Romantic Getaways in Savannah, GA

Planning a romantic adventure in Savannah, GA, isn’t a matter of figuring out what to do, it’s a problem of narrowing it down. There are so many things to do in this picturesque city, it’s hard to choose the most romantic among them. Of course, romance is subjective, but there are a few constants that should tick the box for just about everyone. Here are five things to do in Savannah.

The most romantic places to stay in Savannah may be the city’s many bed-and-breakfast inns. There are so many that there’s not room here to list them all, but among the highly regarded are The Presidents’ Quarters (225 East President St., Savannah, GA), where rooms feature antique furniture and breakfast is served in a charming courtyard. The Park Avenue Manor (107 & 109 West Park Ave., Savannah, GA) is a cozy Victorian where each guest room has a fireplace. For travelers who prefer hotels, there’s the Andaz (14 Barnard St., Savannah, GA), which provides an elegant sanctuary right in the middle of town, and the Bohemian (102 West Bay St., Savannah, GA), with its romantic balconies overlooking the river and a rooftop bar perfect for watching the sunset or ending the night with a glass of wine.

Savannah’s River Street is a lovely place to amble, especially when the sun is out. Browse the many antique shops and boutiques along the river, have a meal or a drink at a riverfront pub or restaurant, or just enjoy the cool breezes and watch the sun sparkle on the water. There are even riverboats, particularly romantic at sunset when they offer dinner cruises.

Savannah is a foodie’s delight, with a wide variety of restaurants to cater to every palate. Jazz’d Tapas (52 Barnard St., Savannah, GA) features eclectic tapas and live music seven nights a week, perfect if an evening of music gets your heart racing. Elizabeth on 37th (105 E. 37th St., Savannah, GA) offers a seasonal menu featuring dishes like spicy Savannah red rice with Georgia shrimp, double-cut Berkshire pork chops, baked creamy sage grits and roasted vegetable hash, served up in the elegant ambiance of a stately old mansion. Savannah has so many amazing restaurants that just wandering through town may lead you to your own new favorite eatery.

There are plenty of things to do in Savannah, from the cultural to the historical to the purely kitschy. For art lovers, the Telfair Academy (12 Barnard St., Savannah, GA) can be a romantic place to visit, with its large collection of Impressionist artwork and the largest public collection of art by Kahlil Gibran. Savannah is home to the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens (2 Canebrake Rd., Savannah, GA), an exquisite place to while away some time, especially in spring, when everything is blooming. There are roses, crepe myrtles and camellias in abundance, and the Water Garden offers a pleasant place to rest beside a waterfall. The famous Bonaventure Cemetery (330 Bonaventure Rd., Savannah, GA) is well worth some exploration, but if you're strolling around downtown you may accidentally happen upon the Colonial Park Cemetery (201 Abercorn St., Savannah, GA) which is also intriguing. It's green and lovely, with trees overhung with moss, and very old gravestones that stir conversation as you walk through. If you and your partner don't mind the company of others during your getaway, there are guided walking tours of Savannah, along with bike, boat and trolley tours, a Segway tour and at night, even ghost tours. Don’t feel like doing much of anything? The city’s many squares offer the opportunity to sit in the shade and chat, people-watch, or just be.

Whether it’s sipping wine at sunset, savoring sweet treats or just taking some time to be lazy, Savannah is the perfect setting for indulgence. To satisfy a sweet tooth, pick up some tasty macarons at Marché de Macarons (42 Abercorn St., Savannah, GA) to eat in the park or try some of the concoctions at Lulu’s Chocolate Bar (42 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Savannah, GA) like truffles or the Lulutini.

Summer can be hot and muggy in Savannah, with temperatures beginning to hit the mid-80s by May before climbing into the low 90s in June and staying there until August. In September, if you’re accustomed to Georgia’s climate, it’s really not so bad, because the breezes off the river are refreshing. When traveling from a cooler clime, however, it may feel a bit oppressive. A better time to visit if you don't relish the heat is early spring when flowers are in bloom, but the heat’s not yet too intense, or in winter, when temps rarely dip below 40 degrees F, and the holidays make the city even more magical than usual.

It’s easy to stay within your means when visiting Savannah. So many pleasant Savannah activities, from walking along the river to idling in the squares to exploring the cemeteries don’t cost anything at all. Lodging may be a worthwhile splurge, but if that’s not where you want to spend money, there are some pretty solid chain hotels in Savannah that offer rooms for under $100 per night, and there’s also the Thunderbird Inn (611 West Oglethorpe Ave., Savannah, GA), a hip local place, where prices are reasonable.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter too much where you stay. Being on a getaway with the one you love, especially in a city as pretty as Savannah, with its moss-hung, tree-lined streets and charming squares, can make any place you choose to stay a romantic one.