Best Things to Do in Savannah, Georgia

Situated on the corner of 40th and Bull Street in the Starland District, Back in the Day Bakery is a teal-tiled haven for eaters with a perpetual sweet tooth. Opened in 2002, Back in the Day was formerly a full-service café before transitioning to a rotating menu of pastries. Stop in before heading out on your walking tour to grab biscuits with butter jam, lavender bars and savory ham and cheese croissants. Before you leave, make sure to grab a copy of “The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook” penned by authors Cheryl Day and Griffith Day. 

Finches Sandwiches & Sundries calls itself “a happy little sandwich shop.”  Just outside of Savannah city limits in Thunderbolt, the former garage-turned-eatery is bright and inviting with a menu of scrummy sandwiches that change seasonally. You can sit outside at one of their picnic tables or take your food to go. 

The Garage at Victory North has an adventurous selection of cocktails and food and immaculate date-night vibes. You could opt for a traditional cocktail like an Aperol Spritz or French 75, but why play it safe when you could try a Top Shelf Caprese Salad — yes, that’s a drink — made with Sagamore Rye, peach, lemon, 50-year-old Italian balsamic vinegar and of course, a touch of basil? After drinking your salad, try some of the playful creations from Executive Chef Todd Harris including jerk quail with dirty rice and mango aioli or foie gras and rice grits. If the dinner menu is too unconventional for your liking, stop by between 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. for a Chicago-style Italian beef or a Crunchwrap Supreme made with Wagyu beef and bone marrow salsa roja. 

Walking into Leopold’s Ice Cream shop is like stepping into a time machine ready to transport you to 1919 when the soda fountain first opened. Soda jerks here sport crisp, white buttoned-up shirts with black ties while they whip up hot fudge sundaes, old-fashioned ice cream soda and the most legendary banana split we’ve ever tried. The ice cream here comes in unique flavors like honey almond and cream and Savannah Socialite, made with milk and dark chocolate ice cream, roasted Georgia pecans and a bourbon-infused caramel swirl. The beloved ice cream parlor has been known to draw a line, but if you happen upon Leopold’s when the queue is long, remember that good things come to those who wait, specifically lemon custard ice cream and Tutti Frutti, both flavors which remain unchanged since 1919.

Boardinghouses were once a standard practice in the South, providing two steady meals daily for working-class eaters seeking nourishment in a communal dining space. Sema Wilkes took over this boardinghouse dining room from the former proprietor in downtown Savannah in 1943 and Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room was born. These days, the historic eatery serves food to patrons on weekdays from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., and while it still may be a cash-only eatery, it’s worth a trip to the ATM to eat at one of Savannah’s oldest dining institutions. Like so many of the best eateries in town, the menu here rotates seasonally, though entrees like fried chicken, okra and tomatoes, macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes and gravy are all favorites here. 

Jazz’d Tapas Bar is nestled below Savannah’s historic streets in the basement of the Kress Building and is known for being the place to go for live music, cheeky mixed drinks and cheffy tapas to snack on in a speakeasy-adjacent bar. If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is, but all the elements mesh to create a luxe and sophisticated date-night atmosphere. Live music is on deck from Wednesday through Sunday each week and pairs well with tapas for two and a martini. 

Natural wine lovers, rejoice. Late Air may be the new kid on the block in the natural wine game, but that just means it’s eager to stun palates with esoteric wines and an ever-changing dinner menu featuring voguish dishes like scallop crudo with pickled daikon, citrus and smoked vinegar and a katsu pork chop with celeriac, cherry madeira and a celery slaw. Stop by during the day on the weekend to enjoy a chilled glass of something special in between touring stately manors. 

Like a puppy that fits in the palm of your hands, Smol Bar is SUPER small. Dubbed the tiniest taproom ever, the literal hole in the wall is the brainchild of Two Tides Brewing Co. At less than 300 square feet, you won’t find bustling crowds here, so it’s a great place to visit if you’re looking for an underrated cocktail experience. Order their Guava Pisco Sour and a Jell-O shot (you’re on vacation) with some mala-style spiced nuts to round out the night.

Sat on the banks of Country Club Creek, The Wyld Dock Bar is a local haunt for travelers looking to get away from downtown Savannah and get a taste of Lowcountry living. Get here by car or by boat and sip on one of their signature Painkillers or split a liter of sangria with friends around a firepit under twinkly string lights. (It’s enough to inspire us to want to listen to “Strawberry Wine” by Deana Carter.) The card-only bar also serves up bites like roasted garlic butter oysters, vegetable succotash and fried clam strips.

Avid readers and cinephiles will recognize Bonaventure Cemetery from John Berendt’s 1994 novel “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” and the film of the same name directed by Clint Eastwood. Bonaventure is Savannah’s largest cemetery — covering almost 160 acres with Southern Gothic gravestones and sculptures — and is the final resting place for many prominent Savannahans including silent film actors Edythe Chapman and James Neill. But why are you visiting a cemetery on vacation, again? Bonaventure has been recognized as one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world, with scores of lovely oak trees where Spanish moss hangs and gently sways in the wind. Visit in the spring when the lanes are covered with bright azaleas. 

