For many years, Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia have been pitted against each other as rivals. Both have similar histories, founded in the early days of America, and architecture that has been preserved thanks to forward-thinking locals. Both cities are also known for their food scenes and nearby beaches. Both have charming tree-lined streets and cobblestones.
But the cities aren’t rivals as much as they are sisters. It’s like how you might compare London and Paris. Both are beautiful but different. If you only have time for one, we’ll help you determine which one is right for you. But to be honest, we think you should see both!
Decide for yourself which city is better by traveling the two hours between them. You can fly into either airport and rent a car to make the drive.
If you don’t want to worry about driving, you can also book a One Way Shuttle from Savannah to Charleston or a One Way Shuttle from Charleston to Savannah.
The Arts
Savannah and Charleston both have an emphasis on the arts. Savannah is home to the Savannah College of Art and Design, one of the nation’s foremost arts education institutions. It’s also where you’ll find the Telfair Museums, which date back over 200 years.
Charleston also has an arts culture with the galleries in the galleries east of Meeting Street and the modern Redux arts center. The College of Charleston’s Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art and the Gibbes Museum of Art are two places to see this work displayed. Charleston also has a number of murals, including some by local artist Shepherd Fairey.
Both also excel in the performing arts, with venues for music, dance, and theater.
Charleston and Savannah tie when it comes to the arts.
Attractions
There are countless attractions in both cities to keep you informed and entertained. Charleston has The Charleston Museum, the oldest museum in America, along with many historic homes and plantations. The South Carolina Aquarium and Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry are favorites of families.
Savannah also has historic homes and plantations like the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, the Davenport House Museum, and the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home.
Wormsloe Historic Site sits on the grounds of a former plantation on the Isle of Hope. Pin Point Heritage Museum covers the Gullah and Geechee culture of the Sea Islands and the freedmen that lived in the area.
I’m calling a tie in terms of Charleston and Savannah attractions. There’s a little bit of everything, from museums to historic landmarks to activities.
Beaches
Both Savannah and Charleston are coastal cities, so both have nearby barrier islands with beaches that are a short drive away. Savannah has Tybee Island while Charleston has Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, and Isle of Palms.
For the abundance of beaches alone, Charleston wins in this category.
Day Trips
Sometimes the best thing about Charleston and Savannah is getting outside of both. The cities are well located as bases for day trips to other areas.
Charleston is two hours drive from the capital city of Columbia and coastal areas like Myrtle Beach, Georgetown, Beaufort, and Hilton Head. If you have enough time, you can go on one of the Gullah tours of Daufuskie Island.
Savannah is an easy trip down the Georgia coast to the towns of Darien and Brunswick. You can also see the charming Golden Isles of St. Simon’s Island and Jekyll Island. It would be a long day trip to Cumberland Island but it is doable.
This one is another tie in terms of Charleston and Savannah day trips. Both have plentiful and unique options!
Drinking and Nightlife
Charleston and Savannah are both fun-loving cities where you’re never far from a drink. But each excels in different areas. Savannah is one of the few cities where you can have an open container on the street, specifically around River Street.
It’s not just rowdy bars, but also craft breweries and chic cocktail bars. They also have some great coffee shops like the Australian-inspired Collins Quarter and Perc Roasters.
Charleston also has an abundance of rooftop cocktail bars and a handful of dive bars. But where it really stands above Savannah is in craft breweries. Savannah has five, while Charleston has at least 20 and counting, spread throughout the Peninsula and beyond.
Charleston wins for craft beer while Savannah wins for coffee shops and nightlife.
Food
Saying that one city has better food than the other is a good way to find yourself in an argument. Both Charleston and Savannah have incredible restaurants featuring both traditional Southern food and modern interpretations as well as delicious seafood.
In the last five years, Savannah’s Mashama Bailey of The Grey is the only chef in the city to win a James Beard award. But in Charleston, it seems that at least one restaurant wins a James Beard award every year.
Bowen’s Island Restaurant was named one of America’s Classics. Rodney Scott of Rodney Scott’s BBQ and Jason Stanhope of FIG have both won Best Chef: Southeast. FIG also won for its outstanding wine program.
We love both cities for their restaurants and couldn’t choose one. But if you’re going by the awards, the winner of the best food scene is Charleston.
