4 Days in Savannah, Georgia: A Kid-Free Itinerary for the Perfect Adult Getaway
Four Days in Savannah, Georgia Without Kids
My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary by taking a four-day trip to Savannah, Georgia (plus one day in Saint Augustine, FL), and I can’t wait to tell you all about it! We stayed in Savannah for an extended period in 2018, and ever since we left, I’ve been desperately trying to get back there.
Savannah has so much going for it that it’s pretty hard to pinpoint precisely what makes the city so beautiful and exciting. From the rich history to the incredible culinary scene, stunning architecture, and vibrant artistry–there really is so much to love about Savannah.
Initially, when we had planned this trip, it was going to be a seven-day adventure. But balancing our kids’ school schedule and finding somewhere for them to stay proved more challenging than we anticipated, so we had to cut it down to four days. But even with a shortened stay, I’m so glad we did this trip because we had such a great time!
In this post, you’ll find our itinerary, including some of our favorite places to eat, grab a coffee, and go sightseeing. As always, with these travel blogs, please check the websites of the places listed in case things have changed.
Friday – A Half Day Spent With Pirates
Our connecting flight got delayed, so we got into Savannah around 4 pm. We stayed in a super cute Airbnb near Oglethorpe Square, which put us within walking distance of many great places on Bay St & Broughton St.
After dropping off our luggage, we walked to The Pirates’ House on E Broad St for dinner. We visited The Pirates’ House the last time we visited Savannah, and I was happy to be back.
The Pirates’ House is a historic restaurant and tavern, established in 1734 (nearly 300 years ago!) and is located just a few blocks away from the Savannah River. Given its location so close to the water, the inn became a famous rendezvous for pirates and sailors. Urban legends state that many men drank too much at The Pirates’ House and woke up the following day on a ship surprised to be sailing the seven seas!
After dinner, we took an evening stroll down E Broughton Street, which is quite lively at night. We didn’t stop at Leopold’s this trip, but it’s great. If you liked Sweet Moses (an old ice cream shop in Cleveland that has since closed), you’d probably love Leopold’s.
Saturday - Cathedrals, Liège Waffles, & Art at Forsyth Park
On Saturday, we walked over to the gorgeous Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist on Bull St. While the congregation traces its origin back to the 1700s, the cornerstone for the present Cathedral was laid in 1873. It was designed in a High Victorian Gothic style that incorporated French building traditions.
It’s truly beautiful inside and out and is definitely worth visiting if you appreciate Gothic architecture and religious iconography.
Right across the street from the cathedral is Mirabelle Savannah, which has THE BEST WAFFLES I’VE EVER TASTED! They’re Liège waffles, which hail from the streets of Belgium. The naturally fermented dough has a brioche-type quality with these tiny little pearls of sugar inside–the texture and the taste are absolutely superb!
After enjoying our coffee and waffles, we walked around Lafayette Square. Across the square sits Flannery O’Connor’s childhood home, which is available for tours. We didn’t take the tour on this trip, but we did the last time we visited Savannah, and my husband, who is a bibliophile, really enjoyed it (though it was pretty short).
One thing I love, love, love about Savannah is the architecture and the beautiful squares around the city. Savannah was founded by James Oglethorpe in 1733. The first squares were created to provide colonists space for practical reasons like militia training, but over the years, they have developed and grown into these beautiful oases. There are twenty-two squares in the Savannah Historic District that span less than one half square mile.[1]
Most of the squares have fountains or statues, and some are surrounded by historic landmarks. Chippewa Square is where the famous opening scene from Forrest Gump was filmed. [2]
We spent the rest of our afternoon walking to different squares to enjoy their serene beauty. Thanks to all of its beauty and proximity, Savannah is such a walkable city that we didn’t drive anywhere on Saturday. We pretty much walked to every place we visited that day (nearly 23,000 steps!), and it was so nice to move at our own pace and not worry about parking.
Eventually, we ended up at Forsyth Park, which isn’t one of the squares but is a 30-acre park that is a must-visit if you find yourself in Savannah! We happened to be there on a Saturday just in time to walk through their farmer’s market, which happens every Saturday from 9 am-1 pm. [3] It was so fun to get a sense of the culture and vibe of Savannah by strolling through the market with all of the local vendors. There were some incredibly talented artists (no surprise since SCAD is nearby!), and made for such a lovely Saturday.
After spending some time in Forsyth, we headed to the Savannah River Walk on River Street. While we aren’t really beach people, we love a good river walk and being near the water. Savannah’s river walk is about a 2-mile stretch on the southern end of the Savannah River. There are around seventy shops and twenty-some restaurants. Be warned, though, that the cobblestone steps and alleys have been known to be hazardous!
As the day winded down, we strolled through some more squares and saw some historic places like The Olde Pink House on our way to dinner at FraLi Gourmet, where we had the BEST Italian food!
FraLi Gourmet is located near Chippewa Square. It’s a no-frills, hole-in-the-wall type setting, so if you’re looking for something high-end fancy, you probably want to look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for blow-your-mind authentic, homemade pasta? You can’t go wrong at FraLi Gourmet! It’s family-owned and is truly a hidden gem.
We finished our night with a pleasant evening stroll back to our AirBnB, and if you think Savannah is gorgeous in the daytime, you just have to see it during Golden Hour. It’s mesmerizing!
Sunday - Day Trip to St. Augustine, FL
On Sunday, we decided to spend the day in St. Augustine, Florida, a two-hour and forty-five-minute drive. Stay tuned as we’ll be sharing about our day in St. Augustine in another blog post coming soon.
Monday - Duck Diners, Bookstores, & Tybee Island
Monday morning, we had breakfast at Little Duck Diner next to Ellis Square. This super cute “vintage-chic diner” is reminiscent of dining cars from the ‘20s and ‘30s.
