How to Plan One Day in Savannah, Georgia

I’ve been to Savannah, Georgia, a few times now. While it’s one of the more well-touristed cities in the United States, that doesn’t take away from its charm.

I could spend weeks hanging out in the city’s romantic squares and eating my way through Savannah’s food scene, but that would require quite a bit of cash. It’d also require time, something you don’t have if you’re here for a one-day itinerary.

This guide to one day in Savannah considers all of our experiences in the Georgia city to prioritize what you should see on a short visit. While it won’t be as leisurely as a longer stay, I’m sure you’ll still enjoy your time in one of the American South’s best cities.

Is one day in Savannah enough?

One day in Savannah is enough if you stick to walkable neighborhoods like the Savannah Historic District, a National Historic Landmark District. You’ll be able to explore the city on your feet that way using this one-day guide.

As far as when to come, the best months to visit Savannah are in the spring. March through May mean blooming flowers throughout the city’s green spaces. Summer in Savannah is hot and muggy, so I’d avoid those months in your planning.

How to Spend One Day in Savannah

You can spend one day in Savannah like this:

• Have brunch at the Collins Quarter.
• Lounge in Forsyth Park.
• Tour the Mercer Williams House Museum.
• Explore the city’s historic squares and Jones Street.
• Hang out on River Street.
• Go on a ghost tour.
• Have dinner at The Olde Pink House.

One Day in Savannah

One day isn’t a ton of time in Savannah, but you can do quite a bit with a full day in town. If you’re a breakfast person — I’m generally not! — I’ll start there. Otherwise, skip ahead to make the most of your time in this charming city

Stop 1: Brunch at the Collins Quarter

Brunch cocktails, creamy shrimp and grits, and the most delicious avocado toast await at the Collins Quarter, an Aussie-style cafe.

What? Let me be basic and spend my money as I please.

There are two different locations in Savannah. Get your nosh on in historic downtown Savannah or Forsyth Park.

Expect a wait for breakfasts at either location, although it may not be as long as you think. (We were told it’d be up to 45 minutes but were seated within 15.)

Stop 2: Forsyth Park

You may already be here if you chose the Forsyth Park location for my preferred brunch spot above. If not, make your way over to one of Savannah’s most popular gathering spots.

The 30-acre Forsyth Park is known for its cast-iron fountain, designed to resemble the Parisian fountain on the Place de la Concorde.

While I’m not sure it was giving Paris exactly, I loved the people-watching potential of this spot. You can’t linger too long with just a day, but spend some time enjoying one of the gardens or short walking trails here.

READ MORE: Know what is giving Paris? Paris. Here’s my guide to why Paris is always worth the trip.

Stop 3: Mercer Williams House Museum

The Mercer Williams House Museum is a must if you’re a history buff or fan of the book and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

This was the home of Jim Williams, a local preservationist. He lived here during the timeline of events in both the book and the resulting film.

Fun fact: If you’re not aware of the story, Williams was put on trial four different times for the murder of his lover, Daniel Lewis Hansford.

He was eventually acquitted, but common wisdom in these parts is that he got away with murder. If you love a good true crime story, you’ll want to tour the home.

Make reservations online for your visit a few days ahead of your visit. Note that the winter months are the slow season, and tours are limited.

Stop 4: Savannah Squares

Savannah’s historic squares are among the city’s best attractions, offering visitors a glimpse into its rich past and that Southern charm this place is known for.

The original city plan included 24 squares, and 22 have survived into the modern day.

Fun fact: Colonizer and military leader James Oglethorpe came up with the idea. According to the Georgia Historical Society, he laid out the first six squares, but there is some disagreement about that number.

These beautifully landscaped spaces shaded by moss-draped oaks feature fountains, monuments, and historic buildings are the city’s ultimate gathering spaces.

