The Best Things to Do in Savannah with Kids: A First Timer’s Guide
There are SO many fun and engaging things to do in Savannah with kids from boat rides, and mysterious cemeteries to vintage trains and picnics in the park!
As you start to plan your coastal Georgia family vacation, you might be wondering what your kids will like the best.
I’m here to help! We live in Charleston, SC, a short 2 hour drive from Savannah, GA, and we make at least 2 trips there a year.
We’ve been able to explore all over the city as our kids go through different stages, and I’m sharing all of my favorite family activities in Savannah here.
Let’s make your first trip to Savannah GA with kids your best family vacation yet!
This post contains affiliates. If you choose to purchase through the below links, I will receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.
Updated 4/2022 | Written 1/2015
Why Visit Savannah GA with Kids?
Stately oaks dripping Spanish moss.
Gentile Southern mansions nestled around small parks.
Artsy students hurrying off to class, sketchbooks clutched in their hands.
Sounds idyllic, doesn't it?
You can find all of this and more on the streets of Savannah, Georgia, one of my top three favorite Southern cities for family travel (Charleston, South Carolina and New Orleans, Louisiana, rounding out the trio).
In short, you should bring your kids to Savannah because there’s so much to do and see.
They’ll love the unique atmosphere, tiny side streets, huge river, and shady squares.
You’ll love the amazing history, learning opportunities, and great food!
Basic Information about Savannah
Our son in his gbPockit stroller in one of Savannah’s squares
Everything you’ll see on this itinerary is the historic district of Savannah, which is bordered by Forsyth Park to the south, East Broad Street on the east, the Savannah River to the north, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to the west.
Savannah is highly walkable, but there is a lot of ground to cover. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a stroller for younger kids.
[As a side note, we LOVE our gbPockit stroller for its size and convenience and are going on year 6 with it!]
The entire city is centered around a series of squares, all of which have huge trees and benches in them.
Use these to take a break from your adventures, and to let your kids run around for a bit.
The squares will occasionally have painters, buskers, sweetgrass flower vendors, or itinerant people in them, but we’ve never had any trouble with anyone bothering us.
Best Family Hotels in Savannah Georgia
Since you’re planning your first trip Savannah Georgia family vacation, I’d recommend staying in the historic downtown area.
You’ll be able to park your rental car when you arrive, and then get to all of the suggestions below by walking.
Over the years, we've taken a bit of a hotel tour with all of the different places that we've stayed with our kids.
Here are my favorite family friendly hotels in Savannah!
The DeSoto
The DeSoto has undergone a massive renovation in recent years, and it now has a great mixture of laidback Southern hospitality and understated elegance.
We love the Starbucks in the lobby for quick coffees and pastries in the morning, and the front desk has always been super helpful during our stays.
For the best views in Savannah, ask for one of the upper level balcony rooms facing Liberty Street.
We had one of these on our most recent visit to The DeSoto, and we couldn’t stop staring!
Plus, the location can’t be beat.
It's about halfway between River Street and Forsyth Park which puts you within easy walking distance of the entire historic district.
Phone: (833) 635-4268
Address: 15 East Liberty Street, Savannah, Georgia
Andaz Savannah on Ellis Square
We stayed at the Andaz Savannah (then known as Avia Savannah) one night of our honeymoon and loved the trendy vibe and super modern decor.
We’ve been back once more, and the vibe is still super modern and breezy.
Kids will love the rooftop pool, which has super comfy cabanas. Night time dips are perfect for seeing the stars!
Opt for one of the suites, which comes with a well equipped kitchenette.
The refrigerator is large enough to hold an entire week’s groceries, and there’s a lot of pantry space for snacks.
It's located on Ellis Square just across from the City Market. Your kids will LOVE to splash in the fountains in Ellis Square.
Andaz Savannah is also right across the square from our favorite breakfast place in Savannah, Goose Feathers Café.
Phone: (912) 233-2116
Address: 14 Barnard Street, Savannah, Georgia
Hampton Inn and Suites Historic District
For my 29th birthday, we took a trip to Savannah with my parents and my sister and stayed in the Hampton Inn and Suites Historic District.
