Things to Know Before Visiting Savannah
It’s haunted.
Savannah is known to be one of the most haunted cities in the US! Behind its beauty, there is a lot of dark history. If you are looking for goosebumps, spooky stories, afterlife and the possibility of meeting one of Savannah's ghosts, I recommend a ghost tour and staying at one of the most haunted hotels while here.
You can walk around with alcoholic beverages.
Open container laws are in the Historic District and are for clear plastic cups only. Most bars will provide you with a to-go cup. Want one of Savannah’s customized aluminum cups? Made from 100% recycled materials, these aluminum collectible cups are reusable, created by local artists and make for a great souvenir.
Carry your licence.
If you plan to drink alcohol, have your license with you at all times. Most establishments are required to card, no matter your age. No license, they may not serve you.
Walking to River Street- Look for the Stone Stairs of Death! 33 steep and narrow steps that will get your adrenaline pumping! If they are a little too much to handle - there are many other stairs, ramps and ways down to River Street. Once down on River Street, stick around and watch the cargo ships come through!
Savannah's Rainbow Row: It's small (not like Charleston), but still a fun little street to stroll down for some picture opportunities. Located right off of Washington Square.
Make reservations way ahead of time.
Heads up, some of the best known restaurants can be very hard to get into. Some have reservations booked out weeks and months in advance. However, if you're a last minute planner - don't worry! Savannah has MANY amazing restaurants to choose from and many you don’t need a reservation for.
The cobblestone and cracks make for a hard time walking in heels.
Your best bet for shoes is something comfortable, or at least, a chunky heel.
Spanish Moss: While the Spanish Moss is beautiful, don’t touch it! It is filled with chiggers also known as Spanish Moss lice and will cause itchy red bumps that I am sure you do not want while on your trip!!
Movies and Landmarks: Savannah has had numerous films filmed here. My two recommendations to watch before visiting, Forest Gump & Midnight In the Garden of Good & Evil. *See if you can spot the Landmarks while here!
Books to Read Before Visiting: Midnight In the Garden of Good & Evil, Surviving Savannah, & Waving Backwards.
Grab yourself Savannah Monopoly: Why not enjoy this beautiful city in a board game? Play before your visit & see if you can spot some iconic landmarks while you are here! Find game here.
Things to Know
before visiting Savannah
Winter, another favorite because of the Christmas lights and festivities! Think romantic, magical, Hallmark movie! The weather, in my opinion, is perfect. 60s-70s with lows sometimes being in the 40s. You may even still see Fall foliage but most importantly, you will always see the beautiful mossy trees! This is my favorite time to do any outdoor walking tours! Winter time isn’t super busy, except for around the holidays.
Spring is one of the most popular seasons for tourism. Everything begins blooming and morphing back into life. The azaleas being one of them, and are picture perfect. Along with the weather warming back up. The only downside to Spring, it’s a lot busier, the pollen can be unbearable and the crowd in March can get a bit rowdy thanks to Savannah's huge St. Patrick's Day celebration!
Best Season
to visit Savannah
This city is beautiful ALL year round. But there are definitely many pros and cons when it comes to each season.
Summertime is hot, humid, sticky and oftentimes, rainy. The bugs are at their peak and it is typically more crowded. But summertime is also the perfect time to hit up museums, or head to Tybee.
Fall is by far my most favorite time to visit. Typically it doesn’t start until October and even then, the humidity and heat still linger. But it's, spooky season. And what is better than a spooky season in the most haunted city? And come November, the leaves start changing and the air turns more crisp. Surprisingly, Savannah is less crowded in the Fall. The only con, it’s also hurricane season until the end of November.
A Trolley Tour may be a fun experience on your first day.
A great way to get to know your surroundings and a bit of history right off the bat! My favorite part about the trolley tours, they are hop on and hop off. They typically come every 15-20 minutes. Sitting through the entire trolley ride without getting off, takes about an hour and a half. Book your trolley tour tickets in advance, here or here.
I highly suggest walking, instead of driving around the city.
There are so many beautiful streets and once you learn the layout, it is pretty easy to navigate by foot.
During the humid months don’t forget these few things.
Bug spray, suntan lotion, a sun umbrella or hat, plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Don't be afraid to talk to the locals.
We are happy to have you in our city, we love giving advice and tips and enjoy being able to say hello and meet new people from all over! And if you see me, absolutely say hello!
Be aware of the one way streets if you are driving.
There are plenty of road signs to give you a heads up, but it is just something to stay mindful of. Sometimes roads may be closed due to filming, construction, or events. You can check here.
Additional things to know
before visiting Savannah
Know the basic boundaries of the Historic District.
You will want to spend the day walking, trust me, but you will also want to know your boundaries of where to walk: River Street/The Savannah River is your North Boundary, MLK is your West Boundary, E. Broad Street is your East Boundary and Gwinnett Street is your South Boundary, it cuts right through the middle of Forsyth Park. There are a few exceptions South of the park, less than a 2-4 minute walk, to check out: Bull Street Tacos, Foxy Loxy, E.Shaver Bookstore- just to name a few
Savannah is set up like a grid, hence all the squares.
If you are looking for one of the most prettiest and relaxing walks from River Street to Forsyth Park, you will want to cut through Bull Street. You will pass by some of the most beautiful squares, including Chippewa Square and Monterey Square. You will find that River Street/Plant River District and Broughton Street are the most popular tourist locations. But as you venture South towards Forsyth Park, you will get more of a quiet, local feel.
Are you flying into Savannah instead of driving?
