Savannah, founded in 1733, is Georgia’s best-known historic city: a National Historic Landmark district of 22 free public squares, with museums, house tours and forts you pay for nearby. The squares, Bonaventure Cemetery, River Street, the free ferry and the free downtown shuttle cost nothing.
Savannah at a Glance
- Drive from Atlanta
- About 249 mi, 3h 50m typical, without trafficour Savannah guide · Google Maps, early morning, plus a cushion · full drive-time table
- Best time to visit
- Sunday for free parking meters; Telfair closed Mon, SCAD Museum of Art closed Tueour Savannah guide
- Typical costs
- Squares, parks, cemeteries, the DOT shuttle and the Savannah Belles Ferry are free; paid sites run $10–$30 per adultour Savannah guide
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs OK in the squares, at Bonaventure, on Wormsloe’s trails, at Fort Pulaski and on the ferry; the DOT shuttle is service dogs onlyour Savannah guide
- Strollers
- The ferry takes strollers; the Owens-Thomas House has no elevator; Bonaventure’s paths are mostly dirt and gravelour Savannah guide
- Founded
- February 1733, at Yamacraw BluffNational Park Service
- Historic district
- National Historic Landmark since November 13, 1966; streets and squares are free and always openNPS landmarks list
- Free transit
- The DOT Express Shuttle and the Savannah Belles Ferry charge no fareour Savannah guide
- Ideal length
- One to three days
- Last verified
Where an operator doesn’t publish a figure, or we couldn’t confirm one, we say so rather than estimate it. How we check · Verification log
Coming Up in Savannah
17 dated events in our calendar. Each date and price is checked on the organizer’s own page. Calendar updated .
- Frozen Moments: Life Interrupted at the Andrew Low HouseOn now · Andrew Low House Museum · See event site
- Savannah Porchfest · Baldwin Park · Free
- Shalom Y'all Jewish Food Festival · Congregation Mickve Israel · See event site
- Christmas Made in the South · Savannah Convention Center · Entry $0–$10
- Savannah Southern Half · Forsyth Park · See event site
See all 17 in the calendar →Know one we’re missing? Submit an event
Savannah History in Key Dates
Savannah was the first city of Georgia, the last of the 13 colonies. These dates come from the National Park Service, the Georgia Historical Society and the New Georgia Encyclopedia (checked October 19–20, 2026). The full timeline for the state is on our Georgia history guide.
- February 1733Settlers arrive on February 1 at Yamacraw Bluff, the site James Oglethorpe chose, and lay the town out in wards around public squares (NPS).
- December 29, 1778About 2,500 British troops land below the city, outflank 650 Continental defenders and capture Savannah (Georgia Historical Society marker).
- April 10–11, 1862Union rifled cannon breach the walls of Fort Pulaski, and the commander surrenders about 2:30 p.m. on the second day (NPS).
- December 1864Sherman’s forces take Savannah. The Georgia Historical Society marker says December 21 and the National Park Service says December 22, so we give the month (Georgia Historical Society marker).
- March 12, 1912Juliette Gordon Low founds the Girl Scouts in Savannah, and her carriage house becomes the first headquarters (Georgia Historical Society marker).
- November 20, 1942The S.S. James Oglethorpe, the first of 88 Liberty Ships from Southeastern Shipbuilding, launches in Savannah (Georgia Historical Society marker).
More: Historic sites in Georgia, with hours and admission · Historic tours in Georgia · History events in Georgia.
Historic Sites You Can Visit
Prices and hours come from each operator’s own site, checked . Where a site did not publish a figure we say “call ahead” instead of guessing. More museums are in our Georgia museums list and historic sites guide.
