Plan Your Savannah Trip
Two city days, then one day out. The trick is leaving enough air between the reservations.
Written by Alex H., Travel editor and researcherUpdated September 2026
Day one follows the squares to Forsyth Park. Day two takes the trolley to the river. Day three leaves town for Fort Pulaski and Tybee—or for Bonaventure and Wormsloe if the beach has no vote.
You do not need a car for the first two. Walk, use the free DOT and take the free ferry. Wheels become useful only when the city grid ends.
Day one: let Bull Street do the work
8 a.m. Breakfast at B. Matthews. 9 a.m. Start at the river and walk Bull Street through Johnson, Wright, Chippewa, Madison and Monterey squares. The route is only a mile; the point is stopping.
11 a.m. Join the Mrs. Wilkes line on a weekday, or use Crystal Beer Parlor as the walk-in alternative. 1:30 p.m. Take the Owens-Thomas tour you reserved first. Afterward, use the Telfair pass at the Academy or choose coffee over another gallery. 4:30 p.m. Finish at Forsyth Park.
Evening. Book dinner, then a ghost tour. The option that enters a historic house is Ghosts and Gravestones Tour with Low House Entry (from $43 · 80 minutes · ★4.3 (1,349)).
Day two: orientation, then water
9 a.m. Ride one full loop of Old Town Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour (from $46 · 1 day · ★4.7 (1,872)), then use the stops. 11 a.m. Take the public elevator down to River Street and ride the free ferry across and back. Check CAT alerts for the open landings. 12:30 p.m. Eat near the bluff.
2:30 p.m. Board Riverboat Narrated Harbor Sightseeing Cruise (from $42 · 1.5 hours · ★4.3 (1,324)). Later, walk back through City Market and Ellis Square. Finish with oysters or the dinner you reserved at The Grey.
Day three: pick your direction
Coast: leave at 8:30, spend two hours at Fort Pulaski from its 9 a.m. opening, then continue to Tybee. The lighthouse and marine center share the North Beach area and both close Tuesday. Pay for a full parking day if you are staying; keep the downtown evening loose.
Cemetery and ruins: give Bonaventure 90 minutes with the city map, then drive southeast to Wormsloe. Without a car, Bonaventure Cemetery & Wormsloe State Historic Site Tour (from $74 · 6 hours · ★4.8 (286)) joins both.
The day-of-the-week traps
Telfair closes Monday. The Tybee lighthouse, marine center and SCAD museum close Tuesday. Mrs. Wilkes is weekdays only. Settle Monday and Tuesday before booking around them.
The bookings that set the schedule
These three reservations most often decide the order of a day; the museum reservation above is made directly with Telfair.
- Check availability →
Old Town Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour
★ 4.7 (1,872 reviews) · 1 day · from $46
Anchors the first trolley loop on day two; your ticket time decides when the overview happens.
See the catalog breakdown - Check availability →
Tybee Island Dolphin Tour
★ 4.7 (381 reviews) · 5.5 hours · from $80
Turns the coast into a set appointment; the listing includes transport from Savannah, lunch and the dolphin cruise.
See the catalog breakdown - Check availability →
Bonaventure Cemetery & Wormsloe State Historic Site Tour
★ 4.8 (286 reviews) · 6 hours · from $74
Covers Bonaventure and Wormsloe in one day without a car.
See the catalog breakdown
Catalog prices and ratings can move. Checkout shows the final terms. These links may earn the site a commission at no extra cost to you.
What three days cost
| Item | Cost | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| The squares, Forsyth Park, River Street, Bonaventure Cemetery | Free | City pages, September 1, 2026 |
| DOT shuttle and Belles Ferry | Free | Chatham Area Transit |
| Telfair pass (three museums, seven days) | $30 adult | Telfair Museums |
| Fort Pulaski | $10 age 16+, cashless, seven days | National Park Service |
| Wormsloe | $12 plus tax adult | Georgia State Parks |
| Tybee lighthouse; Marine Science Center | $14; $15 adult | Each site's own page |
| Tybee parking | $4 per hour or $25 day pass | City of Tybee Island |
| City garage downtown | $14–24 daily maximum; $25 on event days | City of Savannah |
| Hotel valet | $43–60 per night at hotels that publish a rate | Hotel FAQ pages; see the hotel guide |
| Hotel taxes and state fee | About 15% plus $5 per night | City of Savannah and Georgia DOR |
| Mrs. Wilkes lunch | $35 fixed, $17.50 age 12 and under | Mrs. Wilkes |
| Airport bus (CAT Route 3) | $1.50 one way, $3 day pass, exact change | Chatham Area Transit |
Tours are priced live on this site: the trolley, the riverboat and the evening tour named above show their current catalog prices inline, and the tour catalog lists the rest.
From the airport
Rideshare picks up at the north baggage-claim entrance; taxis wait below; rental counters are in baggage claim. CAT Route 3 is the $1.50 local bus, not an express, and takes about 36 minutes on the weekday schedule. With a group and luggage, buy the convenient ride. With a backpack and time, keep the fare.
Without a car
The DOT and ferry are free; commercial trolleys are paid tours. Check CAT for current hours and landings, and use the parking guide if you brought a car. The useful compromise is a car-free stay plus a one-day rental.
