Savannah has 22 historic squares, one of the South's most celebrated restaurants, the oldest continuously active Black church in North America, and a justified reputation as the most haunted city in the United States. The historic district is compact — Forsyth Park to the Savannah River is just over a mile. These 11 attractions cover the essential range: sacred sites, ghost tours, museums, James Beard food, and the Forrest Gump bench.
12 destinations selected from a curated US travel dataset — prioritized by regional distribution, visitor significance, and independent research. Must-see and Worth-the-detour ratings reflect relative value within Georgia.
Jump to: Parks & Squares · Sacred Places · Haunted Savannah · History & Art · Food & Drink · Film Locations · Planning Notes · Also worth visiting
Parks & Squares
Forsyth Park Must-see
Chatham County · Savannah
A 30-acre park in the heart of the historic district. The central 1858 Italianate fountain — modeled on the Fontaine de la Concorde in Paris — is surrounded by live oak trees draped in Spanish moss and is the most photographed spot in Savannah. The park hosts the Saturday farmers market, outdoor concerts, and festivals year-round. The southern Fragrant Garden section is quieter and less trafficked. Free, open daily.
Right for all visitors; the 1858 fountain and live oak canopy make it the defining image of Savannah. Essential for every trip — a 30-minute minimum regardless of other interests.
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Sacred Places
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Must-see
Chatham County · Savannah
A Roman Catholic cathedral on Lafayette Square with twin Gothic spires visible across the historic district. The parish dates to 1799, making it one of the oldest Catholic congregations in Georgia. The interior has French stained glass windows and a Venetian mosaic sanctuary floor. The original 1873 building was destroyed by fire in 1898 and rebuilt in the same Gothic design by 1900. Free to enter during open hours; donations requested.
Right for architecture and religious history visitors; the French stained glass interior is among the finest in the South. A 20-minute stop worth making for all visitors to the historic district.
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Bonaventure Cemetery Must-see
Chatham County · Savannah
A 100-acre Victorian cemetery on a bluff above the Wilmington River, established 1846. The allée of live oaks draped in Spanish moss creates an atmosphere unlike any other cemetery in the Southeast. John Berendt's 1994 book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil put it on the national map — the "Bird Girl" bronze statue that appeared on the cover is now inside the Jepson Center at Telfair Museums. Songwriter Johnny Mercer, who wrote "Moon River," is buried here. Free, open daily 8am–5pm.
Right for photography enthusiasts, history travelers, and literary visitors drawn by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; the live oak allée is the strongest single visual experience in Savannah outside the squares. Worth the drive even without the literary connection.
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The First African Baptist Church Worth the detour
Chatham County · Savannah
Founded in 1773 by enslaved people, this is the oldest continuously active Black congregation in North America. The current building was completed in 1859. Diamond-pattern holes in the floor were carved by enslaved people — the church was a stop on the Underground Railroad, and the holes provided ventilation for people hidden in the space beneath. A National Historic Landmark. Free to visit; guided tours of the building available.
Right for anyone with an interest in African American history and the Underground Railroad — one of the most historically significant sites in the entire South. Essential for history-focused travelers.
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Congregation Mickve Israel
Chatham County · Savannah
The third oldest Jewish congregation in the United States, founded 1733 by Sephardic settlers who arrived with Oglethorpe's original Georgia colony. The Gothic Revival synagogue on Monterey Square was completed in 1878 — the same square as the Mercer Williams House. A small museum holds Torah scrolls and documents brought from London by the original settlers in 1733. A National Historic Landmark. Tours available; open to visitors on weekdays.
Right for Jewish history travelers and visitors interested in colonial Georgia; one of the oldest Jewish congregations in the United States. A focused 45-minute stop — the 1733 Torah scrolls and the small museum are the highlights.
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Haunted Savannah
Sorrel Weed House (Haunted Ghost Tour) Must-see
Chatham County · Savannah
A Greek Revival mansion on Madison Square built in 1840, considered Savannah's most actively haunted address. The house's history includes the suicide of the owner's wife and the alleged murder of an enslaved woman on the property. Paranormal investigators have documented unusually high activity, and it has appeared on multiple ghost-hunting television programs. Evening candlelight tours are the most atmospheric. Located at 6 West Harris Street.
Right for ghost tour enthusiasts and visitors drawn by Savannah's paranormal reputation; the evening candlelight format is the strongest version. Less essential for visitors not interested in the haunted history angle.
