore.

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24 thoughts on “One Day in Savannah: A Walking Tour Itinerary”

  1. Thanks for this! I was really looking for places to visit at Savannah Georgia! Aside from our usual Downtown stroll, I think a beach trip to Tybee Island will be fantastic as well! Thanks for sharing!

    • Visit Savannah has a lot of good information. And you’re spot on, it’s an amazing town for foodies! Do any of the restaurants in Savannah stand out in your memory?

      • Still incredibly offensive writing there – you might want to check that, unless you mean to say you’re glad they finally allowed slaves

        “…James Oglethorpe, who founded Georgia in 1735 with the following rules: No hard liquor. No Catholics. No slaves. No lawyers. We’re glad those first three didn’t stick, but it’s rather a shame that last one didn’t, ha-ha.” Wtf.

        • In case you’ve forgotten your history, slavery wasn’t abolished until 130 years later. Oglethorpe wouldn’t let slaves in town. Savannah didn’t let that stick. That’s a good thing.

          If you want to read it another way, it’s only because you’re looking for a reason to be offended.

  2. We have driven past that Savannah exit sign multiple times and said the same thing, “we should go there someday”. After reading your post I really need to make it happen. The architecture is so beautiful and it looks like such a fun place to go exploring.

  3. Where is a good place to stay, we want to see 22sq, historicdistricts, riverwalk. We don’t like B&B and we are Wyndham hotel members, just thought I would ask. Our first time to Savannah thanks

    • DeAnna, we’d love to help but we don’t know of any Wyndham properties in Savannah’s historic district, just the ones along the highway. We suggest calling their 1-800 number and ask if they have any new hotels in the historic area. If they don’t have a property that fits your needs, you can check Booking.com and read the reviews. We’ve had good luck with that site – we use it a lot.

  4. Do you remember the book you used… also how long would you allocate … i know it said an hour and half, but based on your experience would you allocate more?

    • Thanks for asking about the book, Lauralee. It was just the incentive I needed to seek it out and insert it into the story. I was happy to find it on Amazon…at the same price we had paid at the Visitor Center. We think it would be pushing it to expect to see everything in an hour and a half. I’d allocate at least 3-4 hours at a minimum, not counting break times for shop browsing, eating and resting your feet while people-watching. And of course, an hour or two of extra time if you decide to check out Savannah’s historical cemeteries; they’re quite beautiful and not at all depressing.

  5. What a great review and guide! Thank you for taking the time to do such a thorough and interesting job on this!

    • Thank you. We agree: Savannah is beautiful. I don’t know of any other city quite like it. I hope you will be able to see it yourself some day, Shahid.

  6. I haven’t been to Savannah in YEARS, but somehow it is still one of my favorite places. So much history, Spanish moss on all of those trees and so close to the ocean. You’ve inspired me to consider making a day trip myself. We actually might have a chance to even move there! 🙂

  7. I really enjoy Savannah, I opted for the walking tour. There is so much history and southern charm everywhere! Thank you for the wonderful article 🙂

  8. We are also guilty of bypassing Savannah on our road trip in January. From your description though it sounds similar to Charleston, which we really enjoyed, but due to the polar vortex we froze and cut our visit a day short. Now that we’re based on the east coast, maybe we’ll get down south again and we’ll make a point of visiting Savannah. Have you read the book, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?” It’s set in Savannah, a good read!

    • The statue on the cover of that book was a marker in Bonaventure Cemetery … I’ll cover our visit in Part 2 on Monday. Sadly, it’s been moved to a museum, so Dan wasn’t able to create his own dramatic shot of it while we were there.

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