Sightseeing
History BuffCathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
FreeStep inside a Gothic Revival cathedral near Lafayette Square to see its twin spires, painted murals and stained glass windows.
Photo: Lvklock, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
SightseeingIconicHistory BuffFree
Savannah Historic District
Between the Savannah River and Gwinnett St, E Broad St to Martin Luther King Jr Blvd · Savannah, GA
Why you should go…
Savannah's downtown is a National Historic Landmark District, declared in 1966 and built on the ward-and-square plan James Oglethorpe began in 1733. You walk from Factors Row, a line of former cotton warehouses on the river, south through the city's 22 squares to the 30-acre Forsyth Park. Along the way are the Owens-Thomas House, the Isaiah Davenport House and the Telfair Academy. The district also holds Temple Mickve Israel and the First African Baptist Church.
- #historic district
- #city squares
- #walking tour
- #river street
- #architecture
Good to know
General sightseeing guidance
Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.
The forecast is part of the ticket
Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.
Golden hour sells out first
Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.
Dress a layer warmer
It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.
Timed entry is common
Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.
What's around here?
The closest stops to Savannah Historic District, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.
Right next doorMore like this
- SightseeingFree
River Street
FreeWalk a cobblestone riverfront of old cotton warehouses turned shops and restaurants as cargo ships pass.
0.5 mi awayMore like this
- Sport & OutdoorIconic
Forsyth Park
FreeStroll a 30-acre city park to its 1858 cast-iron fountain, then spread out on the lawns among monuments, courts and playgrounds.
0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor
- SightseeingHistory Buff
Bonaventure Cemetery
FreeWander old tree-lined roadways past cemetery sculpture and the graves of Johnny Mercer and Conrad Aiken on a bluff above the Wilmington River.
3.4 mi awayMore like this
- SightseeingHistory Buff
Fort Pulaski National Monument
Under $25Walk the moated brick fort on Cockspur Island where rifled cannon breached the walls in 1862.
12 mi awayMore like this
