Savannah, Georgia: 10 Top Things to Do on a Weekend Getaway
Savannah is one of those places that feels almost unfair. It is a large but small city right on the Georgia coast, where Georgia and South Carolina meet, and it crams history, food, architecture, art, and a serious haunted reputation into a few square miles of cobblestone and Spanish moss. If you love history, you will lose your mind here. If you love food, same. There is an incredible art school, ghost tours on every corner, and a riverfront that has been busy since the 1700s.
We got there early on purpose, before the crowds, while joggers had the streets and shopkeepers were just opening up. That quiet hour is the best time to take it all in. This is not our first trip to Savannah and it will not be our last, so here are the ten things we think you have to hit on a weekend getaway.
The iconic Forsyth Park Fountain.
What are the best things to do in Savannah for a weekend?
The must-do shortlist: walk River Street along the water, browse the River Street Marketplace, grab pralines at Savannah Candy Kitchen, take a riverboat cruise, find the Waving Girl statue, see the haunted Pirates' House, wander Colonial Park Cemetery, step inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, and relax at Forsyth Park. Two days is enough to enjoy most of it.
Walk River Street
River Street is the heart of Savannah's waterfront, and the best way to start is just to walk it. This famous cobblestone street runs right along the river, packed with shops, restaurants, candy stores, and bars, with cargo ships sliding by the whole time. Go early like we did and you get it calm and quiet. Come back in the evening and it turns into the city's social hub. Watch a sunset, watch the ships, and if you time it right, you might catch one of the festivals it is known for.
Browse the River Street Marketplace
Right on the waterfront next to Joe's Crab Shack, the River Street Marketplace is an open-air market that echoes the old market buildings that lined River Street back in the mid-1800s. It is the spot for handmade art, jewelry, and the kind of one-of-a-kind pieces that make better souvenirs than anything off a gift shop shelf. Even if you are not buying, it is a fun browse.
Get your sugar fix at Savannah Candy Kitchen
You cannot do River Street without stopping somewhere sweet, and Savannah Candy Kitchen is the classic. They hand out samples of Southern staples like pecan pralines and salt water taffy, and you can box up the colorful stuff to take home. It is a small, happy detour that the kids (and let us be honest, the adults) will thank you for.
Cool off with a frozen cocktail at Wet Willie's
If you want the grown-up version of a sweet treat, Wet Willie's is one of the most recognizable spots on River Street, easy to find under its round multi-colored blue sign. It is known for a rainbow of frozen, liquor-infused drinks. It is a fun, only-in-Savannah stop on a hot afternoon, and the riverfront has plenty of other bars and pubs if you want to keep the stroll going.
Take a Savannah riverboat cruise
There is no better way to actually see the waterfront than from the water. Savannah Riverboat Cruises run a range of trips, from sightseeing to dinner cruises, perfect for a special occasion or just an easy way to watch the cargo ships pass and the sun go down. If you want one experience that frames the whole city, this is it.
Find the Waving Girl statue
Down on River Street you will find a statue of Florence Martus, Savannah's famous Waving Girl. For 44 years, from 1887 to 1931, she greeted nearly every ship that entered or left the Port of Savannah, waving a handkerchief by day and a lantern by night from nearby Elba Island, where her brother was the lighthouse keeper. As the story goes, sailors all over the world came to know her. The romantic legend says she was waving for a sailor she had fallen for and was waiting to return. Whether you take the legend or just the history, it is a lovely, only-in-Savannah piece of the riverfront.
See the Pirates' House (Savannah's spookiest dinner spot)
A short walk away is the Pirates' House, one of the oldest buildings in Savannah and, by some accounts, one of the oldest in Georgia. Part of it dates to the 1730s. Today it is a restaurant, but its reputation comes from darker stories. Legend has it that in its early tavern days, men who drank here were shanghaied, drugged and hauled through tunnels to the river to wake up on a ship miles out to sea, forced into a crew. It is now considered one of the most haunted places in town. It was closed when we walked by, but it is worth seeing even from the outside, and worth a meal if you can get in.
Wander Colonial Park Cemetery
Right in the heart of downtown, Colonial Park Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in the city. It was established in 1750 and served as Savannah's main public burial ground for more than a century, with thousands of people laid to rest here. Its most famous resident is believed to be Button Gwinnett, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who died after a duel with Lachlan McIntosh in 1777. It is genuinely beautiful, all huge moss-draped oaks, and yes, a little spooky, which is why it lands on most of the local ghost tours. We went in daylight (ghosts are not really our thing), and it is open to the public during the day for an easy, leashed-dog-friendly stroll. Check current hours before you go.
Step inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist is one of the most stunning buildings in the city. Its congregation traces back to French Catholics who fled the French Revolution and the Haitian uprising and found refuge in Savannah. The soaring French Gothic cathedral you see today was dedicated in 1876, then nearly lost to a devastating fire in 1898 that left little but the outer walls and twin spires standing. It was rebuilt and has been lovingly maintained ever since. The interior is worth the stop even if you only have a few minutes.
Relax at Forsyth Park
Cap it off at Forsyth Park, the city's great gathering place. You will find tennis and basketball courts, wide grassy fields, wheelchair-friendly walking paths, an amphitheater, a fragrant garden for the blind, and a little cafe. But the star is the Forsyth Park Fountain, the white wrought-iron landmark you have seen in a hundred Savannah photos. It is the perfect spot to sit, rest your feet, and soak up the city.
A few honest tips before you go
Bring bug spray. Seriously. Savannah sits in Georgia gnat country, and those sand gnats are aggressive. We got eaten alive learning this. Do not be like us.
Go early. By 9 a.m. it was already humid and sweaty, that sweet Georgia heat. Early starts mean cooler air, quieter streets, and better photos.
It is walkable. Most of these stops are an easy stroll apart, so wear comfortable shoes and plan to rack up some steps.
It is an art town too. Savannah is home to a phenomenal art school, so the galleries, design, and architecture are part of the fun.
Lean into the haunted angle if that is your thing. Savannah is often called the most haunted city in America, and the ghost tours are a whole scene.
Taking a stroll through Savannah’s beautiful city!
FAQs
How many days do you need in Savannah?
A weekend is plenty to hit the highlights. Two days lets you do River Street, the historic squares, a few landmarks, and still slow down to enjoy it.
Is Savannah walkable?
Very. The historic district is compact, and most of the top sights are an easy walk from each other.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring and fall are the most comfortable. If you go in summer, start early to beat the heat and humidity, and bring that bug spray.
Is Savannah good for families?
Yes. Between River Street, the candy shops, the riverboat cruises, and the parks, there is plenty for kids, with deeper history for the adults.
Is Savannah really haunted?
It leans hard into the reputation, often billed as America's most haunted city. Spots like the Pirates' House, Colonial Park Cemetery, and the Sorrell-Weed House, which we did as well (Sorrell-Weed House Ghost Tour), are staples on the ghost tours, so it is easy to find a spooky evening if you want one.
The Verdict
Savannah really does have a little bit of everything for everyone. Food, art, antiques, architecture, history, the beach nearby, boating, even a saxophone player drifting through the squares. We have been more than once and we still feel like we have only scratched the surface, which is exactly why we keep going back. Spend a weekend, walk it slowly, bring the bug spray, and let the city do its thing. You will be planning your return trip before you leave.
Want to see what we did on our time there? Watch our Savannah video on YouTube below and subscribe to Finding Our Forte so you can follow along on the next one.
