Home › Destinations › US Domestic › Savannah, Georgia
Savannah at a Glance
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Time zone
Eastern (EST/EDT)
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Currency
US Dollars — no exchange needed
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Best weather
65–78°F spring & fall
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Language
English — classic Southern hospitality
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Airport
SAV · 20 min from Historic District
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Medical
Savannah Memorial Medical Center
Why Savannah?

America's most perfectly preserved historic city — made for leisurely exploration

Savannah is one of those rare American cities where slowing down doesn't feel like a compromise — it feels like the only sensible way to travel. The 2.2-square-mile Historic District is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the US, yet its genius — General Oglethorpe's 1733 grid plan of 22 shaded squares — makes it feel intimate, unhurried, and wonderfully navigable at any pace.

Each square is a shaded oasis of live oak draped in Spanish moss, benches scattered around central monuments, and historic homes of extraordinary architectural beauty on all four sides. You don't need a plan — you simply walk from square to square, discovering what each one holds: a bronze statue, an 18th-century church, a tucked-away café, a carriage horse waiting patiently for its next tour.

For senior travelers, Savannah's combination of flat, walkable terrain, excellent trolley and carriage tour options, world-class Southern dining, and genuine Southern hospitality makes it one of the most consistently satisfying domestic destinations available. And unlike many historic American cities, there's very little here that requires significant physical exertion to experience fully.

🌟 Senior traveler verdict

Savannah earns its reputation as America's most charming city with remarkable consistency from senior travelers — who specifically praise the flat walkable squares, the carriage rides, the extraordinary food scene, and the warmth of the people. Many visitors specifically plan return trips before they've left.

The squares

Savannah's 22 squares — the heart of everything

Savannah's squares are not just scenic stops — they are the organizing principle of the entire city. General Oglethorpe's 1733 plan created a neighborhood around each square, with civic buildings on the east and west sides and residential lots on the north and south. The result is a city that feels simultaneously grand and human-scaled, historic and liveable. 22 of the original 24 squares survive intact — each one distinct, each one beautiful.

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Forsyth Park — Savannah's crown jewel
30 acresIconic fountainFragrant GardenBest benches in Savannah
Savannah's largest and most beloved park at the southern end of the Historic District. The Victorian white fountain (built 1858) is one of the most photographed sights in Georgia. Flat, paved paths, abundant seating, mature live oak canopy providing shade. The Fragrant Garden for the Visually Impaired is a touching and lovely detail. The free Savannah Jazz Festival happens here each fall. Start every day with a morning walk here.
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Chippewa Square — The Forrest Gump Square
Forrest Gump filming locationBull Street axisCentral location
The bench where Tom Hanks delivered his famous "Life is like a box of chocolates" monologue was positioned in Chippewa Square — though the actual bench is now at the Savannah History Museum. The square itself is beautiful, with a statue of General Oglethorpe and classic surrounding architecture. Sits on Bull Street, Savannah's main north-south axis that connects City Hall to Forsyth Park.
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Lafayette Square — Architecture & atmosphere
Cathedral of St John the BaptistMercer-Williams HouseMost photographed
Flanked by the soaring Gothic towers of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist and near the Mercer-Williams House (from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil), Lafayette Square delivers the quintessential Savannah vista — Spanish moss, historic mansions, and a shaded oasis. The Cathedral's interior is extraordinary and free to visit. Flannery O'Connor's childhood home is also adjacent.
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Reynolds Square — History & coffee
Near River StreetOlde Pink HouseCoffee shops
One of Savannah's earliest squares, Reynolds is beautifully shaded and sits close to the waterfront area. The Olde Pink House — one of Savannah's finest restaurants, set in an 18th-century Georgian mansion — is just off the square. A wonderful area for morning coffee, evening drinks, and some of the best people-watching in the city.
🚶 Walking the squares — the senior approach

The most popular square walk follows Bull Street from City Hall south to Forsyth Park — passing Johnson, Wright, Chippewa, Madison, and Monterey squares in about 1.2 miles of flat, beautiful walking with benches at every square. This is genuinely comfortable at any pace and can be broken into two half-day sections with a long lunch in between. The Old Town Trolley also covers all the squares for those who prefer a seated experience.

