Last Updated: 12/31/2023

How To Spend 3 Days in Savannah GA

Prepare to be charmed by Savannah GA with my 3 Day Savannah Itinerary. If you’re headed to this southern American city soon, read on for the best things to do, see, eat, and drink in Savannah GA.

In this post I’ll share exactly how I spent three days in Savannah GA in December 2021. We arrived on Thursday evening and stayed for three (very full) days before departing on early Monday morning. During that time we enjoyed so many amazing Savannah attractions, sites, historic houses, tours, shopping, and restaurants. We even snuck in a Savannah day trip.

As you’ll see, Savannah is a great destination for multi-generation travel like our mother/daughter trip. But however you’re visiting Savannah, whether it’s a girls’ trip, romantic getaway, or with your family, this 3 Day itinerary ensures you experience Savannah’s very best.

Let’s dive right in and create a long weekend in Savannah you’ll never forget!

This post may contain affiliate links. When you purchase something through these links, I receive a small commission that helps me create this blog’s content. There’s no extra cost to you.

(Only have a day in Savannah? My one-day Savannah GA itinerary shows you how to see the very best of the Southern city in less than 24 hours. However, I recommend reading this post you’re currently on in its entirety for a detailed guide to visiting Savannah GA as well as links to my favorite Savannah trip planning resources.)

If you’re headed to Savannah soon, be sure to pin this 3 Day Itinerary!

Our Entire 3 Day Savannah Long Weekend

Did you know that Savannah has not one but two Rainbow Rows! While neither are as spectacular as the more famous Rainbow Row in Charleston, they still make pretty photo-ops. This one is located at 510 E. Bryan St. You’ll find the other in the 100s block of E. Taylor St.

Day One: Savannah Historic District

• Free Savannah Walking Tour
• Brunch at The Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park
• Green-Meldrim House
• Cathedral Basilica of St John the Baptist
• Colonial Park Cemetery
• Leopold’s Ice Cream
• Kayak Kafe

After a full day of travel to reach the southern city the day before, we enjoyed a quiet morning watching the sun rise from our room at The Olde Harbour Inn. then wandered up a sleepy River Street. We kicked off the day with the 10:30 a.m. Free Savannah Walking Tour and spent the rest of the day exploring Savannah’s beautiful and much-lauded historic district.

Free Savannah Walking Tours proved the perfect way to kick off our three days in town. Not only did the tour provided us with valuable context to appreciate the city, our guide also lead us to restaurants and sites we would have otherwise overlooked. The tours really are free . . . except the sales tax they collect when you sign up.

The Forsyth Park Fountain is a true Savannah landmark and a must-see in the large park. Savannah is known for its beautiful green spaces, including 25 lush city squares.

Even though it was a little chilly and overcast, eating outside under turquoise umbrellas at The Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park is a quintessential Savannah activity.

 Eat: Since the walking tour ends right at Forsyth Park, we took some obligatory photos at the fountain (and I was unwittingly roped into documenting an engagement!) then headed off to brunch at The Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park. Is it the best brunch in town? It’s hard to say considering the absolute plethora of brunch spots in Savannah. However, we enjoyed our meal and the peaceful park setting.

Leopold’s Ice Cream has been a Savannah institution for more than 100 year, but visitors often decry the ice cream parlor’s long lines. Here’s a pro tip: try visiting in the late afternoon. We found no lines when we swung by at 4:30 p.m. If you visit during more normal ice cream eating hours, expect a line out the door and down the block.

After logging more than a couple miles in Savannah’s historic downtown, we settled into the Olde Harbor Inn lounge for their nightly wine reception. We loved sipping wine and nibbling cheese while watching boat traffic on the river below.

We opted for a plant-forward dinner. Kayak Kafe on Broughton Street delivered with salads the size of our heads.

Waypoints:  Our walking tour took us down Bull Street from Johnson Square to Forsyth Park. Along the way, we passed many important Savannah landmarks including Savannah City Hall, Tomochichi’s Grave, the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low (founder of the Girls Scouts of America), Mercer-Williams House, Congregation Mickve Israel, Forrest Gump’s park bench, and much more.

After lunch, we felt lucky to find Green-Meldrim House – which General Sherman used as his headquarters during the Civil War – open. After a lackluster tour, we felt less lucky. Don’t be heartbroken if Green-Meldrim House is shuttered during your visit. There are better house tours and ways to learn about the Civil War in Savannah.

While Green-Meldrim House isn’t worth going inside, the nearby Savannah Cathedral definitely is! I think the Cathedral, with its twin spires, is the prettiest building in Savannah. Be sure to chat with the friendly docents.

