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Savannah

Rife with elegant townhouses, antebellum mansions, green public squares, pristine tidal freshwater marshes and mammoth oak trees bedecked in moss, Savannah is a beautiful and culturally rich city.

Southern Eats

Savannah is known as the 'Hostess City of the South' – and a good hostess will stuff you to the gills with all things battered and fried before sending you on your merry way. This is a city where people come to indulge in decadent, traditional Southern and soul food, but top chefs are also reimagining things with a 'New South' cuisine, where classic themes and ingredients meet innovative preparations. With Savannah's proximity to the ocean, seafood features heavily on most menus, and good grub doesn't stop at Southern staples – fans of diverse international fare can find great options, too.

The Creative Coast

Dubbed the Creative Coast (with a local entrepreneurial organization of the same name), Savannah boasts a vibrant arts and design scene that's fueled not only by the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), one of the finest art schools in the country with students and faculty from far and wide; but also bolstered by the natives and transplants whose initiatives make the arts more inclusive and accessible. From superb museums and galleries in the Historic District to the Starland section between Midtown and the Victorian District catering to locally crafted pursuits, creativity is the lifeblood coursing through Savannah's artsy heart.

A Storied Past

As the first city and original capital of Georgia – the last of the 13 British colonies before the United States were formed in 1776 – Savannah's history is robust and replete with accounts to keep any buff wandering its streets, squares and haunts (many are known to actually be haunted) in pursuit of storied tales. There are historic buildings and monuments around every turn and tours for all tastes, shedding light on topics like the establishment of the city, Savannah's role in the transatlantic slave trade, the siege that became the second deadliest battle of the Revolutionary War – and that's just the beginning.

Ready for Revelry

Savannah knows how to have a good time – and we're not just talking the throngs of green-clad party-goers who descend upon the city for St Patrick's Day (Savannah's celebration is second only to New York City for the largest in the world). Though a modestly sized city, the nightlife turns up year-round. The watering holes are aplenty, from the tourist-frequented hubs along River St, south to the bumpin' dance clubs on Congress St, and to the locals' dives in the Victorian District. The best part? You can take boozy drinks 'to go' in plastic cups and saunter through downtown without dropping that buzz.

Must see in
Savannah

  • Forsyth Park

    This dazzling park – Savannah's most famous – is at once peaceful and serene, and abuzz with lively activity. A hub for social interaction with tourists and locals alike, choose to sit for a spell after a long wander through the Historic District and you're bound to strike up a conversation with friendly park-goers on a nearby bench around the iconic fountain. Pack a picnic, sprawl out on the luxurious lawn (just be mindful of the spiky, fallen 'treats' of the sweet gum trees), and while the day away.

  • Bonaventure Cemetery

    In East Savannah, along the banks of the Wilmington River, is one of the city's most unique and harrowingly beautiful cemeteries. Here you'll find interesting and sometimes unusual monuments, vaults and tombstones nestled among azalea and camellia shrubs. Spanish-moss-draped live oak, dogwood and magnolia trees incite a spooky sense of reverence – and add an extra element of Insta-worthy atmosphere. Johnny Mercer, Conrad Aiken and Savannah founders Noble Wimberly Jones and Edward Telfair are among the cemetery's notable permanent residents.

  • Telfair Museums

    Though you'll encounter art at every turn in Savannah, some of the world's finest displays are housed in the Telfair Museums. Discover marvelous works through the ages in three distinct buildings: Telfair Academy houses 19th- and 20th-century American and European art in its permanent collection; Owens-Thomas House has the family's furnishings and other historical objects dating from 1750 to 1830; and Jepson Center for the Arts hosts world-class traveling exhibitions and is home to the iconic bird girl statue featured on the cover of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

  • Wormsloe Historic Site

    Take a 20-minute drive from downtown Savannah to Wormsloe Historic Site and you'll feel as if you've been transported back in time. A passageway of 400 stately, Spanish-moss-laden oak trees leads visitors to one of Georgia's oldest plantations, the land of which has remained largely unchanged since the 1800s. Get a glimpse of how early settlers lived and worked on the grounds, where slave labor was used in the 1750s to cultivate 500 acres of crops that included corn, rice, indigo, cotton and mulberry trees to propagate silkworms.

  • First African Baptist Church

    Thought to be the oldest African American church in the United States, this National Historic Landmark played a pivotal role as a stop along the Underground Railroad, with its first congregation comprised of mostly enslaved individuals. In order to enter the church, slaves had to enter through a tunnel, the exact location of which and where it leads remains a mystery. Certain areas of the church feature holes in the ground, arranged in a pattern known as a 'Congolese Cosmogram,' which enabled airflow for the individuals hidden beneath the floorboards.

  • Cathedral of St John the Baptist

    The stunning, towering twin spires of this cathedral stand out among the Historic District's varied architectural facades, and its interior is equally sublime. Elaborate stained glass and soaring marble-like columns are a feast for the eyes, which stay busy studying the 34 exquisite murals that adorn the walls. Known as the 'Sistine of the South,' it's the Mother Church for the Roman Catholic Diocese in Savannah and the oldest Roman Catholic church in the state of Georgia.

  • Mercer-Williams House

    Made famous by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – or simply 'The Book' to Savannahians – this house is one of the city's most mysterious. It's been the scene of tragic crimes, some more well-known than others; pay a visit to hear about the complex lives of its eccentric residents and soak up the quintessentially Southern atmosphere in its exquisite environs. Take a tour to learn about the family and the history of it, but don't expect to hear much about 'The Book.'

Explore Savannah

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