Your Perfect 5-Day Savannah Itinerary, From the Historic District to Tybee Island
Savannah, Georgia, is one of those rare cities that feels made for couples who want to wander without a rigid plan. Cobblestone streets, Spanish moss dripping from live oaks, 22 grand historic squares and food that’ll ruin you for anywhere else — it has layers of history, ghost stories, art, architecture and hospitality that reward a longer stay.
Here’s how to spend five days doing it right.
Day 1: The Historic District and the Squares
Start at Johnson Square, the oldest and largest of Savannah’s 22 landmark squares, and walk the grid along Bull Street. Hit Chippewa Square — yes, the site of the Forrest Gump bench — and Madison Square for the architecture. Duck into the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist for a genuinely stunning interior (free entry).
For lunch, The Pirate House delivers pirate lore alongside a casual buffet of Southern staples. Spend the afternoon on River Street for shops and sweeping views of the Savannah River.
Now the highlight: make a dinner reservation at The Grey, where upscale dining meets a restored 1938 Greyhound terminal. It’s the kind of meal you’ll still be talking about on the drive home. Cap the night with a ghost tour — Savannah is widely considered one of the most haunted cities in the U.S., and an evening walk through its darker corners is genuinely fun as a couple.
Day 2: Forsyth Park, SCAD and the Victorian District
Walk Forsyth Park in the morning — 30 acres anchored by the iconic 1858 fountain, popular with locals on weekends. Then visit the SCAD Museum of Art, housed in the oldest surviving antebellum railroad depot in the country.
From there, explore the Victorian District on foot. Ornate painted houses and quieter streets give you a break from the tourist core. Grab lunch at Goose Feathers Café, then spend the afternoon browsing Broughton Street for local boutiques, vintage shops and Leopold’s Ice Cream, open since 1919.
Day 3: Bonaventure Cemetery and Tybee Island
Spend the morning at Bonaventure Cemetery — free to walk and open to the public, though you can also book a guided tour. Then head to Tybee Island, about a 30-minute drive, for a change of pace. It’s Savannah’s beach town — low-key and local.
Climb the Tybee Island Lighthouse, the oldest and tallest in Georgia, for panoramic coastal views, then swim or walk the shore. For dinner, stay on the island — The Deck Beach Bar or Fannie’s on the Beach both deliver casual seafood before you head back.
Day 4: History Deep Dive and Local Eats
Visit the Savannah History Museum and Battlefield Memorial Park, which both remember the lives lost in the Battle of Savannah, the second-bloodiest battle of the Revolutionary War. Then tour the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, one of the most candid historic house museums in the South, restructured to fully share the stories of both free and enslaved residents.
Walk the lesser-known squares — Calhoun, Whitefield, Columbia — for a quieter, more residential feel. And don’t miss Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room for lunch, a Savannah institution serving boarding-house-style Southern food since 1943. Expect a line — doors open at 11 a.m.
Day 5: Slow Morning or Active Ending
Sleep in. Grab coffee at The Sentient Bean, browse City Market and revisit a favorite square. Or, if you want one last adventure, paddleboard or kayak the salt marshes with a local outfitter — Savannah’s waterways are underrated and accessible.
What You Need to Know
The Historic District is entirely walkable. For Tybee Island (about 18 miles from downtown), rent a bike or use rideshare. The free dot shuttle loops through the Historic District too.
Visit March–May or October–November for the best weather. Summers are hot, humid and crowded. Stay downtown in the Historic District for walking access to most of this itinerary, or try an Airbnb in the Victorian District for a quieter, more residential feel.
One insider detail that makes Savannah unlike almost anywhere else: open container laws allow drinks to go in the Historic District. Pick up a 16-oz. plastic to-go cup and sip while you stroll the squares together. It sets the tone for the whole trip.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