Top experiences

The best things to do in Savannah for senior travelers

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Horse-drawn carriage tours
The single most beloved senior experience in Savannah — a narrated carriage tour through the Historic District's squares and streets. Carriages depart from Madison Square and the waterfront area. One-hour tours typically cover 10–12 squares and include architectural history, ghost lore, and local gossip. Multiple operators offer tours throughout the day. Completely seated, completely comfortable, completely Savannah.
Fully seated Senior favourite
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Old Town Trolley Tours
Savannah's hop-on hop-off trolley covers 14 stops including all the major squares, River Street, Forsyth Park, and Bonaventure Cemetery. Narrated throughout. Multiple departures daily. The two-hour loop without stopping is a wonderful orientation. Senior discounts available. Combine with carriage ride for maximum coverage without fatigue — trolley by day, carriage at sunset.
No walking required Senior discounts
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Savannah River cruise
The Georgia Queen paddlewheel riverboat offers narrated sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises, and Sunday Gospel brunch cruises on the Savannah River. A relaxed, air-conditioned way to see Savannah's skyline and working port from the water. The Sunday Gospel Brunch cruise is specifically beloved by senior travelers — excellent food, live music, and 90 minutes of pure Southern charm.
Seated & shaded Book Gospel Brunch ahead
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Ghost tours of Savannah
Savannah is consistently ranked among the most haunted cities in America — and its ghost tours have earned a genuine reputation for quality storytelling. Multiple operators offer walking tours through the squares and cemeteries after dark. Evening tours are cooler and more atmospheric than daytime walks. Many senior travelers who were initially skeptical report them as unexpected highlights — excellent history wrapped in a genuinely atmospheric format.
Evening = cooler temps Walking — wear good shoes
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Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room
A Savannah institution since 1943. Family-style Southern cooking served at communal tables — fried chicken, collard greens, sweet potato soufflé, cornbread, and a dozen more dishes passed around. Open Monday–Friday for lunch only. There is almost always a queue — arrive by 10:30am. The experience of sitting with strangers who become friends over an extraordinary Southern meal is quintessentially Savannah. One of the great lunches in American travel.
Savannah institution Arrive early — queues form
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Bonaventure Cemetery
One of the most beautiful cemeteries in America — Victorian monuments, Spanish moss-draped live oaks, and extraordinary statuary along the Wilmington River. Made famous by the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Accessible paths throughout; some areas have uneven ground. The Old Town Trolley includes a stop here. A morning visit with a coffee is genuinely peaceful and hauntingly beautiful — not morbid at all.
Trolley stop included Beautifully peaceful
The food scene

Savannah's extraordinary Southern dining

Savannah has one of the finest food scenes of any mid-sized American city — and it's deeply rooted in Lowcountry cuisine: shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, she-crab soup, and peach cobbler made with Georgia peaches. The city has also attracted a wave of acclaimed chefs who've elevated the tradition without losing its soul.

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    Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room — The most famous table in Savannah. Family-style Southern lunch at communal tables, Monday–Friday only. Queue forms before opening. Worth every minute of the wait — truly one of America's great lunch experiences.
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    The Olde Pink House — Fine dining in an 18th-century Georgian mansion on Reynolds Square. Lowcountry cuisine at its most elegant: crispy flounder, praline basket with ice cream, the best she-crab soup in the city. Reserve well ahead, especially for dinner.
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    The Grey — Award-winning restaurant in a beautifully restored 1938 Greyhound bus terminal. Modern Southern cooking with extraordinary attention to craft. One of the most celebrated restaurants in Georgia. Dinner reservations sell out weeks ahead — book as soon as you have dates.
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    Leopold's Ice Cream — A Savannah institution since 1919. Homemade ice cream in a beautifully preserved soda fountain on Broughton Street. The Tutti Frutti and Savannah Cream flavors are legendary. A mid-afternoon stop here is one of Savannah's great simple pleasures.
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    The Grey Market — The daytime sister to The Grey, serving excellent coffee, pastries, and a short all-day menu. Perfect for breakfast or a mid-morning break between square walks. Casual, welcoming, and run by the same outstanding team.
Getting around

How to get around Savannah

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    Walking — the primary mode in the Historic District — Savannah's Historic District is flat, the squares provide natural rest stops with abundant seating, and the distance from City Hall to Forsyth Park is only about 1.2 miles. Most senior travelers find it very comfortable to walk between experiences in the Historic District, particularly in spring and fall temperatures.
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    Old Town Trolley — the smart backup — For moments when walking feels like too much, the trolley provides seamless transportation between all major attractions. A day pass allows unlimited boarding and is excellent value. Hop on to get somewhere, walk back at leisure when you feel like it.
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    Uber and Lyft — reliable throughout — Ride-share availability is excellent in Savannah — drivers respond quickly throughout the Historic District and surrounding neighborhoods. Essential for reaching Bonaventure Cemetery, Tybee Island, and restaurants in neighborhoods outside the Historic District.
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    Parking — garages are the answer — Several well-priced parking garages serve the Historic District (Bryan Street Garage, State Street Garage). Street parking exists but fills quickly in peak season. If driving, garage parking is far less stressful than hunting for street spots.
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    Rental car — only needed for day trips — The Historic District is entirely manageable without a car. A rental car is only necessary for Tybee Island, Bonaventure Cemetery (though trolley covers this), or the Wormsloe State Historic Site day trip.
Planning your trip

Best time to visit Savannah for seniors

March – May — Our strong recommendation

Spring in Savannah is extraordinary. Azaleas bloom in March and April, temperatures are ideal (65–78°F), and the squares are at their most beautiful. The St. Patrick's Day celebration in March (one of the largest in the US) is festive and fun but does bring large crowds to River Street — easily avoided by staying in the squares. April through May is the sweet spot: blooms, comfortable temperatures, manageable crowds.

