A Weekend In Savannah, Georgia [Things To Do, Dining, Hotels, Tours] – Zen Life and Travel (2024)

My husband and I recently spent a weekend in Savannah, Georgia, and I’m so excited to share this fun southern city with you.

Savannah has become a popular destination for weekend trips as well as romantic getaways, bachelorette trips, or friends trips. It’s easy to get to, you don’t need a rental car, and you can easily experience all the city has to offer in just a couple of days, so it’s great for short trips.

In this post, I’ll show you what to check out if you only have 2 days in Savannah, including restaurants, hotels, tours, and FAQs.

Savannah, Georgia: At A Glance

Savannah, Georgia is a romantic coastal town known for its historic charm, cobblestone streets, and picturesque parks. It sits on the banks of the Savannah River, which separates Georgia from South Carolina. Also known as The Hostess City, Savannah is famous for its hospitality.

Distance from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV): 20 minutes

Car Rental: Search cheap car rentals available from SAV airport

Popular Savannah, Georgia Tours:

• Genteel & Bard’s Savannah History Walking Tour
• Savannah Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour
• Savannah Riverboat Sightseeing Cruise
• Savannah Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley
• Segway History Tour of Savannah
• Savannah Bike Tour
• Bonaventure Cemetery Guided Tour

A Weekend in Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia is a popular spot for a romantic weekend getaway or a girls’ trip (we saw lots of bachelorette parties while we were there). You can easily see Savannah in 2 days, so it’s perfect for a quick trip. Another great thing is that many of these things to do are free or inexpensive, so Savannah is a great destination if you’re traveling on a budget.

Here’s what you’ll want to check out during your weekend in Savannah.

Explore The Historic District

One of the best things about Savannah (in my opinion) is that it’s a highly walkable city. You can easily explore Savannah’s Historic District on foot if you choose a centrally located hotel (I recommend Andaz Savannah). Without having to rent a car, you’ll be able to see the famous Squares of Savannah, explore the riverfront, eat at tons of great restaurants, and see iconic landmarks like Forsyth Park and The Mercer House.

If you’d prefer not to do so much walking, or if you just like to get a lay of the land before you explore on your own, you can take a hop-on hop-off trolley tour. This 90-minute tour takes you past all of the city’s most popular attractions with stops at places like City Market and River Street.

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Guided Tours:

• Genteel & Bard’s Savannah History Walking Tour
• Historic Savannah Guided Walking Tour
• Segway History Tour of Savannah
• Guided Sightseeing and History Walking Tour of Savannah
• Historical Square Guided Segway Tour of Savannah

Visit Bonaventure Cemetery

Okay, so I just told you how walkable Savannah is, but there is one attraction that’ll require a short drive — Bonaventure Cemetery. Located about 4.5 miles east of downtown Savannah, you might know this landmark from thebook Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil which has made this a popular Savannah attraction.

Location: 330 Bonaventure Road, Thunderbolt, Georgia, 31404

Guided Tours:

• Bonaventure Cemetery Guided Tour
• “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” Book Themed Tour
• After Hours Bonaventure Cemetery Tour

Explore the Riverfront

Savannah’s Riverfront is a popular area to visit. Filled with shops, restaurants, and bars, you can easily spend most of a day exploring this area. Some highlights include getting free samples at Byrd’s Famous Cookies, sampling pralines at River Street Sweets, and checking out the Plant Riverside District.

Go on a Bike Ride

Savannah is a great city to explore by bike. A bike tour will allow you to see more of the city than you could on foot and is a great way to stay active during your vacation. You can rent a bike to explore on your own or take a guided tour to make sure you don’t miss any of the popular spots in the city.

If you’d prefer a motorized way to see this city, consider renting a scooter to explore!

See the Crystals and Geodes at JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District

I bet you never thought you’d see an incredible display of geodes and crystals (plus a life-sized silver dinosaur skeleton hanging from the ceiling) in a hotel lobby! But you can at the JW Marriott Plant Riverside District hotel. This display is one of the most unique things to do in Savannah, and was my personal favorite Savannah attraction!

