Trip to the City of Savannah, Georgia
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
Routes: Detailed travel itineraries in the United States (Free)
The city of Savannah, located in southeastern Georgia, was founded in 1733 and is one of the oldest cities in the USA and the oldest city in Georgia. It is a city with typical Southern charm and atmosphere, rich in museums and historical buildings. The city is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean on the southwestern side of the Savannah River. The city was built according to a master plan with many green public spaces. It is considered the first pre-planned city in the entire USA. It is famous for its historic district, which is filled with squares containing monuments and lush vegetation, including many Live Oak trees naturally decorated with curtains of a plant called Spanish Moss.
The city has about 150,000 residents but welcomes millions of tourists every year. Downtown Savannah is a central and charming destination for travelers of all types, especially the River Street promenade along the river and its city market.
Location and Transportation:
Savannah has an international airport with flights to a wide variety of destinations in the Eastern US, a few destinations in the Western US (mainly Texas and Denver, Colorado), and to Canada.
If you stay in the city center, it is convenient to get around Savannah without a rental car. There is fairly convenient public transportation, trolleys, and one of the city's symbols: horse-drawn carriages. If you stay in the suburbs or if you are arriving for a day trip from South Carolina or Florida, it is recommended to rent a car. There are paid parking lots in the city center. It is particularly worthwhile and recommended to park near the city's Forsyth Park.
Savannah is located halfway between Jacksonville, Florida (located about two hours south of Savannah) and Charleston, South Carolina (located about two hours northeast of Savannah). It can be part of a trip from Miami or Orlando all the way to Washington D.C.
♦Recommended Accommodations in Savannah:
JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District
A modern hotel (opened in September 2020) rated 5 stars with a spectacular and unique design (see details above in the city's tourist sites) in the best possible location on the Savannah River Street promenade (Riverside). The hotel has 4 restaurants, a bar, a pool, a gym, and a spa. Free internet. Parking is available for an additional fee.
Residence Inn Savannah Downtown Historic District
A quality 3-star suite hotel located in the tourist historic district in the city center, about a kilometer from the river promenade. The hotel combines modern rooms within historic architecture. The hotel has spacious studio units and one-bedroom apartments suitable for 4 people. Each suite has a fully equipped kitchen. The hotel has a pool and a gym. The price includes breakfast. Free internet. Parking is available for an additional fee.
Hampton Inn Savannah Historic District
A recommended 3-star hotel in an excellent location in the historic district of Savannah near the river promenade. The hotel has a pool and a gym. The price includes breakfast. Free internet. Parking is available for an additional fee.
Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah
A luxury 5-star hotel in the heart of the historic district in the city center. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar, a swimming pool, a gym, and a spa. Free bicycle rental for hotel guests. Free internet. Parking is available for an additional fee.
Recommended Guided Tours in Savannah:
The most recommended way to get to know the historic district in the city center is through a guided tour. Since it covers a relatively large area, a walking tour is not enough, so a tour by bicycle, Segway, carriage, or trolley is preferable.
Tours for booking from GetYourGuide.com:
Recommended Tours in Savannah for booking from Viator:
Bicycle Tour in the City Center
The most recommended way to discover beautiful Savannah is on a two-hour guided bicycle tour which usually passes by all the charming spots in the historic downtown, famous movie filming locations, interesting buildings, the city park, the market, and the many squares.
The tour begins with a viewpoint over the river area and River Street with explanations about the city's development stages based on the river and the port, which was a main transportation artery at the time. Most of the port workers in the past were Irish rather than Africans. On the riverbanks stands a statue of a waving girl in memory of a woman who waved like this to all the ships that passed the river for many years. On the tour, you pass by many churches and also a large synagogue and ancient houses in a special Southern architectural style that have been converted into museums with explanations. You pass by the City Hall,
The Olde Pink House which is currently a restaurant. You pass near the Olympic Torch (from the Atlanta Olympics) and through the large Forsyth Park with a fountain that is considered one of the city's symbols and visit the city market.
Movie Locations Segway Tour of Savannah
There are many Segway tours in the city, but the most recommended is a tour among the locations where many famous movies were filmed, such as: Forrest Gump with Tom Hanks, Something to Talk About with Julia Roberts, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by Clint Eastwood. The guided tour lasts 75 minutes.
Savannah Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour
The most classic way to tour the city (for those who are less active and don't connect with bikes or Segways) is on a trolley that passes all points of interest in the city center with recorded explanations. You can get on and off where and when you want throughout the day. There are several competing companies, but the most recommended is Historic Tours Of America with orange and green trolleys for stopping at 100 points of interest throughout the historic district. You can purchase a ticket for one or two days. A full loop of the trolley without getting off lasts 90 minutes.
Savannah Sunset Riverboat Cruise
An approximately two-hour cruise on a classic riverboat called: The Georgia Queen on the wide Savannah River (which forms the border between the states of Georgia and South Carolina). The cruise is held at sunset and also includes music for dancing. On the boat, there is also an open bar on the upper floor and a restaurant. During the cruise, you hear explanations from the captain about the Port of Savannah, the importance of the river over the years, and the city's fascinating history.
To be impressed by Savannah from all directions, both from land and from the river, it is recommended and worthwhile to purchase a combined ticket for the trolley and the riverboat: Savannah Land & Sea Combo: City Sightseeing Trolley Tour with Riverboat Cruise. The tour is operated by Gray Line Savannah and includes hotel pickup.