| Site | What it is | Admission | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah Historic District | Oglethorpe’s 1733 plan of wards and squares | Free | Streets always open |
| Fort Pulaski National Monument | Masonry fort breached in April 1862, on Cockspur Island | $10 ages 16+, valid 7 days; 15 and under free | Call (912) 219-4233 for hours |
| Wormsloe State Historic Site | Oak avenue and tabby ruins of Noble Jones’s colonial estate | $12 adults, $9 seniors, $5.75 ages 6–17, $3.25 under 6, plus tax | Daily 9–4:45; closed Thanksgiving and Dec. 25 |
| Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters | 1819 Regency house, with slave quarters; guided tours only | $30 adults on a 7-day Telfair ticket covering three sites | Tue–Sun 10–5; closed Mon; last tour 4 |
| Davenport House Museum | c. 1820 house whose 1955 rescue founded Historic Savannah Foundation | $15 adults, $12 students 18–21, $10 ages 6–17 | Tours Mon–Fri 11–3:30, Sat 10–4; closed Sun |
| Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace | Birthplace and childhood home of the Girl Scouts founder | Call ahead: the visit page did not show prices when we checked | Call ahead |
| Savannah History Museum | Coastal Heritage Society museum; “Loyalists & Liberty” exhibit through Dec. 31, 2026 | $12 adults, $8 ages 3–12 | Daily 9–4 |
| Georgia State Railroad Museum | Central of Georgia Railroad Shops and Terminal, a National Historic Landmark | $20 adults, $14 ages 3–12 | Daily 9–4 |
| Old Fort Jackson | Brick fort on the Savannah River with cannon firings | $15 adults, $10 ages 3–12 | Daily 9–4 |
| Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum | Museum of Savannah’s civil rights movement | $15 adults, $8 seniors, $7 students | 10–5; open days not stated, so call ahead |
Prices for parking, the free shuttle and the free ferry are in our Savannah visitor guide.
What’s on in Savannah, Month by Month
Dates below are the organizers’ own, checked October 14–20, 2026. Dates not yet announced are marked as such.
November 2026
- Nov. 7: Savannah Porchfest, free. See Savannah in November
- Nov. 19–Jan. 3: Savannah Christmas Market, free entry
- Nov. 28: Savannah Lighted Boat Parade, 7–9 p.m., free
December 2026
- Dec. 5: Colonial Christmas at Wormsloe, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Dec. 12: Savannah Lighted Christmas Street Parade, 5:30–7 p.m., free
February 2027
- Feb. 5–7: Colonial Faire & Muster at Wormsloe, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
March 2027
- Mid-March: Savannah St. Patrick’s Day parade. The 2027 date is not yet announced.
- Mar. 20: Women Take Over Wormsloe, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
April–May 2027
- Usually April: Fort Pulaski siege anniversary living history; 2027 dates not posted
- May 15: War of Jenkins’ Ear at Wormsloe, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
August 2027
- Aug. 7: Georgia’s First Fourth at Wormsloe, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Wormsloe events are listed on the state parks calendar, and park admission applies. Our full list is on the Georgia event calendar.
Getting Around and Where to Stay
Getting around
Park once and walk. City meters cost up to $2.50 an hour and are free on Sundays; city garages charge a flat $5 or $10 all day on weekends. The downtown DOT Express Shuttle and the Savannah Belles Ferry are both free (City of Savannah and Chatham Area Transit, checked ).
Bonaventure, Wormsloe, Old Fort Jackson and Fort Pulaski sit outside the shuttle loops, so you need a car or a tour. Rates, hours and the street-drinking rules are in our Savannah visitor guide.
Where to stay
Most visitors book in the Historic District to walk to the squares. Georgia’s historic hotels list lists 34 old hotels still taking guests, and the Marshall House tells the story of an 1851 Broughton Street hotel. On the river, Plant Riverside District is the waterfront district that hosts the Christmas Market.
A Savannah hotel bill adds an 8% city excise tax and a $5-per-night state fee, and the 7% sales tax also applies, so check the total before you pay.
