Free Things to Do in Savannah, Georga

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If you’re looking for free things to do in Savannah, GA then this is the post you want to read. We have collected the top things to do that are not only fun, but are also educational. 

Your Guide to Free Things to Do in Savannah

Visit the Squares of Savannah

When General James Oglethrope landed in Savannah in 1733, he was the architect of the city streets and planned out the squares.  The 22 squares are all free to visit of course and provide lush greenery and interesting history. Here are our top squares to visit: 

  1. Forsyth Park: This is where the famous fountain that’s used to represent Savannah is located and is the perfect photo location for your group. There’s also a public playground and large expanse of space to have a picnic as well. 
  2. Chippewa Square: was made famous by the film Forrest Gump and is where Actor Tom Hanks sat on the bench. The bench is no longer there and can be viewd in the Savannah History Museum (included with TourPass). 
  3. Monterey Square: A large statue of Native American Chief Tomochichi and his grave site are located here as well. 

River Street

Is located along the Savannah savannah skyline River and is where merchant ships unloaded and loaded the cotton and goods brought from overseas and also shipped abroad. The buildings along River Street were where cotton was stored and Cotton Factors where the people who bought and sold cotton and controlled the prices of the valuable commodity. 

Today you can stroll River Street and enjoy the many merchant shops, restaurants, bars and take a Savannah Riverboat Cruise (included on TourPass). 

 

 

Tour Pass Logo Want to save money and visit all that Savannah has to offer? If so, then we recommend purchasing TourPass Savannah. You can purchase a 1-day pass which will more than pay for itself by visiting only 3 attractions. 

The City Market

city market City Market is a favorite among visitors and locals alike. An ode to the original City Market, which was used by farmers and traders in the 18th century to sell their goods, the open-air market has a little bit of something for everyone. There are several gift shops that boast an array of Savannah souvenirs and other goodies, among them All Things Georgia, Trolley Stop Gifts and Cinnamon Bear. Specialty retailers include Twinkle, which features fun fashion accessories, perfumery Scents of Savannah, bookstore Savannah Prose and Poetry, and Savannah Cigars. In addition to great shops, City Market also has a number of places to grab a light snack, sweet treat or hearty meal.

Tybee Island Beach

tybee island beachOnce known as the “playground of the southeast,” this quirky beach town on the Atlantic coast some 20 minutes from downtown Savannah, offers the perfect beach escape. South Beach – the busiest area – extends south from 14th St and features soft sands, mild waves and rotating lifeguards making it an ideal spot for families and light swimmers. Restaurants, shops, bars, hotels and motels are just a few steps away, providing a perfect family experience. North Beach – the closest to Savannah – presents a quieter scene. The sand here is peppered with shells may not be as soft, but the view of Tybee Lighthouse across the road is an added bonus. Access to restaurants, public restrooms and shops is easy at the beach near the Tybee Pier and Pavilion. Attractions on the island include the Tybee Marine Science Center and the Tybee Island Light Station and Museum. Several festivals throughout the year draw lively crowds, among them the Beach Bum Parade in the spring and the Pirates Fest in the fall.

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

St. John Cathedral Dating back to 1799, this is the oldest Catholic Church in Georgia and is the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Savannah. Its current Victorian Gothic form with its imposing twin spires is the result of being rebuilt and reformed to its former glory in 1900 after a devastating fire ravaged it. The building was renovated again between 1998 and 2000. During that time, the 24 distinctive Renaissance-style murals were restored, a new altar and baptismal font crafted from Carrara marble were added, as was a new pulpit with engravings of the four evangelists. Inside, you’ll also find 1904 stained-glass windows from Austria, large carved wooden Stations of the Cross (created in Munich, Germany, and installed in 1900), and a 2,081-lb Noack pipe organ. Visitors are welcome to tour the cathedral daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The public may attend noon mass Monday through Saturday, however, no pictures are allowed during the service.

Bonaventure Cemetery

bonaventure cemetery A visit to a cemetery might not immediately come to mind as a romantic outing, but Bonaventure is no ordinary cemetery. The storied 150-year-old resting place of many of Savannah’s glitterati, perched on a bluff overlooking the Wilmington River was once the site of Bonaventure Plantation. Striking sculptures, monuments and elaborate burial vaults adorn the 160-acres dotted by graceful, moss-draped live oak trees. Visitors can explore mid-19th century gravesites with breathtaking views of the nearby river, or venture further to the Greenwich section and hike the area with its reflection pond, river and marsh. The newer Greenwich section was once the scene of early 20th-century silent films.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center

oatland island wildlife center Although not free (small entrance fee), The Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah is home to more than 150 animals from 50 different species. The animals are exhibited in large natural habitats along a rustic trail through forest and marsh lands. The “Wolf Wilderness” exhibit features gray wolves, armadillos, flying squirrels, screech owls and a selection of reptiles. Along the trail are cougars, bobcats, bison, alligators, red fox and birds of prey. Cows, sheep, goats and rabbits can be viewed in the “Georgia Farm” area. The center is a unit of the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education and is open daily from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The center is located 5 miles east of Historic Downtown Savannah on President Street (Islands Expressway).