Although not as well known as Savannah’s larger Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah’s Colonial Park Cemetery is centrally located in downtown Savannah. Although Savannah’s said to be the most haunted city in America, I felt pretty safe wandering through this old burial ground . . .   in the comfort of full daylight . . . .  

Green-Meldrim House has a beautiful exterior, but isn’t my first choice for a Savannah historic house tour. Keep reading to learn my recommendation for Savannah’s best historic house tour.

Many Revolutionary War soldiers are buried in Savannah’s Colonial Park Cemetery. The cemetery closed in 1853, but was used by Union soldiers for an encampment during General Sherman’s time in Savannah. 

Day Two: River Street, Shopping, and More

• Café M
• Rainbow Row
• Owens-Thomas House
• The Public Kitchen and Bar
• Jones Street
• Broughton Street
• River Street
• Vinnie Van Gogo’s
• Trolley Tour through Old Savannah Tours

We still had plenty left on our Savannah to-do list, so we devoted another day to Savannah’s historic district and riverfront. After a full day of sightseeing the day before, we branched out into a little shopping as well. Don’t worry, we also found plenty of delicious things to eat.

Eat: You’ll find a ton of French influence around Savannah. We loved soaking up the Parisian vibes at Café M. Located on the top floor of a converted River Street warehouse, Café M overlooks the cobblestones of Factors Walk and is a picturesque breakfast or brunch spot.

For lunch, we popped over to The Public at the corner of Bull and Liberty Streets to enjoy the best shrimp and grits in Savannah.

Vinnie Van Gogo is generally considered the best pizza place in downtown Savannah. Our pepperoni pizza lived up to the hype.

At Café M, a Parisian style cafe off of River Street, you can enjoy your meal on one of the cast-iron sky walks of Factors Walk. Often lauded as one of the most picturesque spots in Savannah, these walkways connected downtown Savannah with the River Street warehouses.

Waypoints: In a city offering historic house tours on seemingly every block, I’d heard that Owens-Thomas House was the house tour to take in Savannah. We arrived right at opening and spent about 90 minutes exploring the Regency-era mansion, outbuildings, and gardens, guided by an audio tour on our phones.

We spent the afternoon checking out some of Savannah’s many boutique shops, starting with Asher + Rye. On Broughton, we hit up the Savannah Bee Company and Paris Market. We continued down to the cobblestones of River Street where we visited the Savannah Christmas Market, River Street Sweets, and Simply Savannah gift shop.

Other stops included Rainbow Row on Bryan Street and a stroll down what’s said to be the prettiest street in Savannah – Jones Street.We ate our pizza dinner outside on benches in the beautifully lit City Market.

After dinner, we joined a Holiday Lights and Sights Trolley Tour through Old Savannah Tours. Savannah isn’t much of a Christmas city and with very few significant light displays or holiday decorations, the tour struggled to fill two hours. We did go inside a rather sparsely decorated Davenport House, where we got a brief tour and crash course in pre-Victorian Christmas traditions.

Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters

The property is praised for showing living conditions of both the house’s wealthy owners and its enslaved people. Since it’s actively being restored, the house and grounds aren’t as meticulously manicured as other historic Savannah homes such as Mercer-Williams House.

Jones Street is said to be the prettiest street in Savannah. Do you agree? I think many other cobblestone streets in Savannah’s historic district gives Jones some stiff competition.

Day Three: Day Trip to Fort McAllister

• Mirabelle
• Fort McAllister State Park
• City Market
• The Olde Pink House

After two full days in Savannah’s historic district, you’ll probably start feeling a little stir-crazy.

Happily, Savannah has no shortage of day trip options. Whether you choose to go to nearby Wormsloe State Historic Site and Bonaventure Cemetery or venture a little further afield to Tybee Island or Fort McAllister, I definitely recommend getting out of the city limits on your third day in Savannah.

Eat: We started the day at the almost too charming Mirabelle. This coffee shop is known for its Belgian-style liege waffles . . . and their chocolate bar selection. I’ve yet to meet a waffle I didn’t like so I was extremely pleased with this stop. My Café Miel? Also amazing.

If you hate cute, curated coffee shops, then I guess you could skip Mirabelle, but for me, it’s a 10/10 Savannah must. Seriously, check it out!

We enjoyed a lovely charcuterie board at the Café at City Market. Paired with their peach sangria, it was the perfect way to tide us over until dinner.

The Olde Pink House is one of Savannah’s best-known restaurants. Reservations notoriously book up weeks in advance. We loved the setting inside an 18th century house, but it wasn’t the best meal we ate in Savannah. With so many excellent Savannah dining options, don’t get bent out of shape if you can’t snag a table at the Olde Pink House. 

