Things to Do & Must-See Attractions in Savannah

The Historic District of Savannah is considered the heart of the city and corresponds to the area that defined Savannah prior to the American Civil War. It’s the largest National Historic Landmark District in the United States, attracting millions of visitors on an annual basis. Savannah’s Historic District encompasses more than 20 city squares laid out in a distinctive grid pattern. General James E. Oglethorpe, founder of the British Colony of Georgia, laid out the original plan back in 1733. Today, much of the original plan remains visible through its divisions, also called wards, squares and trustee lots. The Historic District showcases 18th and 19th century architecture styles like Georgian, Gothic and Greek Revival, and is home to a number of important buildings and complexes. Here, visitors will find museums, churches, mansions, famous forts and monuments dating back to the Revolutionary and Civil War periods. It’s also the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low.

River Street Savannah is not only a picturesque place to walk or jog along the river, but is also a hub of activity in downtown Savannah. Known for dreamy views of the river, its tree-lined promenade, and its strip of shops and restaurants, visitors to Savannah come here to get a sense of what Savannah has to offer. Whether it be a ferry boat ride along the winding Savannah River, a concert in the park, or just to sample some of the many local Savannah restaurants boasting delicious southern fare, the River Street is where you head if you want the authentic Savannah experience.

The Cathedral of St John the Baptist, a Roman Catholic establishment, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah. The colonial charter of the city originally prohibited Roman Catholics from settling here for fear they would be more loyal to the Spanish authorities, but after the American Revolution, the prohibition on Roman Catholics began to fade.

French Catholic immigrants escaping slave rebellions in Haiti established Savannah’s first parish just before the end of the 18th century. As the number of Catholics continued to increase in Savannah, a second church was dedicated in 1839 and construction on the new Cathedral of St John the Baptist began in 1873. It was completed in 1896 as the spires were added.

Although the cathedral was almost entirely destroyed by a fire in 1898, it was painstakingly rebuilt and rededicated in 1900, when it also received new murals and decorations.

There are ghosts on the loose in Downtown Savannah, and the Gribble House is the epicenter of paranormal experience. Though only a warehouse stands here today, this ground was where three women lost their lives in a gruesome, 1909 axe attack that’s been called “the most diabolical crime in the history of Savannah.” Not everyone believes that the man arrested was the one who committed the crime, and it’s likely that the only people who know the truth are the famous Gribble House ghosts. On a tour of this haunted and infamous site, grab a flashlight and explore the darkness of where the three gruesome murders took place. Feel the hairs on the back of your neck suddenly stand on end, and talk or ask questions to a spooky “ghost box” that can silence the biggest of critics. By the time you emerge from this haunted house in the middle of downtown Savannah, there’s a good chance that you could walk away with a firm belief in ghosts.

Since the early 1700's, Savannah City Market has been the commercial and social center of historic downtown Savannah. Known locally as the “art and soul” of Savannah, the moniker is a nod toward the numerous artist’s galleries, boutiques, and restaurants that make the City Market the social and commercial center of Savannah that it is today. A destination for dining, entertainment, art, and shopping in downtown Savannah, the vibrant City Market is still on the original site of used by farmers and traders since the city’s founding in the 18th century. Adjacent to Ellis Square, come here to sight-see, to window shop, dine, or simply watch life’s passing parade - the Savannah City Market is a highlight to any trip to Savannah.