The squares of Savannah are a defining feature of the city and represent a certain je ne sais quoi that sets it apart from other charming Southern cities (we’re looking at you, New Orleans). When the city was first established in February of 1733, it was laid out around four squares with eight surrounding blocks described as wards, and by the mid-19th century, Savannah had 24 unique squares spread across the city. While two of the 24 were demolished, 22 squares remain today, including the beloved Chippewa Square where Forrest Gump famously sat on a bench and mused about his life on the run, Forrest, run. Some of our other favorite squares include Monterey Square, surrounded by stunning historic homes, Johnson Square and Ellis Square, the latter of which is situated smack dab in the middle of the Historic District.

You’re going to want to carve out some time to explore Forsyth Park while in Savannah. At a whopping 30 acres, Forsyth is the largest and oldest park in the city, dating back to the mid-19th century. It’s the type of place where you can see a concert, Frisbee match, senior photo shoot and someone pop the question in a marriage proposal. The sun that all planets orbit here is the massive Parisian-style fountain, and we recommend you use it as your guiding star. Forsyth also has an impressive fragrant garden for the blind, which is something every park could benefit from. Take a stroll along walking paths, play some tennis or stop by on Saturday to grab some peaches at the weekly farmers market. The ultimate move here is to plan your trip around one of Forsyth’s festivals like the Sidewalk Arts Festival each April, the Savannah Jazz Festival each September or the Picnic in the Park with the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra in October.

As a branch of the Savannah College of Art and Design, the SCAD Museum of Art exhibits a rotating selection of contemporary works from both emergent and accomplished artists from Savannah and beyond. Visitors can enjoy any one of the 12 exhibitions currently on display, including Jorge Pardo’s current show, which showcases everyday items in an artistic space. The museum also hosts artist talks, live performances and Saturday morning story time for children. 

The Jepson Center for the Arts stands out in Savannah for its sleek and modern building designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The museum opened in 2006 and is part of the greater Telfair Museums spotlighting history, art and architecture. You’re here to admire the artistry of the museum itself along with impressive exhibitions like “ookee: Duff Woon Yong,” which displays the paintings and mixed-media art of Savannah-based artist Duff Woon Yong. 

Savannah’s mansions and buildings were constructed in a variety of styles, from Greek Revival to Federal to Colonial to Victorian and beyond. Opting for a tour like Noble Jones Savannah Architect’s Tour is a great way to see the work of five of the city’s most famous architects in a little over two hours. If you’re hoping to set out on your own, begin at the Davenport House Museum, an American Federal-style home built in the 1820s that once served as the headquarters of the Historic Savannah Foundation and educates visitors on the lived experience of past inhabitants, both free and enslaved, and the history of the house and preservation efforts. Other renowned houses include the Sorrel Weed House, Mercer-Williams House Museum and the Andrew Low House, among others.

The First African Baptist Church was established in 1777, remains the oldest Black church in North America and played a crucial role as a site on the Underground Railroad. The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum is another fantastic place to learn more about the city’s Black history. It was built in honor of the late NAACP leader and father of the cvil rights movement in Savannah. Explore more about Black history through art at the Savannah African Art Museum or set out on an educational tour like the 40 Acres and a Mule tour. 

Here’s where you can immerse yourself in Savannah’s history. Located on the banks of the Savannah River, the edifice dates back to 1817 when it was built from cobblestones and ballast stones and served as a cotton warehouse. After the hotel opened, the inn expanded and now has 99 rooms for guests, many with exposed-brick walls, hardwood floors and antique furnishings. Marvel at the five-story atrium on your way to take out a bicycle and explore the streets of Savannah. Visit in March during St. Patrick’s Day or during the Fourth of July weekend when River Street comes alive. A room here will set you back around $325 a night, and its central location means you’re within walking distance of some of Savannah’s most beloved spots.

You can book a room at the kitschy Thunderbird Inn for $114 to $180 a night, a great affordable option in Savannah. The 42-room motel is located in Savannah’s Historic District just steps away from museums like the Savannah College of Art and Design Museum of Art and the Georgia State Railroad Museum. Inside, the retro vibe is alive and well with décor that could best be described as midcentury-modern meets Rainbow Brite. Thunderbird Inn is also pet-friendly with an on-site dog run and treats in the lobby to tide Fido over until their next meal. Grab some complimentary popcorn upon checking in, but make sure to save room for the MoonPies and RC Cola in each uniquely appointed suite.

The Hamilton-Turner Inn was built in 1873 by Samuel Pugh Hamilton and was the place to see and be seen by Savannah’s elite at the time. Fast forward to 1994 when the inn got its modern-day break after being featured in John Berendt’s 1994 novel “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” as the party palace of Joe Odom, prompting the opulent mansion to be converted into a bed and breakfast just a few years later. Visitors can now stay at the historic inn located on Lafayette Square and marvel at the stunning chandeliers, brocade wallpaper and Victorian-inspired accoutrements throughout the mansion. Hamilton-Turner is as high-end as it sounds, so be prepared to shell out roughly $350 to $500 a night for one of their rooms. Besides the green grounds and well-appointed rooms, there’s a Southern breakfast each morning, wine and hors d’oeuvres in the evening and complimentary bike rentals so you can zoom around Savannah in style.