After our return to the city, we had time to finish our shopping, including stops at Salacia, Savannah’s Candy Kitchen, and Byrd’s Cookies in the City Market.

On a boardwalk at Fort McAllister. This earthworks Confederate fort fell to the Union in 1864.

Best Savannah Day Trips

Almost every Savannah itinerary I read before our trip highly recommended heading to nearby Tybee Island for a day trip. But if you’re not big on “beach,” there are plenty of other excellent day trips in the greater Savannah area.

Here’s a quick round-up of your best Savannah day trip options:

Fort McAllister State Park

We obviously chose this one. Located a 45 minute drive south of Savannah, I’d budget at least 1.5 hours for this stop, although between the inside exhibits, outside walking tour, and gift shop, we spent two hours here. This Savannah day trip will appeal most to those interested in American Civil War historic sites.

Wormsloe State Historic Site

If you’re visiting Savannah without a car, Wormsloe State Historic Site is definitely your easiest day trip option. Located just 9 miles outside of downtown, you can grab a taxi or ride-share to this former plantation known for its picturesque Spanish-moss draped grounds. On the way back into the city, you could check out the popular Bonaventure Cemetery and grab lunch at The Wyld Dock Bar. There are also a lot of Savannah-based tours that hit these two spots.

Hilton Head, SC

Head north out of Savannah across the striking Talmadge Memorial Bridge and you’ll be in South Carolina. In just 45 minutes, you can reach Hilton Head.  With beaches, golf courses, museums, a wildlife refuge, and more, you could easily fill more than a day on this large island.

Tybee Island

Of course, there’s no reason not to spend a day on Tybee Island while you’re in Savannah. Located 18 miles east of Savannah, this is a great option if you’re looking to soak up some Atlantic beach town vibes.  While you’re in the area, you can also visit Fort Pulaski, a 19th century fortification that saw action in the American Civil War. 

Jekyll Island

As someone who drives an hour (one-way) to get groceries, I realize my capacity for driving is higher than most, but at just a 90-minute drive south of Savannah, I think Jekyll Island still qualifies as viable day trip. A long-time tourist destination, you won’t struggle to fill your day on Jekyll. Popular activities include a water park, biking, wildlife viewing, and beaches.

South Carolina and a day trip to Hilton Head await you on the other side of the Talmadge Memorial Bridge pictured here from Savannah’s River Street. 

Other Savannah Activity Ideas

While I think 3 days in Savannah is the perfect length visit, there were plenty of sites and activities that didn’t fit in our itinerary.

The next time I’m in Savannah, I definitely want to check out:

• Treylor Park
• A rooftop bar, any rooftop bar. I’ve heard great things about Peregrin. We actually swung by the highly recommend rooftop bar, Rocks on the Roof, off River Street one evening and it was simply too noisy for us.
• Riverboat cruise
• Afternoon tea at Mansion on Forsyth Park
• Fort Pulaski
• Savannah Seafood Shack
• The Pirate’s House (We had a reservation here for the night we arrived, but minor flight delays caused us to miss it.)
• Moon River Brewing Company
• Vic’s On the River
• Zunzi’s
• Possibly another historic house tour. Maybe Mercer-Williams?
• Wormsloe State Historic Site 
• Bonaventure Cemetery

Other fun Savannah GA activities to consider:

Essential Savannah Travel Information To Plan Your Visit

How much time should you spend in Savannah?

If you’re looking to visit Savannah as part of a Southern East Coast road trip, you can definitely see the very best of Savannah in a single day. But as the “hostess city of South,” Savannah would really prefer if you stayed a while.

In my personal opinion, 3 days in Savannah is the perfect amount of time. Since Savannah is notoriously hard to get to (more on that below . . .) I highly recommend going the long weekend route for a first-time Savannah visit. Our 3 Day Savannah itinerary (three days/four nights) worked perfectly for us.

That said, if you’re just sticking to parts of Savannah you can easily explore without a car (aka the historic district and River Street) you can easily “do” Savannah in two full days. I’m a “go go go” kind of traveler and to be brutally honest, I was pretty bored with downtown Savannah by day three. I really think a day trip on your third day in Savannah is an absolute must.

However, if you’re coming to Savannah to *gasp* actually relax, I think five days would be the perfect amount of time. There are more than enough great restaurants and attractions to fill several days in Savannah if you go about things at a leisurely pace.

I also think you could create a great weeklong getaway by dovetailing travels to both Savannah and Hilton Head or Jekyll Island.