October – November — Equally excellent

Fall brings golden light, cooler temperatures, and a wonderful atmosphere without the spring crowds. The free Savannah Jazz Festival in late September fills Forsyth Park with music for a week. October's Halloween and the Savannah Film Festival bring a festive energy. November is quieter and very pleasant — local Savannah at its most authentic.

Summer (June – August) — Hot and humid

Savannah's summers are genuinely hot and humid (90°F+ with high humidity). The city's shade trees help significantly, but outdoor activity should be planned for early morning and evening. The carriage rides and trolley tours are more comfortable than walking in summer heat. Indoor dining and air-conditioned museums become central to the afternoon routine.

December – February — Quiet and mild

Savannah's winters are mild by national standards (45–65°F) with rare freezing temperatures. The city is beautifully decorated in December and relatively quiet after the holiday period. Good value, genuine local atmosphere, and the food is just as extraordinary year-round.

Practical tips

Insider advice for senior travelers in Savannah

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    Comfortable walking shoes are essential — While much of the Historic District is flat, some areas near River Street involve brick and cobblestone surfaces. The riverfront area has uneven old brick. Wear supportive, comfortable shoes — and be particularly careful on the steep ramps and steps down to River Street from Bay Street.
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    Savannah allows open-container drinking in public — Unlike most US cities, Savannah permits open containers of alcohol in public within the Historic District (paper or plastic cups only, no glass). This means you can get a drink at a River Street bar and continue walking — a fact that adds considerably to the relaxed atmosphere.
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    Read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil before you go — John Berendt's 1994 true-crime classic set in Savannah is one of the most evocative portraits of a city ever written. Reading it before your visit transforms Savannah from a beautiful historic city into a living story — the Mercer-Williams House, Bonaventure Cemetery, the squares — all take on additional layers of meaning.
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    Use the squares as rest stops, not just sightseeing stops — Every square has benches in the shade. The most comfortable approach to Savannah is to walk 2–3 blocks, sit in a square for 10–15 minutes watching the world go by, then continue. This isn't laziness — it's how Savannah is meant to be experienced.
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    Tybee Island is a worthwhile half-day trip — Savannah's beach is 18 miles east — a flat, wide, old-Florida-style barrier island with a relaxed atmosphere and excellent seafood restaurants. The drive takes 30 minutes. A morning at Tybee followed by lunch at one of the beachfront restaurants and a return for a Savannah dinner makes a perfect full day in good weather.
What travelers are saying

Aggregated reviews from across the web

Our Review Finder searched TripAdvisor, AARP Travel, travel forums, and Southern travel publications to bring you an honest summary of what senior travelers are currently saying about Savannah.

