Current Time in Savannah, United States

Savannah is the oldest city in the state of Georgia and one of the most celebrated historic cities in the United States, located in the southeastern corner of the state near the Atlantic coast. The city sits on a bluff overlooking the Savannah River, approximately 18 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and directly across the river from Hardeeville, South Carolina. Its position at the mouth of the Savannah River made it an important port city from its earliest days, and the Port of Savannah remains one of the busiest and most economically significant ports in the country.

Savannah has a population of approximately 150,000 within the city limits, with the greater Savannah metropolitan area home to around 400,000 people. The city is a major center for manufacturing, logistics, tourism, and the arts. Its historic district, one of the largest urban National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States, draws millions of visitors each year and has made Savannah one of the top tourist destinations in the American South.

Savannah was founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe, who led the first English settlers to the Georgia colony. Oglethorpe's innovative urban plan, which arranged the city around a series of public squares with residential and commercial lots radiating outward, was remarkably progressive for its time and remains the defining feature of Savannah's layout. Twenty-two of the original twenty-four squares survive today, each shaded by magnificent live oak trees draped with Spanish moss and surrounded by beautifully preserved historic buildings, making downtown Savannah one of the most walkable and visually stunning urban environments in America.

The city's most iconic landmarks include Forsyth Park, a 30-acre public park anchored by a magnificent fountain and enclosed by antebellum mansions, and the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, a stunning Gothic Revival church that towers over Lafayette Square. The Mercer Williams House, made famous by John Berendt's bestselling book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," is one of the most visited private historic homes in the country. The First African Baptist Church, established in 1773, is among the oldest African American Baptist congregations in North America and a site of profound historical significance.

Savannah's cultural scene is lively and diverse. The Savannah College of Art and Design, known as SCAD, has transformed the city's arts and cultural landscape since its founding in 1978, enrolling over 15,000 students and operating throughout dozens of restored historic buildings across the city. The Telfair Museums, comprising three locations including the Jepson Center for the Arts and the historic Owens-Thomas House, offer a rich experience in art and decorative arts. The city's restaurants reflect both Lowcountry Southern traditions and an increasingly cosmopolitan culinary culture.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport serves the city with connections to major American hubs, and the historic downtown is served by the Chatham Area Transit bus and ferry system. The city is also a popular stop on Amtrak's Silver Service route along the East Coast. Much of the historic district is best explored on foot or by bicycle, horse-drawn carriage, or the iconic Old Town Trolley Tours.

The Savannah College of Art and Design plays a central role in the city's educational identity, attracting students from around the world and stimulating an active creative economy. Armstrong State University, now part of Georgia Southern University, also has a campus in the city, contributing to its academic life.

One of the most endearing and unusual facts about Savannah is that it is one of the few American cities where open container laws permit residents and visitors to carry alcoholic beverages in plastic cups in public spaces within the downtown historic district, a policy that adds to the city's famously festive and convivial atmosphere.

Savannah is a city of extraordinary beauty, layered history, and Southern charm, where every square, garden, and moss-draped street seems to carry the weight of centuries. It offers a travel experience that is at once deeply historical, aesthetically captivating, and warmly welcoming.