Savannah in 1 Day: all you need to know

The beautiful city of Savannah is very quiet and a real wonder to visit without haste and to stop in. You'll be surprised by its Victorian and French architecture and its welcoming squares. In this 1-day tour I suggest you get to know its streets, some of its emblematic buildings and a sample of its gastronomy.

The ideal thing to do in Savannah is to spend at least one night there, as it's a city where you can get lost in it without rushing, it's ideal for strolling around and offers many nooks and crannies. But if you only have one day, I'm going to give you some tips on how to make the most of everything this city has to offer.

I suggest you start your day in Savannah day on River Street, then walk to the historic centre to visit some points that I'll tell you about below and return at sunset where I recommend a few places for dinner.

River Street is one of the arteries of the city and one of the most beautiful areas to walk along. It's a street that runs alongside the water, so you get great views all the time and you can watch the boat rides and cruises or even sign up for one. This is the city' s lively promenade with restaurants, terraces and souvenir shops. Soon after you start walking along River Street you'll notice the many sweet shops, some very different from the ones you're familiar with. Pop into one of the many shops and treat yourself.

This promenade has played a crucial role in the city's history as a key tourist attraction and shopping area. An area to visit along with Savannah's historic district.

One thing I would definitely recommend, especially if you have one day to get to know the city, is to take a guided tour on a tourist bus. This way you won't get tired and you'll have a good knowledge of the city. After the tour you will also have time to go to a good restaurant, do some shopping or walk wherever you like.

However, if you decide to do it on foot, here is an itinerary for 1 day in Savannah and ideas that you can easily fit into your route. Getting around the city is very easy so it won't be hard to change one idea for another.

After strolling along the riverside, it's time to head through the city centre to Harris Street. On the way, pass Broughton St, home to Savannah's most famous ice cream parlour - you'll probably fancy it! The temperature is warm all year round, as it's quite far south. Even in summer it can be very humid, but pleasant the rest of the year, so pack your suitcase accordingly.

Now that you are on the inner streets, you must visit one of the most spectacular attractions in Savanna: the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. This Gothic cathedral dates back to the 1800s and was begun by the congregation of St John the Baptist, founded by French immigrants. Both its exterior and its colourful and welcoming interior will surprise you.

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is located in the historic district. It is noted for its mansions, colonial architecture, beautiful squares and much more, it is a pleasure to walk around. This city is considered one of the most beautiful in the United States and seems to be frozen in time, very well preserved and cared for. This is partly because it was not destroyed during the civil war.

The good thing is that it is an ideal city to walk around, as its appeal lies in its architecture and streets. However, if you only have one day, my recommendation is to book a guided tour of the city centre. You will be able to see the most beautiful parts of the city without getting tired and you will still have plenty of time to walk around where you like the most.

This square is located next to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist - stop by! In the centre of the square you will see a beautiful green fountain. This fountain commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the city of Savannah. The square was built in 1873 in honour of the Marquis de Lafayette. It is one of 22 squares in the city.

Stroll among its oak and magnolia trees and discover the other sculptures inside. If it is hot, you will appreciate the shade of its trees and you will also be able to appreciate the Spanish moss. This is the characteristic autochthonous moss that hangs from the trees, which gives them a magical touch and which you can often see on the city's trees.

Also, since you only have one day in Savannah, check out these guided tours to make the most of the day and see more.

Very close to the cathedral is the Colonial Park Cemetery. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in the area, dating back to 1750. Here you can see a memorial to the victims of yellow fever and there is a curious story: during the civil war, soldiers camped in the cemetery and some of them, for fun, scribbled things on the tombstones, including some to confuse readers with the dates. Have a look and see if you can find any! If, on the other hand, you like mysterious stories, Savannah has plenty of them in its many mansions and cemeteries.

Just an 8 minute walk from the cemetery, the next stop I suggest is one of Savannah's 22 squares, Whitefield Square. You'll fall in love with the gazebo in the centre, which is super romantic. Take the opportunity to rest for a while on one of its benches while you look at its greenery and flowers. Visiting Savannah's squares is a favourite pastime for locals and tourists alike, who often make a point of visiting all 22. On this trip you probably won't be able to, but you'll be able to see a few and get the idea easily.

Leaving Whitefield Square you are very close to Forsyth park. As you can see, green is one of the colours of this city. What is there to see in this park? Here you have one of the most representative images of Savannah: a walkway of oak trees forming an arch over your head. Actually, this image, which you've probably seen in photos, belongs to the Wormsloe Historic Site, but you can see a smaller scale one in this square. By the way, Wormsloe Historic Site is one of the city's must-see sights, but this fits better if you spend at least 2 days in Savannah or more, as it is further away from the city centre.

Back to Forsyth Park, where you'll see one of Savannah's most photographed fountains and several monuments inside. Occasionally you can catch some live music. It's a park to relax and enjoy the city like a local.

