Savannah in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

There are many things to see and do in Savannah in 3 days, from a boat ride on the river to a ghost tour of the mysterious Bonaventure Cemetery. During your visit you can also sample the specialities of some of Savannah's best restaurants and learn about the history of Georgia's most famous city.

For your second day in Georgia, you'll tour the city by both land and sea. You'll take a beautiful ride on the historic trolley and enjoy the views from the river aboard a boat. You'll also visit the Bonaventure Cemetery, a place steeped in history and unparalleled beauty.

Historical tour of Savannah by land and sea

The second day is mostly dedicated to one of the best things to do in Savannah. This is a historic tour by both tram and boat. First, you'll board Savannah's famous historic trolley car. During a 90-minute trip on wheels, you'll see the main sights of the city.

For example, you'll see the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and Savannah's historic district, which is notable for its perfectly linear construction with more than 20 squares. After the tram tour of the city, you'll board the Savannah Riverboat and cruise along the river. On this second part of the tour, you'll see Old Fort Jackson, a restored 19th-century fort, which today houses the Fort Jackson Maritime Museum.

You'll also see River Street, a collection of buildings that were once cotton warehouses and now house antique shops, boutiques, art galleries, breweries and nightclubs. This two-part tour lasts approximately 5 hours and includes a transfer to your hotel or anywhere else in Savannah.

As it will take up the whole morning and early afternoon, I recommend that you take some snacks or lunch with you for the tour. Keep in mind that the restaurants will have closed their kitchens by the time you return from your tour. So, don't forget your camera and your lunch.

Bonaventure Cemetery

Bonaventure Cemetery is one of the must-see places on your visit to Savannah. You'll have to drive, as it's located just outside the city, more than an hour and a half's walk away. If you drive, it will take you less than 15 minutes to reach your destination. If you don't have your own vehicle, you can also go by bus. You have two options: take the 10 at Oglethorpe & Jefferson EB or take the 31 at Liberty & Whitaker EB.

Bonaventure Cemetery is a beautiful place that looks like something out of a movie. In fact, it's among the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. You can stroll through its gardens with stunning oak trees and beautiful sculptures. Originally, this place was a plantation owned by a British colonel named John Mullryne. However, with the War of Independence, the plantation was turned into a hospital for the French troops.

In 1907, Bonaventure became the cemetery it is today. As such, it is considered one of the most haunted places in Savannah, a city with a reputation for paranormal occurrences. If you are a fan of this subject, I highly recommend a group tour of the cemetery.

The tour is one of the best ghost tours in Savannah. It lasts approximately two and a half hours and is led by Shannon Scott, a specialist in the mysteries surrounding Bonaventure Cemetery.

The first day of your visit to Savannah will be spent among Savannah's best museums, from history museums to children's museums. You'll also dine in true American style and enjoy fine dining at one of the city's best restaurants.

Savannah History Museum

The Savannah History Museum is located on Martin Luther King Jr. Street inside the Roundhouse Railroad Museum. This is the most complete pre-war railroad station in the United States.

At the History Museum you can see permanent exhibits that tell the story of this famous Georgia city's past. You can see the geographic origins of the city and hear the stories of the founders and key figures who made Savannah what it is today.

The museum also shows a short film that summarises the history of the city and its major historical milestones. In addition to all of the above, the Savannah History Museum is home to the bench featured in the famous film Forrest Gump.

Roundhouse Railroad Museum

The Georgia State Railroad Museum, formerly the Roundhouse Railroad Museum, is located in a historic district of the city, adjacent to the Savannah History Museum. The complex dates from 1853, just before the outbreak of the American Civil War. The buildings were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

To this day, places such as the machine shop, blacksmith shop, boiler shop, boiler house, sheds and carpenter shop are still present. Most of these places are open to the public, although there are some that are not accessible to the public.

The site is a prime example of Victorian railway design and features displays of vintage machinery, period locomotives and miniature trains. You can also see the oldest portable steam engine in the United States. After this visit you're sure to want to take one of the best trolley tours of Savannah.

Savannah Children's Museum

If you're taking the whole family to Savannah, you must visit the Children's Museum. This is one of the best things to do with kids in Savannah. It is an educational activity centre where children can have fun and learn at the same time. The museum is open air, making it one of the best things to do in Savannah in May, as you can take advantage of the great weather in Savannah during this month.

All of the museum's exhibits are designed to explore the creativity of young children. Children will find everything from slides and vegetable gardens to mazes. Since it is located in the historic centre of the city, you can easily reach it from any of the historical and tourist attractions. The Savannah Children's Museum is open Monday through Saturday during the summer months. In the winter, hours are Wednesday through Sunday.

Have lunch at Crystal Beer Parlor

Just an 8-minute walk from the Children's Museum is one of Savannah's best restaurants, the Crystal Beer Parlor. The Crystal Beer Parlor is one of the top ten restaurants in the city and has both an indoor area and an outdoor terrace. Before you go, be aware that the parlour is closed on Mondays. As you might guess from its name, the house speciality is beer.

In fact, The Crystal Beer Parlor was one of the first establishments to sell alcohol after the repeal of Prohibition. On the walls of the restaurant you can see some of the city's most famous citizens. The interior and décor of the place have been altered minimally to keep the aesthetics of the time.

Here you can eat fried green tomatoes, blue cheese fries, American onion rings, chicken wings or one of the house specialties: creamy crab stew.

