Solo Trip to Savannah: 2-Day Guide for Women Traveling Alone

I arrived in Savannah alone for two days with two basic questions: Would I like it, and would I feel comfortable wandering around by myself?

By the end of my first afternoon, both questions had been answered. Savannah is almost suspiciously charming. There are oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, beautiful old houses everywhere you look, and 22 leafy squares tucked into the Historic District because apparently one picturesque little park every few blocks simply wasn't enough.

Even better, Savannah was remarkably easy for me to enjoy alone. I took a small-group walking tour, wandered through shops at my own pace, ate outside, talked to locals, and carried a cocktail down the street in a plastic cup, which Savannah permits in parts of downtown and which made me feel surprisingly festive for someone who normally considers returning a library book on time a successful outing.

I never felt conspicuous dining or sightseeing by myself. Savannah turned out to be one of those cities where solo travel makes a lot of sense. It's compact, walkable, full of things to stop and look at, and nobody cares if you spend 20 minutes examining French linens.

Here's what I did during my two days in Savannah, what has changed since my visit, and what I'd add next time.

If you're new to traveling alone, check out my tips on feeling safe and confident.

Two Days in Savannah at a Glance

If you want the short version before the long one, this is roughly how my two days went. Everything below is walkable from the Historic District.

Day One: Morning walking tour to get oriented, lunch on the Neon Fish rooftop, an afternoon wandering the squares and Jones Street, a stop at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, and dinner outside at Collins Quarter.

Day Two: Forsyth Park in the morning, shopping along Broughton Street and the Paris Market, a to-go cocktail from Bar Bubbly, and River Street at golden hour to watch the container ships.

Top Things To Do in Savannah for Solo Travelers

Walking Tour

I started my trip with the two-hour Genteel & Bard Savannah History Walking Tour, which turned out to be exactly the right first move. Savannah looks compact on a map, but after about four squares, three historic houses and six streets named after people who died in 1798, I appreciated having someone explain what I was looking at.

There were about 12 people in my group, and our guide, Ray Christie, used a microphone while we wore headsets. He was knowledgeable without being exhausting about it, which is a narrower skill than it sounds. At one point he played Savannah jazz by Ben Tucker while we walked, a surprisingly lovely touch and substantially better than listening to me wonder aloud whether I had already photographed that same oak tree.

We walked through about six squares, down beautiful Jones Street, and finished near the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. The tour gave me enough history to understand the city and enough geography that I could wander around afterward without constantly consulting my phone.

Low angle view of the Neo-Gothic twin spires of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia — Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist

Genteel & Bard also runs a Savannah Dark History and Ghost Encounter Walking Tour, which I did not take. I am perfectly capable of frightening myself for free. If ghost stories are what floats your haunted boat, that is the one people recommend.

Tip for fellow solo travelers: Look for tours that cap the group size around 10 to 12. They feel more personal and less overwhelming, and you're more likely to strike up a friendly chat.

Forsyth Park

Forsyth Park is a 30-acre park in the Historic District. The iconic fountain sits at the north end, and the walkways leading up to it are lined with Spanish moss draped oaks. My tour guide said that if you hang around that fountain on any given weekend, you will eventually witness a wedding proposal.

Further south there is a large field and a stage where festivals are held throughout the year. I happened to catch live music from the Savannah Jazz Festival while I was there, which was a good argument for checking the event calendar before you book.

Annual events held in and around the park include:

the SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival (April)
the Savannah Jazz Festival (September, and free to attend)
Phil the Park with the Savannah Philharmonic, formerly called Picnic in the Park (usually early October)
the Savannah Marathon (November), which replaced the Rock ‘n' Roll Marathon after that series left town

Dates move every year, so check the Savannah event calendar before you plan around any of them.

Walkway lined with live oaks leading toward the fountain in Forsyth Park, Savannah

Live oaks draped in Spanish moss in Forsyth Park, Savannah

Crowd on the lawn at the Savannah Jazz Festival in Forsyth Park — Savannah Jazz Festival in Forsyth Park

Squares and Houses

If I had to pick my favorite Savannah activity, it would be the least complicated one: walking around looking at things.

Savannah has 22 squares today, surrounded by old houses, churches, monuments and enormous live oaks. The original plan dates to James Oglethorpe's founding of the city in 1733. The squares worked as neighborhood gathering places, market space, firebreaks and militia drill grounds, and the buildings around them were a mix of private homes, churches and businesses. Twenty-four squares existed by 1851. Three were paved over in the 20th century for road projects, and Ellis Square was reopened in 2010 after decades spent as a parking garage, which brought the count back to 22.