How To Get To Savannah GA

Here’s a little secret: Savannah’s not easy to get to.

And if the most famous book set in Savannah -John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – is to be believed, folks from Savannah like it that way.

No matter where you’re traveling from to Savannah, you can almost always count on a full travel day to reach the city and at least two flights. Cities with daily nonstop flights to Savannah include New York, Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Miami.

Flying into Savannah

We opt to fly into Savannah. Since our journey started at Duluth MN’s tiny airport, we had two connections: first in Minneapolis and then in Atlanta. Throw in some travel delays in Atlanta and this trip took us more than 12 hours! (Happily things went much smoother on our return.) Apparently there is a weekly direct flight to Savannah from Minneapolis.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is served by all major airlines including American, Delta, Suncountry, and United. The airport is actually one of the top rated domestic airports in the United States!

Drivetimes to Savannah

Charleston to Savannah: 2 hours
Jacksonville, FL to Savannah: 2 hours
Columbia, SC to Savannah: 3 hours
Atlanta to Savannah: 4 hours

Savannah’s 25 (depending on how you count) city squares are so ubiquitous that they’re not worth mentioning on this itinerary because there’s no way you can miss them. However, they’re sure to be highlight of your time in Savannah. 

Savannah Visitor FAQS

When should I visit Savannah?

The weather is almost always pleasant in Savannah, so you can have a nice visit any time of year.

According to the employee we spoke with at Fort McAllister State Park, tourists prefer to visit Savannah in spring or autumn. Just know that if you visit in the autumn, you do run the risk of hitting hurricane weather if you’re particularly unlucky.

Summer can be pretty sweltering in Savannah: think humid with highs in the 90s. On the flipside, you’ll find the coldest temps (and consequently the lowest hotel prices) in December, January, and February. Although the average winter high is in the low 60s, we definitely had a very summery day of 80 degrees and sun during our December visit.

Do I need a car in Savannah?

If you just want to explore the historic downtown and River Street, no. Savannah is a notoriously walkable city. There is a free shuttle bus, the DOT, that runs about every 10 minutes on a loop through the historic district. We never hopped on because every place we wanted to see was always an easy walk away.

However, to hit up favorite “further afield” Savannah attractions like Bonaventure Cemetery, Tybee Island, Wormsloe Historic Site, or Fort McAllister, you’ll need a car. If you’re just planning one day of adventure outside of Savannah’s city limits, it might be the most cost effective to get a taxi or ride-share rather than renting (and parking) a car for your entire stay.

Is Savannah safe?

Yes, Savannah’s a charming southern belle of a city. But that doesn’t mean you should throw common sense out the window during your visit. Statistically, Savannah’s more dangerous than its much larger neighbor, Atlanta. In recent years, there’s been a marked uptick in shootings, assaults, and other violent crimes. The area where tourists are most likely to run into safety issues are late at night on the west end of River Street and City Market.

Since our idea of a good night’s fun was watching the latest episode of Great British Bake-Off in our suite, we felt extremely safe. But if you’re someone who might be out and about when bars close, you need to practice good situational awareness. Erin over at Savannah’s First-Timer Guide does a great job of keeping an up-to-date crime map.  It’s worth taking a look at this map before your visit to familiarize yourself with possible problem areas.

Is Savannah or Charleston better?

Having been to both southern cities, I can honestly tell you that the two cities are so similar that it’s almost impossible to rank them against each other. They’re both beautiful old Lowcountry cities with complex histories, historic homes, and cobblestone streets.

Pros for Charleston:

• Older
• Not a planned city (feels less manufactured than Savannah)
• Much better waterfront

Pros for Savannah:

• More green spaces
• Very walkable (thanks to being a planned city)
• Lots of tours and attractions

While this might just be because I’ve spent more time in Savannah than Charleston, my hunch is that you’ll find more to do in Savannah than Charleston. For a long weekend trip, I’d probably lean towards Savannah. You’ve got great day trip options and you can’t beat the city’s walkability.

That said, Charleston felt a little livelier and less pretentious to me. The “bless your heart” vibe was strong in Savannah and this northerner is NOT a fan of that.

Where to Stay in Savannah, GA

We can’t say enough good things about our stay at the Olde Harbour Inn on the east end of River Street. Located in an old warehouse, this boutique hotel offers standard hotel rooms as well as suites. We stayed in a two-bedroom suite and absolutely loved it.

I also think we would have enjoyed one of the many B&Bs located in the historic downtown. The hotel company that manages Olde Harbour Inn, Historic Inns of Savannah, has five other properties in this area,