Continue your walk to 1921 Bull St and you'll come across a beautiful house that you can't miss in your photo collection. This is Gingerbread House, a beautiful house that was built in 1899. It is an example of Stemboat Gothic architecture, a rural American style based on ornamentation that you can see in other buildings in the historic district. Today it is reserved for events. You'll be amazed!

The Owens-Thomas House is now a house museum in the historic district. It was built in 1879 with English aesthetics and period furnishings. Here you can see where the slaves used to live. There are also some interesting superstition stories.

In the museum you can see the great contrast of the decorative objects of the period and on the other hand the harsh history of slavery in the area. The gardens are well preserved and well worth a visit. It is only possible to enter by guided tour, but it is still worth a visit from the outside.

If you've bought a ticket to the Owens-Thomas House, take the opportunity to enter the Telfair Academy, as it serves the same ticket and is only a 10 minute walk away. This historic mansion from 1819 now houses 3 buildings with over 6300 works of art showing the origins and evolution of the city and its upper class inhabitants. In one hour you will have visited it, if you have the time to do it, don't miss it.

You may have seen pictures of Savannah and thought that the city might ring a bell. Well, it's because scenes from the famous Forrest Gump movie were filmed here. In particular, Chipewa Square is where the scene of him sitting on the bench waiting for the bus was filmed - you can go and have your photo taken on the bench!

If you want to complete the scene, finding some chocolates in Savannah is easy. As you've seen, there are plenty of candy shops around town, such as Savannah's Candy Kitchen, just an 11-minute walk away, which has every kind of candy imaginable. Aside from Forrest Gump, this is also the location of The Last Song (2010), Something to Talk About (1995) and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997).

After wandering through the beautiful streets of the historic district, I suggest you come full circle and head back to the River Street area, thinking it's a good place for dinner. One stop you shouldn't miss on your stroll along River Street isRiver Street Market Place, a traditional market in the city where you can browse and buy local crafts and produce.

Pick up some local hot sauce to spice up your meal. Check out the jewellery and costume jewellery. You'll see some designs based on the architectural details of the area - don't miss out! It's ideal if you want to have a bite to eat or a snack and to buy some souvenirs of the city.

On the same walk, you will come to the Waving Girl Statue, which is very close by. This statue was made in memory of a woman who lived nearby and spent 44 years waving her handkerchief from the harbour to departing ships.

This street runs parallel to Rivers Street, between River and Bay Streets and is considered by some to be a hidden gem, even though it is so central. You'll be amazed by its split-level construction, iron bridges and cobblestones. It's a curious street because you can walk along it at any height. Some parts of it even seem a bit haunted or mysterious. As you walk along it, pay attention to the details, you will see some hidden gargoyles or small statues.

On this street you will find some of the cotton warehouses, a key industry in the past, as well as several interesting cafes and shops. On the upper level you have an important visit, you will see the Savannah Cotton Exchange Building, a beautiful building steeped in history.

This 1887 building was key to the cotton trade at the time, with Savannah being the main import and export market and practically the engine of its economy. It was also known as King Cotton's Palace. Today it is closed, but don't leave without taking a photo of its imposing red façade with green details and the lion statue that guards it. You'll be amazed by the spectacular architecture.

Southern food specialties to try in Savannah include fried chicken, barbecue, ribs, sweet potato dishes, local seafood and African-American influenced dishes with ingredients such as plantains, corn and rice. As you've already seen, River Street is full of restaurants where you can try these dishes and more.

If you'd like a particular recommendation, I'd suggest the Olde Pink House restaurant which serves southern food with a modern twist accompanied by live music. Whether you choose to eat there or not, you'll love the exterior, a large pink colonial mansion.

Another option for gourmet food with a Southern flair is Chive Sea Bar & Lounge, in the historic district, which plays with classic and contemporary.

If, on the other hand, you like to eat fried chicken wings with your hands, there are a variety of equally authentic places to go. One example is Lizzy's Burger Bar & Grill where you'll get a taste of authentic Southern food.

Another great ingredient of Savannah's southern food, largely because of its location, is seafood. You'll find it in many restaurants. I suggest this fast-casual one: Savannah Seafood Shack. Prawns are the protagonists, combined in different dishes and forms.

Would you like to try more? A fun way to get to know the food in the city is through a guided food tour.

That's the end of my recommendations for a day of sightseeing in Savannah. This is my suggested itinerary for a day in Savannah, this beautiful city in the state of Georgia. As you can see, it's a very walkable city and nothing is really very far away, so these activities I propose are quite interchangeable in their order. Besides walking, getting around Savannah is very easy by bus, ferry, tram and even Uber.

If you want to know more about the city or plan to spend more time in the city in the future and want to know more facts and activities, here is a more extensive list of things to see and do in Savannah. This city has so much more to offer!