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Moon River Brewing Company (Most Haunted Pub) Must-see
Chatham County · Savannah
A craft brewery operating inside an 1821 building on Bay Street — formerly a hotel, post office, and cotton warehouse. Multiple paranormal investigators have named it the most haunted bar in the United States; Ghost Adventures and other television programs have filmed episodes here. The taproom is open daily and the beer is good regardless of ghost activity. Separate evening ghost tours of the building are available on weekends.
Right for craft beer drinkers and ghost tour visitors wanting a casual bar stop; the taproom is worth it regardless of paranormal interest. The building's history adds atmosphere the beer alone doesn't need.
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History & Art
Mercer Williams House Museum Worth the detour
Chatham County · Savannah
An Italianate mansion on Monterey Square, built 1860, named for songwriter Johnny Mercer's great-great-grandfather. The house became the central setting of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil — the 1994 John Berendt book that spent four years on the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted into a 1997 Clint Eastwood film. Museum tours cover the first floor; the second floor remains a private residence. Located at 429 Bull Street.
Right for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil fans and Italianate architecture enthusiasts; the Berendt connection makes it more interesting than the building alone. The exterior is worth seeing even if skipping the paid tour.
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Telfair Museums (Jepson Center & Telfair Academy) Worth the detour
Chatham County · Savannah
Three venues under one admission ticket: Telfair Academy (an 1818 Regency mansion, the oldest public art museum in the Southeast), the Jepson Center (a contemporary building opened 2006), and the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters. The Jepson Center holds the original "Bird Girl" bronze sculpture — the Bonaventure Cemetery icon made famous by the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil cover. Combined admission covers all three sites.
Right for art travelers and visitors who want to see the Bird Girl bronze from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; the combined ticket covers the oldest public art museum in the Southeast. Strong for a half-day culture-focused itinerary.
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Food & Drink
The Grey Must-see
Chatham County · Savannah
A James Beard Award–winning restaurant in a 1938 Art Deco Greyhound bus terminal on MLK Jr. Blvd. Chef Mashama Bailey won the 2022 James Beard Outstanding Chef award — among the highest recognitions in American dining. The menu is "Port City Southern": Gulf oysters, smoked meats, and coastal Georgia ingredients. Reservations book weeks out. Chef Mashama Bailey won the 2022 James Beard Outstanding Chef award — the highest individual honor in American dining.
Right for serious food travelers willing to plan ahead; a James Beard Award-winning restaurant that requires reservations weeks out. Not a casual stop — book before the trip or accept that you'll be passing by.
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Leopold's Ice Cream Must-see
Chatham County · Savannah
Founded in 1919 by three Greek immigrant brothers — Peter, George, and Stratton Leopold. Still owned and operated by the Leopold family over a century later. Famous for Tutti Frutti, LuLu's Lemon Custard, and seasonal flavors using Georgia peaches. The Broughton Street location has memorabilia from the original shop. Lines form in season but move quickly. A Savannah institution that has outlasted most of the historic sites on this list.
Right for all visitors; a 100-year-old family institution that has become part of the Savannah experience. The line moves quickly — worth 20 minutes regardless of other interests.
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Film Locations
Chippewa Square (Forrest Gump Bench Location) Must-see
Chatham County · Savannah
One of Savannah's 22 historic squares, anchored by a 1910 bronze statue of James Oglethorpe — the English general who founded the Georgia colony in 1733. The park bench scenes from Forrest Gump (1994) were filmed here; the actual bench used in filming is now on display at the Savannah History Museum two blocks away on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The square is otherwise a quiet shaded stop in the middle of Bull Street. Free, always open.
Right for Forrest Gump film location visitors and Savannah square enthusiasts walking the Bull Street corridor. Note: the actual bench used in filming is at the Savannah History Museum two blocks away, not here.
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Planning Notes
Where to stay: The Historic District is the right base — all squares, Forsyth Park, and the waterfront are walkable. The Victorian District just south of Forsyth Park tends to be slightly less expensive. Parking in the historic district is metered and competitive; most hotels charge for it separately.
Book ahead: The Grey requires dinner reservations weeks in advance — book when your dates are confirmed. Sorrel Weed House ghost tours sell out on weekends; reserve at least a week ahead. Bonaventure Cemetery guided tours fill on weekends. Daytime walk-ins are fine for most other attractions.
Getting around: The Historic District is designed for walking — all squares and most attractions fall within a 20-minute walk. Bonaventure Cemetery is 4 miles northeast, Wormsloe Historic Site is 10 miles south — both require a car. The free DOT shuttle runs between City Hall and the waterfront.