Savannah vs The Alternatives
The two barrier-island beach towns people add to a Savannah trip most often.
| Savannah | Tybee Island | Jekyll Island | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive from Atlanta | 3h 50m from Atlanta (typical, without traffic) | 18 mi / 25–30 min from Savannah | About 4h 55m from Atlanta (typical, without traffic) |
| Parking | Mostly free; metered downtown | $4/hr or $25/day | $10/car/day (covers every beach) |
| Signature draw | Historic squares & architecture | Beach town, lighthouse | Barrier-island beaches, Sea Turtle Center |
| Dogs | Leashed OK in squares & most parks | Banned on the beach ($300 fine); leashed on streets | Leashed on most beaches, not Glory or South Dunes |
| Best for | Walkable history, weekend trip | Beach day trip from Savannah | Longer coastal weekend, quieter beaches |
Full comparison: Tybee Island vs Jekyll Island →
Frequently Asked Questions About Savannah
When was Savannah founded?
Savannah was founded in February 1733. The first settlers arrived on February 1 at Yamacraw Bluff, the site James Oglethorpe chose, and the town was laid out in wards around public squares. (National Park Service)
Is Savannah’s historic district free to visit?
Yes. The streets and the public squares are free and always open, and the district has been a National Historic Landmark since November 13, 1966. House museums, forts and tours inside and around it charge admission, listed in the table above. (NPS landmarks list)
How long is the drive from Atlanta to Savannah?
About 249 miles, typically 3 hours 50 minutes without traffic on I-16. (Georgia drive times, typical time without traffic: Google Maps early morning, read 26 October 2026, plus a cushion.)
Is parking free in Savannah?
Only partly. City meters are free on Sundays and on city holidays; other days downtown street parking is metered, up to $2.50 an hour. City garages charge a flat $5 or $10 all day on weekends. Squares, parks and cemeteries are free to enter (checked ). (Our Savannah guide)
Are the Savannah ferry and shuttle free?
Yes. The Savannah Belles Ferry crosses every 10 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the DOT Express Shuttle stops every 10 minutes at 18 downtown stops. Both are zero-fare, run by Chatham Area Transit (checked ). (Our Savannah guide)
Can I bring my dog to Savannah’s squares?
Yes, leashed dogs are welcome in the squares, at Bonaventure Cemetery, on Wormsloe’s trails, at Fort Pulaski and on the ferry. The DOT downtown shuttle takes service animals only. (Georgia dog-friendly attractions)
Which Savannah house museum should I visit first?
If you pick one, the Owens-Thomas House is a National Historic Landmark and shows an 1819 Regency house with its slave quarters ($30 on a 7-day Telfair ticket), and the Davenport House ($15) tells the story of Savannah’s preservation movement. Both are guided tours only, so check times first. (Telfair Museums)
Did Sherman burn Savannah?
No. Savannah was captured in December 1864 without a siege and was left standing, which is why so much of the old city survives. Smithsonian magazine reports Sherman telegraphed Lincoln on December 22, 1864, offering the city as a Christmas gift.
How many days do I need in Savannah?
One day covers the historic core; most visitors plan one to three days to add Bonaventure, a house museum or two, and a Tybee Island side trip. Our 3-day itinerary lays out the days. (3 days in Savannah)
Guides That Cover Savannah
Plan The Trip
- Savannah, GA for visitors
- Savannah and Georgia ghost tours, with prices and ages →
- Georgia beaches and barrier islands, compared
- Which Georgia beach should I visit? →
- The Marshall House, Broughton Street’s 1851 hotel
- Georgia’s historic hotels: 34 still taking guests
History and Heritage
- Georgia history: sites, landmarks, tours and timeline
- Historic sites in Georgia
- The Marshall House, Savannah
- Wormsloe State Historic Site
Seasonal
Nearby Coast
Data
Nearby
Local Legend: Savannah, Sherman’s “Christmas Gift”
What is actually true: Mostly true. Smithsonian magazine says Sherman telegraphed Lincoln on December 22, 1864, presenting the city “as a Christmas gift,” and that Lincoln wrote back with “many, many thanks.” Savannah surrendered without a siege and was left standing, which is why so much of the old city survives today.
Plan More of Your Trip
The It's Georgia Editorial Team writes every answer on this site around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each answer shows the date it was last updated.
More From Destinations
Map of The Places in This Guide
Cite this page: It's Georgia, “Savannah, Georgia”, itsgeorgia.com/destinations/coastal-georgia/savannah/ (updated ). Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page.