★ 4.8 (632)3 hoursfrom $97
Historic District Foodie Walking Tour
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Things to Do in Savannah
One walk, one interior, one evening and—if you have the time—one day on the coast.
Written by Alex H., Travel editor and researcherUpdated September 2026
In short: Walk the squares first. Reserve the Owens-Thomas House, give Bonaventure an unhurried hour or two, and put Fort Pulaski and Tybee on the same coast day. Two days covers the city; a third buys the beach.
Savannah rewards sequence more than ambition. Follow Bull Street through five squares, take a side trip for one museum or cemetery, and stop pretending every pin on the map belongs in the same afternoon.
My first paid choice is the Owens-Thomas House. My first free choices are the squares, Forsyth Park and the ferry. The car only earns its keep for Bonaventure, Wormsloe, Fort Pulaski or Tybee.
Savannah at a glance
- Free
- The squares, Forsyth Park, River Street, the Belles Ferry, the DOT shuttle, Bonaventure and Colonial Park cemeteries
- Telfair pass
- $30 for three museums over seven days; all three close Monday
- Fort Pulaski
- $10 age 16 and up, cashless; the fort closes at 4:30 p.m.
- Wormsloe
- $12 plus tax, shuttle included; closes at 4:45 p.m.
- Tybee parking
- $4 an hour or $25 a day; 17.5 miles out on US-80
- Facts checked
- September 1, 2026
The first-trip shortlist
A first trip picks one line through the squares, one interior, one evening and one day out. Here's each choice with what it costs and what catches people.
| Choice | What it is | Cost and time | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk the squares | Oglethorpe's 1733 ward plan; Bull Street passes five squares with a monument in each, from the 1830 Greene obelisk to the 1910 Oglethorpe statue | Free; half a day for one line plus stops | Brick, crossings and heat make it slower than the map suggests |
| Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters | An 1819 William Jay house toured with a guide, including the quarters of the people it enslaved; one of Telfair's three museums | $30 pass covers three sites for seven days; about an hour | Closed Monday; timed groups of 12; reserve online up to four weeks ahead |
| Forsyth Park | Thirty acres at the end of the squares, with the cast-iron fountain switched on in 1858 and a Saturday farmers' market | Free; 20–30 minutes for the fountain, an hour for the park | Tennis-court construction and events can close parts of it |
| River Street | The cotton warehouses below the bluff, turned into a waterfront in 1977, with the free Belles Ferry and the riverboat dock | Free to walk; the ferry is free; cruises and food cost extra | A level below Bay Street; two public elevators avoid the steps |
| Bonaventure Cemetery | A hundred acres of monuments on the Wilmington River, where John Muir camped in 1867 and Johnny Mercer is buried; the Bird Girl has moved to Telfair | Free, daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; one to two hours | Three miles east; bring the city map; you need a car, a ride or a tour |
| Chippewa Square and Colonial Park | The Forrest Gump square with Daniel Chester French's Oglethorpe, and the 1750–1853 burying ground where Button Gwinnett lies | Free; 15–25 minutes and 30–45 minutes | The film bench was a prop; the cemetery gate closes at 5 in winter and 8 in summer |
| Fort Pulaski | The 1847 brick fort that Union rifled cannon breached in 30 hours in April 1862; the shell scars are still in the wall | $10 age 16 and up, cashless; about two hours | Car needed; the fort closes at 4:30; on the road to Tybee |
| Wormsloe | A 1.5-mile avenue of oaks planted in the 1890s leading to the tabby ruins of Noble Jones's 1730s fortified house | $12 plus tax; 90 minutes to two hours, shuttle included | Car needed; closes at 4:45; dirt trails |
| Tybee Island | Three and a half miles of Atlantic beach with a 178-step lighthouse, a county pier and a strip of fish places | Parking $4 per hour or $25 a day; a full day | 17.5 miles out on US-80, the only road; traffic makes the drive time unpredictable |
Details checked September 1, 2026. Time allowances are planning ranges; meals, queues and events come on top.
If you want five names: the squares, Owens-Thomas, Forsyth Park, River Street and Bonaventure.
What kind of tour would help?
Choose by job first: orientation, history, food, ghosts or the coast.
Ghost tours
Walk, ride, investigate—or have a pint with the dead
Food and drink
Meals on foot, sweets, cocktails and dinner tables
Trolley tours
One clean overview, all-day stops or a comedy show
Boats and water
The working river, coastal dolphins and sunset decks
History tours
The squares, Black history, cemeteries and the Civil War
Browse every tour
The full catalog, compared by the job each trip does
A tour should solve something
Use the trolley for orientation, a walk for depth, a food tour for a meal and a ghost tour for the otherwise empty evening. Riverboats stay downtown; dolphin boats leave near Tybee. Pick the format before comparing ratings and price.
Three sensible starting points
Old Town Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour (from $46 · 1 day · ★4.7 (1,872)) for the overview, Highlights & Hidden Gems Guided Walking Tour (from $25 · 2 hours · ★4.8 (255)) for the squares on foot, and Tybee Island Dolphin Tour (from $80 · 5.5 hours · ★4.7 (381)) for the coast without a car.
