So you have one day in Savannah, Georgia? Lucky you! Savannah holds a special place in my heart, even though I’ve only visited once. It was the city that opened my eyes to how diverse the U.S. can be.
Coming from Russia, the picture of America I had for the longest time was either the skyscrapers of New York or else the wilderness of Texas with its cowboys. To be fair, that’s what a lot of Hollywood movies look like. There aren’t too many blockbusters set in cities like Savannah, so pardon my ignorance.
To say my jaw dropped the first time I walked the streets of Savannah is an understatement. What was this garden of Eden? The squares! The oak trees! The Spanish moss! And on top of all that beauty you get to eat grits for breakfast, fried chicken for lunch, and she-crab soup for dinner. Not to mention pralines all day long. Oh and don’t get me started on the Southern accent! A song, a character, a whole mood.
Spending even one day in Savannah is bound to make you fall in love. Is it enough to cover it all? Of course not. But since the historic center is quite compact, you can see many attractions and eat lots of delicious Southern foods even with just 24 hours in Savannah. Above all, you’ll feel the vibe of the city as soon as you step outside. That, I promise.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you buy something by clicking the link I will earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you.
If I had only 24 hours in Savannah, I’d start early. You don’t have to. But then again you only have one day — shall we make the most of it?
Goose Feathers is a cafe and a bakery that makes all their pastries and breads from scratch. They have been around since 1986 and are a staple of the city’s culinary scene. Located in the historic center, it’s a great place to start your one day in Savannah as early as 7.30 am. Am I the only person to think this is totally reasonable? Then again I have 2 little kids. If a breakfast cafe opens at 10 am I am baffled cos by 10 I have lived 3 lives and it’s basically lunch time.
I highly recommend trying Bird’s Nest if you want a Southern specialty with a twist. Two poached eggs are served on a bed of grits and covered with a thick layer of grated Vermont cheddar.
Tip: Lunch is going to be heavy and pretty early (as early as 11.15 am) so I recommend having a light breakfast at Goose Feathers, just to keep you going until midday. A coffee and a pastry or sharing a plate is a good idea.
Goose Feathers Cafe & Bakery — 39 Barnard St
Start at Ellis Square, located just outside of Goose Feathers Cafe.
One of Savannah’s defining features are the famous squares, block-sized green spaces scattered around the historic district. Savannah was laid out in 1733 around 4 open squares. Another 20 squares were added later, in the 18th and 19th centuries. 22 survived to present day.
Goose Feathers is located right by Ellis Square, so you can start your walk there. Ellis Square was one of the 4 original squares designed by general James Oglethorpe and one of the 3 squares that were lost due to urban development. Luckily, it was eventually restored.
Next, head to Telfair Square, another one of the 4 original squares designed in 1733. It was first named St. James Square, but renamed later after Edward Telfair, a governor of Georgia.
Next stop on your walk is Orleans Square, named in honor of the heroes of the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.
Chippewa Square was named to commemorate the Battle of Chippewa in the War of 1812. But it’s most famous because it was the filming location of Forrest Gump. The scene where Tom Hanks’ character is sitting on a bench waiting for the bus was filmed here. The original bench is sadly not there anymore, but this shouldn’t prevent you from finding a different bench and taking a photo nonetheless.
Next on your route is Madison Square which was added in the 19th century and is named after James Madison, the fourth president of the U.S.
Steps away from Madison Square is Jones Street, often named the prettiest street in Savannah and even one of the most charming in the whole of the U.S. This is quintessential Savannah: a street lined with oak trees, stunning historic mansions on both sides, and red-brick sidewalks. Take your time walking up and down the street. The next stop on our itinerary is actually right here.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is located on Jones Street, so you have already arrived.
I know lining up for lunch at 10 am sounds insane, but trust me, Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is not just a place to eat, it’s a whole experience. The restaurant opens its doors at 11 am, so the wait time is about one hour.
