50+ Best Savannah Date Ideas for Every Couple

Savannah's most photographed spot. The 1858 fountain sits at the north end of Forsyth Park and is surrounded by live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Walk the park's 30 acres, grab coffee at the Forsyth Park cafe, and sit on a bench to people-watch. The Saturday farmers market (9am-1pm) makes for a great morning date with local produce, pastries, and crafts.

Savannah has 22 remaining squares, each with its own character, monuments, and shade trees. Chippewa Square is where the "Forrest Gump" bench scene was filmed. Monterey Square holds the Mercer-Williams House. You can hit about 8-10 squares in a 2-hour walk through the Historic District. No map needed, just wander. Every block brings something new.

More garden than graveyard. This Victorian-era cemetery sits on a bluff over the Wilmington River with massive live oaks, Spanish moss, and hauntingly beautiful sculptures. Made famous by "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," the Bird Girl statue replica is a popular stop. Free to visit, open dawn to dusk. Walk the main riverside path for the best views.

The 1.5-mile oak-lined avenue at Wormsloe Historic Site is one of the most photographed spots in the South. Over 400 live oaks form a canopy that filters the light into something magical. The site also has a small museum and tabby ruins from the 1730s. Admission is $10 per adult. Visit in the morning for softer light and fewer crowds. It's about 15 minutes from downtown.

Often called the prettiest street in America, Jones Street runs east-west through the Historic District with cobblestones, row houses with iron railings, and thick tree canopy overhead. Walk it from one end to the other, and you'll pass colorful doors, small gardens, and quiet corners that feel completely private. No tour needed. Just walk, talk, and take it in.

The twin spires of this French Gothic cathedral rise over Lafayette Square and make it one of the most striking buildings in the city. Inside, the stained glass windows imported from Austria are breathtaking, and the painted ceiling took years to restore. Free to visit during open hours (usually 9am-5pm weekdays). Even if you're not religious, the architecture alone is worth the stop.

The Italianate mansion made famous by "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" sits on Monterey Square. Guided tours ($12.50 per adult) take you through the main floor with period antiques and personal items from Jim Williams. The carriage house has a gift shop and museum. Tours run every 30 minutes and last about 35 minutes. The story behind the house is as good as the house itself.

Savannah's oldest cemetery dates to 1750 and holds over 9,000 burials, including signers of the Declaration of Independence and victims of the 1820 yellow fever epidemic. The headstones tell wild stories, and Union soldiers famously altered the dates on many graves during the Civil War. Open 8am-8pm daily. Free. It's right in the Historic District and makes a great stop before dinner.

A Savannah institution since 1943. You'll sit at communal tables with strangers and pass bowls of fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, and cornbread. Cash only, $25 per person, and the line starts forming by 10:30am for the 11am opening. Lunch only, Monday through Friday. The line IS the experience. Bring cash and patience.

Chef Mashama Bailey's restaurant sits inside a restored 1938 Greyhound bus station and serves Southern-inspired dishes with global influences. The art deco architecture is stunning. Try the Port City Southern menu for the full experience. Reservations are essential, and you'll want to book 2-3 weeks out for weekend dinners. The Diner Bar (first come, first served) is a solid backup if the dining room is full.

Open since 1919 and now on Broughton Street, Leopold's is Savannah's most beloved ice cream shop. The Tutti Frutti and Lemon Custard are house specialties made from the original recipes. The line wraps around the block on weekends, but it moves fast. A single scoop is around $5. The retro interior has movie memorabilia from owner Stratton Leopold's film career. Go on a weekday afternoon to skip the crowd.

The cobblestone waterfront along River Street has converted cotton warehouses that now house seafood restaurants and bars. Vic's on the River serves upscale Lowcountry cuisine with river views. Chart House has shrimp and grits worth the price. Walk the full length of River Street after dinner for a view of the cargo ships passing through. The waving girl statue at the east end is worth the walk.

This Broughton Street shop lets you taste over a dozen varieties of artisanal honey for free, from tupelo to lavender to wildflower. They also have a mead bar with honey wine tastings ($8 for a flight). The staff walks you through the flavors and the stories behind each honey. Pick up a jar for a sweet souvenir. The honey cocktails at the tasting bar are surprisingly good.

Congress Street has quietly become Savannah's cocktail corridor. Artillery is a standout with Prohibition-era cocktails in a moody, brick-walled space. The Alley Cat Lounge is a speakeasy hidden behind an unmarked door (ask at The Florence for directions). Cocktails run $12-18 each. Since Savannah is an open container city, you can grab a to-go cup and walk between bars. Few cities let you do that.

This Melbourne-inspired cafe on Bull Street serves some of the best brunch in Savannah. The lavender mocha is their signature drink, and the fried chicken benedict is worth the trip alone. The patio tables on the square are prime real estate on weekends, so arrive before 10am or expect a 30-minute wait. Brunch entrees run $15-22. The avocado smash is excellent too.

Every Savannah restaurant has its own version. The Olde Pink House serves theirs with country ham and red-eye gravy in a gorgeous 18th-century mansion. A'Lure goes coastal with a pan-seared approach. 17Hundred90 does a classic Lowcountry version. Make it a mini crawl and try two or three spots. Entrees run $18-35. The Olde Pink House needs a reservation. The others are easier to walk into.

The cobblestone riverfront runs about half a mile along the Savannah River with old cotton warehouse buildings converted into shops, galleries, and restaurants. Grab a to-go drink (open container, remember) and walk east past the waving girl statue. Watch massive cargo ships pass just feet away. The steep stone steps connecting River Street to Bay Street are part of the charm. Evening is the best time for the lights and atmosphere.