Trolley or walking tour?
Choose the trolley if: you want the overview on the first morning, you're traveling with children or anyone who can't manage a mile of brick, or you want to use the stops as transport for the rest of the day.
Choose a walking tour if: you want depth on a short route, the squares themselves are the point, or you've already ridden the loop and want the stories behind the houses you passed.
Three bookings that turn the shortlist into a plan
One overview, one walk and one coast day. None includes admission at the places it passes.
- Check availability →
Old Town Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour
★ 4.7 (1,872 reviews) · 1 day · from $46
The first-day overview, with reboarding at 16 operator stops.
See the catalog breakdown - Check availability →
Highlights & Hidden Gems Guided Walking Tour
★ 4.8 (255 reviews) · 2 hours · from $25
A compact guided walk through the central squares for the stories behind the houses.
- Check availability →
Tybee Island Dolphin Tour
★ 4.7 (381 reviews) · 5.5 hours · from $80
The Tybee day without a car: the listing includes transport from Savannah, lunch and the dolphin cruise.
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.
Two useful indoor hours
Telfair Museums
The $30 pass covers the Owens-Thomas House, Telfair Academy and Jepson Center for seven days. Reserve Owens-Thomas; choose one art museum afterward.
Catch: all three close Monday. The Telfair guide compares them.
American Prohibition Museum
A theatrical hour upstairs in City Market, ending at a speakeasy. After dark, the bar reopens on its own schedule.
Best for: a rainy afternoon, the hour before dinner, adults-only evenings.
A very good zero-dollar day
The squares, park, river, ferry and cemeteries are free. Spend only when a ticket changes the experience.
Walk the squares
Bull Street crosses five of them between the river and Forsyth Park. Give the route half a day and let yourself wander.
Forsyth Park and the Saturday market
The fountain takes 20 minutes; the park deserves an hour. The farmers' market runs Saturday from 9 to 1.
River Street and the Belles Ferry
Walk the old warehouses, then ride the free ferry across the river and back. Ride it twice if you like.
The DOT shuttle
Chatham Area Transit runs it free through 18 stops in the Historic District. When your feet give out on the brick, this is the ride back.
Bonaventure Cemetery
Entry and parking are free, but it sits three miles east. Bring the city map and allow one to two hours.
Colonial Park Cemetery
A compact downtown cemetery two blocks from Bull Street. It works as part of a walk, not a separate expedition.
Chippewa Square
The movie bench was a prop and is gone. The square, with Daniel Chester French's Oglethorpe, is better than the photo hunt.
The Waving Girl
Walk to the statue after the ferry and you've covered the riverfront end to end.
Tybee is a day, not a detour
Tybee sits 17.5 miles out on one road, so traffic owns the schedule. Pair it with Fort Pulaski, which is on the way, and choose your beach area before hunting for parking. The Tybee guide times the day; the beach guide compares the shore.
Put the clock on the fort
Visit the fort first because it closes at 4:30 and the beach doesn't. A transport-included Tybee tour is the alternative if nobody wants to drive.
Read the city in four pieces
The grid is walkable, but grouping stops keeps you from crossing it twice.
Broughton Street to the river
Museums and shops up top; River Street, the ferry and the riverboat below the bluff.
Best for: Museums, the river, rainy afternoons
The Bull Street line
Five squares on the way south, with lunch rooms and house museums a few blocks to either side.
Best for: The walk, the squares, lunch
Forsyth Park and south
The natural end of the Bull Street walk, with the Victorian District beyond it.
Best for: The end of the walk, a Saturday morning
The drives
Bonaventure lies east, Wormsloe southeast, and Fort Pulaski and Tybee share US-80.
Best for: A third day, or the second if the beach is the point
Save one answer for the weather
Walk in the morning during summer and keep Telfair, the Prohibition Museum or the riverboat ready for an afternoon storm. After dark, choose a ghost walk, a dinner cruise or a dinner worth reserving.
With kids, make movement the attraction
The trolley, free ferry, Children's Art Museum and Fort Pulaski all beat another long room of labels. On the coast, add the lighthouse or marine science center. Adults have cocktail classes, pub crawls and sunset cruises; nobody needs the same itinerary.
The two-day shape
Day one runs down Bull Street to Forsyth, with Owens-Thomas at a reserved time and a ghost walk after dark. Day two belongs to the trolley, River Street, ferry and riverboat. If Tybee matters more, let it replace that second day; the trip planner supplies the clock.
The rule that keeps this pleasant
Don't cross the district for every new stop. Finish one area, take the free shuttle when your feet object, and leave room for a square you didn't plan.
Take the next decision
Historic District and squares
The 1733 plan, what stands in each square on the Bull Street walk, and the house museums.
Open guide →Museums and historic sites
Every main site by admission, time to allow and how to get there.
Open guide →Restaurants
Ten places with dishes and prices from their own menus, and how to get a table.
Open guide →Tours and activities
Every bookable tour, ranked by rating and review count.
Open guide →Tybee Island
The lighthouse, the pier, where to eat, parking and a timed beach day.
Open guide →Trip logistics
A three-day itinerary with times, what it costs, weather by month and the airport.
