9 Best Sights To See In Savannah GA in 2025

ByShaun Hammond
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If you were only in Savannah GA for one day, what should you see? Luckily, I had this problem with a visit from a great friend; Old Boots, New Dirt. As you know, I make Charleston, SC my home, but she flew into Savannah with a great deal. On her last day, we visited and explored Savannah for a half-day before her flight back home. With only one day, these are my sights to see in Savannah GA that I highly recommend visiting.

Best sights to see in Savannah GA

Savannah has a lot of different things to see. These sights and sites are what you should try to do if you are only in Savannah for one day. Savannah has many locations to visit but I stayed in the historic downtown area for most of the day.

1. Bonaventure Cemetery

Stone archway to a cemetery with grave stones all around.

Bonaventure Cemetery is considered one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. This cemetery is 160 acres and has amazing gravesides and tombs surrounded by lush trees with Spanish moss. This cemetery is famous because it is in the 1994 novel, Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil by John Berendt. It is also in the movie with the same name directed by Clint Eastwood. The first burials took place in 1850. On July 7th, 1907, The City of Savannah purchased the cemetery and named it Bonaventure Cemetery. This is a public cemetery that you can walk around in and enjoy the sights. Don’t forget to bring your dog since it is pet-friendly.

Gravestones in a cemetery with trees and plants in the middle while doing the best sights to see in Savannah GA

2. The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist

Large cathedral with a girl standing in front and a blue sky while doing sights to see in Savannah GA

I don’t know about you, but I love the intricate works of cathedrals. It is amazing to walk into them and just see the amazing details. I love taking in the sights. Seeing works from all religions is always fantastic. The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic cathedral and a Minor Basilica. It is the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah, GA.

During the colonization of Savannah, Roman Catholics were not allowed to settle in the city. There was fear that their loyalty would be to Spanish Florida. After the Revolutionary War, Roman Catholicism was allowed in the area. Construction began on The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in 1859, after Pope Pius IX established the Diocese of Savannah in 1850. The cathedral was nearly destroyed by a fire in 1898, but a rebuilding effort took place in 1899. In 2020, Pope Francis elevated the cathedral to a Minor Basilica.

Inside of a church with pillars, pews, people, and a lofted ceiling.

Sights To See In Savannah GA – Parks and Squares

One thing that I absolutely like about Savannah, is that the historic downtown area is full of parks and squares. It is really nice to just walk from park to park. You can easily spend all day exploring these squares. Here are a few that I recommend visiting in my sights to see in Savannah GA.

3. Chippewa Square

Statue of a man on a pedestal with trees around it while doing sights to see in Savannah GA

Chippewa Square was named in honor of the American soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Chippawa during the War of 1812.

The monument in the center of the square is a statue of James Oglethorpe. James Oglethorpe was a soldier and philanthropist who founded the Province of Georgia in 1732. He later established the city of Savannah in 1733.

Now, what really makes Chippewa Square famous, is that this was the setting of the bench scenes from the movie, Forrest Gump. Unfortunately, the bench from the movie is not in the square since it was a movie prop. As we walked around the square, we met a man who lived across the street. He told us many stories about the filming of the movie. He was very happy to share his experience. In the photo below, I am standing in the spot where the bench was located during the filming, which is the north side.

Man standing next to a sign with flowers and trees all around him

4. Madison Square

Statue on a pedestal with holding a flag with many trees around it and a brick building behind while doing sights to see in Savannah GA

Madison Square is just south of Chippewa Square. The name of the square is for the 4th President of the United States of America, James Madison.

The William Jasper Monument sits at the center of the square. Sergeant Jasper participated in the Siege of Savannah during the American Revolution. He was mortally wounded by the British but was able to recover his company’s banner.