Weather by month
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 61°F | 40°F | 3.3 in |
| February | 65°F | 43°F | 2.8 in |
| March | 71°F | 49°F | 3.5 in |
| April | 78°F | 55°F | 3.4 in |
| May | 85°F | 63°F | 3.6 in |
| June | 90°F | 71°F | 6.7 in |
| July | 92°F | 74°F | 5.8 in |
| August | 91°F | 73°F | 5.5 in |
| September | 86°F | 69°F | 4.4 in |
| October | 79°F | 59°F | 3.7 in |
| November | 70°F | 48°F | 2.4 in |
| December | 64°F | 43°F | 3.2 in |
These NOAA normals are a pattern, not a forecast. October and April are mild; summer is hot and wet; September carries the peak hurricane risk. The timing guide has rain days, events and closures.
When the city is full
March 17, the Savannah Music Festival and SCAD's late-October film festival are the pressure points. On a busy Tybee weekend, US-80 and the island's limited parking become part of the event.
Six decisions that make the schedule hold
Book in the right order
Owens-Thomas first, then the dinner, then a trolley or boat. The free sights can flex around them.
Airport: pay for convenience
Rideshare and taxis are simple. The $1.50 public bus takes about 36 minutes and suits a light traveler with time.
Downtown: walk, DOT, ferry
All three cover the first two days. River Street is below Bay Street; use the public elevators if the cobbles are not welcome.
Pack for odd payment rules
Mrs. Wilkes takes cash or check; Fort Pulaski takes cards, not cash; the airport bus needs exact change; Tybee parking is digital.
The room is the expensive sight
Most outdoor attractions are free. Hotel tax, valet and amenity fees are where the budget quietly changes shape.
Do not chain Tybee to dinner
US-80 is the only road off the island. Keep the evening flexible, especially on a busy weekend.
Before you start filling boxes
How many days is enough?
Two full days for the city and a third for the coast or outlying sites. A fourth day should make the trip slower, not fuller.
What is the best month?
October, with April as the spring alternative. Summer is hot and wet; March 17 is the year's busiest date.
Is Savannah expensive?
The sights are mostly cheap or free. Lodging tax, parking and hotel fees do the damage.
What should a first-time visitor do?
Walk the squares, reserve Owens-Thomas, choose one memorable meal and evening tour, then give the coast its own day.
How do I get downtown from the airport?
Rideshare and taxis take about 20 minutes. CAT Route 3 costs $1.50 exact change and takes roughly 36 minutes on the weekday schedule.
Do I need a car?
Not downtown. Rent for Tybee, Fort Pulaski, Wormsloe or self-guided Bonaventure—or book transport for the outlying day.
What should I reserve?
Owens-Thomas first, then the dinner you care about, then the trolley or riverboat. Mrs. Wilkes is a line, not a reservation.
Can I do Fort Pulaski and Tybee in one day?
Yes. Visit the fort at opening, then continue on the same road to North Beach. Avoid a rigid downtown dinner afterward.
Can I see Bonaventure and Wormsloe without a car?
Yes, on a transport-included tour. Otherwise they are separate drives east and southeast of downtown.
What closes Monday or Tuesday?
Telfair closes Monday. The Tybee lighthouse, marine center and SCAD museum close Tuesday. Restaurant days vary; check before scheduling.
How does the DOT work?
It is a free two-loop shuttle serving 18 Historic District stops. Check CAT for current hours and holiday closures.
When is the city busiest?
Around March 17, during the Savannah Music Festival and around SCAD's late-October film festival.
My booking order
Reserve the Owens-Thomas House time first, then the dinner you care about, then the trolley or riverboat. Fit the free squares and parks around those. Keep the Tybee day away from any nonrefundable evening booking, because US-80 decides when you get back.
Primary sources
Checked September 1, 2026. Schedules, fees and policies can change, so recheck a linked source when the detail will affect your visit.
- Savannah/Hilton Head International: surrounding areas — 10 miles to the Historic District; 27 to Tybee
- Savannah/Hilton Head International ground transportation — rideshare, taxi and rental locations
- Chatham Area Transit Route 3 schedule (August 2026) — airport departures and fares
- Chatham Area Transit: DOT shuttle — free downtown loops
- Chatham Area Transit: Savannah Belles Ferry — free ferry hours
- City of Savannah parking garages — garage rates
- City of Savannah: local and state taxes — 8% hotel/motel tax
- Georgia Department of Revenue: state hotel-motel fee — $5 per night
- NOAA monthly normals, Savannah International Airport — 1991–2020 averages
- National Hurricane Center climatology — season dates and peak
- Telfair Museums hours and admission — $30 three-site pass; closed Monday
- Telfair Museums: Owens-Thomas House — timed visits
- Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room — weekday lunch rules
- National Park Service: Fort Pulaski fees — $10, cashless
- Tybee Island Light Station — hours, admission, closed Tuesday
- Tybee Island Marine Science Center — hours and admission
- City of Tybee Island parking services — rates and day pass
- City of Savannah: Bonaventure Cemetery — hours
- Georgia State Parks: Wormsloe — hours and admission
- Old Town Trolley Savannah — 90-minute loop, 16 stops
- Savannah's Waterfront: getting here — elevators to River Street
- Savannah Music Festival — 2027 dates
- Savannah Saint Patrick's Day Parade Committee — parade date
- Forsyth Farmers' Market — Saturdays 9–1
Now leave something out
Use the shortlist to choose, the hotel guide to price the stay, and the Tybee guide to settle day three. Then stop adding pins.
Disclosure: booking links go to GetYourGuide and may earn this site a commission at no extra cost to you. Commission never changes the rankings; see how Alex chooses.