Savannah Self-Guided Discovery: Historic Squares & Southern Charm

Immerse yourself in the enchanting beauty of Savannah where time seems to slow beneath canopies of live oaks draped in silvery Spanish moss. This self-guided walking tour leads you through one of America's most beautifully preserved cities, following the town plan laid out by General James Oglethorpe in 1733 — a grid of elegant squares that remains virtually intact nearly 3 centuries later. Wander past Forsyth Park's fountain, stand in the square where Forrest Gump sat on his bench, and peer through wrought-iron gates at the Mercer-Williams House, scene of the events immortalized in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Savannah's story stretches from its founding as a utopian colony through the Civil War, the cotton trade that built its grand mansions, and the civil rights movement that shaped its modern identity. Along the way, encounter soaring cathedrals, vibrant art markets, the cobblestone riverfront where cotton ships once docked, and the beautiful Bonaventure Cemetery.

1. 1

   Forsyth Park

   1 hour

   Begin at Savannah's beloved 30-acre park, anchored by the ornate white fountain installed in 1858 and modeled after fountains in Paris and Cusco. The park is a gathering place for locals jogging beneath live oaks, artists painting en plein air, and visitors marveling at the surrounding Victorian architecture.

2. 2

   Chippewa Square

   1 hour

   Walk north on Bull Street to the square where the famous bus stop bench scenes from Forrest Gump were filmed. While the bench is now in the Savannah History Museum, the square itself is lovely, anchored by a statue of Oglethorpe and flanked by the historic Savannah Theatre, one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in America.

3. 3

   Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

   30 min

   Enter the largest Roman Catholic church in Georgia, a stunning French Gothic cathedral with soaring twin spires, intricate stained-glass windows imported from Austria, and a hand-painted ceiling. Built originally in 1876 and rebuilt after a fire in 1898, the cathedral is a masterpiece of ecclesiastical architecture.

4. 4

   Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home Museum

   Pass by

   Visit the square where celebrated Southern Gothic author Flannery O'Connor spent her childhood. Her family home at 207 East Charlton Street is now a museum dedicated to her life and literary legacy. The square's centerpiece fountain and surrounding townhouses create one of the most picturesque settings in the historic district.

5. 5

   Mercer Williams House Museum

   Pass by

   Stand before the grand Italianate mansion on Monterey Square made famous by John Berendt's bestselling book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Built in 1868 for General Hugh Mercer, the house later became the scene of a sensational murder trial in the 1980s. The carriage house museum is open to visitors.

6. 6

   Owens-thomas House & Slave Quarters

   Pass by

   Tour one of the finest examples of English Regency architecture in America, designed by young architect William Jay and completed in 1819. The house features an intact urban slave quarters, one of the oldest and best preserved in the South, providing an unflinching look at the lives of enslaved people who lived and worked here.

7. 7

   Johnson Square

   1 hour

   Stroll through Savannah's oldest and largest square, laid out by Oglethorpe in 1733 as the first of his planned squares. The towering monument at its center honors Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene, whose remains are buried beneath it. Surrounding the square are Christ Church and several important colonial-era buildings.

8. 8

   River Street Market Place

   30 min

   Descend the steep cobblestone ramps to the Savannah River waterfront, where restored cotton warehouses now house restaurants, shops, and galleries. The ballast stones that pave the street were carried as ship ballast from Europe. Watch massive container ships glide past just feet away as they navigate the river channel.

9. 9

   City Market

   30 min

   Explore this four-block open-air market between Ellis and Franklin Squares, occupying the site of Savannah's original market since the 1700s. Today it features art studios where you can watch artists work, restaurants with outdoor dining, live music venues, and shops selling local crafts and Savannah-made goods.

10. 10

    Telfair Academy

    Pass by

    Visit the oldest public art museum in the South, housed in a neoclassical mansion designed by William Jay in 1819. The Telfair family donated their home and art collection to the city in 1886. The museum features American and European paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts in magnificently preserved period rooms.

11. 11

    Bonaventure Cemetery

    1 hour

    Drive east to this hauntingly beautiful cemetery on a bluff overlooking the Wilmington River, where massive live oaks create cathedral-like canopies over elaborate Victorian monuments. Featured prominently in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Bonaventure is the resting place of songwriter Johnny Mercer, poet Conrad Aiken, and other notable Savannahians.

12. 12

    Wormsloe Historic Site

    Pass by

    End your tour at this breathtaking colonial estate south of downtown, entered through a mile-long avenue of over 400 live oaks that form a natural cathedral of arching branches. The site preserves the tabby ruins of the oldest standing structure in Georgia, built by Noble Jones, one of the colony's original settlers who arrived with Oglethorpe in 1733.

• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.