SCAD Museum

A 6-minute walk from the restaurant is the Savannah Museum of Art: the SCAD Savannah. It is a relatively new place, founded in 2002. It is part of the Savannah College of Art and Design and was formerly known as the Earle W. Newton Center. Newton Center. The museum has an exhibition of more than 4,500 pieces. Among them you can see all kinds of works of art, from sculptures, to paintings, drawings, photographs or haute couture garments.

In addition, part of the museum is dedicated to African-American culture, in which the art and literature of this culture is highlighted. The SCAD Museum has a 250-seat theatre, an outdoor projection screen, a tactile orientation table and a café where you can have a drink. As if that wasn't enough, the building in which the museum is housed is also worth seeing. It's a Greek Revival-inspired building dating from 1856.

Green-Meldrim House

The Green-Meldrim House is an 8-minute walk from your previous stop and is one of the finest examples of neo-gothic architecture in the southern United States. The building dates from 1850 and is named after Sir Charles Green, a British army officer who became the general officer commanding the Northern District.

The historical significance of this house lies in the year 1864, in December, when Sir Charles Green gave up his house as headquarters for the Federal Army's occupation of Savannah.

It was from the Green-Meldrim house that the well-known telegram was sent in which General William Tecumseh Sherman offered President Lincoln the city of Savannah as a Christmas present. The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

Today, it belongs to St. John's Church and is occupied as a parsonage. The house is located in Madison Square and can be visited on Tuesdays and Fridays, except on certain dates for special celebrations that you can check on their website, from 10am to 4pm, so I recommend you visit it right after lunch.

Telfair Academy

A 10-minute walk from Green-Meldrim House is the Telfair Academy. Neoclassical in style, this imposing two-storey mansion dates from 1819 and was designed by William Jay. At the Telfair Academy you'll find two period rooms from the 19th century and an exhibition of 19th century American and European art, ranging from paintings to decorative arts.

The house stands on the site of the former colonial government house, which was the residence of Royal Governor James Wright. It is so named because it was designed for Alexander Telfair, a Scottish merchant with a large fortune. It was in 1875, when the heiress to the family fortune, Alexander Telfair's sister, donated the house to the Georgia Historical Society to be turned into a museum.

It was at this time that the architect Augustus Schwab remodelled the building and added an extension for the art collection. Thus, the Telfair Academy is considered the oldest public art museum in the southern United States and the first museum in the country founded by a woman.

Dine at one of Savannah's best restaurants

45 Bistro is located at 123 Broughton Savannah Street, an 8-minute walk from your previous stop. It has a bar area and a dining area. Dining hours are Monday to Thursday from 6:00 to 9:30 and Friday and Saturday from 6:00 to 10:30.

As it is one of the best restaurants in the city and is usually in great demand, I recommend that you book in advance. The restaurant is located in a historic Savannah home, The Marshall House.

The building was built in 1852, but was renovated in 1999 to improve the quality of the facilities without losing its original essence. Today, in addition to being a restaurant, 45 Bistro is known as an event venue. Among its dishes, I can highlight the wild Georgia shrimp with local stone-ground grits and crispy onion rings. You can also opt for tuna or veal carpaccio; as well as wild mushroom risotto, gorgonzola fries or black Angus filet mignon.

On your third and final day in Savannah, you'll travel to the old Wormsloe Plantation, a place of great significance in American history. You'll stop for lunch at one of Georgia's most famous chain restaurants and walk along its perfectly linear streets in search of its most famous squares.

Get to know Wormsloe

Wormsloe is a former plantation on the outskirts of Savannah, about 20 minutes' drive from the historic centre. If you want to travel by bus, it will take you about an hour to reach your destination. You can take either the 31, 4 or 28, depending on where you are in the city.

Wormsloe covers a total of 822 acres, which equates to 330 hectares. It was once owned by one of Georgia's founders, Noble Jones. You'll be amazed by the avenue lined with tall oak trees and the ruins of the old house that remain to this day. You'll also see the museum, which depicts day-to-day life in colonial times, so you can imagine what the plantation was like in its day.

Have lunch on the way to your next stop

When you get in the car on your way to your next destination, I recommend stopping at a Chick-fil-A, a chain of fast-food restaurants founded in Georgia. Their speciality is the chicken sandwich with two pickles on toasted butter bread and you should definitely order it during your visit.

The Chick-fil-A restaurant I recommend along the way is located on Victory Drive Shopping Plaza, a 10-minute drive from Wormsloe.

Touring Savannah's Historic Squares

Just a ten-minute walk from the restaurant is Pulaski Square. This is one of 22 squares that make up Savannah's historic district. It is named after Count Casmir Pulaski, a Polish Revolutionary War hero. The reason I recommend the place is its beautiful oak tree, which is one of the most beautiful in the city.

Next to Pulaski Square is Madison Square, named after US President James Madison. In the square you will find old cannons from the former Savannah Armoury. It's famous for its haunted and ghostly history, so it's perfect for you if you're a big fan of paranormal happenings. Since the square has multiple restaurants, I recommend you sit down for a coffee and a rest at one of them.

Afterwards, walk to Lafayette Square, home to the charming Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and the Semiquincentenary Fountain. From there, you'll go to Calhoun Square. Nearby, you'll see plenty of restaurants, so stop at one of them to end your trip on a high note.

As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Savannah in 3 days. Although it's a short period of time for a trip to the city, if you know how to organise yourself well, you'll be able to make the most of your days in Savannah. If you're staying a little longer in the city, you can always look for more options for fun things to do in Savannah.