10 Famous Things In Savannah, Georgia - Updated 2024

things savannah ga is famous for
Gertrude
Gertrude 
Updated
| 5 min read

Savannah, Georgia is a charming southern escape that’s full of culture, art, amazing architecture, trendy boutiques and of course, ghost stories. The town is also full of attractions including Forsyth Park, Bonaventure Cemetery and Wormsloe Historic Site. You will also love the food culture in Savannah, where cuisine comes straight from the coast and cocktails are served with every meal. For those who are visiting Savannah for the first time, you may be confused about what to do given the vast amount of attractions available. For that reason, check out some of the famous things in Savannah, Georgia, United States, for you to explore during your visit to this destination.

1. Riverboat cruises (from USD 40.0)

Are you looking for the perfect idea on things to do during your visit to Savannah, Georgia? You have to try out the Riverboat cruise. During this tour, you will get to choose from a variety of types for your Savannah Riverboat Cruise which includes lunch, brunch, dinner, sunset and moonlight cruises. As you get entertained, you will also get to learn more about Georgia’s ‘First City’ from the perspective of the locals and then maybe eat a meal as you enjoy the sunset. Please note that lunch and brunch cruises are fully narrated tours while dinner, sunset and moonlight cruises are not narrated.

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Savannah Riverboat Sightseeing Cruises

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

2779 reviews

2. Lovely squares

Pulaski Square, Savannah
Source: Photo by user Michael Rivera used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Savannah is famous for its 22 squares which provide both visitors and locals with a little greenery surrounded by charming churches, thriving businesses, museums and historic houses. In the beginning, Savannah had 24 squares but thanks to the development of the town, two were lost. Some of the squares, including Ellis Square, have been redesigned and now, they are more appealing than ever before. During your weekends, you are guaranteed to find kids playing with a football, or even people enjoying a picnic. The Squares in savannah are also a perfect spot for intimate, outdoor weddings. While you are here, you can never get enough of Savannah’s squares.

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3. Crab cakes

Coyne's Famous Crab Cakes
Source: Photo by user Larry Hoffman used under CC BY 2.0

Crab cakes are really famous in Savannah, Georgia. They are prepared using fresh crab meat and other ingredients including bread crumbs, mustard, mayonnaise, eggs, and seasonings. The crab cake is normally baked, deep-fried, grilled or boiled before being served. There are so many ways to enjoy crab cake; it can be served cold with spicy cocktail or rémoulade for dipping and to serve it hot. Crabmeat can also be cooked with hot seasoning and stuffed into the backshells. So what are you waiting for? Before the season ends, visit Savannah and try out the burger-shaped crab cake, the best treat you can have in Savannah.

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4. Shopping markets

City Market
Source: Photo by Flickr user Katherine Bowman used under CC BY 2.0

During the early days, locals at Savannah would be forced to head to Atlanta or Charleston if they wanted to do real shopping. But today, If there’s one thing that Savannah isn’t short of, it is places to go shopping. You will find some of the best shopping options from boutiques, art galleries and antique stores to national retail chains, department stores and discount superstores, leaving first-time explorers with a hard time choosing which store to buy from. So what are you waiting for? Grab your pals and come poke around the town markets for arty items such as foodstuffs, Fair Trade jewelry, upcycled furniture, paintings and pottery.

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5. Oak trees

Savannah
Source: Photo by user J. Miers - User: ... used under CC BY-SA 4.0

No tour in Savannah, Georgia, would be complete without a few key stops to see these magnificent live oak trees. Ever since the early 19th century, Savannah has been planting trees in its streets and squares, so that they can provide beauty to the town as well as to provide shade in the summer. Today, the town is full of oak trees swathed with picturesquely gothic drapes of Spanish moss, giving the city the most charming and typical sights. The most famous tree is the 400-year-old Oak Tree that is believed to be the oldest in Georgia. It is located in the middle of The Majestic Oaks.

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6. Culinary delight

Cherry Point Chefs show off culinary skills at Chef of Quarter competition 120621-M-EG384-216
Source: Photo by user Lance Cpl. S.T. S... used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

There are a lot of things to like about the beautiful, sultry and romantic Savannah, Georgia, and if you are a foodie, Savannah has got your back. This is a city with a long list of fabulous restaurants, all offering unique and delicious food on every corner, some even with outdoor dining. In Savannah, you will find plenty of culinary choices and the specialty is, naturally, southern cooking of any type. To have the ultimate experience, you have to visit for a weekend and explore the best foodie spots or stay for a week and explore every joint that can be found in Savannah.

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7. Antebellum architecture

Antebellum style house (Barrington Hall)
Source: Photo by user Gsmith used under CC BY 2.5

The romantic Savannah city enchants both locals and visitors with ornate, grand and unabashedly beautiful antebellum architecture. Most tourists from all over the world tour Savannah just to see and learn the history behind the antebellum architecture. The most common characteristics of this architecture include huge pillars, large windows, a balcony that runs along the outside edge of the house, and grand entrances at both the front and rear of the home. Even though the homes belonged to the rich, today, many of the historic homes in Savannah have been converted into restaurants, museums or inns and they are open to the public. Antebellum architecture is a true Southern treasure.

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8. St. Patrick's Day parade

St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2013 (8567549414)
Source: Photo by user GoToVan used under CC BY 2.0

Savannah, Georgia, is known for hosting one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade. St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah is normally a lively day rich in Irish heritage, good music, delicious food, fun and lots of green. People from all over the Southeast flock in Savannah just to participate in the parade in form of dances, marching bands, and people riding elaborate floats. Being one of the most famous events held in Savannah and the whole country in general, both the locals and visitors are normally looking forward to this all year. St. Patrick’s Day parade is normally held on March 17th. Make sure you don’t miss the next one.

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9. Music festivals

Sugarland at CMA Music Festival 2008
Source: Photo by user Xcalibr used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

If you love music festivals, get ready to get your mind blown by the ultimate music festival experience in Savannah, Georgia. It does not matter what you prefer listening to, you are guaranteed to experience all kinds of music at Savannah’s many music festivals, from swinging jazz to heavy metal and everything in between. The festivals host both up-and-coming bands and world-class musicians from around the globe. Savannah has a festival that will shake your musical soul. Come and bring your friend along and you might just discover your new favorite musician or band. Music festivals in Savannah are held all year long.

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10. Haunted history


Since it was founded in 1733, Savannah has maintained its reputation of being among the most haunted cities in America. The town has experienced it all, be it Civil War battles, Revolutionary War battles, deadly diseases and fires. If you are brave enough, come and discover the Savannah Terrors stories buried in hidden old diaries and beneath towering monuments that have been unearthed by experienced tour guides. While you cannot be guaranteed apparition sighting on every tour, you will certainly enjoy this experience. The tours are normally family-friendly, but due to their frightening authenticity, children under the age of nine might get too scared.

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Discover Savannah

If you are looking for famous things in Savannah you are in luck. Savannah has several things that will blow out your mind. Check them above and enjoy

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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