One Day in Savannah: A First-Timer’s Itinerary
Prices & schedules checked October 18, 2026
An estimated 12.9 million visitors came to the Savannah area in 2025, according to a Tourism Economics study released by the Savannah Area Chamber. This plan fits the classic first-visit sights — the squares, Forsyth Park, Bonaventure Cemetery, River Street — into one day without spending half of it looking for parking.
Morning: get oriented (9:00–11:30)
Park once and ride the Old Town Trolley loop before hopping off. Stop #1 is the Old Savannah Distillery (234 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.), and the route has 16 stops including Forsyth Park, City Market and River Street. Allow up to two hours if you ride the whole loop without getting off.
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Shorter on time or budget? Old Savannah Tours’ 75-minute nonstop overview starts from $29.75 on the operator site — see the comparison.
Late morning: the squares and Forsyth Park (11:30–1:00)
Hop off at Forsyth Park for the fountain, then walk north up Bull Street through the squares. If you’d rather have a guide, the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil walking tour covers the book’s locations: on Viator it starts at 9:00 a.m. in Madison Square and ends at the Mercer House in Monterey Square (about 1 hour 30 minutes, from $33, as listed Oct 2026).
Lunch (1:00–2:00)
City Market and Broughton Street are the easy lunch areas. Food lovers can swap lunch for the 3-hour First Squares Culinary & Cultural Walking Food Tour, with tastings from six eateries (starts at 108 W. Broughton St.; from $96.95 on Viator, as listed Oct 2026) — it takes the whole early afternoon, so drop the museum below.
Afternoon: Bonaventure Cemetery (2:30–4:00)
Bonaventure, east of downtown, is the moss-draped cemetery made famous by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It’s big; a 1-hour guided golf-cart tour by Wise Guys Historical Tours covers it without the long walk (from $38 on Viator, as listed Oct 2026; listed as not wheelchair accessible). You’ll need a car or a ride to get there.
Late afternoon: American Prohibition Museum (4:00–5:00)
- In City Market at 209 W. Saint Julian St.; from $19.78 on Viator (as listed Oct 2026).
- Open daily 10 a.m.–4:15 p.m. per the Viator listing’s FAQ, so arrive by about 3:30 if you go after Bonaventure.
- All ages are welcome in the museum; the Speakeasy is 21+ with photo ID. Closed on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17).
Evening: the river or a ghost tour
Pick one: the 2-hour sunset riverboat cruise from River Street, or the 80-minute Ghosts & Gravestones trolley (PG-13, no under-6s). Between Nov 27 and Dec 30, the Old Town Trolley’s holiday tour is a third option.
Got a car and a second morning?
Fort Pulaski National Monument, on the road to Tybee Island, charges a $10 standard entrance pass and does not accept cash, per the National Park Service.
Budget snapshot (per adult, at listed prices)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Old Town Trolley 1-day (operator online) | from $36.55 |
| Bonaventure golf-cart tour (Viator) | from $38.00 |
| American Prohibition Museum (Viator) | from $19.78 |
| Subtotal before evening activity | $94.33 |
Add an evening activity (Ghosts & Gravestones from $38.00 operator online; sunset riverboat from $55.05 on Viator). Food, parking, rides to Bonaventure and taxes not included.
Where to stay
This plan rides the trolley and walks the squares, Forsyth Park and River Street, so a base in or near the Historic District keeps most of the day walkable. We don’t recommend specific hotels or rentals: we haven’t stayed in them, and prices change daily. Before you book, check the total with fees and taxes, the cancellation policy and whether parking is included.
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Sources
- Savannah Area Chamber — 2025 visitor economy (12.9 million visitors, Tourism Economics)
- Old Town Trolley Savannah — tickets (1-day from $36.55; Old Savannah Tours from $29.75)
- Viator — Savannah Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour (stops, full-loop FAQ)
- Viator — Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Walking Tour
- Viator — First Squares Culinary & Cultural Walking Food Tour
- Viator — 1-Hour Bonaventure Cemetery Golf Cart Guided Tour
- Viator — American Prohibition Museum Admission (address, hours FAQ, Speakeasy 21+, St. Patrick’s Day closure)
- NPS — Fort Pulaski fees (standard pass $10, cashless)