As far as Hampton Inns go, this was a particularly nice one.
A note to newcomers: at night, I wouldn't recommend wandering too far off Martin Luther King Boulevard away from the historic district if you stay at this hotel.
I never felt unsafe walking to and from the Hampton Inn, but the area behind the hotel towards I-16 gets into not-so-great-for-tourists territory pretty quickly.
As of 2022, that area west of MLK Boulevard is being revitalized, but use your best judgment when walking around at night.
Phone: (912) 721-1600
Address: 603 West Oglethorpe Avenue, Savannah, Georgia
Westin Savannah Harbor Resort
If you’re looking for a fun way to get to your hotel, venture across the river and stay at the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort.
When we first stayed here about a decade ago, I was hesitant about taking the water taxi back and forth.
I ended up loving the fact that we could retire to a quiet hotel away from the hustle and bustle of downtown.
Plus, the views were amazing!
Since then, it and the DeSoto have become our 2 go-to hotels when we’re visiting with our kids.
This hotel is, hands down, my 5 year old’s favorite hotel of all time since he got to ride a boat every time we left it!
This is my favorite of the Savannah GA family resorts as its so inclusive with its amenities.
There’s the free water taxi to downtown, a great pool overlooking the river, an outdoor restaurant and bar, a grab-and-go snack bar, and spacious rooms overlooking the Savannah skyline.
Phone: (912) 201-2000
Address: 1 Resort Drive, Savannah, Georgia
>> Book your stay at the Savannah Westin Harbor Resort here. <<
Best Family Fun Restaurants in Savannah
What should your family eat while in Savannah?
The answer to this is everything. (I kid. Sort of.)
When dining with kids, you have to balance your desire to try new things with their likely hesitance in trying said new things.
I’ve got the best family restaurants in Savannah GA for you with guaranteed kid-pleasing food and fun, unique atmospheres!
The Lady and Sons
The super popular The Lady and Sons restaurant is laid back and ready to serve up huge family feasts!
Get the family style lunches or dinners, where you can choose a set number of entrees and sides that everyone at the table can eat.
It’s a great way to try a variety of their delicious foods while still ensuring there’s something to eat for your pickiest eater.
Phone: (912) 233-2600
Address: 102 West Congress Street, Savannah, Georgia
Hours: daily 11 AM-9 PM
The Pirates House
We adore the funky and historic The Pirates House, which is built in a series of 18th century buildings.
It is, hands down, the most fun restaurant in Savannah for kids thanks to the heavy emphasis on pirates and history!
Their BLT salad is one of my favorite meals in Savannah, but they also have a fantastic buffet with mac and cheese, friend chicken and other Southern classics.
Don’t miss the roving pirate who’s happy to share some secrets from Savannah’s pirate days!
Plus, there’s a creepy well in the back of the restaurant which is supposedly where pirates whisked away bar patrons in the 1700s for a life at sea.
Phone: (912) 233-5757
Address: 20 East Broad Street, Savannah, Georgia
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 AM-9 PM, Friday and Saturday 11 AM-9:30 PM
The Gallery Espresso
My husband enjoying some coffee before we start sightseeing
The funkiest coffee shop in the historic district, the Gallery Espresso serves up great coffee, tea, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and quiches.
The inside is a great mix and match of couches, chairs, tables, and workspace, while the exterior is dotted with cafe tables topped with red umbrellas.
Get your family breakfast here—there’s a dizzying array of options—then sit at one of the outdoor tables overlooking Chippewa Square.
There is likely to be a wait, so go early or be patient!
Everything here is super delicious, so the wait is well worth it.
And, as a parent, I know that having a bathroom available for my kids is crucial: there are clean bathrooms in the back of the store for patrons.
Kids will love all of the stickers and posters everywhere!
PIN ME!
Clary’s Café
Head to Clary's Cafe for a top notch breakfast here all day. I'm a huge fan of their strawberry cream cheese French toast!