Once you are inside, you will be eating at one of the communal tables that are already set up with dozens of plates. It’s Southern cooking at its best: fried chicken, meat loaf, macaroni and cheese, butter beans, candied yams, and collard greens, to name a few. All you can eat at a fixed price.
The meal is shared with complete strangers which is slightly terrifying at first, but good food helps to break the ice.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is open Monday to Friday for lunch from 11 am to 2 pm. If you don’t get in right at the opening time, you can still have lunch at the second seating.
Tip: If your one day in Savannah happens to be during the weekend, when Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is closed, you can have brunch at Collins Quarter instead (more on it below).
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room — 107 W Jones St
A minute’s walk from Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
After lunch, stop by the Mercer Williams House, one of the most famous historic homes in Savannah. Gorgeous architecture is only part of the reason why this house is so popular. The darker page of its history is chronicled in the novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt.
I highly recommend reading this book before your trip to Savannah. Not only does it follow the story of Jim Williams, an antiques dealer and then-owner of the house, who was tried 4 times for a murder that occurred in 1981 right on its premises, but also offers an incredibly nuanced portrayal of the city and its residents. I gathered the best quotes about Savannah from this novel in this post.
It is common in Savannah to name historic homes after their most prominent residents. So now you know where the “Williams” part of the name comes from. Now, “Mercer” refers to Hugh W. Mercer, a Confederate general and the original owner of the house who commissioned it in the 1860s. Interestingly, he never actually lived in the house, having sold it after the Civil War.
You can only see the interiors on a guided tour which is only 35 minutes long and runs every 20 to 40 minutes.
Tip: Mercer Williams House is located right by Monterey Square which you can check out before or after the tour.
Mercer Williams House — 429 Bull St
A 7-minute walk from the Mercer Williams House
If you couldn’t have lunch at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, then brunch at Collins Quarter is a good idea. They have a location right near Forsyth park, the next stop on our itinerary. Not to mention, it’s one of the most popular cafes in the city and their Spiced Lavender Mocha has been recommended by every guide to Savannah imaginable. It’s their signature coffee made with Condor chocolate, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and obviously lavender. And it is really that good.
Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park — 621 Drayton St
Collins Quarter is located right by Forsyth Park so you have already arrived
Forsyth Park is a beautiful green space spanning 30 acres, named after Georgia’s governor John Forsyth. Just like the squares, the park is dotted with majestic oaks covered in Spanish moss, which make a mundane walk in the park truly magical.
Probably the most popular site at the park is the white cast-iron fountain built in 1858. It is easily the most photographed place in the whole city.
Update: The fountain is temporarily closed due to restoration works. It is supposed to be open again by fall 2025.
There are two playgrounds in the park for kids of different ages, in case you are traveling with family.
Lastly, if your one day in Savannah happens to be on a Saturday, you can visit the weekly farmers market. Getting edible souvenirs, like grits and spices, at the market was the highlight of my trip. The market is only open until 1pm, so you will have to rearrange your itinerary slightly to get to the park earlier.
Forsyth Farmers’ Market — 13 E Park Ave, Savannah
A 20-minute walk from Forsyth Fountain to Broughton St.
After a walk in Forsyth Park, we are going to head back towards the river where we started our day. I suggest you take a slightly different route to cover a few more squares. You can walk by Taylor square, Whitefield Square, Troup Square, Colombia Square and Oglethorpe Square on your way to Broughton St.
Broughton Street is a lively street lined with boutique shops, art galleries and restaurants. Here are some local shops that I loved and would highly recommend that you visit (in logical order)!
Byrd’s Famous Cookies is one of the oldest companies in Savannah that has been making bite-sized cookies since 1924. They come in all kinds of flavors like key lime, Georgia peach, and scotch oatmeal (probably the most popular one) and make for perfect souvenirs to bring home.