On the other side of Ellis Square, you’ll find City Market. Savannahians have been going to City Market for centuries to buy goods and services. Spread across the four city blocks, you’ll find restaurants, bars, shops, and studios. It’s a fun, lively scene and is great for leisurely browsing around. If you visit, be sure to stop into Savannah’s Candy Kitchen and Byrd Cookie Company for some free samples (I bet you don’t leave with just samples!).
After breakfast, we made our way back to the Savannah Riverwalk. We hadn’t made it the whole way during our last visit, and we had a lot more time, so we decided to visit again to try to find some souvenirs to bring home for our kiddos.
We really enjoyed browsing the River Street Market Place, an open-air market built in homage to the open-air markets that would have stood on River Street in the mid-1800s. There are more than 70 vendors between the two buildings. It's definitely worth a visit, and it’s also near the famous Waving Girl Statue.
We walked from the Waving Girl Statue up to The Paris Market on West Broughton Street. Housed in an 1874 Victorian Grocery, The Paris Market is one of the most beautiful shops in all of Savannah. I loved browsing the shop while sipping my chai latte from the upstairs cafe.
After The Paris Market, we drove over to Books on Bay, which is the cutest vintage bookstore in Savannah! They have books from the 1500s-1900s (including a first edition Gone With The Wind!) We talked to the owner, Betsy, while we were there. She’s super sweet and has a genuine love for books. If you’re a book lover, I would say this little shop is absolutely a must-visit!
After visiting Books on Bay The Sequel we walked around the corner to Jones Street—regularly referred to as the most beautiful street in America. [4] The brick paved streets and gorgeous homes make it pretty difficult to disagree.
Our last stop for the day was Tybee Island. My husband really wanted to catch the sunset at Tybee Island, so we hopped in the car and made the 30-minute drive. We stayed on Tybee Island years ago, so we were familiar with the area. It’s definitely a beach town, with lots of fun little beachside shops and restaurants. After browsing some of the souvenir shops, we parked at the Tybee Beach Pier & Pavilion and went down to the beach for sunset.
The sunset was beautiful (though it was freeeeeezing when we were there!), and I’m so glad we made the drive to see it.
Tuesday - Mercer Williams House, Wormsloe, and Bonaventure Cemetery
While we were staying in Savannah, my husband finished reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, a non-fiction book that follows the story of prominent Savannah socialite Jim Williams, an antiques dealer on trial for the killing of Danny Hansford. It’s a really popular book (some Savannahians call it simply The Book) [5] that gives a truly unique glimpse into Savannah culture in the 1980s.
The Book (and movie) highlights several destinations in Savannah, including Clary’s Cafe, Mercer-Williams House, and Bonaventure Cemetery. So, we decided to visit all three places on our last day, starting with breakfast at Clary’s Cafe.
Clary’s Cafe is a historic restaurant known for its breakfast that’s available all day and nostalgic diner atmosphere. We sat at the bar (in nearly the same spot as Luther Driggs in the film) and got great service. Even on a Tuesday morning, Clary’s was lively and bustling with people.
After breakfast, we walked a few blocks over to Mercer Williams House to take a tour of the museum. When we initially had planned our trip, we were planning on skipping visiting the museum after reading some reviews that said it wasn’t really worth the price of admission. But then, on our second to last day, a friend who had recently visited Savannah told us she liked it, so we decided to visit. I’m sure glad we did!
Pictures aren’t allowed inside of the property, so I don’t have any to show all of you. If you want to see inside, you’ll need to visit. But I can tell you that my husband and I both enjoyed getting a close-up look of the beautiful architecture and design that belongs to many Savannah homes. Mercer Williams House has elements of Renaissance Revival, Greek, and Italianate and I think it mixes together for a really unique and aesthetically appealing blend. Another plus for the tour was getting to learn more about James A. Williams, one of earliest preservationists, who was also the subject of The Book. The house is still decorated with pieces from Mr. Williams private collection.
After breakfast, we got in our car and drove to Bonaventure Cemetery, located on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River southeast of Downtown Savannah. This 100-acre property is recognized as one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world thanks to its exquisite, tree-lined avenues and unique sculptures and headstones. This cemetery definitely gives the beloved Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland a run for its money (though I’d still pick Lakeview!).
Our last stop for the day was Wormsloe State Historic Site, most famously known for its gorgeous avenue sheltered by live oaks and Spanish moss. On site is also the tabby ruins, the colonial estate of Noble Jones, a carpenter who arrived in Georgia in 1733 with James Oglethorpe and the first settlers from England. [6]
There’s plenty to do at Wormsloe other than just taking in the breathtaking scenery. You can also interact with historical interpreters during programs and events on certain days. There’s also a museum with artifacts unearthed at Wormsloe. As of spring 2025, the cost of admission is: Adults (18–61): $12.00, Seniors (62+): $9.00, Youth (6–17): $5.75, Children (under 6): $3.25
After Wormsloe, we had to head to the airport. I was sad to be leaving Savannah but felt so grateful for the time my husband and I spent there together. The city (and people!) are so beautiful and lovely, and I hope to be back there someday.
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Savannah, Georgia Without Kids
If you’re dreaming about a getaway filled with charm, history, and unforgettable food, Savannah truly delivers. From river strolls and art museums to bookstores, squares, and sunset beach walks, this Southern gem is packed with experiences that feel both timeless and new.
Whether you’re planning a weekend trip or staying for a few extra days, I hope this post gave you a helpful glimpse into things to do in Savannah, Georgia—especially if you’re traveling without kids. We packed in a lot of adventure, but there’s still so much more to discover, and I already can’t wait to go back.
Have a favorite Savannah spot we should visit next time? Drop us a message—we’re always looking to add to our itinerary for future trips!
