Historic Savannah in 5 Days

After arriving at Savannah/Hilton Head Airport, grab a ride to your hotel. Whether it’s Uber or another transfer service, you really won’t need a car once you arrive. Savannah is very walkable.

After checking in, I highly suggest hopping on your phone and getting tickets with Old Town Trolley Tours. They have a ton of options, and each driver has a different take on the city and highlights different features. It was very interesting. Once that’s done, hop on at any stop and relax while you familiarize yourself with the Historic District. Hop on and off as you please and explore the city.

For Food, travel days are always tough, so I suggest heading down to the riverfront and checking out the numerous restaurants and pubs—many are open late.

Take a walk through Forsyth Park. This park is absolutely amazing. You can spend an entire day here and still not get enough of it. The towering oak trees and famous fountain are just the face of this incredibly historic park.

The park was the Old Confederate Parade Grounds and is still haunted by its Civil War past. As you walk through the park, pay close attention to the still-standing statues and surrounding structures, as many of them have historical markers.

Be sure to visit the Old Candler Oak at the northeast end of the park—don’t skip the details. The park is surrounded by small shops and eateries to suit your needs.

For the evening, I highly suggest making reservations at the 17Hundred90 Inn and Restaurant. We had a fantastic dinner service there and I highly recommend the scallops. Pro tip: Reservations aren’t always needed here, especially during the weekdays. I do highly reccomend them, though.

Get breakfast at B Matthews Eatery. The grits are to die for.

Take a ride on the Georgia Queen. Get reservations for a lunch cruise—it’s light and delicious. You’ll get to see the riverfront from a whole new perspective. For those who want to experience great Southern hospitality but don’t want to break the bank, the Georgia Queen is the way to go. The crew was incredible.

Once the cruise ends, you’ll have a large portion of your day left. We took time to explore some of the more residential areas of the Historic District. Here, we found historic churches and cemeteries open to the public to explore and wonder.

For dinner tonight, please dress your best and make reservations for the Old Pink House. Located just around the corner from the Andaz, it is renowned in the area for its menu. The best part is that it’s not outlandishly expensive. My wife still tries to find a flounder as good as the one she had here. Pro tip: This place books up fast, so make reservations a few weeks in advance. This was one of our more memorable occasions—well worth the effort.

Savannah is known for being the most haunted city in America, so book a ride on the haunted trolley tour with Old Town Trolleys or use one of the numerous walking guides for some chilling tales from the city’s past. Savannah is a city built on the dead.

Check out the Little Duck Diner for breakfast. I was so surprised and satisfied with the menu—I’ll never forget this place.

Savannah has a ton of history, even in how the city was designed. Today is a day to explore that. Around the Historic District are numerous city squares, each one with a specific name and story. When they were built, they served a more strategic purpose—see if you can figure it out.

Fun tip: Forrest Gump was filmed in one of these squares. Watch the film and see if you can figure out which one by seeing who or what is walking in the background. It has to do with a national organization for young women.

Also in the Historic District are tons of statues and art for you to look at. Find your favorite—they all have a story.

For dinner, we highly suggest Sorry Charlies Oyster Bar. I had the best Southern boil—it was exactly what I expected, and I enjoyed living in the moment and eating food that was local to the area and its history.

I always keep the last day of any trip simple and to the point since it’s a travel day.

Eat a light meal at one of the local eateries and check out of your hotel—the ones listed make it incredibly easy. Catch a ride back to the airport, and, if you find yourself with some time to spare, just across from Ellis Square (where the Andaz is located), there’s a small street with some fun attractions, including carriage tours and the American Prohibition Museum.