Byrd’s Famous Cookies — 102 E Broughton St
Savannah Bee Company offers a great range of local honey and products made of it, including raw honeycomb, whipped honey with flavors like cinnamon, lemon and chocolate, honey wine and honey hot sauce.
Savannah Bee Company — 104 W Broughton St
Chocolat By Adam Turoni is where you find artisan chocolate handcrafted right in Savannah. They boast the most unusual creations like Mexican Mayan truffles, bacon butter pecan toffee, and roasted fig and cognac truffles. They also have collaborated with Savannah Bee Company I mentioned above to create a 72% dark chocolate filled with pure raw wildflower honeycomb.
Chocolat By Adam Turoni — 323 W Broughton St
The next stop on our walk is The Salt Table (you are leaving Broughton Street), a boutique shop that specializes in all kinds of salts, salt mixes, and seasoning blends. Check their opening hours before heading there.
The Salt Table — 190 W Bryan St
Lastly, check out Savannah City Market, located between Franklin and Ellis Squares (you made a full round and returned to the spot where we started in the morning).
City Market is where you will find a great number of local businesses, including shops, restaurants, and art galleries.
Savannah City Market — 219 W Bryan St
A 5-minute walk from the Savannah City Market
River Street is a lively promenade running along the Savannah River. This is where you get beautiful views at sunset and can visit even more cafes and stores located inside brick warehouses.
They were built back in the 18th and 19th centuries when Savannah was one of the busiest ports in the U.S. The warehouses served as storage space for cotton, rice, and other exported goods. Eventually, the port was moved and the warehouses were turned into trendy bars, restaurants, and shops.
While here, stroll on the cobblestone promenade, watch ships pass by, and catch a performance by street artists. Taking a cruise down the Savannah River is also an option, for example, this sunset cruise.
An absolute must is stopping at the River Street Sweets for pralines (or else fudge, chocolate turtles, and salt water taffy).
River Street Sweets — 32 E Broughton St
A 10-minute walk from the waterfront
To be completely honest, I dined at Husk in Charleston (the pictures above are from there) and it was absolutely spectacular. The fried chicken was one of the best I’ve ever had. I haven’t been to Husk in Savannah, but I trust the team in Savannah does a great job too. They do modern Southern cuisine using predominately local ingredients, like oysters from Tybee Oyster Company and vegetables from Gannon Organics, a sustainable Savanah-based farm. Not to mention, they have stellar reviews online.
Husk Savannah — 12 W Oglethorpe Ave
If you still have energy to continue exploring, may I suggest taking a ghost tour at night? Savannah is considered one of the most haunted cities in America, and ghost tours are one of its most popular attractions.
The earliest tour starts at around 6 pm and the latest at 10 pm, meaning you can have your dinner without rushing. You can take this tour inspired by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil or this tour by trolley bus.
We spent 3 days in the city and I still felt like there was so much we didn’t cover. If you have more than one day in Savannah, pay a visit to the Bonaventure Cemetery, a hauntingly-beautiful burial ground that played a prominent role in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
By the way, the statue of the girl you see on the book’s cover was once at the Bonaventure Cemetery, but had to be moved to the Jepson Center in 1997 for protection after the book’s success.
The Wormsloe State Historic Site (or the Wormsloe Plantation), is located only 15 minutes away by car from Savannah. It is a former colonial estate of one of Georgia’s first settlers that has become one of Savannah’s most popular landmarks.
You come here to learn about the history of the American South, but also to witness the incredibly beautiful oak-lined avenue draped in Spanish moss that leads to the estate.
If you don’t have a car, taking this tour that covers both the Bonaventure Cemetery and the Wormsloe Plantation might be a good idea.
Wormsloe Plantation — 7601 Skidaway Road
Bonaventure Cemetery — 330 Bonaventure Rd
I write stories about food, travel, and my life as a mom of two boys. Home is Russia, but somehow also Sri Lanka and Hamburg, Germany. Go figure.
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