We recently took a quick trip to Savannah, GA and had a fantastic time! In preparation for the trip, I heavily researched where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in order to get the most out of our short visit. Today, I’m passing along all of my best tips to you. Be sure to watch the short video below to see some of the highlights!
Savannah Tour Day 1:
Lunch at Duck Diner & Shopping at City Market
We arrived in Savannah hungry so parked near City Market and stopped by the Little Duck Diner for a quick bite to eat before checking into our hotel. This restaurant came highly recommended on TikTok for its comfortable atmosphere and delicious food. The restaurant is light and bright with cozy booths reminiscent of brown leather, chesterfield couches. Cocktails are cute and served with a floating rubber duck! I ordered a chicken salad sandwich which was fresh and delish.
City Market is a small, open-air market filled with cute boutique shops, bars, restaurants, and art galleries. There are several yummy candy and pastry shops to browse if you’re craving a sweet treat!
Check-in at the Mansion on Forsyth Park
After lunch we toured the shops around City Market and then checked into our hotel, the Mansion on Forsyth, which is directly across from Forsyth Park. This pet-friendly, boutique hotel is a converted southern mansion located in Savannah’s historic district. We enjoyed several hotel amenities such as fruit-infused water, champagne and cookies at 5pm, the antique pool and courtyard, and the hotel bikes. Our room was spacious, lovely, and very comfortable. Decor is tasteful and met my standards.
Rumor has it that this hotel is haunted, but I didn’t sense anything dark or mysterious at all during our two night stay. The hotel is part of the Kessler Collection which includes the JW Marriott and the Bohemian Hotel. There is a complimentary shuttle between the three and you’re able to enjoy the free art exhibits at each. Be sure to check out the extensive antique hat collection in the hallway outside the ballroom at the Mansion and take the shuttle over to the JW Marriot to tour their impressive geology exhibits!
Relaxing in the Mansion’s courtyard in my cute and breezy $15 yellow floral sundress. Buy here!
Dinner at the Pirate’s House
Important Tip: Make your dinner reservations weeks to months in advance to secure your top restaurants! Our trip was taken last minute, and unfortunately I wasn’t able to secure reservations at a few of the restaurants I was hoping to try. The Pirate’s House came highly recommended for it’s reasonably priced entrees and rich, historical background. The atmosphere is very dark, with all espresso-stained floor to ceiling wood. The paper placemats contain a brief history of the house and are worth the read. I ordered the award winning Honey Pecan Fried Chicken and sampled the Blackberry Muscadine Wine. Portions were generous and everything was truly fantastic! This was one of the more reasonably priced dinner restaurants we visited.
Take in the History: Walk Through Savannah’s Squares and Graveyards
Savannah is an extremely walkable city! If it’s not too hot, take advantage of strolling back to your hotel by waking through all of the squares, historic districts, and graveyards. The houses are beautiful and best taken in on foot! If you’re familiar with Charleston’s Rainbow Row, Savannah has its own little Rainbow Row one block from River Street.
Standing in front of Savannah’s Rainbow Row in my $18 Pink Floral Crisscross Dress. Buy here!
The Hamilton Turner Inn caught my eye on our walk back to our hotel and for good reason! This gorgeous Southern Living recommended bed & breakfast is stunning inside and out. It passes my picky taste, and I hope to stay here on our next visit.
The iron gate, ivy-covered steps, and stunning topiaries are so welcoming!
Savannah Tour Day 2:
Bike-ride Through Forsyth Park & Historic Districts
As someone who adores Victorian and Italianate homes, when I visit Savannah and Charleston I want to take in as much of the architecture as possible! Bike riding around town is another fantastic way to visit areas you might not see as well on tours. Many of the hotels offer complimentary, or low-cost bike rentals, and there are also several bike rental companies available.
Biking around Forsyth Park in the early morning is delightful! I recommend stopping by the Fragrance Garden and taking in all of the sites and smells. Then head over to the fountain for the perfect photo opportunity!
The houses in the West Historic district were by far my favorites in Savannah, and the houses immediately facing the park are spectacular so bike slow! Here are a few for you!
Brunch at The Collins Quarter at Forsyth
Okay, even if you choose to ignore everything I’ve suggested to do in Savannah so far, this is the ONE thing I refuse to allow you to ignore! You simply must have brunch at The Collins Quarter. There are two locations so you have no excuses! I ordered the Crab Cake Benedict and and an Iced Spiced Lavender Mocha with Oat Milk that was heavenly. My husband ordered the Forsyth Breakfast and the Muesli and was incredibly pleased. We ate outdoors and despite the 90 degree weather we were comfortable and happy in the shade!
Take a Hop-on-Hop-Off Trolley Tour
There are several trolley tour companies in Savannah to choose from. We went with Old Savannah Tours which has pretty white trolleys. Our hotel concierge connected us with a nearby shuttle bus that took us straight to the trolley station. Your quality of tour will greatly depend on the quality of your tour guide. Ours was okay and did an adequate job of sharing some of Savannah’s history.
We chose to stay on the trolley during its entirety of the tour and only hopped off on the last stop. We then walked back to the attractions we wanted to see more of such as the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.
Eat Dinner at The Olde Pink House or Vic’s on the River
Remember to use the Open Table app to book your restaurant reservations well in advance! The Olde Pink House is a very popular restaurant known for its delicious Southern fare. The atmosphere and decor is beautiful and the cocktails are fantastic. Vic’s on the River offers a lovely view of the river and offers more delicious Southern cuisine options!
Standing on the steps of The Olde Pink House in my cute Amazon dress and heels! Buy here.
Grab an Ice Cream Cone at Leopold’s
Founded in 1919, Leopold’s has a rich history of serving refreshing, hand-dipped ice cream to the masses! We had the Savannah Socialite cone which was fantastic. There is always a line outside the shop but it’s worth the wait.
Take the Free Ferry over to the Westin Resort for Sunset Photos
A free ferry runs every 20 minutes over to the Westin Resort on the Savannah River. The ferry offers a gorgeous view of the city at sunset and you may even see a few dolphins during your trip. It’s a beautiful photo opportunity and the Westin’s grounds and dock are lovely.
Savannah Tour Day 3:
Spend the Day at Tybee Island North Beach
Tybee Island is a 25 minute drive from Savannah and well worth the trip! The North Beach of Tybee Island has coarser sand than South Beach but tends to be quieter and less populated. It is also home to the cute black and white striped lighthouse! We had a delightful morning on the beach swimming, looking for seashells, and relaxing. The parking lot is spacious and you do have to pay the meter for parking.
Grab Lunch at The Crab Shack
Known for its boiled seafood platters and lagoon-filled with baby alligators, The Crab Shack is the perfect way to end a delightful weekend in Savannah! The platters are plentiful. My husband and I easily split one with leftovers to spare. This restaurant is located on the water with beautiful views and a great breeze. The snow crab was cooked to absolute perfection and easily released from its shell. The shrimp were near impossible to peel which was a bit disappointing but didn’t ruin our overall experience!
I loved the rainbow row and the iron gate turner inn. Those were my favorites. Biking is often a great activity offered by such places and I love the idea to bike around. The ice cream was tempting. Loved your dresses and also the architecture colors used. The brunch looked good too. Great post. I’ll have these places in mind. Xx
Isa A. Blogger