5. Forsyth Park

Man and woman standing in front of a white fountain with a fence and flowers surrounding it

In 1851, the park was named for the Georgia Governor, John Forsyth. Forsyth Park is the most famous and largest one in the historic district. The park is on 30 acres of land. It includes many walking paths, a large fountain, many areas that are open for recreation, a children’s play area, and much more. The fountain is popular for photos, engagement photos, and proposals. Built in 1858, the fountain is over 150 years old! Old Boots, New Dirt and I were very happy to have a picture taken in front of it.

One of the oldest Civil War Monuments is located in the park. It was dedicated in 1875 to honor the Confederate Soldiers who died during The Civil War. The statue, called The Confederate Monument at first, but was renamed The Civil War Monument after 2018.

Statue of a bust of a man behind a fence with a lot of grass around it while doing sights to see in Savannah GA

The most beautiful street in Savannah and a bonus for sights to see in Savannah GA

6. Jones Street

Tree lined street with Spanish Moss hanging form the trees with cars parked on the side

While walking between the parks and squares, you will see Jones Street. It is one of the most beautiful streets in America. Take your time to walk this street. It has live oaks with lots of Spanish Moss hanging from them. You will see lots of Greek Architecture. There are brick paved streets, beautiful houses, and a strong pride in American Patriotism that you will notice. Take as much time to explore this street. Every block it just gets better and better.

Looking down a sidewalk with a white building with a lots of trees

Unique things to do in Savannah Ga

Savannah has many activities to choose from. I do like to always look at some of the unique things to do in a city to make the experience a bit more fun. Here are a few options to do while visiting for the day if you want to try something a little different.

7. The “Savannah for Morons” Comedy Trolley Tour

This is a 1 and a half hour tour on a trolley that takes you around Savannah. The fun spin on this, it is a comedy tour. This is a tour that will take you to 300 years of Savannah history. Sit back and enjoy the comedy tour that will make you laugh the entire time.

8. The Savannah Underground Immersive Ghost Hunt Night-Time Trolley Tour

This tour takes the normal ghost tour and pumps it up. You will learn how to fight the ghosts of Savannah on the trolley and then use those skills on the tour. This will take you to some of Savannah’s most haunted areas to use your new found skills.

9. Mysteries on the Move: Scavenger Hunt in Savannah

What a great and unique way to discover Savannah. This scavenger hunt takes around 2 hours to complete and takes you all over the historic district. This will be a murder mystery hunt that requires a smartphone to participate.

Get your Savannah Tour Pass for the sights to see in Savannah GA and save money

If you are planning on going to many places, the best way to do it is by getting a multi-day Savannah Tour Pass. It will save you money with many of the city’s attractions. Pay once and get access to many Savannah locations. Check out the 30+ different things to do below!

Get your Savannah Tour Pass now and save money on your amazing vacation

Where to stay in Savannah GA

If you are going to be in Savannah longer than one day and need a place to stay, there are plenty of places to choose from in the Historic District area. I suggest you stay there because then almost everything you want to see will be within walking distance. This way you will be able to get as much Savannah covered as possible in your visit to the city.

Getting around Savannah GA

The city is made for tourists to visit. They have made getting around the city pretty easy, which is nice. Savannah has so many things to see, here are the best ways to see everything.

  • DOT Trolleys or Shuttles – These are free hop-on hop-off trolleys that stick to the downtown historic area.
  • Walking – Savannah is a great walking city and easy to get around on foot.
  • Rideshares – Use these to get to many places for a select fare.
  • Bikes – You can rent bikes to use to explore the city.

There are more ways of course but these 4 are probably the best ways to view the city on your own time.

Conclusion: Sights to see in Savannah GA

This was all we could fit into our time in Savannah. There is plenty more of this city I want to see. I look forward to exploring more of it in the future.

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Shaun Hammond is the owner and author of The Traveling Drifter, a travel blog that has a focus on Charleston, South Carolina, Cruising, and Hiking/Backpacking. Shaun is a has lived in Charleston since 2007 and is an expert about the city. He has spent much of his time exploring and discovering Charleston to help travelers and locals get the most out of their Charleston experience.