Top Budget-Friendly Activities in Savannah

Enchanting Savannah is a vibrant city known for its commitment to sustainability, featuring solar panels on municipal buildings and abundant greenery lining the streets. Plus, every March, the city turns emerald to honor its rich Irish Catholic heritage.

Despite its lush environment and stunning architecture, this southern gem doesn’t require a hefty budget to explore the Hostess City. Thanks to various initiatives by local officials and tour operators, Savannah opens its doors to all travelers, particularly those on a budget. Beyond the numerous free attractions, there are also cost-effective experiences that provide lasting memories without a big price tag.

Typical Daily Expenses

• Double occupancy hotel room: $120-$160/night in downtown Savannah during off-peak season (Jan-Feb)

• Coffee: $2-$3

• Latte: $4.50-$7

• Sandwich: $8-13 at places like Quinn’s, Clary’s Cafe; otherwise $12-$16

• Nice dinner for two: $50 per person at top restaurants/gastropubs (appetizer, entree, dessert); otherwise about $25 per person

1. Travel During Off-Peak Season: January-February

For travelers seeking the best accommodation rates, it's wise to visit outside the bustling spring and summer months, particularly from March to August. This period is filled with festivals, including the famous St. Patrick's Day celebrations in March, making it the busiest month. Nearby warm-weather festivals, like Music and Taste on the Harbour in Hilton Head and the Tybee Island Beach Bum Parade, draw crowds throughout peak season, which is then followed by hurricane season until November. Thus, the early months of the year are perfect for budget-conscious travelers.

Avoid the throngs, traffic, and expenses by planning your trip for January and February. This is a prime time for a romantic escape to the Hostess City, as crowds are sparse. The weather is pleasantly cool, and numerous events take place, such as the annual Martin Luther King Day Parade, Valentine-themed cycling races, half-marathons, and performing arts showcases. With milder temperatures, it's also an excellent opportunity to explore outdoor sites like Bonaventure Cemetery and Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

2. Travel Around the City for Free

Chatham Area Transit offers a complimentary trolley and ferry route for public use. Within the historic district, the top destination for visitors, the Express Shuttle serves about 20 stops, including one near City Hall, where riders can transfer to the free Southern Belles Ferry. Passengers can also enjoy free WiFi on the trolley.

The ferry transports commuters across the river to the Savannah Convention Center and down to the famous Waving Girl Statue, which honors Florence Martus, a notable figure in Savannah's history, who waved to ships entering the harbor for over 40 years.

For a small additional fee, visitors can utilize the Chatham Area Transit bus service to venture beyond downtown.

3. Immerse Yourself in the City’s Rich History for a Reasonable Fare

While called Free Savannah Walking Tours, this 90-minute guided experience requires a $2-3 upfront fee per person to cover the tour tax, with visitors encouraged to give a tip based on their satisfaction afterward. A gratuity of around $20 is typically recommended. It's an excellent option for anyone eager to understand the landscape and discover the events that have influenced Savannah’s rich 200-year history.

Guides take visitors from America’s oldest square, Johnson’s Square, to the Forsyth Park Fountain, sharing captivating stories such as how Union General William T. Sherman “presented” Savannah to President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, or how American Revolutionary figure Catharine Greene collaborated with Eli Whitney to invent the cotton gin. The tour is both informative and impartial, offering various viewpoints on instances where historical facts remain unverified.

4. Enjoy Sightseeing Without Breaking the Bank

Savannah is one of around 50 cities featured on the WalknTours app, an economical walking tour platform that allows visitors to explore sights at their leisure. In Savannah, two tours are available: The Old Squares of Savannah, which begins at Johnson Square, and The Ghosts of Savannah, a spooky walking tour starting at Moon River Brewing Company.

Visitors can download the location-based audio tour app from the App Store or Google Play, with each tour priced at $6.99. The app lets you pause and save tours to revisit later if your exploration is interrupted. Tours do not have an expiration date.

5. Enjoy Affordable Bites at City Market

Visit City Market, a charming open-air market situated in a cluster of refurbished warehouses. This lively space features restaurants, bars, boutique shops, and art galleries, making it a perfect spot for a budget-friendly meal, such as a slice of New York-style pizza from Vinnie Van Go-Go’s.

Pair your meal with a delightful taste of Georgia wine from the Georgia Tasting Room, which offers a $3 tasting that lets you sample six local wines, including the region's signature sweet Muscadine varieties.

On weekends, you can enjoy live performances in the courtyard of City Market.

6. Enjoy Free Sweet Samples

Among the many shops in City Market is Savannah’s Candy Kitchen, enticing visitors with its display of indulgent desserts and vibrant candies.

If you happen to walk by at the right time, you can snag a complimentary praline sample. These delightful nut clusters, featuring Georgia's famed pecans, are coated in a rich blend of caramelized sugar, butter, and cream.

If you miss out here, head over to River Street Sweets, just a few blocks away, which showcases decadent displays filled with chocolate and caramel, alongside barrels brimming with sugary bonbons.

7. Save on Attractions with Museum Passes

Georgia’s Coastal Heritage Society manages six museums in Savannah. They offer a “See 3 Sites” Pass, giving you access to three museums of your choice for a discounted price of $21 (individual tickets usually cost $10 each). History enthusiasts can enter, exit, and re-enter a site at their leisure within the same day. Each museum highlights different aspects of the area's heritage.

For instance, the Savannah History Museum guides visitors through a timeline of the city’s history, starting from prehistoric times. Special exhibits celebrate Savannah’s vibrant jazz scene and the cotton industry, which fueled much of its economic growth. An interactive section allows children to engage with exhibits. On weekends, costumed educators lead tourists to the battlefield of the 1779 Siege of Savannah.

From this point, you can venture one mile out of town to visit the state’s oldest standing brick fortification, Old Fort Jackson, where live cannon firings occur twice daily. Guides don uniforms from various historical periods depending on the season.

At the Pinpoint Heritage Museum, a former oyster and crab factory, visitors gain insight into the Gullah/Geechee community's way of life. The exhibits highlight the people who sustained this industry rather than the factory itself. Many guides are lifelong residents of the community and some speak Gullah, a Creole language influenced by various West African tongues.

For enthusiasts of art and architecture, Telfair Museums is a must-visit. A standard ticket priced at $25 grants access to all three Telfair-operated museums. Each venue showcases a unique architectural style (modern, neoclassical, Regency) and features distinct art collections and furnishings.

8. Explore the Visit Savannah Website for Offers

While budget-conscious travelers often turn to sites like Hotels.com or Kayak.com for deals, checking the Visit Savannah website is essential. This site, managed by the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, collaborates with local businesses to stimulate economic growth. It showcases some of the best offers from hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and recreational vendors, allowing visitors to access spa discounts, reduced tee times, affordable lodging, and reasonably priced tours.