Location: 400 West River Street, Savannah, Georgia, 31401

Go On A Food Tour

One of the best things about visiting Savannah is the food! There are so many great places to eat that you could spend your entire weekend just eating! Of course, you can explore on your own (and you absolutely should), but you also might want to take a guided food tour to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Guided Food Tours:

• Southern Flavors of Savannah Walking Dessert Tour
• Savannah’s Cafe Tour
• Savannah Culinary & Cultural Walking Food Tour

Guided Drinking Tours:

• Historical Drinking Tour of Savannah
• Haunted Savannah Pub Crawl

Go On A Ghost Tour

Savannah is often called “America’s Most Haunted City,” so it’s a great place to take a ghost tour. There are lots of options available to help you explore the spooky side of Savannah.

• Savannah Supernatural Haunted Walking Tour
• Savannah Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour
• Savannah 13 Ghosts Tour Psychic Guided
• Haunted Savannah Pub Crawl

Take a Riverboat Cruise

Savannah is located along the Savannah River, and the riverfront is a popular area of the city to explore. If you’d like to see Savannah from the water, there are plenty of options to take a riverboat cruise.

• Sunset Riverboat Cruise
• Sunday Brunch Riverboat Cruise
• Savannah Riverboat Gospel Music Dinner Cruise
• Private Sightseeing Boat Tour

Visit Tybee Island

Tybee Island is a small barrier island located about 35 minutes east of Savannah. If you’ve got some extra time, taking a day trip to Tybee Island is a great way to extend your Savannah vacation.

Some of the most popular Tybee Island activities include exploring the beaches, going kayaking, checking out the lighthouse, or going on a dolphin boat tour.

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Savannah, Georgia Hotels

• Andaz Savannah (this is where I stayed)
• Hyatt Regency Savannah
• JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District
• TRYP by Wyndham Savannah Downtown/Historic District
• The Desoto Savannah
• Hotel Indigo Savannah Historic District (an IHG Hotel)
• The Alida Savannah, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
• The Cotton Sail Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
• Hampton Inn & Suites Savannah Historic District
• Homewood Suites Savannah Historic District
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Savannah Historic District

I used World of Hyatt points to stay at Andaz Savannah. Rooms cost 12,000 to 18,000 points per night.

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Savannah, Georgia Restaurants

There are lots of places to eat in Savannah, so I won’t list them all here. However, I will tell you where I ate to give you a jumping-off point.

• Maple Street Biscuit Company: They had the BEST biscuits…highly recommend for breakfast!
• Vic’s on the River: The food was average, but the biscuits they give you are fantastic.
• The Olde Pink House: Everyone recommended this place to me. I thought it was ok, not great. Plus if you want to eat in the main dining room, you have to make reservations months in advance; however, we were able to get a seat at the bar without a reservation.
• Zunzibar: We only went here for drinks and they were excellent. Plus, they had a killer selection of non-alcoholic options!
• Savannah Smokehouse BBQ & Brew: Good BBQ with river views!

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Savannah, Georgia FAQs

Q: What is the best time of year to visit Savanna, GA?

A: Savannah is a year-round destination, but the best times to visit are in the spring and fall when the weather is the mildest. Summers can be hot and humid in Savannah, but if you’re planning a trip to Tybee Island during your visit, summer is probably the best choice.

Q: What food is Savannah, Georgia famous for?

A: Some of the food that Savannah, Georgia is known for is fried green tomatoes, pralines, and Chatham Artillery Punch.

Q: How many days do I need in Savannah?

The number of days you’ll need in Savannah will vary but I felt like I had sufficient time to do what I wanted in 2 days. If you want to do a day trip to Tybee Island, I would add an extra day.

Q: Is Savannah a walkable city?

A: Yes, one of my favorite things about Savannah is that it’s a very walkable city.

Final Thoughts

Savannah, Georgia is a great destination for a romantic weekend getaway, friends trip, or a family vacation. The city is full of history as well as plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants. You can easily see all Savannah has to offer in a couple of days, but if you’ve got more time to explore, check out Tybee Island for a beach day.