Just 20 minutes from downtown, Tybee Island is Savannah's beach. South Beach near the pier is the most popular, but North Beach is quieter and better for a couple looking for space. Rent bikes at Tim's Bike & Beach Rentals ($15/day) and ride along the shore. Climb the Tybee Island Light Station ($12) for a panoramic view. Grab fish tacos at The Deck afterward. The drive through the marsh is beautiful on its own.

The salt marshes around Savannah are some of the most beautiful waterways on the East Coast. Savannah Canoe & Kayak runs guided tours ($55-75 per person) through Moon River, Skidaway Narrows, and Tybee Creek. You'll paddle past herons, egrets, and maybe a dolphin. Tandem kayaks are available. Morning tours have calmer water and better wildlife sightings. No experience needed.

The Savannah Riverboat Company runs sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises, and Sunday brunch cruises from the River Street dock. The narrated harbor cruise ($30 per person) takes about an hour and gives you views of the historic waterfront from the river. Dinner cruises ($55-65) include a buffet and live entertainment. The sunset timing is best in spring and fall when the light hits the riverfront just right.

Beyond the famous oak avenue, Wormsloe has nature trails that wind through maritime forest along the Skidaway River. The trails total about 2 miles and are flat, shaded, and easy. You'll see the tabby ruins of Fort Wimberly and salt marsh overlooks. Included in the $10 admission. Bring bug spray in summer. The trails are much less crowded than the main entrance and feel like you have the place to yourselves.

This beautifully preserved Civil War-era fort sits on Cockspur Island between Savannah and Tybee Island. Walk the moat, climb the ramparts, and check out the cannon placements. The battle damage from 1862 is still visible in the brick walls. Admission is $10 per person. The surrounding salt marsh and trails add another hour of exploring. Combine it with a Tybee Island trip since it's right on the way.

Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are resident in the waters around Tybee Island year-round. Captain Mike's Dolphin Tours ($30-40 per person) depart from Lazaretto Creek and run about 90 minutes. Sightings are nearly guaranteed, and the dolphins often ride the boat's wake. Morning tours have calmer seas. The boats also pass through the marsh channels where you'll spot osprey and pelicans. Bring sunscreen and a hat.

Savannah is flat, compact, and built for biking. Rent bikes from Perry Rubber Bike Shop ($20-35 for a half day) near Reynolds Square and cruise the squares, down to Forsyth Park, and out toward the Victorian District. The city is only about 2.5 square miles, so you can cover the whole thing in a few hours. Stop at any square that catches your eye. Bike lanes and low speed limits make it safe and relaxed.

SCAD's museum on Turner Boulevard features rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, design, and fashion. The building itself is striking, combining a historic railroad depot with modern glass additions. Admission is $10 per person (free for SCAD students). Exhibitions rotate every few months, so there's always something new. The Walter O. Evans Collection of African American Art is a permanent highlight. Plan about 90 minutes.

Part of the Telfair Museums family, the Jepson Center is Savannah's modern and contemporary art museum. The Moshe Safdie-designed building on Telfair Square is a work of art itself with its soaring glass atrium. Exhibitions range from Southern photography to interactive installations. Admission is $15 and includes same-day access to the Telfair Academy next door. Open Tuesday through Sunday.

The oldest public art museum in the South (opened 1886). Housed in a Regency-style mansion designed by William Jay, the Academy features American and European paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts in period rooms. The Sylvia Shaw Judson sculpture garden is a quiet, romantic spot. Your $15 Jepson ticket gets you in here too. The rooms feel like walking through a 19th-century Southern home.

Savannah's ghost tours are a date night staple. Blue Orb Tours runs a well-reviewed walking tour ($25 per person) that covers the most haunted spots in the Historic District. Hearse Ghost Tours ($28) put you in an actual converted hearse. The stories blend real history with paranormal accounts, and the dark squares at night genuinely give you chills. Book the latest time slot for the spookiest atmosphere. Great for a romantic date with a twist.

Savannah is one of the few cities in the U.S. where you can walk around the Historic District with an open alcoholic drink (in a to-go cup, no glass). Start at Abe's on Lincoln on Congress Street, grab your drink in a plastic cup, and stroll to Kevin Barry's Irish Pub. Hit The Rail Pub for live music and Pinkie Master's for dive bar vibes. The walking is easy, the squares are beautiful at night, and you don't need a cab between stops.

Casimir's Lounge, tucked inside the Mansion on Forsyth Park, hosts live jazz most nights in a dark, intimate setting with velvet seating and moody lighting. No cover charge on most nights. Cocktails run $12-16. The room is small enough that you feel like you're at a private show. Arrive by 8pm on weekends to get a good seat. It's the kind of place where you lean in close and talk between songs.

City Market is Savannah's open-air entertainment district with restaurants, art galleries, and live music on the courtyard stage most weekends. Local bands play blues, jazz, and rock with no cover. Grab food from one of the surrounding restaurants, order a drink in a to-go cup, and find a spot in the courtyard. The SCAD galleries on the Market have rotating student and faculty shows worth browsing. Thursday through Saturday nights are busiest.

Savannah has several rooftop bars with views over the squares and river. Top Deck at the Cotton Sail Hotel overlooks River Street and the Savannah River. Peregrin at the Perry Lane Hotel has craft cocktails and sunset views over the Historic District treetops. Rocks on the Roof at the Bohemian Hotel has the best river views in town. Cocktails run $12-20. No reservations at most, so arrive before sunset for the best spots.