How to Beat the Heat in Savannah

Let's be honest: summer in Savannah is hot. Gloriously, dramatically, magnolia-scented hot. But here's what the savvy traveler knows: the heat just means you get to be more creative. Museums, nighttime tours, legendary ice cream, and a pool day at one of the city's best hotels? That's not a compromise. That's a perfect Savannah summer itinerary.

Lose a Few Hours in a Museum

Savannah's museums are some of the most underrated ways to spend a summer afternoon — air-conditioned, endlessly fascinating, and local in a way most cities can't touch. Start at the Telfair Museums, where a single ticket gets you into three distinct properties: the Telfair Academy, home of the iconic Bird Girl statue; the Jepson Center for the Arts, with its rotating contemporary exhibitions and digital TechSpace; and the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, one of the most significant historic sites in the South. Art, architecture, and history all in one walkable stretch.

For something with a little more edge, the American Prohibition Museum on Congress Street brings the Roaring Twenties to life with exhibits on bootleggers, flappers, and the politics of the era... and yes, there's a speakeasy. The Savannah History Museum, set inside a 19th-century railway shed, is another local favorite for getting the full sweep of the city's storied past.

Cool Off with a Scoop (or Two)

No Savannah summer is complete without a stop at Leopold's Ice Cream on East Broughton Street. Open since 1919 and recently named one of the top independent ice cream shops in the country by USA Today, Leopold's makes everything from scratch with flavors that rotate by season. Yes, there may be a line. Yes, it's worth it.

For something a little more local and a little less wait, Honeysuckle Gelato is a beloved neighborhood find with rotating artisan flavors that change with the season. And if you're near City Market, the Candy Kitchen's gelato and sorbet counter is a perfectly sweet mid-afternoon detour.

Do the Night Tour

Once the sun goes down, Savannah transforms — and there is no better city in the South for an evening out on foot. Ghost tours here aren't tourist gimmicks; they're legitimately good storytelling set against one of the most atmospheric backdrops in America. Genteel & Bard offers nightly walking tours through live oak-lined streets past haunted antebellum homes, while the Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour includes exclusive nighttime access to the Andrew Low House for those who'd rather ride than walk. For something with more edge, Ghost City Tours runs adult-focused experiences that go deeper into Savannah's darker chapters.

Whatever you choose, start after 9pm for the full effect.

Treat Yourself to a Hotel Pool Day Pass

Start at The Cabana Club at the Alida Hotel, a riverfront oasis where Southern hospitality meets craft cocktails, poolside bites, and the kind of slow afternoon Savannah was made for. One of the city's most beloved pool experiences, and easy to book as a day pass through ResortPass.

The Thompson Savannah is another standout, with a sprawling pool deck along the Savannah River, lounge chairs, towel service, cocktail service, and rooftop bar access with panoramic views, all available without an overnight reservation.

For something closer to a full resort experience, the Westin Savannah Harbor is the city's only true resort property with a riverfront pool with private daybeds, poolside bar service, and scenic Savannah River views that make it easy to forget you have anywhere else to be.

A daycation well spent.

Summer in Savannah rewards the travelers who lean into it, who know that a slow afternoon in a cool museum, a scoop of something legendary, a ghost story under the live oaks, and a pool with a view isn't a backup plan. It's the plan.

Ready to make it yours? Browse our summer specials or explore all of our historic district homes and find the one that's right for your trip.