Your kids will be right at home at this casual classic diner, and, if they’re anything like my kids, they’ll dig into the pancakes, bacon, waffles, french toast, eggs, and juice!
Phone: (912) 233-0402
Address: 404 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Georgia
Hours: daily 8 AM-2 PM
Huey’s on the River
The River Street area has lots of places to eat.
Huey's is right by the water, so you can watch the huge ships come down the Savannah river while you eat some New Orleans-inspired food.
For early risers, they do a great brunch with soups, salads, omelettes, beignets, and muffalettas (my favorite!).
Phone: (912) 234-7385
Address: 115 East River Street, Savannah, Georgia
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 8 AM-9 PM , Friday 8 AM-10 PM, Saturday 8 AM-10 PM
Vinnie Van GoGo’s
Kids will love building their own pizza over at Vinnie Van GoGo's.
The pesto pizza with mushrooms and onions is a personal favorite.
Vinnie Van GoGo’s is tiny but super popular, so come early or expect a wait.
Thankfully, the restaurant is located just off of Ellis Square in the City Market, so there are some great shops to visit while you wait.
And when you’re seated, your family will love people watching everyone walking by: plus, parties on the pedal pubs are always hilarious to see!
Best Things to Do in Savannah with Kids
Your kids are going to have a BLAST while in Savannah!
Get ready for some fun because, below, I’ve shared my favorite, tried-and-tested best things in Savannah for kids.
Take a historical tour.
Savannah dates back to 1733, so you've got almost three centuries of happenings to discover.
There are multiple ways to accomplish this, as Savannah offers walking tours, trolley tours, and carriage tours.
We’ve done the orange and green hop-on hop-off trolley tours both as a couple and as a family, and I think it is a great way to see the city no matter how big your party is.
It’s also super easy to get around the city this way.
That trolley is a welcome sight on super hot, muggy days in the middle of the summer!
While kids maybe won’t absorb every word that the tour guide/driver shares, they will pick up more than you think.
There’s also plenty of space onboard to bring a stroller or shopping bags.
I’d do the hop-on hop-off tour for the first day of your trip to help your kids get the layout of the city and the basics of the history.
After that, you can take the free DOT trolley around town which lacks the narration, but is still an easy option when everyone is tired of walking.
Grab a train.
My kids are obsessed with all things transportation, so the Georgia State Train museum was a must-do on our last few visits to Savannah.
Located next to the visitors center on MLK Boulevard, this hands-on museum will introduce engineering, design, travel, and more to your kids.
Your family can explore inside and out of dozens of historical train cars and engines.
There’s also an extensive model train display inside one of the buildings with a step-up bench for younger kids to be able to see the little trains fly around the tracks.
Check the daily schedule to see when the train demonstrations are occurring, so your family can watch a real train engine get turned around on the turntable.
There are also free train tours of the property available on Friday-Sunday during the off-season and Wednesday-Sunday during the summer months.
This museum is within easy walking distance of the Hampton Inn and Suites (recommended above) and City Market on Ellis Square.
Phone: (912) 651-6823
Address: 655 Louisville Road, Savannah, Georgia
Hours: 9 AM-4 PM daily
Admission: $15/adult, $8/children 2-12, free under 2
Get spooked.
If you're into the paranormal (or if you just like being scared a little!), Savannah's supposedly one of the most actively haunted cities in America.
I guess the people who lived there liked it so much that they couldn't leave when they shuffled off this mortal coil.
Try the ghosts trolley tour from Ghosts and Graveyards: it’s campy and spooky in the best way possible, and all but the youngest kids will find it thrilling not terrifying.
The driver and tour guide dress up in monochrome Victorian clothing to set the mood, and they carry you across the city to several mysterious sites.
Find the perfect souvenir.
From your standard t-shirts and blankets to a special stuffed animal or new keychain, you'll be sure to find whatever tickles your fancy in downtown Savannah’s shopping district.
River Street has several general souvenir stores, and this is where you’ll find the highest concentration of tourist-themed items.