You will want to book a flight into Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport! It’s fairly small and pretty easy to navigate! 🗺️400 Airways Avenue Savannah, GA 31408
But for the most part, they are all either walkable or a very short shuttle/Uber ride. Here are the districts I recommend visiting while here:
Historic District- this will be your main hub for your visit. This is where most stay while visiting Savannah. You won’t need a car to get to and from all the things to do. It is filled with history and many beautiful squares all around. Here you will find the major landmarks like, the beautiful Jones Street, River Street, Broughton Street (for all you shoppers!), and City Market.
Starland District- The famous artsy section of Savannah. Known for its beautiful murals and up beat places to hang out, eat, drink & shop. If you are seeking a local vibe, Starland district is where it’s at.
Plant River District- This is located along the riverfront but is one of the newer sections to come to Savannah. There is a lot to do here, from the coolest rooftop bars, to live music, entertainment, and the JW Hotel, a must visit while here.
Savannah has a few districts where you can stay & visit.
Parking
in Savannah
Street parking can be picked through, (however, street parking on Sundays is FREE). My personal preference is a parking garage, where it will be kept safe off the street, especially for longer term parking. There are ample amounts of parking garages, so you should not have trouble finding somewhere to park your car. Find more information about rates, hours, & a helpful map here. Here are some recommendations:
Liberty Street Parking Garage * Kimberli’s recommendation: Couple blocks up, but it is more quiet and when you are leaving, you have quick access to the highway.* 🗺️ 301 W. Liberty Street
Robinson Parking Garage *Kimberli’s 2nd recommendation: This is straight off 16 and is perfectly located behind Broughton, making for a short walking distance to all the main hot spots.* 🗺️ 132 Montgomery Street
Bryan Street Garage: Located between Bay and Bryan Street. 🗺️ 100 E Bryan Street
State Street Parking Garage: Located at the intersection of Abercorn & State Street. 🗺️ 100 E State Street
Whitaker Street Parking Garage: Located between Bay Lane and Bryan Street. 🗺️ 7 Whitaker Street
If you would rather park on the street- here is a map of parking meters, the times they are accessible and the fees! *Reminder, street parking on Sundays is FREE.
Sometimes, your feet just need a break from walking. Here are some other fun ways to get around and still enjoy all that Savannah has to offer.
Getting around Savannah.
Cruise around in style on a mint green Moke.
A Moke is an electric low speed vehicle, perfect for sightseeing & snapping all the pictures along the way. Seats four. Rent for half or full days. Also available for special events. Get more info & book your Moke ride here!
Rent a bike.
Check out Savannah on Wheels for rental info and bike tours.
DOT. Free shuttle service.
Head here for pricing, hours and where the shuttle will pick you up & drop you off!
Hop on one of the amazing & popular Pedicabs!
You will spot them all over Savannah! So flag one down or book with them now!
Zoom around on a Segway, with a friendly tour guide!
Check out all the tours offered here.
Trolley Rides.
They are hop on/hop off. If you decide to get off and walk around, you can catch the next trolley (make sure you know where their stop is), jump back on and head to another beautiful landmark. They typically come every 15-20 minutes. Sitting through the entire trolley ride without getting off, takes about an hour and a half. Be sure to book your trolley tour tickets in advance!
Uber
getting around savannah
- Memorial Health University Medical Center- Emergency Care Available 24-7. If you leave from River Street/Broughton Street it is about 6 miles and a 13 minute drive. 🗺️4700 Waters Ave
- St. Joseph’s Hospital- ER is 24 hours. Leaving from River Street/Broughton Street it is about 13 miles and a 21 minute drive. 🗺️11705 Mercy Boulevard
- AppleCare Urgent Care Bull Street. Leaving from Broughton Street it is 1.7 miles and about a 9 minute drive.
- Savannah Veterinary Emergency Clinic- Open 24 hours. Leaving from Broughton it is about 8 miles and a 16 minute drive. 🗺️335 Stephenson Avenue
Sick or hurt?
Medical help in Savannah
Savannah seems to have it all? Doesn’t it? Charm, beauty, history, delicious food & yes, even, SPORTS! So if you have a family of sports lovers, check out these few options!
The Savannah Bananas.
Baseball, but with a twist! Their team is filled with talented college players who not only love to play baseball, but also, entertain. And it isn’t just any old ordinary entertainment. Have you ever seen someone on stilts play baseball? Have you ever seen an umpire stop mid play to dance? What about a senior citizen dance team called the Banana Nanas? Anything is possible when you catch a Bananas game. This past year, they started touring to other cities, so keep your eyes peeled (no pun intended) for if and when they come to a stadium near you. But there is nothing better than catching them at their home base at Grayson Stadium.
If you know a Bananas game is something you want to experience, I suggest jumping on tickets as soon as you can. They can be almost impossible to get!
Also, you can catch their show Bananaland streaming on ESPN!
🗺️ 1401 E Victory Drive
Savannah Ghost Pirates.
Yes, Savannah's very own ice hockey team. You can catch their games at the Enmarket Arena. So check out their schedule and see if they have a home game, during your visit! It’s a fun time for all, and a game you won’t want to miss! Their season is October through April.
🗺️620 Stiles Ave
Sports
In Savannah
Sometimes, vacationing in Savannah is for an extra special reason, outside of just to get away. Whether you are looking to propose, capture family moments, celebrate an anniversary or you are on a special girls trip, there is nothing like having a photo shoot and professional pictures taken. Here are some local photographers I suggest reaching out to! They book out fast, be sure to reach out way in advance to get yourself on the books for your trip!
By Bonnie Photography*
Mackenzie Schaeffer Photography
Amanda Mills
Cassia Espindola
Looking for a photographer for your trip?
photographers
