5-Day Savannah and Charleston Itinerary

Arrive and check in to the historic district

Fly into SAV (about 20 minutes to downtown) and stay in the historic district to walk everywhere.

Squares walk along Bull Street

Start at Johnson Square and walk south through Wright, Chippewa, Madison and Monterey squares, admiring the mansions and oaks.

Southern lunch and the Owens-Thomas House

Have fried chicken or shrimp and grits, then tour the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters for a full picture of urban slavery.

Sunset on River Street

Watch the ships at sunset, have a seafood dinner on the river and pick up pralines from a candy shop.

Forsyth Park fountain and coffee

Arrive early for photos of the fountain without crowds, and on Saturdays browse the farmers market.

Bonaventure Cemetery

Drive about 15 minutes east to this hauntingly beautiful riverside cemetery, famous for its statues and moss-draped oaks.

Lunch and shopping on Broughton Street

Eat in town, then browse boutiques on Broughton Street and the shops at City Market.

Dinner and a ghost walking tour

Have a lowcountry dinner, then join an evening walking tour of the squares' legends and history.

Drive Savannah to Charleston

Drive about 110 miles (roughly 2 hours) via I-95 and US-17 through lowcountry marshes. Check in or drop your bags in Charleston.

Lowcountry lunch

Have she-crab soup and shrimp and grits at a downtown restaurant near the historic district.

Rainbow Row, the Battery and Waterfront Park

Photograph Rainbow Row, walk the Battery seawall past grand homes, and end at the Pineapple Fountain in Waterfront Park.

Oysters and seafood dinner

Dig into local oysters, fresh fish and a lowcountry boil; book ahead on weekends.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Walk the historic gardens and take the From Slavery to Freedom tour of restored cabins; about 25 minutes from downtown.

Lunch on the way back

Stop for barbecue or a casual seafood plate in West Ashley or James Island.

McLeod Plantation Historic Site

Take the guided tour, focused on the lives of enslaved people and the Gullah Geechee community after emancipation.

City Market and a lowcountry dinner

Browse sweetgrass baskets handmade by Gullah artisans at the City Market, then celebrate with a lowcountry seafood dinner in the historic district.

Boone Hall Plantation, Mount Pleasant

Drive the mile-long Avenue of Oaks, see the original brick slave cabins and attend the Gullah culture presentation.

Shrimp lunch at Shem Creek

Have local shrimp on a dock overlooking the shrimp boats at Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant.

Sullivan's Island and Fort Moultrie

Relax on the wide beach and visit Fort Moultrie, with its exhibits on the island as a major entry point for enslaved Africans.

Sunset over the Ravenel Bridge and the Battery

Return over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and catch the sunset from the Battery or a rooftop bar.