18 Seriously Awesome Things To Do On Your First Trip To Savannah, Georgia
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1.Feel slightly spooked without disrupting your inner scaredy cat by taking a comedy ghost tour.
Hop on a party bus where a hysterical guide will have you ~die~ laughing about the ghouls that call Savannah home (especially with a drink in hand, which you stop for midway through the tour).
This was, and I am not exaggerating, one of the funnest tours I've ever been on.
Ticket cost: $30
2.AND/OR! Opt for a hearse ride ghost tour. You're seated in an ~open air~ convertible hearse and visit some of the most haunted spots in the city.
Warner Bros.
Ticket cost: $17+
3.Marvel at the genius that is Chocolat by Adam Turoni because they did what I once thought was impossible: They improved chocolate.
Each piece is thoughtfully crafted with unique ingredients that are far more luxurious than the [insert competitor brand bar] you stuff in pumpkin baskets on Halloween. Please look at the below PIECE OF CHOCOLATE that resembles Aslan from Narnia.
This was lightly dusted with an edible gold powder, was a rich dark chocolate, and had salty almonds. Other highlights include a mint and lemon truffle that was perfectly refreshing for a humid day.
Original location: 323 W Broughton St, Savannah, GA (find the two other Savannah locations here)
4.View the iconic bird girl from Midnight of the Garden of Good and Evil (moved here from Bonaventure Cemetery) at Telfair Academy, three levels of thought-provoking art housed in a converted historic mansion.
Address: 121 Barnard St. Savannah, GA 31401
5.Drool over stunning historic homes with Architectural Savannah, the ideal way to stroll through cobblestone streets and cram your noggin with fun facts.
Who regrets not studying architecture at SCAD now? Even though I barely passed high school geometry? Moi.
If you can't make it to Savannah but still want to read up on stunning historic real estate, stuff the Savannah Architectural Tours book into your shopping cart stat. It's cowritten by the wonderful tour leader, Jonathan Stalcup.
Ticket cost: $30
6.Say ~oui oui~ with every bite at Circa 1875 thanks to a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of, well, 1875. Buckle up for French cuisine that tastes delicious in a setting that doesn't feel pretentious.
Address: 48 Whitaker St, Savannah, GA 31401
7.Enter the American Prohibition Museum a boring vodka soda drinker (I'm guilty) and leave a spirits expert. How? By taking a cocktail class at the authentic speakeasy housed inside — you'll be pouring iconic Savannah bitters and concoctions in no time, all while learning city history along the way.
AnaMaria Glavan / BuzzFeed
The cost feels steep upfront, but you'll walk away with professional bartending tools, a step-by-step guide for making one shaken and one stirred drink, plus two extra cocktails crafted specifically for you by an expert bartender.
The highlight was learning how to brew a delicious (and dangerous) batch of Chatham Artillery Punch, a Savannah staple consisting of rum, whisky, brandy, champagne, lemon, and sugar.
Ticket cost: $66.07
8.For a rich slice of Savannah history, take an Old Town Trolley Tour.
I highly recommend this tour as it makes a ton of fun stops *and* familiarizes you with layout of the city.
Ticket cost: $20+
9.Dine in The Olde Pink House, a blessing for folks who love delicious cocktails and creative food, a curse for people already lusting over pastel homes they can’t afford.
Pecan crusted chicken, shrimp and grits sushi, scallops seared to perfection…if the decor isn’t enough to win you over, the food is proof of love at first bite.
Lunch reservations are a bit easier to come by (and walk-ins are welcome), but make dinner reservations way in advance! I overheard a couple saying they had to make their reservation a month prior.
Address: 23 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401
10.Stroll through Bonaventure Cemetery! Operating since the mid-1800s, this sprawling patch of 160 acres is dense with mossy trees and ornate tombs that evoke a rich slice of history.
Address: 330 Bonaventure Rd, Thunderbolt, GA 31404
11.Take a coffee-in-hand stroll through Forsyth Park.
Rows upon rows of mossy trees will have you googling “how to plant” before you even get to the piece de resistance of the 30-acre property, the iconic fountain.
Address: 2 W Gaston St, Savannah, GA 31401
12.Shop. Shop. Shop. Savannah is a celebration of local businesses and antique treasure troves, ignoring bigger chains in favor of small shops that span everything from trendy clothing and stationary boutiques to rows upon rows of vintage.
I cannot express how fun it is to shop in Savannah (this coming from someone who shops for a living and therefore the thrill has been gone for a while), but it was one of the highlights of my weekend.
Some spots you won't want to miss:
*Satchel (leather handbags and customizable goods)
*Olfactory Company (unique baubles and a section for creepy stuff)
*House of Strut (vintage clothing)
*Attic Antiques (tons of antique finds)
*Madame Chrysanthemum (floral design studio with art, stationary, and jewelry)
*Red Clover (clothing and accessories)
13.Grab a cocktails garnished with a rubber duck at — *shakes head in surprise at the name — Little Duck Diner.
I highly recommend the Lavender Bubble Bath Bellini, because it's not just for the Insta, folks — the drinks *taste* just as delightful as they look.
And the food is also very, very good! It's a classic diner menu, as the name would imply: burgers, fries, sandwiches, breakfast staples.
Address: 150 W Saint Julian Street, Savannah, GA 31401
14.Dedicate at least a half day to Tybee Island, located only 20 minutes from the heart of historic Savannah.
Grab a towel, soak up that UV, and stroll the boardwalk for a quick slice of summer. Too cold to swim? There's plenty of bars along the shore to keep you entertained.
15.Sleep at The Alida Hotel, where you'll be hit with luxury in the form of fresh-smelling (definitely expensive) candles.
The scent perfectly captures the essence of the hotel itself, a brightly lit property with oversized bay windows and decor best described as "put-together person designs their room."
You'll have access to a stunning pool (and pool bar), and you won't have to leave the hotel to grab delicious grub — the Rhett is located on the hotel ground floor and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails. Plus, they provide in-room dining.
Address: 412 Williamson St, Savannah, GA 31401
Rooms starting at: $190
16.Grab a scoop (or several) at Leopold's Ice Cream, an iconic institution founded in 1919.
Leopold's is known for their Tutti Frutti flavor (rum ice cream with candied fruit and fresh roasted Georgia pecans), which they've been serving since their opening in 1919.
17.Grab a drink(s) at one of many watering holes throughout Savannah. Alley Cat Lounge is awesome — their bar menu is categorized by moods and spirits, plus the expert bartenders are chock-full of recs.
Here's a fun, obvious fact — it's located in an alley! Please heed the advice of someone who spent 20 minutes searching for this bar without realizing that, oh yes, it isn't located on a main street. It's in an alley. Hence the name Alley Cat Lounge. Google Maps, you constantly fail me.
Address: 207 W Broughton Ln, Savannah, GA 31401
Other honorable "where to drink" mentions include Savoy Society, Peregrin Rooftop at The Perry Lane Hotel, Abe's on Lincoln, The Original Pinkie Masters, El-Rocko Lounge, and Bamboo Tiki Room.
18.Sit down for a cup of java at The Paris Market and eat a colorful macaron before roaming both levels to shop. It’s a morsel of Paris in Savannah, which obviously works.
If velvet couches, intricate candles, chocolate tins, and vintage mirrors sound like your idea of heaven on earth, you'll love this place.
Address: 36 W Broughton St, Savannah, GA 31401