Chippewa Square is the one most visitors recognize, because it is where the bench scenes in Forrest Gump were filmed in 1994. The bench was a prop. Nobody expected the movie to be a phenomenon in a year that also had Jurassic Park still fresh in theaters, so when it became one, the city had to go find the thing. It now sits in the Savannah History Museum rather than back in the square, on the reasonable grounds that a pilgrimage site in the middle of a traffic circle is a bad idea.

Monument to James Oglethorpe in Chippewa Square, Savannah, Georgia — Chippewa Square, with its monument to city founder James Oglethorpe

The spot in Chippewa Square where the Forrest Gump bench sat during filming — The spot where the Forrest Gump bench sat during filming

The Savannah Theatre is also on Chippewa Square. It opened in 1818 and is one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the United States. It burned in 1906 and again in 1948, and the Art Deco exterior you see now is from that second rebuild. It still puts on shows.

Art Deco marquee of the Savannah Theatre on Chippewa Square — The Savannah Theatre on Chippewa Square

Jones Street gets called the prettiest street in Savannah, and for once the marketing and the reality line up. It is three blocks of brick townhouses, iron railings and oak canopy, and I walked it twice.

Madison Square in Savannah, Georgia — Madison Square

Oak canopy over Jones Street in Savannah, Georgia — Madison Square

The Mercer Williams House on Monterey Square in Savannah, Georgia — The Mercer Williams House on Monterey Square, central to the book and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Fountain and historic house on Lafayette Square in Savannah, Georgia — Lafayette Square. The story goes that Walt Disney took inspiration from this fountain and the house behind it when designing the Haunted Mansion, though I have never seen that confirmed anywhere official.

Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist

The cathedral sits on the corner of Lafayette Square. The cornerstone went down in 1873 and it was dedicated in 1876. A fire gutted the interior in 1898, and what you walk into today is the rebuild, rededicated in 1900. Even if you are not religious, make time for it. It is free, it is quiet, and it is the kind of beautiful that makes you sit down for a minute.

Stained glass and vaulted ceiling inside the Savannah cathedral

Savannah's Waterfront

River Street is touristy, and I mean that affectionately. There are restaurants, shops, pralines, drinks, cobblestones and people strolling along the Savannah River with absolutely nowhere urgent to be.

The unexpected attraction for me was watching the container ships go by. The Port of Savannah is the fourth-busiest container port in the country and the busiest on the South Atlantic coast, moving approximately 5.7 million containers in 2025. Seeing one of those ships from River Street gives you some idea of the scale. The first one I saw made me wonder whether Amazon had started delivering entire neighborhoods.

Tip: Come just before sunset. It's cooler, less crowded, and the light on the water is worth the walk down. There's plenty of space to sit.

View along River Street and the Savannah River waterfront

Cobblestone walkway beside the Savannah River

Large container ship passing River Street on the Savannah River — One of the container ships heading for the Port of Savannah

Shopping

Shopping solo in Savannah felt like a treasure hunt, with the added bonus of taking my sweet time. No one to rush me, no one to second-guess whether I needed another scarf or ceramic mug. Just me, the smell of old wood floors and candles, and that quiet thrill of finding something special.

Broughton Street Shopping

This street reminded me of the old downtowns of my childhood, way back in the 1970s. Shops, shoe stores, restaurants and ice cream. I half expected to find a Kinney Shoes.

The Paris Market

I gravitate toward locally owned shops, and the corner store known as The Paris Market is the sort of place that makes you slow down. I wandered through rooms of books, jewelry, bath products, housewares, stationery and vintage curiosities, all beautifully arranged under soft lighting. I could have spent an hour there just browsing. There is also a small cafe with a few tables.

Salt Table

I also loved the Salt Table, a locally owned Savannah company selling spice blends, salts, oils, vinegars and other Georgia products. The spice blends made particularly good souvenirs because, unlike many things I buy while traveling, they did not require me to later explain why I had brought home a decorative ceramic bird.

Update, September 2026: The downtown Salt Table shop I visited is closed while the owners look for a new location. The Pooler factory shop, the Jekyll Island store and the two shops at the Savannah airport are all still open. Check their website before you build this into your walking route.

Storefronts along Broughton Street in Savannah, Georgia — Broughton Street

Shop window display on Broughton Street, Savannah — Broughton Street

Long line of customers outside Leopold's Ice Cream on Broughton Street, Savannah — The line for Leopold's Ice Cream on Broughton Street. I passed. There is also a Leopold's at the airport with no line, which is where I finally got mine.