You’ve already seen one of them, too. If you toured the Mercer Williams House Museum, you’ve already checked out Monterey Square. Here are a few more of our favorites within a short walk of Savannah’s historic center:

• Chippewa Square: This one is famous for the bench scene in Forrest Gump, although you won’t find the bench here. You can find one of the four benches used in the movie at the Savannah History Museum.
• Taylor Square: This one was formerly known as Calhoun Square, but it was renamed after Susie King Taylor, the first black nurse during the American Civil War. The square was previously used as a burial ground for enslaved people.
• Lafayette Square: This one is located near the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home Museum and the Andrew Low House Museum, the oldest home on the square. The latter was also the home of Juliette Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts.
• Madison Square: Known for its statue of Sgt. William Jasper, a hero of the American Revolution, this square is lined with buildings that include the Green-Meldrim House. That property was a headquarters during the Civil War.

Stop 5: Jones Street

You’ll likely walk down this street as you explore the city’s squares anyway, but I want to make sure you don’t miss it. Jones Street is known as the most beautiful street in Savannah, and you already know this place is spoiled when it comes to scenic streets.

Stare at the historic homes along this stretch that date back to the mid-1800s. The draping oaks are pretty fantastical, too. This is quintessential Savannah right here.

Note: I’ll get to River Street in a minute, but if you want to tick off all of Savannah’s main thoroughfares, don’t leave before a walk down Broughton Street.

Optional Stop 6: Lunch

I know I don’t usually need a full lunch after starting my day with brunch, but if you skipped out on your morning meal, there are lots of options near Jones Street.

Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is a popular spot. The mode of indulging here is family-style, so expect to dig into passed items like fried chicken, cornbread, candied yams, and pickled beets.

Stop 7: River Street

River Street is one of Savannah’s most iconic destinations for its waterfront views along the Savannah River, but it’s also a great spot to take a break after a busy morning. This is also where you can grab that drink with a view to pretend for the spooky things to come.

To explore a bit more, head to the River Street Market Place, an open-air city market with a variety of artisans and vendors. For a little something sweet, you can pop by River Street Sweets, the city’s original candy store.

Spend as much time here as makes sense for your evening plans. It’s your day!

Alternative Stop 7: Fort Pulaski National Monument

We really enjoyed our visit to this historic site, but you’ll need a car to get out there. It also depends on how much time you have left in the day, as you really should finish things off with the recommended tour option below.

If you’re a history buff, you may want to move things around. This is the post where the Union Army forced the Confederates to surrender during the Civil War.

You also may want to visit if you’re traveling with your pup. The fort is super dog-friendly. Kimmy can vouch for that. No matter how deep you’re traveling, walk the Lighthouse Overlook Trail to a viewpoint of Cockspur Island Lighthouse.

While it’s the smallest lighthouse in Georgia, the views here are atmospheric.

Note: With even more time, you can drive another 10-15 minutes to Tybee Island. The Tybee Island Light Station is an even more impressive lighthouse as the oldest and biggest in Georgia.

Stop 8: Ghost Tour

Savannah isn’t really known for its nightlife, but it is known for its ghost tours. This was easily our favorite thing to do in Savannah, but I’d recommend you wait until the evening after the sun has gone down to book a tour.

The reason for that is obvious. Things get spookier after dark, naturally.

This city is one of the most haunted cities in the United States. It’s a super popular destination around Halloween when those ghosts and ghouls are surely at their best, but you can book ghost tours year-round.

READ MORE: Love a haunted spot? Check out my review of San Diego’s Whaley House, one of the most haunted properties in the country.

We booked with the Hearse Ghost Tours because they take you around the city in a modified hearse and that sounded exactly like the right move. We were right.

As I am easily scared, I was happy to find that the tour leaned into humor more than the frights or seeking out paranormal activity. You won’t be ghost hunting on this one, so you can leave your equipment at home if this is the tour you choose.

