There are some destinations where you need an itinerary to keep you busy. Savannah, Georgia, isn’t one of them.
In Savannah, the streets themselves are part of the experience. Historic buildings line the sidewalks, Spanish moss hangs from massive live oaks, and beautiful public squares seem to appear around every corner. Add in legendary ghost stories, fascinating history, shopping, incredible food and plenty of places to enjoy a cocktail, and it is easy to understand why Savannah is such a popular getaway.
During a recent media trip, I had the opportunity to experience many different sides of the city—from riding a trolley through the Historic District and exploring its famous squares to taking a food tour, learning about Prohibition and venturing out after dark for ghost stories.
Here are some of the highlights from my Savannah visit.
Where I Stayed: Hotel Orielle
My home base was Hotel Orielle, located along Savannah’s historic riverfront.
The hotel puts you in an ideal location for exploring downtown Savannah. River Street is right outside, and many of the city’s major attractions, restaurants and shopping areas are within walking distance or a short trolley ride away.
I especially enjoyed being able to step outside the hotel and immediately find myself surrounded by the sights and sounds of Savannah’s riverfront.
Hotelle Orielle
(Kaitlin Sells)
The hotel is also home to two of the dining experiences I enjoyed during my visit: Coastal 15 Fish House and Rocks on the Roof.
Rocks on the Roof is the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and bar, making it a particularly appealing place to end a day of sightseeing. The elevated setting provides views over the city and Savannah River, while the atmosphere takes on a livelier feel as the evening progresses.
My room at Hotel Orielle was every bit as comfortable as it was beautiful. The décor had an eclectic, artistic feel that made the room feel much more personal and interesting than a typical hotel room, with unique details and furnishings that reflected Savannah’s creative personality.
Hotel Orielle Room
(Alexandra Nolan)
The bed was wonderfully comfortable, making it an inviting place to relax after a full day of exploring the city. But the real highlight was the view. Looking out over the Savannah River gave the room an entirely different sense of place. Watching the river, boats and changing light from my window was a peaceful way to start and end each day.
For me, it was one of those places that reminded me that sometimes the hotel itself can be part of the destination.
See Savannah From a Trolley
One of the easiest ways to get acquainted with Savannah is from a trolley. I took the Old Town Trolley tour, which gave me an overview of the Historic District while allowing me to get off and explore some areas on foot.
The narrated tour is particularly useful on a first visit because you get historical background and stories about the landmarks you’re seeing rather than simply passing them by.
Old Savannah Distillery Tasting
(Alexandra Nolan)
I also experienced a liquor tasting at the Savannah Trolley Tour’s main pickup location. Jeff shared some of Old Savannah Distillery’s best creations. It added another distinctly Savannah experience to the sightseeing portion of the trip.
The trolley was a great introduction to the city—and after getting an overview, I had a much better sense of which areas I wanted to explore more closely.
Savannah’s 22 Historic Squares
One of the things that makes Savannah so distinctive is its collection of historic squares.
The city was originally designed around these public green spaces, and the squares became gathering places surrounded by homes, churches and businesses. Today, they remain some of the most beautiful places to wander through the Historic District.
One Of Savannah’s Beautiful Squares
(Alexandra Nolan)
During my visit, I made a point of exploring Savannah’s famous squares.
Each has its own character, landscaping, monuments and surrounding architecture. Rather than rushing from one attraction to another, walking from square to square gives you a chance to experience Savannah at a slower pace.
It’s also one of the best ways to appreciate the city’s architecture and those enormous live oaks draped in Spanish moss. And, of course, they’re incredibly photogenic.
A Taste of Savannah With a Food Tour
Food was a major part of my Savannah experience, and the Savannah Taste Experience Tour with Joshua Greer gave me an opportunity to explore the city through its cuisine.