Shopping in Savannah:
Savannah has an outlet center (factory store center) of the Tanger chain: Tanger Outlets Savannah, located northwest of the city center in a suburb called Pooler near the Savannah airport. The center has 95 brand stores such as: H&M, Gap, Skechers, Michael Kors, Nike, Levi's, and many others. Adjacent to the outlet is a large selection of restaurants.
There are many shopping centers in the city and its suburbs. One of the largest, located in the south of the city, is: Oglethorpe Mall, which has more than 120 stores in addition to several restaurants.
Of course, all along the touristy River Street, there are plenty of shops, including many souvenir shops and also a market called: The River Street Market, where 70 stalls sell handicrafts, souvenirs, and food alongside entertainment and music.
Destinations and Attractions in the City of Savannah
Historic River Street Promenade
On River Street along the river, there is a long and vibrant promenade with a pleasant atmosphere and street performances, statues, and an impressive monument to WWII fallen in the shape of the Earth.
On one side of the street are shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars, and on the other side are large riverboats along the wharf and a beautiful view of the river and the large bridge leading to the city.
Marriott Hotel Lobby on the Promenade
At the end of the promenade is the Marriott hotel JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District – an amazing new hotel that opened only recently at the end of 2020 in a building that formerly housed a power plant that generated electricity for the entire region. Even for those who cannot afford to stay there or eat there, the visit to the amazing hotel is a must as it is an impressive tourist site: the hotel lobby is a spectacular museum with fossils, precious stones, and giant crystal rocks
and combines old with new—Swarovski with dinosaur skeletons, a candy shop, a trendy cafe with a grand piano player, giant photos, and chimneys above the structure.
Savannah City Market
When it was established in the early 18th century, the market was the primary place of commerce for the residents. The market has since passed two fires, a major hurricane, and much water has flowed in the nearby river. Today, Savannah's City Market doesn't sell vegetables and fruits; instead, it features mainly restaurants, cafes, and charming galleries.
Every day there is live music. It is wonderful to eat a typical Southern lunch to the sounds of music in pleasant, sunny weather. In the market area, you can also board a horse-drawn carriage or a trolley for a guided tour of the city center.
Forsyth Park
The first park established in park-filled Savannah. Its area is 30 acres and it is filled with statues, flowers, and trees, playgrounds, and sports courts, and at its heart is a beautiful fountain that has become one of the city's symbols, along with a high-quality restaurant.
Historical Buildings in the City Center
Many historical buildings have been preserved in the city, mainly by private individuals. Among the more famous preserved buildings are the following:
The Olde Pink House which currently serves as a restaurant.
Synagogue Mickve Israel, a historic synagogue built in 1790 that resembles a grand Gothic church from the outside.
First Baptist Church, Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist:
Mercer William House which is now a museum and also served as the basis for a famous 1997 thriller movie called: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil produced by Clint Eastwood.
The City's Movie Industry
Savannah has a developed movie industry that has contributed greatly to the city's development, and it is even considered the most recommended place for filmmakers to live and work (according to Moviemaker magazine in 2017). Many movies were filmed in the city, including "Forrest Gump," "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," and more.
Ghosts and Cemeteries
Savannah is also known as a "haunted" city, particularly thanks to its famous and photogenic cemetery: Bonaventure Cemetery, which is the oldest cemetery in the city and was also immortalized in Clint Eastwood's film "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." The cemetery, considered one of the most beautiful in the world, is filled with statues, trees, and ferns. Guided tours are conducted in the cemetery by several companies.
The most recommended tour is Bonaventure Cemetery Tours by Jones Street Productions Inc, which lasts about two hours.
There is also a ghost tour conducted in the city that includes, in addition to the cemetery, other historical buildings in the city where mysterious murders have occurred over the years.
Even outside the city center, there are impressive historical sites. The most recommended ones are:
Wormsloe Historic Site – a historic estate from 1733 famous mainly for the "tunnel" of trees leading to it. Located about 15 minutes southeast of the city center.
Fort Pulaski National Monument - a National Historic Site located about half an hour east of the city center, near the ocean on an island called Cockspur Island connected to the mainland by a bridge. The site is managed by the American National Parks. The fort's construction was completed in 1833, and it served the Union army during the Civil War and also served as a prison part of the time. The place is well-preserved, including many cannons, and you can walk on the walls and overlook the sea and the water channels surrounding it.
Staying in Hilton Head and Touring Savannah
It is possible and worthwhile to go on a day trip to Savannah from Hilton Head Island, a charming resort town in South Carolina located on a wonderful beach just an hour's drive from Savannah.
Recommended Accommodations in Hilton Head Island
A recommended hotel in a convenient location:
Courtyard by Marriott Hilton Head Island
A quality 3-star Marriott hotel. 500 meters from the popular Coligny Beach Park.
The hotel has a rooftop pool and bar, with seating areas and an outdoor fireplace. There is a restaurant on the lobby floor. Near the hotel are shopping and entertainment centers with a large selection of restaurants. Free internet and parking.
Indulgent resorts adjacent to the beach:
Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort
A 4-star resort adjacent to the beach in the prestigious Palmetto Dunes area. The resort features spacious suites in several sizes suitable for up to 6 people. The resort has a swimming pool, jacuzzi, gym, tennis court, restaurants, and a bar. Free internet and parking.
Sonesta Resort - Hilton Head Island
A 4-star resort adjacent to the beach. All rooms have a balcony or patio, most of which overlook the ocean. The resort has 2 pools, a jacuzzi, a spa, a restaurant, and a bar. Free internet and parking.