Old Town Trolley Tours, a popular options for visitors to Savannah, also does a Ghosts and Gravestones Frightseeing Tour. No matter what you decide, book a few weeks before your visit, especially if you’re traveling near Halloween.

If you’re interested in checking out other tours, here are a few more options:

Stop 9: Dinner

Enjoy one final meal on your trip to Savannah. That sounds pretty dramatic, but Savannah can be hard to leave sometimes.

Make a reservation at your chosen dinner spot to avoid being turned away. The timing will depend on your tour time. If you went with my pick, you’ll either take the 5pm, 7pm, or 9pm tour. Tours run 75 minutes.

I’d recommend the two earlier times to leave time for dinner, but you can certainly move things around and plan an earlier meal, especially if you’re only working on brunch.

Here are a few delicious options:

• The Grey: This one is high on our list for a return trip. The upscale restaurant operates out of a 1930s-era Greyhound Bus Terminal, but you better believe they’ve decked it out. Make reservations online.
• Husk Savannah: This is our favorite spot for new Southern cuisine in the Savannah Historic District. It also operates out of a haunted building, so you could have yourself a themed night. Reservations are available via Resy.
• The Olde Pink House: This is one of the most popular eateries in Savannah. While it is pricey, I’m not going to pretend like the fried green tomatoes on the menu weren’t delicious. Make reservations online.

With More Time in Savannah

We’ve visited Savannah a few times, and know there is quite a bit to do to fill up more than one day.

Here are a few more things we’ve loved about Savannah for those planning repeat trips or those with a full weekend here:

• Take a cemetery tour at Bonaventure Cemetery, the city’s most haunted cemetery, or Colonial Park Cemetery in Savannah’s Historic District.
• Visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, including its impressive interior.
• See the city with your belly on a walking tour focused on food.
• Take a mini-day trip to the Wormsloe Historic Site, one of the most photographed spots in the United States.
• Shop local or catch a show at the Savannah Theatre on Bull Street.
• Tour the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, a historic home and one of the oldest urban slave quarters in the South.
• Take a walk at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens.
• Sip on sweet wines and smoothies at the Georgia Tasting Room.

Getting Around Savannah

You won’t need more than a comfortable pair of walking shoes for this itinerary. If you want to save your energy, you can make use of their fixed bus routes courtesy of Chatham Area Transit (CAT) or the free DOT shuttle for downtown trips.

For some learning while you ride, the Old Town Trolley Tours are popular with tourists, particularly their Old Savannah tours. We’ve never done them in Savannah, but we enjoyed taking guests on rides while living in San Diego.

A car is always a good idea in American cities, especially if you’re on a road trip or visiting Savannah for longer.

Where to Stay in Savannah

We’ve always stayed outside of the city to keep things on budget, but our visits have always been longer than a night. (Our last trip was a full week here, and that’s not a cheap proposition.)

If you only have the day here, it’s most efficient to just stay in Savannah. Use the map below to browse your options:

Savannah is worth at least a day of your time.

You’ll likely want to visit for longer, though!

Savannah is one of those cities that pulls you in. Despite the fact that’s not some undiscovered destination, navigating any of the fun stuff that comes with more tourism activity is worth it to experience this place.

People visit this one for a reason. It’s gorgeous, delicious, and very fun, especially if you cap things off with the best ghost tour I’ve been on in the U.S.

Traveling elsewhere in the South? Check these out next:

• How to Plan One Busy Day in Athens, Georgia
• Visiting Augusta: Things to Do and Where to Eat
• Make Plans for Lake Life at Lake Oconee
• A Guide to the Swamps of Congaree National Park
• A Nashville Itinerary for Music and Barbecue

I’m not done yet! Here are a few more guides to the South:

• How to Spend One Day in Baton Rouge
• A Perfect Weekend Itinerary for New Orleans
• How to Plan a Trip Across Lake Pontchartrain
• Where to Stay on a Visit to Memphis
• How to Plan Your Weekend in Memphis

Want to see more?