Where to Eat Solo in Savannah Without Feeling Awkward

Savannah's dining scene surprised me in the best way: approachable, delicious, and filled with the kind of Southern hospitality that puts a solo traveler instantly at ease.

Collins Quarter

Collins Quarter came up repeatedly when I was researching Savannah, so I made a reservation for dinner at the downtown location on Bull Street. The restaurant mixes Southern food with Australian cafe influences, which sounds like the beginning of a very specialized international incident but works beautifully.

I sat outside at a small table that was perfect for people-watching. Eating alone felt completely normal here. The restaurant was lively enough that I didn't feel conspicuous, but not so loud that I had to pretend to be fascinated by my phone between courses.

I started with burrata and followed it with steak. This was not one of those solo dinners where I nobly ordered a salad and contemplated personal growth.

Outdoor seating at Collins Quarter restaurant on Bull Street, Savannah — Burrata starter with poached apples, bourbon apple butter, pickled raisins and brioche

Collins Quarter restaurant exterior in Savannah, Georgia — Burrata starter with poached apples, bourbon apple butter, pickled raisins and brioche

Bar Bubbly

I stumbled on this champagne bar while shopping around Broughton Street, and I mean that in the navigational sense rather than the alcohol sense. I had not had a drink yet. I went in because it looked too good not to.

The owner greeted me and then sat down with me to walk through the place and the menu, which is not something that happens to me often at home. I ordered a Babbling Brooke Spritz to go, walked back out carrying a lavender-blue cocktail, and kept sightseeing. Savannah had now combined historic architecture, shopping and a portable cocktail, and frankly there was very little left for the city to prove.

Interior of Bar Bubbly champagne bar in Savannah, Georgia — Lavender infused tequila, a splash of blueberry schnapps, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and bubbly

Lavender-blue Babbling Brooke Spritz cocktail at Bar Bubbly, Savannah — Lavender infused tequila, a splash of blueberry schnapps, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and bubbly

Exterior of Bar Bubbly near Broughton Street in Savannah

The Neon Fish Rooftop at Sorry Charlie's

Sorry Charlie's wasn't originally on my list. A clerk at the Salt Table told me I needed to see the rooftop, and since one of the great pleasures of traveling alone is being able to completely change your plans because a stranger in a spice shop told you to, I went.

The rooftop overlooking Ellis Square is now called The Neon Fish. I grabbed a high-top near the railing and had lunch with views across the rooftops toward the Savannah River.

I ordered a burger, listened to the music and watched Savannah below me. With a rooftop view like that, I had plenty to look at besides my phone, which is really the gold standard for solo dining.

Rooftop bar at Sorry Charlie's overlooking Ellis Square in Savannah

View across Savannah rooftops from the Neon Fish rooftop bar

Lunch at the rooftop bar at Sorry Charlie's in Savannah, Georgia

Practical Details for Getting Around Savannah

Getting in from the airport. Savannah/Hilton Head International is about 8 miles northwest of the Historic District, roughly a 20 minute drive. I took a Lyft and it was uneventful in the way you want airport transport to be.

Do you need a car? Not for the Historic District. I walked everywhere for two days and never wished I had one. You would want a car, or a tour, for the day trips out to Bonaventure Cemetery and Wormsloe.

The to-go cup rules. Savannah is one of a handful of US cities where you can legally carry a drink down the street, and there are actual rules. The drink has to be in a plastic cup of 16 ounces or less, no bottles, cans, mugs or flasks, and you have to stay inside the Historic District. Bars will pour your drink into a to-go cup if you ask. Check the city's current ordinance for the exact boundaries before you test the edges of it.

When to go. Spring and fall are the comfortable months. Summer in coastal Georgia is hot and humid in a way that makes a walking city considerably less appealing. I went in September and got about 70 degrees every day, which is close to ideal for a city you see entirely on foot.

Walking after dark. I'll be straight with you, because this is the question I get asked most. I did not do much of it. My evening walking was the short stretch between my hotel and dinner, and that felt completely fine. I can't tell you how the rest of the Historic District feels at ten at night, because I wasn't out in it. If evenings out are a priority for you, ask your hotel where they would and would not send you. They will tell you.

Spanish Moss: Neither Spanish Nor Moss

You can't walk through Savannah without noticing the Spanish moss hanging off the oak trees. It is practically the city's signature accessory. It is also not Spanish, and not moss.