Stroll down West Broughton Street for branded stores like Banana Republic, the Savannah Bee Company, and H&M.
Older kids will love the upscale, European flea market feel of The Paris Market at 36 West Broughton Street: it has everything from notebooks to antique photos to candles and furniture.
There are also a variety of stores along Bull Street to wander in.
There are some upscale clothing stores that likely won’t appeal to your kids, but you will find a couple of general souvenir stores, a baby/kids stores, and a cute pet store (Woof Gang Bakery).
Support the local arts.
My son on the swings outside of SCADStory
With one of the nation's top art schools (Savannah College of Art and Design, affectionally known as SCAD) located in downtown, you can be sure that there's no shortage of art galleries and exhibitions.
SCADStory on Bull Street is a more immersive way to get your kids involved in the art.
The fun and creative displays inside SCADStory evoke a feeling of magic or being inside of a dream.
Even if your kids don’t full “get” the art, they’ll likely be mesmerized by the bright colors and bold artwork.
Talk with your kids about how people only a few years older than they are accomplish such fantastic works of art.
Encourage them to get creative by providing a sketchbook and colored pencils or crayons while you sit in one of the squares!
Address: 342 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 AM-5 PM, Sunday 12 PM-5 PM
Admission: free, $5 per person donation suggested
Find a new favorite book.
2009: after my first visit
Getting comfy inside E. Shaver
My son after our most recent visit to Savannah’s best bookstore!
No mater their age, your kids will find something they love in E. Shaver Booksellers. When your mom is an English professor, you get used to having scheduled visits to every bookstore in the places you vacation!
So, my recommendation doesn’t come lightly: this is a great independent bookstore.
This sprawling creaky building has books up and down short flights of stairs, in tiny rooms, in dozens of bookshelves, in windows, on the floor, and on counters. There are also stickers, socks, tote bags, and teas.
Don’t forget to say hi to their resident cats who are happy to bask in the middle of the walkway (that’s the sunniest spot!)
While there are a few other bookstores in Savannah, E. Shaver is my favorite thanks to its size and sheer number of volumes available.
Plus, it’s located right behind The DeSoto hotel if you’re staying there!
Take the Girl Scout pledge.
If you have a Daisy, Brownie, or Girl Scout in your family, this historic home tour in Savannah shouldn’t be missed.
The Juliette Gordon Low house is the birthplace of the Girl Scouts of America founder, and the house tour is a fascinating walk through the life of the woman who launched a powerful, female-centric movement here in Savannah in 1912.
Even for those who aren’t involved in Girl Scouts, learning about the founder of this ubiquitous afterschool activity is fascinating.
It brings up great conversations on the 21st amendment, the separate spheres, and first-wave feminism.
If your child is in the Girl Scouts, mention that while you’re visiting!
Current members are encouraged to wear their vests while doing the tours, and docents will tailor their spiel when they see a Girl Scout on their tours.
Phone: (912) 233-4501
Address: 10 E Oglethorpe Avenue, Savannah, Georgia
Hours: Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Saturday 10 AM-4 PM, closed Wednesday and Sunday
Admission: $10/current Girl Scouts 5-17 and Girl Scout leaders; $12/students 5-17, seniors, and military; $15/adults; free kids 5 and under
Play in Forsyth Park.
A big green space at the southern end of the main historic district, Forsyth Park is well worth the walk from River Street and all points in between.
Follow Bull Street away from the river, and you’ll run right into the park.
There’s a fenced in playground with slides, climbing equipment, swings, seesaw, and more.
Put in a to-go order for a coffee or tea at Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park, and sip it while you’re watching your kids at the playground.
Bring a picnic from one of the local grab-and-go restaurants (or head to the nearby Kroger on Gwinnett Street) and spread out on the grass.
Locals, SCAD students, and visitors alike will be running, playing, and basking in the sun here.
At the heart of Forsyth Park is a paved corridor leading to the park’s iconic fountain. Wait for an open space next to the railing to grab a perfect Savannah family vacation photo!
