Savannah is a gorgeous city that sits right on the Atlantic coast of Georgia. It’s home to the Savannah College of Art and Design, more great restaurants than you can count, and so many different and fun things to keep you entertained. If you love history or art, you could spend days touring this city.
However, I didn’t have days. In fact I had one day in Savannah, but I did my best to make the most of it.
Believe it or not, it is possible to do all of the things on this list in one day. That said, you’ll have one very busy day in Savannah.
The Best Things to Do in Savannah
Here’s ten things to get your adventure in Savannah started. And yes, it is possible to do all ten of these things with one day in Savannah.
Take a Guided Tour
Savannah is full of history and what better way to learn it than with a guide. There are numerous walking tours as well as trolley tours. You can even take a carriage tour while you’re here. While you could try to learn the history of the city on your own, nothing will beat touring the city with an actual guide.
Psst – Check out #10 for a different kind of guide.
Tour a Historic Home
Savannah is full of historic homes. There are so many that it might be hard to decide which one to choose. Some of the more popular options to consider are the Andrew Lowe House, Mercer-Williams House, or Owens-Thomas House, but those are just a start.
I personally am not one for touring historic homes (although historic castles are a whole different story!). However, I did tour the Andrew Lowe House, since it was included in another tour I did. The house was nice and I’m glad I toured it, but it kind of solidified what I already knew: historic homes aren’t my thing.
But you may be different than me and enjoy historic homes. And if you’re not sure, Savannah has plenty of historic homes to choose from.
Eat Some Delicious Ice Cream
I love ice cream, so when I heard about Leopold’s, I immediately added it to my list of must dos. Take a break from sightseeing and enjoy some awesome ice cream.
Lines here can get long and for whatever reason, this line does not move quickly. As someone who spent four of her teenage summers scooping ice cream, the speed of this line baffled me. So make sure to bring plenty of patience if you’re here during a busier part of the day. When I visited, it took 50 minutes from when we first got in line to when we paid for our ice cream. The line didn’t seem like would take that long. But it took 50 minutes and to this day, I’m still confused.
Additionally note that there is very little shade. If you’re here on a hot day, you need to be prepared for that. It can get very hot and uncomfortable standing in line.
So after all of that, do I recommend Leopold’s Ice Cream? Absolutely! It was delicious and I’m ok with the fact that I had to stand in line for nearly an hour for it. Even if you only have one day in Savannah, I think it’s worth it.
Visit an Art Gallery
Savannah is home to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), so it’s no wonder there’s so many artists here. You could visit the SCAD Museum of Art, Telfair Museum, or one of the many galleries by local artists. There’s no shortage of art in this city.
For a great souvenir, stop by one of the galleries to buy some art from a local artist.
Wander the Squares
Downtown Savannah is full of beautiful squares lined with Spanish moss trees. The trees provide a beautiful backdrop and it’s lovely just to wander. There were several instances where my mom and I found a bench in one of the squares, just to sit, people watch, and talk.
Stroll Along the River
The riverwalk was the birthplace of the city of Savannah. You’ll find pedestrian friendly sidewalks (although there is one way car traffic as well) and plenty of shopping to keep you busy for a while. Yes, there’s a bunch of tourist shops, but there’s also art from local artists, so explore the area and see what you can find.
Eat Well
I don’t consider myself a foodie traveler. Food is just about getting enough sustenance to keep you going (although I want it to taste good). But Savannah some really good food. While I only spent two nights in this city, I didn’t have a single bad meal here. In fact, I rated all of my meals very highly.
But since I was only here for two nights, I didn’t come close to scratching the surface of all of the good food options. If you’re a foodie, you really can’t go wrong here. Yes, try all of the hip and trendy restaurants, but don’t forget to make reservations at the more famous establishments.
Visit St. John the Baptist Cathedral
This iconic cathedral stands tall and beautiful in the city. While the original cathedral was nearly destroyed by a fire in 1898, it was reconstructed in the early 1900s and turned into what we see today. The cathedral is beautiful on the outside, but don’t stop there. Stop inside for a quick visit because the interior of the cathedral is just as beautiful.
Photograph Forsyth Park
Some of the most iconic views of Savannah can be found here. You’ll see Spanish moss lining the walkways. Plus you’ll also find the iconic fountain.
Keep an eye out for events here. During our visit, there was a free symphony in the evening.
Take a Ghost Tour
Savannah is one of the most haunted cities in the United States. At night, the downtown is packed with ghost tours. You can take a walking tour, jump on a trolley, ride in a hearse (if you want to be extra cheesy), or take a carriage ride. Our ghost tour was kind of cheesy, but it felt like one of those things we had to do since it came up on every list.
If you’re like me and are on the fence about a ghost tour, try and combine to do a few things at once. We did the Ghost and Gravestones tour, which was a trolley tour. We got a trolley tour of the city and got to go inside the Andrew Lowe house, all while hearing (admittedly cheesy) ghost stories from the trolley. It was worth it just to tour the Andrew Lowe house, get a different view of the city, and learn some history all at the same time. If you only have one day in Savannah, this can be a great way to see several things at once.
How Long Do You Need in Savannah?
There are people who could spend a week here and still find more things to do. However, that’s not necessarily realistic, so I would plan to give yourself a minimum of one full day to explore the city. Two days will allow you to do a little more at relaxed pace. For those travelers who love historic homes or touring art galleries, you should plan to give yourself at least two days minimum, but I think you’ll be happier with three days.
My mom and I arrived into Savannah in the late afternoon and took a ghost tour in the evening. The next day, we walked all over downtown to see as much as we could. I never felt too rushed and I feel like I got to see all of the things I wanted to see in this time frame.
One Day in Savannah
So if you only have one day in Savannah, here’s what I’d recommend. Start your day off wandering the squares and strolling through Forsyth Park. Later in the morning join a tour of the city, visit an art gallery, or tour one of the many historic homes. Take a break for lunch and eat at one of the many delicious restaurants. In the afternoon continue your sightseeing before taking another break, this time for ice cream at Leopold’s. In the evening join a ghost tour to learn more about the city of Savannah.
When to Visit Savannah
Summers can be hot and humid. Spring and fall can be great, but be aware that in fall you have potential for a hurricane. We actually rebooked our entire trip (flip flopping our East Coast road trip) to avoid a hurricane that was going to bring storms to the area. That said, we were here on the second weekend of October and had an absolutely beautiful day.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed my short time in Savannah. While I had just over one day in Savannah, it was enough time to see the highlights of this city. I’ll be honest, while I enjoyed this city, I expected to love it so much more. Maybe I was tired for a busy road trip, but I just didn’t fall in love with the city. Still, I’d recommend spending one day in Savannah to tour the highlights. And who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love with Savannah.
Continue Your Adventure
South Carolina: A short drive away from Savannah is Charleston, another historic city. Or drive further away and visit Congaree National Park.
Itineraries: I visited Savannah as part of a longer road trip from Washington DC to Savannah, GA.