Savannah Botanical Gardens

savannah botanical garden Owned and operated by the Savannah Area Council of Garden Clubs, this beautiful botanical garden features an array of diverse plant life, including a rose garden, perennial garden, camellia collection, fern garden, herb parterre, vegetable garden and children’s garden, along with a native plant collection and more. The sprawling green space also features a two-acre pond, peaceful walking trails, an amphitheater and the historic Reinhard House, a 19th-century vernacular farmhouse. The garden is open every day during daylight hours throughout the year. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. The garden’s walkways are largely wheelchair accessible, and benches are located throughout.

Colonial Park Cemetery

colonial park cemetery, savannah Colonial Park Cemetery was established in 1750. Having served as Savannah’s only cemetery for more than a century, the six-acre tract is the final resting place for more than 9,000 Savannah residents who died between 1750 and 1853. Like many cemeteries of the same age, Colonial Park has separate areas for the graves of Jews, Negroes and “strangers.” Many graves are distinguished by special markers placed by the Georgia Historical Commission, highlighting an individual who had special historic significance: 

  • Button Gwinnet Grave – Perhaps the most famous
    person to be interred in Colonial Park is Button
    Gwinnet. A signer of the Declaration of
    Independence, he was killed in a duel with Gen.
    Lachlan McIntosh, who also is buried here.
  • Yellow Fever Epidemic – It is estimated that more
    than 700 people who lost their lives in the tragic days
    of the yellow fever epidemic were laid to rest here,
    many in unmarked graves.
  • Gravestone Wall – Many of Colonial Park’s graves
    are unmarked. Visitors often comment about the
    headstones propped up against the cemetery walls.
    They were cleared by Union soldiers when Gen.
    Sherman used the cemetery as an army camp, and
    their original location was lost to history.

Buy a Savannah TourPass

tour pass mobile pass Visiting free attractions is great, however you won’t get a real feel for the city and learn it’s history without taking a few guided tours. TourPass includes all of the top attractions and museums and by visiting just 3 attractions it will more than pay for itself. View Savannah TourPass info

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TourPass provides access and full admission to the top tours and attractions. After purchasing a pass, you can simply select what you want to do, make reservations and present your pass upon arrival. It’s not all about savings, convenience and ease of use should also be considered. Users can save a considerable amount of money and time by using TourPass. 

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Absolutely and we encourage this scenario since purchasing in advance will allow you to fully research and plan your vacation.

After purchase, when your ready, simply activate your pass for when you’ll be visiting and begin making reservations for that future date (can be today, tomorrow or months away).

No it doesn’t. After purchase on the app you select the activation date for when you’re visiting when you’re ready. Then it will ask you to book your featured tours in advance now for when you’re visiting. You don’t have to make tour reservations in advance if you’re not ready.

We give you complimentary refund protection for 30-days after purchasing. If you’d like to extend refund protection up to 1 year, you can purchase Trip Protection during the purchase process. 

No worries. Visit this page on our site tourpass.com/aggregator – select the date you want to tour and it will show you all of the available times for that day prior to purchasing. Now you can confidently  purchase a pass and book those times.

After choosing a day pass and checking out on our site, you’ll instantly receive instructions to install the app. On the app you can: 

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Yes you can skip days. Once activated, you have a total of 10-days to use however many days you purchased. For example, a 2 day pass activated on Monday….take a break Tuesday and then tour again Wednesday….pass expires at midnight on Wednesday.

Most Feature Tours do and reservations are easily made post-purchase on the app. To ensure tour availability before purchasing, visit this page and search the date you want to tour: https://tourpass.com/aggregator 

Standard Tours do not require reservations. Simply arrive and present your pass upon entry. Everything is paid for with TourPass.

Tours are designed to be visited 1x for the entirety of your pass. If for instance you’d like to do the Hop on Hop Off Trolley (Savannah + St. Augustine), then you could check-in on a second day which would use another of your featured tours.

Standard Tours can only be checked into 1x per person for the entirety of your pass.

Yes, we don’t restrict how many feature tours you can visit per day….we do restrict how many total you can choose which is determined by the # of days you select: 1-day = 2 featured. 2-days = 3 and 3-days = 4 featured.

Yes, after purchasing we instantly send instructions to install our app. On the app, you can select the upgrade option and add more days or people to your pass.

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