Secrets Food Tour with Joshua Greer
(Alexandra Nolan)
Food tours are one of my favorite ways to get to know a destination because they combine sightseeing with local flavors and stories. Instead of simply sitting down at one restaurant, the tour allowed me to experience different tastes while learning more about Savannah and its food culture.
For visitors who are coming to Savannah for the first time, a food tour can also be a useful way to discover restaurants and dishes you might otherwise overlook.
Shopping Broughton Street and City Market
Savannah is an easy city to explore on foot, and I spent time browsing the shops along Broughton Street. The street offers a mix of national retailers and local businesses, making it a good destination when you want to combine shopping with sightseeing.
Element Tree – Shop on Broughton
(Alexandra Nolan)
I also visited City Market, one of the city’s best-known gathering places.
Today, City Market is filled with restaurants, shops, galleries, and entertainment. It’s the kind of place where you can easily spend more time than you planned because there is always another shop or restaurant to check out.
City Market – Savannah
(Alexandra Nolan)
City Market was also convenient for other stops on my itinerary: the American Prohibition Museum and the Pirate Treasure Museum.
Discovering Savannah’s Pirate History
Located in the heart of City Market, the Pirates and Treasure Museum takes visitors into the Golden Age of Piracy, with exhibits featuring maritime artifacts, pirate lore, and the real-life stories behind some of history’s most notorious seafarers. Rather than simply walking through a traditional museum, visitors can explore the exhibits at their own pace, with interactive displays and hands-on elements that make the experience especially engaging.
I enjoyed seeing how the museum brought the history of piracy to life. There are displays featuring weapons, coins, navigational tools, and other artifacts associated with the era, along with stories about legendary pirates including Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Calico Jack. One of the interactive experiences even gives visitors the chance to try lifting a silver ingot.
The museum was a fun addition to my Savannah itinerary because it offered something completely different from the city’s historic squares, churches, and architecture. And if you’re looking for a little more adventure after exploring the exhibits, the experience ends at the Pirates’ Tavern, where visitors can enjoy a pirate-themed drink surrounded by nautical décor.
Stepping Into the Prohibition Era
The American Prohibition Museum offers a completely different look at American history.
Located in City Market, the museum explores the era of Prohibition, from the temperance movement and passage of the 18th Amendment to bootlegging, speakeasies, and the eventual repeal of Prohibition.
The exhibits are designed to be interactive rather than simply a collection of historical displays, which makes the experience particularly engaging. And because this is Savannah, the experience doesn’t end with history on display behind glass. The museum also incorporates the atmosphere of a period speakeasy.
It was a fun way to spend part of an afternoon and learn about a fascinating, and sometimes surprisingly entertaining, chapter in American history.
A Cocktail at Peacock Speakeasy
Speaking of speakeasies, I also enjoyed drinks at Peacock Speakeasy.
The intimate atmosphere was a nice change of pace after spending the day sightseeing. Savannah has no shortage of places to grab a drink, but a speakeasy-style setting adds a little mystery to the experience.
Peacock Speakeasy
(Alexandra NOlan)
It also fit perfectly with the Prohibition theme that ran through another part of my day.
A Walk Through Forsyth Park
Another Savannah must-see is Forsyth Park. The 30-acre park is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, with its famous fountain providing one of the classic Savannah photo opportunities.
Forsyth Park
(Alexandra Nolan)
But the park is worth visiting even if you aren’t interested in taking the obligatory fountain photo. Walking through Forsyth Park gives you another opportunity to see Savannah’s beautiful live oaks and experience the city away from the busier downtown streets.
It’s a good place to slow down, take a walk, and simply enjoy being in Savannah.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
One of the most beautiful stops on my trip was the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.
The Gothic Revival architecture is impressive from the outside, but stepping inside is where the experience really comes alive. The stained-glass windows, intricate artwork, and ornate details make the cathedral one of the city’s architectural highlights.
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
(Alexandra Nolan)
It is also a reminder that Savannah’s history isn’t limited to its famous squares and historic homes. Its religious and cultural history is an important part of the city’s identity.