NOTE: Forsyth Park has free public restrooms, located on the side of Collins Quarter closest to Drayton Street.
Cool off on the water taxi.
This free activity was my 5 year old’s favorite thing to do in Savannah on our most recent trip.
The taxi continually moves between 3 points on the Savannah River: the Westin Harbor Resort, the Waving Girl statue on the east end of River Street, and the Hyatt Regency on the west end of River Street.
There are signs pointing to the water taxi stops, but you can also look for the large aluminum ramps and docks which are used by the taxi for docking.
Guests can choose to ride inside on the covered benches or outside leaning against the railings.
Our favorite place are the curved benches at the back as they’re right under the big picture windows.
There’s no outside walkway on this side of the boat, so you can have an unobstructed view of the river if you sit here.
It’s not the fastest way to get from one end of River Street to the other, but it is the most fun!
Explore the Savannah River on a riverboat tour.
Kids love boats, and the bigger the boat, the better. After you get the lay of the land with the free water taxi, build on that experience by taking a Savannah riverboat tour.
This tour will provide a much wider range for you to see different areas of the Savannah river and city skyline while also providing historical and cultural narration.
Hop aboard the massive red and white Georgia Queen at the dock closest to the Hyatt Regency on River Street.
At an hour and a half, the round trip tour is long enough to cover a wide range of information, but just the right length of time for kids not to get bored with the entire affair.
The big highlight is halfway through the river cruise when you sail by Fort Jackson.
Most days, the cannons will be fired at Fort Jackson to coordinate with the river boat passing by!
This tour is a popular activity in Savannah GA with kids, so book early.
Get music history and a famous murder at one home.
Great for older teens who can handle a bit of the macabre, the Mercer Williams house is famous for being the home of the songwriter AND the later living quarters of Jim Williams, who features heavily in John Berendt's book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
While much of that history and backstory would go over younger visitors heads, this house tour is fantastic for older kids and teens.
I read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil just a few years after it came out—I was in late middle school—and I was stunned that a nonfiction book could have that many twists and turns.
Have your older kids watch the film before you tour the house to provide additional context.
They’ll be able to point out all of the actual filming locations around Savannah!
Phone: (912) 238-0208
Address: 429 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia
Hours: 10:30 AM-4:10 PM Monday-Saturday, 12 PM-4 PM Sunday
Admission: $12.50/adults, $8/students and military, free for kids 7 and under
What Else You Need to Know about Traveling to Savannah with Kids
Check the calendar.
If you're going around the time of the Savannah Marathon, SCAD graduation, or St. Patrick's Day, prepare to pay higher prices and deal with bigger crowds.
The St. Patrick's Day parade draws over a million visitors and is consistently ranked among the nation's biggest St. Paddy’s parades.
Summers are also a popular time to visit, so expect higher crowds.
However, most locations offer longer hours during the summers, so the crowds are offset a bit by that.
Expect to pay for parking.
As with any historic or downtown district, parking is at a premium.
Even if you're staying at a hotel in the downtown area, you'll still see a parking surcharge on your hotel bill.
If you're driving in from a hotel elsewhere, there are plenty of parking garages and on-street parking meters.
Stock up on supplies.
As a parent, you know there’s no guarantee that everyone’s going to stay healthy just because it is vacation.
In the event that one of your kids (or you!) has a headache, hurt finger, sore throat or anything else requiring some over the counter meds, there’s a CVS on Bull Street next to Wright Square.
We’ve been here many times to pick up cold water, band-aids, Tylenol, and snacks!
If you need groceries, there’s a Kroger on Gwinnett Street about a block from Forsyth Square.
I’ve run here to pick up picnic items for our Forsyth Park visit, and they’ve got a good selection of sandwiches, cut fruit, baked goods and more.
Know where the free bathrooms are!
The Hyatt Regency on River Street has free bathrooms on the second floor.
Technically for the use of those attending a function in one of the ballrooms, these bathrooms are always clean and generally empty.
There's also a nice seating area for nursing moms who want a little privacy.
Which of these things to do in Savannah with kids would your family love the most?
