2 days: solo weekend in savannah, ga
Disclaimer: I flew down to Savannah for a solo weekend. I didn’t want to rent a car just for myself, so you will see that I relied on organised tours a lot. But, if you have a car, you can do a lot of the below on your own and skip the tours if you prefer.
You will see that hotels in Savannah are incredibly expensive. I stayed in this Air BnB that was perfect for me. The host was nice and it was within walking distance of everything in the historic centre.
Day 1: Historic Savannah, Bonaventure Cemetery and Riverboat Cruise
I started my solo weekend in Savannah with my go-to, a walking tour of the historic centre. This is the easiest way to get familiar with a new place and learn about the history of the city. The tour I chose lasted 1.5 hours approximately and was a good starting point. The tour also took us to Chippewa Square, the setting of the famous chocolate box scene in Forrest Gump.
I then made my way to the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. The Cathedral is beautiful inside, but especially outside. There is a nice coffee shop, called Mirabelle Cafe, just in front of the Cathedral. I enjoyed a grilled cheese sandwich and lemonade at the outdoor table.
The next stop is one of the musts in Savannah, Georgia, a trip down to Bonaventure Cemetery. I booked this walking tour with transportation. I recommend taking the tour, because listening to the storytelling while admiring the oak trees and the funerary statues will really make the Cemetery come to life!
On the way back, I stopped at the most famous ice cream spot in Savannah, Leopold’s ice cream. Don’t get discouraged by the queue outside as it moves quite quickly! I tried their Lavander Cream flavour and it was to die for.
I enjoyed the ice cream on the way to the river to catch the riverboat cruise at sunset. You can get your ticket here and I definitely would recommend booking in advance. The cruise is a nice way to relax, whilst enjoying the beautiful view of the Savannah skyline. You can also get refreshments on board if you wish.
Day 2: Tybee Island, Forsyth Park and Paranormal Tour
If you have a car, you can definitely go to Tybee Island alone. Since I chose not to rent one, I used this Tybee Island Dolphin tour. The tour included: a boat tour to see the dolphins, a lunch stop at the Crab Shack, and some down time at the beach. Since I was alone, the waiter at the Crab Shack gave me the best table right in front of the water. The place is magical and I even had a curious racoon come and say hi! For beach time, remember to bring a towel if you want to lie down on the pebbly sand. You can leave it on the van during the other stops.
You should be back in Savannah around 5 pm, which is a great time to explore Forsyth Park. This is a 30-acre park that is great to explore, walk around, or chill on the grass with a good book. When I was there, I found a temporary exhibition of pavement drawings that added to the magic of the place. There are also some nice spots for a quick bite or drink, like Collins Quarter at Forsyth.
Finally, for the last activity in Savannah, I booked a Paranormal, Ghost Walking tour. I am not a believer myself, but Savannah is supposed to be the most haunted city in the United States. Thus, this kind of walking tour is a must! Even as a skeptical, I enjoyed the story telling. It was entertaining like reading a great collection of short stories.
This sadly concluded the time I had in Savannah, Georgia. If you have some extra time, the American Prohibition Museum would be an interesting stop to fit in!
