Savannah Attractions
The squares are the backbone. Add one timed interior, then choose whether a drive-out site deserves the time.
Written by Alex H., Charleston-based travel editorUpdated September 2026
For a first visit, I would build one downtown route around the Historic District and choose no more than one site outside the walkable core. Forsyth Park and River Street connect on foot. Bonaventure Cemetery, Fort Pulaski and Wormsloe usually mean a car, hired ride or a tour with transport stated in the ticket.
Compare the main attractions
| Place | Entry model | Time assumption | Transport issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historic District and squares | Free public streets and 22 surviving squares; individual sites charge separately | Half a day for one route and one interior | Walk or use free downtown transit; River Street is below the bluff |
| Forsyth Park | Free | 20–30 minutes for the fountain; about an hour for a broader loop | Walk south on Bull Street or use current transit |
| River Street | Free waterfront; shops, food and cruises cost separately | About an hour without a cruise or meal | Steps, ramps and two public elevator locations connect to Bay Street |
| Bonaventure Cemetery | Free entry and parking; tours optional | One to two hours with a mapped route | East of downtown; large grounds and dirt or gravel interior paths |
| Telfair Museums | One ticket currently covers three sites for seven days | Choose one or two sites rather than rushing all three | Owens-Thomas entry is capacity-limited and first come |
| Fort Pulaski | National Park Service currently charges $10 for visitors age 16+ | Allow a substantial half-day with driving | Car-dependent on the Tybee road corridor |
| Wormsloe | State historic-site admission; verify the current fee | Allow time for the museum, tabby ruins and trails | Car-dependent south-east of downtown |
Visitor details checked September 1, 2026. My time ranges assume no special event and only the activity named in each row.
Historic District: start with one line through the squares
The official National Register district extends from the Savannah River to Gwinnett Street and from East Broad Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Bull Street provides a clear first route through several squares toward Forsyth Park. River Street needs a separate access plan because it is below Bay Street. Read the district guide before trying to join the riverfront and south end in one walk.
Telfair's ticket covers different kinds of visit
Telfair Museums currently sells a $30 adult ticket valid for seven days across Telfair Academy, the Jepson Center and the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters. The museums are closed Monday. Owens-Thomas visits take about 45–60 minutes and are first come within a limited daily capacity. The main house has no elevator, although the official access page identifies ramped portions of the site. Check the museum directly before choosing a day or relying on a particular entrance.
Choose one drive-out site by subject
Bonaventure is a cemetery visit organized around burial history, monuments and named graves. Wormsloe has tabby ruins, a museum, trails and a colonial-life area. Fort Pulaski interprets a masonry fort and Civil War history within its coastal setting. Fort Pulaski combines geographically with Tybee Island; Bonaventure and Wormsloe should not be added to the same day merely because both sit outside downtown.
My first-visit combination
Walk a line through the central squares, book one Telfair interior, and finish at either River Street or Forsyth Park. Save Bonaventure, Wormsloe or Fort Pulaski for a different block.
About this guide
Researched and written by Alex H.
Alex edits Savannah Visitor Guide and its sister publication, Charleston Visitor Guide. For this page, he checked the visitor details against the responsible agencies, museums, transit providers, restaurants, or operators on September 1, 2026. Recommendations are based on the stated tradeoffs; first-hand experience is identified only when it can be documented.
Meet Alex and read the editorial policy →
Primary sources
Schedules, fees and policies can change. Use the linked source when a current detail will affect your visit.
- Metropolitan Planning Commission: Savannah Historic District — district and map
- City of Savannah: Forsyth Park — park facts and amenities
- City of Savannah: Bonaventure Cemetery — hours, address and entry
- Bonaventure Historical Society visitor FAQ — free admission, parking and path details
- Telfair Museums: hours and admission — three-site ticket and operating days
- Telfair Museums: Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters — tour timing and access details
- National Park Service: Fort Pulaski fees — current admission
- Georgia State Parks: Wormsloe — site features and visitor notices