Founded in 1733, Savannah is Georgia’s oldest city and one of the most charming long weekend destinations in the South. Between the historic squares, cobblestone streets, antebellum architecture, and moss-draped oak trees, the city feels like stepping into another era.
Savannah is the perfect destination for a variety of travel styles. The walkable historic district makes it easy to spend your days leisurely exploring the city’s 22 historic squares, local shops, museums, and restaurants scattered throughout the historic district. If you’re looking for some beach time, nearby Tybee Island makes an easy day trip, while history lovers can explore everything from historic homes downtown to the forts just outside the city.
This Savannah itinerary was created with the long weekend traveler in mind. Three days is enough time to experience a lot of what makes Savannah special without needing to take a full week off work, which is exactly the kind of trip we prioritize while working full-time.
If you’re planning a long weekend in Savannah, this itinerary combines our favorite experiences from multiple trips. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll probably leave Savannah already planning your next visit.
We recently did a weekend trip to Savannah without using any PTO and shared a few highlights here.
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Things to Know Before Visiting Savannah
Getting To Savannah
Savannah is easily accessible by car via I-95, making it a great long weekend road trip destination. If you’re flying in, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is about a 20–30 minute drive from the historic district depending on traffic.
Getting Around Savannah
While Savannah’s historic district is very walkable, having a car is helpful if you plan to visit Tybee Island, Bonaventure Cemetery, or some of the forts and monuments outside downtown.
Best Time to Visit
Our favorite times to visit Savannah are spring and fall, when temperatures are milder and the sea breeze makes spending time outdoors much more enjoyable. If you don’t mind cooler weather, winter can also be a great time to visit and usually comes with lower hotel prices and smaller crowds. Summer is personally our least favorite time to visit because the heat and humidity can be intense.
Where to Stay
For a first visit, we highly recommend staying within Savannah’s Historic District. Most of the main attractions, restaurants, shops, and historic squares are walkable from this area, making it easy to maximize your time during a long weekend trip. If you are looking for more budget-friendly options, Midtown Savannah is a reasonable place to stay, although you will have to drive more and parking in the downtown area isn’t cheap. It’s something to keep in mind when comparing hotel prices.
Walking Expectations
Savannah is an extremely walkable city, and this itinerary includes a lot of exploring on foot. Comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended, especially since many of the streets and sidewalks are uneven cobblestone or brick.
Dinner Reservations
Savannah can be pretty busy and some of the best restaurants reservations fill up fast. We recommend a little advanced planning for your dinner and making reservations ahead of time (like 2-3 weeks ahead of time). If you can’t, that’s okay you can still do walk-ins but don’t be surprised if you have a bit of a wait.
Day 0: Travel Day
If you arrive to Savannah in time for dinner, I’d recommend trying out The Olde Pink House. This charming restaurant is housed in a mansion built in 1771. So cool!
If you are into the haunted side of Savannah, after dinner you can grab a ghost tour. There are many options for walking and trolley ghost tours. We’d recommend the Savannah Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour or this Savannah History and Haunts Candlelit Ghost Walking Tour
If ghosts aren’t your thing you can head to the hotel, rest up and get ready for your adventure to start!
Day 1: Explore Savannah’s Historic District
Start your morning with breakfast at The Funky Brunch Cafe before heading out to explore Savannah’s Historic District.
Whenever we visit a new city, one of our favorite ways to get familiar with the area is by taking a hop-on hop-off trolley tour. We’ve done this in several cities over the years, and Savannah is one of the best places for it. The historic district is spread out enough that the trolley helps you cover a lot of ground without completely exhausting yourself on the first day.
We used the Old Town Trolley Tour and really liked being able to explore at our own pace while also learning more about Savannah’s history from the trolley guides along the way.
Depending on how often you hop off to explore, this can easily take up most of your day. If you’re short on time, these were some of our favorite stops:
Taylor Square Stop
This stop is home to the famous Mercer-Williams House, one of Savannah’s most recognizable historic homes. Even if you don’t take the full tour, the surrounding square is worth exploring.
Davenport House Stop
This ended up being one of our favorite areas to walk around. From here you can easily visit Colonial Park Cemetery, the Davenport House Museum, and the Owens-Thomas House.
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist Stop
Even if you’re not typically someone who visits churches while traveling, this stop is worth it. The interior is stunning and completely different from the outside.
Forsyth Park
Forsyth Park is probably Savannah’s most iconic spot and a great place to slow down for a bit during the afternoon. If the weather is nice, this is the perfect place for a coffee break or just relaxing under the oak trees.