It is native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, not Spain.
It is a bromeliad, which puts it in the same family as the pineapple.
It does not kill trees. It uses them for support and takes its water and nutrients from the air.
The name may have started as an insult. The story goes that French explorers thought it looked like the long beards of Spanish conquistadors and called it Barbe Espagnol, Spanish beard. The Spanish fired back with Cabello Frances, French hair. The French version is the one that stuck, and Spanish beard eventually softened into Spanish moss. I have never found this sourced to anything firmer than repetition, so file it under good story rather than documented history.

So: not Spanish, not moss, related to a pineapple. Savannah continues to deliver.

Where I Stayed, and Where I'd Stay Now

The Douglas

When I visited Savannah I stayed in this 1853 building, then called The Ballastone Inn. It has since been taken over, remodeled and rebranded as The Douglas. What hasn't changed is the location, right at the corner of Bull Street and Oglethorpe Avenue in the middle of the Historic District. The rooms have been modernized, and from everything I can see the character of the building survived the process. Rates have climbed a long way since my stay and now start around $450. If the budget allows it, it is worth a look.

East Bay Inn

If I were booking Savannah today and wanted something in a more normal price range, I'd go with the East Bay Inn, built in 1852. It sits near the riverfront on East Bay Street, in the middle of the Historic District and a short walk from the shops, the restaurants and the cobblestones. Rooms start around $200.

What I Didn't Make Time For

Two days in Savannah barely scratches the surface, and the part I skipped is the part that matters most. Savannah was one of the main ports of the Atlantic slave trade in Georgia, from the repeal of the colony's ban on slavery around 1750 until Georgia prohibited importation in 1798. The domestic trade continued long after that. In March 1859, 436 enslaved men, women and children were sold over two days at the Ten Broeck Race Course just outside the city, to settle one plantation owner's debts. It was one of the largest single sales of enslaved people in American history, and it is remembered as the Weeping Time.

I walked past a lot of beautiful houses in two days without stopping to think about who built them.

Next time, The Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters is first on my list. The quarters there are among the best preserved urban slave quarters in the South, and the museum interprets the lives of the people who lived in them rather than treating them as a footnote to the architecture.

If you travel the way I do, and you want the place you are standing in to make sense, go find these stories too. They are part of what made Savannah what it is.

Savannah Solo Travel FAQ

Is Savannah a good city for a solo female traveler?

It was one of the easiest US cities I have done alone. The Historic District is compact and walkable, there are people around, and nobody looked twice at a woman eating by herself or taking her time in a shop. I will say that my own evening walking was limited to the block between my hotel and dinner, so I can only speak for daytime with any authority. Use the same judgment you would use anywhere, and read my solo travel safety tips if you are new to this.

Is two days enough time in Savannah?

Two days is enough to see the Historic District properly and not feel rushed. It is not enough to add Bonaventure Cemetery, Wormsloe, Tybee Island or a serious museum day. If you can give it three or four days, do.

Do you need a car in Savannah?

Not to see the Historic District. I walked the whole two days. You would want a car or a tour for anything outside downtown.

Can you really walk around Savannah with a drink?

Yes, within the Historic District, in a plastic cup of 16 ounces or less. No bottles, cans, mugs or flasks. Bars will pour it into a to-go cup for you.

When is the best time to visit Savannah?

Spring and fall. Summer is hot and humid, which is a real problem in a city whose main attraction is walking around outside. I went in September and had about 70 degrees every day, plus the Savannah Jazz Festival in Forsyth Park, which I had not planned for and would now plan for on purpose.

What I'd Do Again, and What I'd Add

I'd do the walking tour first again, without hesitation. I'd go back to the Neon Fish rooftop, and I'd spend another hour in the Paris Market doing nothing productive. I would also repeat the to-go cocktail, which I consider one of Savannah's genuine contributions to American civic life.

What I'd add: the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters, a day trip to Bonaventure Cemetery, and the Wormsloe Historic Site. If you have more time than I did, put those on the list from the start.

Savannah turned out to be an easy city to visit alone. I never felt as though I needed someone with me in order to enjoy a restaurant, take a tour or wander into a shop. If anything, being solo meant I could change plans whenever something interesting appeared, which happened approximately every 11 minutes.

If you've been to Savannah, tell me what I missed. I already have a return-trip list, but there is always room for one more restaurant, historic house or completely unnecessary ceramic mug.

Lobby of Savannah Hilton Head International Airport with trees and park benches — The best airport lobby I have walked through

Savannah airport lobby divided into small park-like squares echoing the city plan — The lobby is divided into little park-like squares, just like the city

Map of Mentioned Places in Savannah

If you're new to traveling alone, check out my tips on feeling safe and confident.