The Savannah Bucket List: 25 Things Everyone Should Do at Least Once

Savannah has a way of turning "we'll get to it eventually" into a genuine bucket list. Between the oak-canopied squares, the river, and a food and arts scene that punches way above its size, this is a city where longtime locals still find new favorite spots. Whether you've lived here for years or you're weighing a move to the Hostess City, here are 25 Savannah experiences worth checking off.

Arts & Culture

1. Tour SCAD. The Savannah College of Art and Design isn't just a school — it's woven into the identity of the entire city. A walk through campus takes you past beautifully restored historic buildings repurposed into academic spaces, and a stop at the SCAD Museum of Art (housed in a restored 19th-century railroad depot) is one of the best contemporary art experiences in the Southeast. Pair it with a stop at shopSCAD on Bull Street for one-of-a-kind pieces made by students and alumni, and catch the free SCADstory short film for a quick, engaging history of the college and the city. It's consistently one of the most underrated things to do here — genuinely amazing, and easy to spend a full afternoon on.

2. Take a riverboat cruise. Whether it's a narrated sightseeing tour, a sunset cruise, or the full dinner-and-live-music experience aboard the Georgia Queen or Savannah River Queen, seeing the city from the water gives you a totally different perspective on how Savannah was built and why the river still drives so much of daily life here.

3. Explore the Telfair Museums. The Telfair Academy, the Jepson Center, and the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters make up the oldest public art museum in the South — a single ticket gets you contemporary art, historic decorative arts, and one of the best-preserved Regency-style homes in the country.

4. Catch a show at the Lucas or Trustees Theatre. Both historic downtown venues host film festivals, concerts, and performances year-round and are architectural gems in their own right.

5. Walk through the Jepson Center's rotating exhibits. It's the modern counterpart to the Telfair Academy and consistently brings in contemporary work worth a repeat visit.

History & Landmarks

6. Wander the squares of the Historic District. Savannah's 22 remaining squares are the heart of the city's layout and each has its own personality, monuments, and shade. This is the free, walk-it-yourself version of a Savannah bucket list item — just start at one end of the district and go.

7. Visit Bonaventure Cemetery. Made famous by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, this bluff-top cemetery overlooking the Wilmington River is equal parts historic and hauntingly beautiful — one of the most photographed spots in the region.

8. Walk through Colonial Park Cemetery. Right downtown and free to enter, it's a quieter, more compact companion to Bonaventure with graves dating to the 1750s.

9. Tour the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters. One of the best-preserved examples of English Regency architecture in America, with one of the earliest and most intact urban slave quarters open to the public in the country.

10. Step inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. The French Gothic spires are part of Savannah's skyline, and the interior murals and stained glass are worth the visit alone. It's also one of the best free things to do in the city.

11. Visit the First African Baptist Church. One of the oldest Black congregations in North America, with a documented connection to the Underground Railroad.

12. Take a ghost tour. Between the cemeteries, the yellow fever epidemics, and centuries of history, Savannah routinely ranks among the most haunted cities in the country. A guided trolley or walking ghost tour is a rite of passage here, skeptic or not.

13. Tour Wormsloe Historic Site. The mile-long, oak-lined entrance dripping in Spanish moss is one of the most photographed drives in the Lowcountry, and the tabby ruins tell the story of one of Georgia's original colonial estates.

Food & Drink

14. Get a scoop at Leopold's Ice Cream. A Savannah institution since 1919 — the butter pecan has a local following for a reason.

15. Sit down for a family-style Southern meal at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room. Expect a line, communal tables, and some of the best fried chicken and sides in the South.

16. Sample honey and mead at Savannah Bee Company. The flagship store downtown offers tastings and is a fun, low-key stop between historic sites.

17. Grab a "traveler" and walk River Street. Savannah's open-container laws make a slow stroll along the cobblestones with a to-go drink a distinctly local experience.

18. Learn the backstory at the American Prohibition Museum. A quirky, well-done deep dive into Savannah's role in Prohibition-era history, with a speakeasy-style cocktail bar to match.

19. Hit up the Forsyth Farmers' Market. Held Saturdays in Forsyth Park, it's the best way to see the local food and maker scene up close.

Outdoors & Neighborhoods

20. Spend a day on Tybee Island. Twenty minutes from downtown, Tybee has the beach, the lighthouse, and a completely different pace from the historic district — a favorite easy day trip for both visitors and locals.

21. Picnic or people-watch in Forsyth Park. The fountain is the postcard shot, but the park itself — with its walking paths, farmers market, and shaded lawns — is where a lot of everyday Savannah life happens.

22. Kayak or paddleboard the marshes. Whether you launch near Skidaway Island or the Wilmington River, getting out on the water is the best way to understand why so much of coastal Georgia's beauty is about the marsh, not just the coastline.

23. Explore Trustees' Garden. One of the city's most walkable food-and-drink neighborhoods, tucked into a historic pocket near River Street.

24. Browse Broughton Street. Savannah's main shopping corridor mixes local boutiques with national retailers in beautifully restored storefronts.

25. Take a carriage ride through the historic district at night. It's touristy, and it's also genuinely one of the prettiest ways to see the squares lit up under the oaks.

Why It Matters If You're Looking to Live Here

A bucket list like this one is really a preview of daily life in Savannah, not just a vacation itinerary. The same squares, riverfront, and arts scene that make for a great weekend are the backdrop for morning walks, weekend farmers markets, and everyday errands if you actually live here. Whether you're drawn to a historic downtown address within walking distance of half this list, or a quieter spot near the marsh with easy access to Tybee, Savannah's neighborhoods each offer a different way to experience everything above.

If any of this has you thinking about making Savannah home rather than just visiting, we'd love to help you find the right neighborhood to match the lifestyle you're after.

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