City Market Stop
City Market is a great stop to break up the day, especially if you’re ready for lunch or want a break from museums and historic homes. This area has a much livelier feel compared to some of Savannah’s quieter historic squares, with restaurants, local shops, galleries, and usually some kind of live street performance happening nearby.
While you’re here, the American Prohibition Museum is also located nearby and is high on our list for our next Savannah trip after hearing so many good things about it.
Walking Tours
If trolley tours aren’t really your thing, there are also several great walking tours throughout the historic district that focus more heavily on Savannah’s history and architecture.
For dinner, head to Vic’s on the River, one of Savannah’s best-known waterfront restaurants. We’d definitely recommend making reservations here, especially on weekends. While it’s definitely popular with tourists, we still thought it was worth it for the atmosphere and views overlooking River Street.
Once you finish dinner, take some time to wander along the riverwalk before calling it a night.
We’re personally not huge nightlife people, so this is usually where we head back to the hotel and relax after a full day of exploring. But if you’re looking for a more lively evening, the Plant Riverside District is a great spot for bars, entertainment, and nightlife along the waterfront.
Day 2: Forts, History & Nature
Start your morning with breakfast at a local cafe before heading outside Savannah’s Historic District for a day focused on history, coastal scenery, and nature.
If you’re trying to keep this trip more budget-friendly, this is also a good day to take advantage of your hotel breakfast before heading out.
Depending on which option you choose later in the day, this can either be a pretty relaxing coastal day or a more active sightseeing day with quite a bit of walking.
Visit Fort Pulaski National Monument
About 20 minutes east of downtown Savannah sits Fort Pulaski National Monument, one of the best-preserved 19th-century forts in the country. This ended up being one of our favorite experiences in the Savannah area and is something we’d absolutely recommend adding to your itinerary.
The fort is managed by the National Park Service and offers ranger-led programs throughout the day covering both the history of the fort and the restoration efforts over the years. If you time it right, you may even get to see one of the cannon demonstrations.
Beyond the fort itself, there are also several walking trails around the property that give you a chance to explore the surrounding coastal landscape.
Walk the Lighthouse Overlook Trail
If you have time, we highly recommend walking the Lighthouse Overlook Trail before leaving Fort Pulaski. This easy 1.7-mile trail leads to views of the historic Cockspur Island Lighthouse.
Tip: Bring bug spray, especially during the warmer months. The bugs here can be brutal.
Option 1: Relax at Tybee Island
If you want a slower afternoon after exploring Fort Pulaski, head over to nearby Tybee Island. It’s only a short drive away and makes an easy addition to your day.
Spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach, walking the pier, or grabbing seafood before heading back toward Savannah for dinner. You could also visit the Tybee Island Lighthouse & Museum.
This is probably the better option if you’re visiting during warmer months, want a more laid-back afternoon, or feel like taking a break from walking around downtown.
Option 2: Continue Exploring Savannah’s History at Wormsloe
If you’d rather continue with the historical side of the trip, head south to Wormsloe Historic Site. Since we are based in Jacksonville and have access to the beach all the time, this is the option we chose.
This area is best known for its incredibly scenic oak-lined entrance road. Between the massive oak trees and hanging Spanish moss, walking here genuinely feels like stepping into another era. If you aren’t up for walking the full 1.5-mile road, the park also offers a shuttle. We personally chose to walk one direction and catch the shuttle back, which ended up being a good balance.
Past the oak lined drive are the tabby ruins dating back to the 1700s, more walking trails, museum exhibits, and colonial history exhibits throughout the property.
Compared to the busier areas downtown, Wormsloe feels quieter and more nature-focused while still giving you another look into Georgia’s history.
Isle of Hope Drive
For a quick little 10 minute scenic drive once you leave Wormsloe, turn right and keep driving straight. It will look like you are coming up on a dead end but follow the large arrow sign around the corner. (You can also type W Bluff Drive into your GPS). This picturesque drive has beautiful, historic homes on one side and the Skidaway River on the other. It’s hard to explain the beauty here and you should just check it out for yourself.
If you haven’t had lunch yet, stop by Driftaway Cafe for lunch. It’s a good casual spot nearby to relax for a bit after spending time walking around Wormsloe. We both had a delicious rueben before heading to our next stop.
If you have filled your day and are ready for a break or dinner head back to Savannah.
Optional Stop: Skidaway Island State Park
If you still have some energy left after Wormsloe, head over to nearby Skidaway Island State Park for even more coastal scenery and hiking trails.
The park has several trails that wind through tidal creeks, salt marshes, and maritime forests, but we’d recommend the Big Ferry Trail. Depending on which route you take, this hike can be turned into either a 2- or 3-mile loop.