Open guide →Six things that make the trip easier
Book two things
Reserve the Owens-Thomas House and the dinner you care about. The squares, park, ferry and cemeteries need no booking.
Use the free rides
The DOT saves tired feet downtown; the ferry supplies the river view. You need wheels for Bonaventure, Wormsloe, Fort Pulaski and Tybee.
Pack for brick and weather
Wear real walking shoes, carry water in summer and keep an indoor stop ready for the afternoon storm.
Spend where it changes the day
Most of the city is free. Pay for one good interior, one useful tour and the coast if you want it.
Check the weekday
Telfair closes Monday and the Tybee lighthouse Tuesday. Mrs. Wilkes serves weekday lunch; the Forsyth market is Saturday morning.
Tip the person, not the bus
If a guide made the tour, tip them. The public DOT shuttle and ferry are simply free.
The quick version
What are the top five things to do in Savannah?
Walk the squares, tour the Owens-Thomas House, ride the ferry from River Street, visit Bonaventure and spend a day at Tybee with Fort Pulaski on the way.
What should I not miss in Savannah?
The squares. They are not scenery between attractions; they are the thing that makes Savannah different.
How do I spend two days in Savannah?
Use day one for Bull Street, Owens-Thomas, Forsyth Park and an evening tour. Use day two for the trolley, riverfront and ferry, or replace it with Tybee if the beach matters more.
What is the main attraction in Savannah?
The Historic District: roughly 525 acres of squares, museums and riverfront in one grid. The Owens-Thomas House is the best first interior.
What can I do in Savannah for free?
Walk the squares, Forsyth Park and River Street; ride the DOT and ferry; visit Bonaventure and Colonial Park Cemetery.
What is there to do in Savannah when it rains?
Keep Telfair or the Prohibition Museum for the afternoon. The narrated riverboat also sails in rain.
What is there to do in Savannah at night?
Take a ghost walk, book dinner, catch a dinner cruise or visit Congress Street Up. Adults can also choose a cocktail class or pub crawl.
Do I need a car in Savannah?
Not downtown. You need one, a ride or a tour for Bonaventure, Wormsloe, Fort Pulaski and Tybee.
What can children do in Savannah?
Try the trolley, Children's Art Museum and free ferry. On the coast, add the lighthouse, marine science center or Fort Pulaski.
Is Tybee Island worth a day?
Yes if you have a third day or care more about the beach than another city day. Pair it with Fort Pulaski and expect US-80 traffic.
Which tour should I book first?
The hop-on trolley if you want orientation. Otherwise book the format that solves a problem: walking for depth, food for a meal, or Tybee transport if you have no car.
How much do the main sights cost?
The central outdoor sights are free. Telfair is $30 for three museums, Fort Pulaski $10, Wormsloe $12 plus tax, and Tybee parking $4 an hour or $25 a day.
Bookable tours
Three more kinds of tour to compare
A food walk replaces a meal, the cart tour covers Bonaventure without the walking, and the narrated riverboat is the river option. Compare each against others of its kind before booking.
★ 4.9 (261)1 hourfrom $38
Bonaventure Cemetery Golf Cart Guided Tour
Check availability →Current terms shown at checkout
★ 4.3 (1,324)1.5 hoursfrom $42
Riverboat Narrated Harbor Sightseeing Cruise
Check availability →Free cancellation listed
Primary sources
Checked September 1, 2026. Schedules, fees and policies can change, so recheck a linked source when the detail will affect your visit.
- National Park Service: Savannah Historic District nomination — 1733 plan, 525 acres, 1966 listing
- New Georgia Encyclopedia: Savannah city plan — wards and squares; 22 remain
- City of Savannah: Forsyth fountain restoration — 1858 fountain
- Telfair Museums: hours and admission — $30 three-site pass; closed Monday
- Telfair Museums: Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters — 1819 house; timed visits
- City of Savannah: Bonaventure Cemetery — hours, free entry
- Telfair Museums: on the trail of the Bird Girl — the statue is at Telfair
- City of Savannah: Colonial Park Cemetery — 1750–1853; seasonal hours
- Georgia Historical Society marker: James Oglethorpe — the 1910 statue in Chippewa Square
- National Park Service: Fort Pulaski fees — $10, cashless
- National Park Service: The battle for Fort Pulaski — April 1862
- Georgia State Parks: Wormsloe — admission, hours, tabby ruin
- Tybee Island Light Station: visitor information — 178 steps; hours; closed Tuesday
- City of Tybee Island: parking services — $4 per hour
- Savannah's Waterfront: about — cotton warehouses; 1977 plaza
- Chatham Area Transit: Savannah Belles Ferry — free ferry
- Chatham Area Transit: DOT shuttle — free downtown shuttle
- Forsyth Farmers' Market — Saturdays 9–1
- American Prohibition Museum: Congress Street Up — speakeasy hours
- Tybee Island Marine Science Center — hours and admission
- Telfair Museums: Children's Art Museum — included in admission
- Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room — weekday lunch rules
- The Olde Pink House — reservations
Now put a clock around it
The attractions guide settles the ticket choices; the trip planner turns them into three sane days.
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.