Savannah After Dark: Ghosts & Gravestones
Savannah has a reputation for being one of America’s most haunted cities, so I couldn’t leave without experiencing its ghost stories for myself.
I joined the Ghosts & Gravestones Ghost Tour, which takes visitors through Savannah after dark while sharing stories of the city’s darker history. There is something about seeing Savannah at night that changes the atmosphere completely.
Ghosts & Gravestones
(Alexandra Nolan)
The same streets that look charming and peaceful during the day can feel decidedly different once the sun goes down. Historic buildings, cemeteries, and centuries-old stories provide plenty of material for a spooky evening.
Whether you’re a believer in ghosts or simply enjoy history with a little suspense, this was one of the more memorable experiences of my trip.
Where I Ate in Savannah
A big part of my Savannah experience was discovering the city’s restaurant scene. I had the opportunity to dine at several different restaurants, each offering a different perspective on Savannah’s food culture.
The Collins Quarter
I visited The Collins Quarter for dinner, a popular Savannah restaurant known for its Australian influence. The restaurant offers breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, making it a versatile stop depending on your itinerary. I enjoyed their charcuterie board and crab dip as an appetizer and the summer pasta for a main. The food was delicious!
The Collins Quarter Charcuterie Board
(Alexandra Nolan)Coastal 15 Fish House
Coastal 15 Fish House was especially convenient because it is located at Hotel Orielle, where I stayed.
The restaurant focuses on coastal cuisine with Southern influences, making seafood a natural centerpiece. I loved the Pan-Roasted Verlasso Salmon there.
Coastal 15 Fish House Entree
(Alexandra Nolan)
Its riverfront setting is also part of the appeal. After a day of exploring Savannah, being able to sit down for dinner without having to leave the hotel was a welcome convenience.
Rocks on the Roof
For a completely different atmosphere and a drink at sunset, I headed upstairs to Rocks on the Roof at Hotel Orielle. I recommend ordering the Orielle Cocktail.
Rocks on the Roof
(Alexandra Nolan)
The rooftop setting makes this a destination in its own right. With views over Savannah and the river, it’s the kind of place where you can linger over dinner or drinks while watching the city below.
Vic’s on the River
I also dined at Vic’s on the River, located in a historic building near the Savannah River. The restaurant combines Southern cuisine with a setting steeped in Savannah history.
This was my seafood stop. The fresh oysters pulled right off the riverbank in Savannah, paired with a lobster tail, were probably my favorite meal in the city.
Vic’s on the River
(Alexandra Nolan)
One of the things I enjoyed about dining in Savannah was that the setting was often almost as memorable as the meal. At Vic’s, the historic surroundings added another layer to the experience.
The Grove
The Grove in City Market was another stop on my Savannah dining itinerary. The restaurant has a rooftop setting overlooking the surrounding historic district, making it a fun place to take a break while exploring City Market.
The Grove
(Alexandra Nolan)
The bacon-wrapped shrimp and Caesar salad were the perfect lunch pairing after a morning of exploring.
The Grove is particularly well suited for visitors who want to combine sightseeing with a leisurely meal or drinks without straying far from the heart of downtown.
Why Savannah Makes a Great Getaway
After spending several days exploring Savannah, what stood out to me most was how much the city manages to pack into a relatively walkable area.
Savannah doesn’t require you to choose between history and modern travel experiences. You can spend the morning exploring historic squares and admiring architecture, have lunch at a local restaurant, shop along Broughton Street, learn about Prohibition and pirates in the afternoon, and then hear ghost stories after dark.
For me, the best part of Savannah wasn’t any single attraction. It was the way all of these experiences fit together, the food, the history, the architecture, the squares, the riverfront, the shopping and even the ghost stories.
Savannah has a personality all its own. And if you give yourself enough time to wander, you’ll probably discover that some of the best moments aren’t on your itinerary at all.
Dining and Cooking