Atlantic Swell Travel Guide
Savannah, Georgia
Moss-draped squares, a working riverfront, and one of the South’s great food and cocktail scenes — Savannah is the Georgia coast’s soul, with Tybee Island’s surf about 20 minutes east.
It’s where Atlantic Swell started. This is a city built for slow wandering — shaded squares, Forsyth Park’s fountain, River Street’s old cotton warehouses — with the beach close enough for a dawn session and back in time for breakfast. Spend the morning at Tybee and the evening downtown.
Fly into Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), about 20 minutes from downtown. The historic district is best on foot, bike, or the free downtown shuttle, so park once and walk. For the beach, follow Highway 80 east through the marsh to Tybee, roughly 30 minutes from downtown in traffic.
Beach Report
Savannah’s beach is Tybee Island, about 20–30 minutes east on Highway 80 (see our Tybee Island guide). The South End around the pier is the lively side, and North Beach by the lighthouse is quieter and more cinematic.
Tybee’s tides are strong, so check the tide stage before swimming, watch for currents near the jetties and pier, and swim near lifeguards when in doubt. Summer storms build fast over the marsh, so keep an eye on the sky inland.
Surf Report
Tybee is the closest surf to Savannah — small, sand-bottom beach break that’s best on a log or mid-length. The Tybee Pier on the South End is the most consistent spot and the best read on the sandbars, and our Tybee Island guide covers the island’s breaks in detail.
Fall is peak season, when tropical systems and early cold fronts deliver the best swell of the year. Winter brings clean, lined-up days if you’ve got a 4/3, and summer stays small and fun. Dawn patrol is usually glassiest, and it still leaves time to be back downtown for breakfast.
Fishing Report
The marshes and tidal creeks between Savannah and Tybee are prime inshore water for redfish, speckled trout, and flounder, and local guides run charters from the marinas along Highway 80 on the way to the beach.
Shrimp trawlers still work the back rivers, and the Tybee Pier is open to anglers if you’d rather fish from shore.
Other Activities
Walk the squares and Forsyth Park, then wander the live oaks of Bonaventure Cemetery and the avenue of oaks at Wormsloe Historic Site. On the way to Tybee, Fort Pulaski National Monument is a remarkably intact 19th-century fort surrounded by marsh.
Along the river, River Street’s cobblestones and old cotton warehouses lead to the Plant Riverside District, and the SCAD Museum of Art showcases the city’s art-school side.
Bar Recommendations
Artillery on Bull Street is a sophisticated cocktail bar in a historic space, and The Original Pinkie Masters has been the city’s beloved dive since 1953 (it’s cash only). Crystal Beer Parlor has been pouring since 1933.
For rooftop views, try The Peregrin at Perry Lane, known for its Chatham Artillery Punch, or Myrtle & Rose at the JW Marriott in Plant Riverside, an adults-only terrace over the river. Rocks on the Roof at the Bohemian Hotel looks out over the river and downtown.
Restaurant Recommendations
The Grey, chef Mashama Bailey’s award-winning restaurant in a restored 1930s Art Deco Greyhound station, is the city’s essential dinner, but book well ahead. Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room on Jones Street has served family-style Southern lunch at shared tables since the 1940s, so expect a line.
The Olde Pink House, in a late-1700s mansion, books up weeks out, but the Planters Tavern downstairs takes walk-ins. Husk Savannah brings the Charleston favorite’s farm-driven Southern cooking to Oglethorpe Avenue.
Coffee Recommendations
Foxy Loxy on Whitaker Street is a longtime local favorite, with rotating art, a back courtyard, and a horchata latte. Its sister shop, The Coffee Fox on Broughton Street, does craft espresso in the heart of downtown.
Savannah Coffee Roasters has been roasting in the historic district for more than a century, and you can watch the roaster at work while you drink.
Where to Stay
Perry Lane Hotel, home of The Peregrin rooftop and The Wayward Bar, is the stylish pick in the historic district. Along the river, the JW Marriott at Plant Riverside and The Alida put you close to River Street’s bars and restaurants.
For the beach, base yourself on Tybee in a cottage or small inn and drive into the city for dinner. Spring and fall are the sweet spots, and summer is famously hot and humid.
Keep exploring the coast
Heading north: Hilton Head Island travel guide
Heading south: Tybee Island travel guide
Planning a longer trip? Browse all 15 Southeast Atlantic travel guides, or check the latest surf reports.
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