One of our favorite parts of visiting Skidaway Island was stopping by the Alligator Ponds, which definitely lived up to their name for us. We ended up spotting two alligators during our visit.
Tip: Bring bug spray here too. Trust us on this one.
Once you make your way back to downtown Savannah, head to 17Hundred90 Inn and Restaurant for dinner. This ended up being one of our favorite dinner spots from the trip. The historic atmosphere feels very “old Savannah,” and the live piano music made it feel even more memorable.
After dinner, walk a few blocks over to Leopold’s Ice Cream for dessert. Don’t be surprised if the line stretches down the block, but it moves surprisingly fast and is absolutely worth the wait.
Day 3: Slow Morning Before Heading Home
For your final morning in Savannah, we recommend keeping things a little slower before heading home. One of the things we love most about Savannah is that it’s the kind of city that’s just as enjoyable wandering slowly as it is trying to check attractions off a list.
Start your morning with breakfast at Debi’s Restaurant on Bay Street. This spot gives off the same old-school Savannah atmosphere that we really enjoyed throughout this trip and feels like the perfect final stop before heading home.
If you still have some time before your drive or flight home, here are a couple more stops worth adding to your morning.
Option 1: Visit the Webb Military Museum
This museum wasn’t originally on our itinerary during our first trip to Savannah, but after hearing our trolley driver talk about it, we decided to squeeze it in before leaving the city.
The museum has a massive collection of military artifacts spanning from the Civil War through Desert Storm and ended up being much more interesting than we expected. If you enjoy history or military museums, this one is definitely worth a visit.
Another bonus is that it’s within walking distance of Debi’s Restaurant, making it an easy final stop before heading out of town.
Option 2: Tour More Historic Homes
If there were any historic homes you missed during Day 1, this is a great opportunity to slow down and explore a few more before leaving Savannah.
One thing we quickly realized during our visits is that there are far more historic homes and museums than you can realistically fit into a single weekend trip. That’s honestly part of what makes Savannah such a fun city to come back to.
More Things to Do in Savannah If You Have Extra Time
Visit Bonaventure Cemetery
If you only add one extra stop from this list, Bonaventure Cemetery would probably be our pick. Known for its moss-covered oak trees, historic monuments, and peaceful walking paths, Bonaventure feels more like a scenic park than a traditional cemetery. Even if cemeteries aren’t usually your thing while traveling, this is one of those places that’s worth visiting for both the history and atmosphere.
Explore Fort McAllister State Park
If you enjoyed Fort Pulaski, Fort McAllister is another great historic fort worth visiting. Located south of Savannah, this earth-works fort played a role during the Civil War and also has walking trails and river views throughout the park.
Savannah Ogeechee Canal Museum and Nature Center
If you decide to visit Fort McAllister, the Ogeechee Canal Museum and Nature Center is a nearby stop. I’d consider this a hidden gem of the area if you enjoy history and nature. You can see the remnants of the old canal and lock system used in the 1880’s. A short hiking trail follows the canal through coastal swamp scenery before eventually reaching the Ogeechee River.
Take a Savannah River Dinner Cruise
For a slower-paced evening activity, consider booking a river dinner cruise along the Savannah River. This can be a fun option for couples, especially if you’re celebrating something special or just want a more relaxing evening.
Visit More Museums
If you’re someone who enjoys museums while traveling, Savannah could honestly keep you busy for several days. A few popular options include the Savannah History Museum, the Georgia State Railroad Museum, SCAD Museum of Art, Telfair Academy and the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. This is not an inclusive list, there are many other options if none of these fit your style and interests.
Check Out Savannah’s Rooftop Bars
If nightlife is more your style, Savannah has several rooftop bars throughout the Historic District that are perfect for sunset drinks and river views. Bar Julian, Peregrin, Electric Moon Skytop Lounge and Rocks on the Roof are some of the most popular options.
Final Thoughts
Even with 3 days, this itinerary only scratches the surface of everything Savannah has to offer. Between the history, restaurants, riverfront views, coastal scenery, and slower pace, it’s easily one of our favorite long weekend destinations in the South.
If you have extra time, Savannah is an easy trip to stretch into a fourth day. And if you’re within road trip distance like we are, it’s also the kind of place that works perfectly for repeat weekend visits. We’ve already done two no-PTO weekend trips here and still have plenty left on our list for future visits.
Every time we visit Savannah, we leave already thinking about when we can come back next — and honestly, even putting this itinerary together has us wanting to plan another trip soon.