9.0
/ 10
✦ Review Finder — Aggregated results
America's most charming city — and senior travelers adore it
Savannah earns extraordinary senior traveler satisfaction with its flat walkable squares, carriage rides, world-class Southern food, and the kind of genuine hospitality that makes people book their return trip before leaving.
Walkability: 10/10
Food & dining: 10/10
Historic charm: 10/10
Value for money: 9/10
Sources consulted
🌿 TripAdvisor 🏛️ AARP Travel 📰 US News Travel 🌳 Visit Savannah 🍑 Explore Georgia
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Top 5 things senior travelers consistently praise
Most frequently mentioned positives across all sources
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The squares create a city that feels made for leisurely exploration
The most consistent theme in senior Savannah reviews is the squares themselves — the way they provide natural rest stops, shade, and constantly changing scenery that makes even gentle walking feel rewarding rather than tiring. Multiple reviewers specifically note that the squares' bench seating allowed them to explore far more of the city than they expected given their mobility level. The grid plan that makes Savannah so manageable is praised in virtually every senior review.
✓ Most mentioned positive
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The carriage tours are the perfect senior Savannah experience
Horse-drawn carriage tours appear in more senior Savannah reviews than any other single activity — consistently praised for their combination of comfort, narration quality, and the way they allow visitors to absorb the beauty and history of the Historic District without any physical exertion. Multiple reviewers describe it as the highlight of their entire Savannah visit. Guides receive particularly consistent praise for their blend of history, architecture commentary, and local storytelling.
✓ Frequently mentioned
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The food scene consistently exceeds expectations for a mid-sized city
Senior travelers — many of whom have eaten at renowned restaurants across the US and internationally — regularly describe Savannah's dining scene as one of the most pleasant surprises of their trip. Mrs. Wilkes, The Grey, and The Olde Pink House are mentioned most frequently. The family-style lunch at Mrs. Wilkes' in particular generates reviews that describe the communal table experience — sitting with strangers, passing dishes, discovering shared travel stories — as unexpectedly moving.
✓ Frequently mentioned
4
Southern hospitality is genuine and consistent throughout the city
Savannah's reputation for friendliness is not a marketing line — senior travelers consistently note that the warmth they encountered from locals, restaurant staff, hotel employees, and even strangers on the streets was exceptional. Multiple reviews specifically mention being helped with directions unprompted, being given extra time and attention at restaurants, and having hotel staff go significantly beyond their role to ensure a comfortable stay. Savannah earns the title "Hostess City of the South" genuinely.
✓ Frequently mentioned
5
The atmosphere at night is magical and entirely accessible
Multiple senior travel reviews describe Savannah after dark as one of its greatest gifts — the squares lit by gas lamps, the sound of jazz drifting from City Market, the illuminated Cathedral spires, and the Savannah River reflecting the waterfront lights. Carriage rides after dark are particularly recommended. The open-container policy means you can walk between squares with a drink in hand. Evening in Savannah is comfortable, beautiful, and completely accessible to travelers of all mobility levels.
✓ Frequently mentioned
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2 things worth knowing before you book
Common considerations — framed as practical planning advice
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River Street's cobblestones and steep access require care
The most consistent practical note in senior Savannah reviews is about River Street — the historic waterfront area that sits below Bay Street and is accessed via steep ramps and steps. The riverfront's old cotton warehouse cobblestones are beautiful but genuinely challenging, particularly when wet. The practical senior approach: take the trolley down to River Street rather than walking the steep ramps, wear shoes with excellent grip, and use River Street primarily for evening dining rather than extended daytime exploration. The squares themselves have no such challenges.
💡 Wear grip shoes on River Street
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Summer heat and humidity require careful activity planning
Savannah's June–September heat and humidity (90°F+ with high humidity) is the one consistently mentioned challenge. Senior travelers who visit in summer unanimously recommend completing all outdoor activity by 11am, using afternoon hours for air-conditioned restaurants and indoor museums, and embracing evening activity when temperatures drop. Those who plan around this rhythm consistently describe excellent summer visits; those who don't find the afternoon heat genuinely uncomfortable. The spring and fall windows are universally preferred.
💡 Visit spring or fall if possible
Results synthesized from 5 sources · Updated April 2025 Search any other destination →
Sample itinerary

4 days in Savannah for seniors — the perfect Southern immersion

📋 The Savannah approach: mornings in the squares, afternoons resting, evenings on the water

Savannah's ideal rhythm is: morning square walk + midday at a landmark restaurant + afternoon rest or trolley + evening carriage ride or waterfront dinner. This produces maximum pleasure with minimum fatigue.

Day 1 — Arrival & orientation

Fly into SAV (20 minutes from the Historic District). Check into your hotel. Afternoon walk along Bull Street from City Hall to Forsyth Park — the classic introduction to Savannah's square system. Stop at each square, sit on benches, absorb the atmosphere. Evening: carriage ride through the lit Historic District. Dinner at The Olde Pink House — reserve ahead.

Day 2 — History & food

Morning: Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room — arrive by 10:30am to secure a spot for the 11am opening. Allow 90 minutes for the communal lunch. Afternoon: Old Town Trolley full loop with the Bonaventure Cemetery stop. Late afternoon: Leopold's Ice Cream on Broughton Street. Evening: Georgia Queen Gospel Brunch cruise (Sunday) or River Street dinner.

Day 3 — Squares & cathedral

Morning: Lafayette Square and Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (free, interior is extraordinary). Mercer-Williams House Museum tour. Long lunch at The Grey or The Grey Market. Afternoon: Forsyth Park rest and people-watching. Evening: ghost tour of the squares after dark — one of Savannah's great after-dinner experiences.

Day 4 — Tybee Island & farewell

Morning drive to Tybee Island (30 minutes). A morning at the beach with coffee from a beachside café. Lunch at The Crab Shack or North Beach Bar & Grill. Return to Savannah mid-afternoon for final square walk. Evening: River Street farewell dinner, Savannah Candy Kitchen for a box of pralines to take home.

Getting there

Flying to Savannah

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is served by American, Delta, United, Southwest, and Allegiant — with direct flights from Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Chicago, and many other major cities. The airport is just 20 minutes from the Historic District by taxi or ride-share (approximately $25–35). Car rental is available at the airport but generally unnecessary for a Savannah-focused visit.

Amtrak's Palmetto and Silver Meteor trains stop in Savannah en route between New York and Miami — a beautiful way to arrive if you're already in the Southeast. The station is about 3 miles from the Historic District.