Green Spaces
When in search of parks and green spaces for a picnic or place to read, you’ll find plenty in both Charleston and Savannah. In Charleston, Marion Square is the main green space, which was formerly the parade grounds for The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. But there are also smaller or lesser-known parks like Hampton Park and Washington Square Park.
Savannah, however, has dozens of parks because of how the city is laid out. Set on a grid, streets converge in these squares, each named for a historical figure. Chippewa Square is known as a filming location for Forrest Gump, while Forsyth Park has a large white fountain. You’re never far from a park.
Savannah wins in terms of the number of parks and green spaces around the city.
Hotels and Accommodation
Charleston and Savannah have plentiful accommodations ranging from campgrounds to luxury hotels. Both cities also have boutique brands as well as big-name properties. You’ll also find inns and bed and breakfasts.
Charleston is known for its high level of service at places like Charleston Place, The Mills House, and the Market Pavilion Hotel. The Dewberry and The Spectator Hotel are two new, stylish options. Charleston’s NotSo Hostel is one of a handful of budget options.
Savannah, on the other hand, has the Mansion on Forsyth, one of the top hotels in the country. Newer boutique hotels like The Alida Hotel, Andaz Savannah, the Perry Lane Hotel, and the Kimpton Brice Hotel are popular. The Thunderbird Inn is an affordable option, inspired by vintage motor inns.
There are great hotels and accommodations in each city, but Charleston lacks affordable ones. It’s rare to find a hotel for under $200 per night. For this reason, our pick is Savannah.
Shopping
Charleston and Savannah have their own shopping districts for convenient access to each city’s best shopping. In Savannah, it’s Broughton Street, which has The Paris Market, an incredible gift and home decor store, and Chocolat by Adam Turoni, an artisan chocolatier.
King Street in Charleston has block upon block of stores ranging from big-name brands like Urban Outfitters to shops you’ll only find here. They continue to Market Street where you can take a left to visit the high-end shops at Charleston Place or browse for crafts at the City Market.
Both cities have great shopping, so it really depends on what you’re looking for. If it’s trendy clothing and high-end brands, it’s Charleston. If you like funky and vintage stores, your best bet is Savannah.
Walkability
The best thing about both Charleston and Savannah is their walkability. It’s entirely possible to leave your car behind while visiting. Most attractions are clustered together and the bus systems and rideshare apps make it easy to reach the ones that aren’t. But watch out for those cobblestones!
It’s a tie! Both cities are easy to get around on foot. In fact, it’s the best way to see them. You never know what you might discover!
At the end of the day, Charleston and Savannah tie in the important areas. No matter which city you decide to visit, you’re sure to enjoy yourself.
Do you prefer Charleston or Savannah? Let us know in the comments!
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Savannah gets a slight edge before you factor in cost. Might be more to see in Charleston, but there are more DIFFERENT things to see in Savannah, if that makes sense..
When you factor in cost, though, Savannah over Charleston is a real no brainer. Mid covid, we paid $95 for a beautiful walkable hotel in Savannah, while paying $275 for a bland, non walkable hotel in Charleston (both water views).
Who has best features and things to do for late January 2021. We live in Asheville, NC and looking for a 4 day get away. Stay on beach or downtown? Looking for input
As someone who has visited both frequently. Savannah has more to tour around and see. I feel like I saw all of Charleston in a weekend while I’m still finding new attractions in Savannah every time I go. Not sure how they are operating with COVID, but in Savannah the Royal Bike Taxi company used to do pedi-bike tours. I did a 2 hour historical tour with them once off a Groupon purchase. It was an absolute blast! There are also dolphin tours, historic Savannah tours, and ghost tours. I’ve had a hard time finding similar experiences in Charleston. Charleston is more of a party town.
have visited in Charleston and Savannah many times and continue to discover new and interesting places and things to do in both cities. you seem to have missed many things in Charleston Do read Pat Conroe.s novels before visiting in Charleston. it is a feast for the eye and both cities are worth visiting many times.
I haven’t been to Savannah yet but intend to this year. I have been to Charleston several times as it is only 2 hours from my home in Myrtle Beach. This article left out all the attractions just north of downtown Charleston in Mount Pleasant like patriots point where you can take a shuttle to Fort Sumter and tour the WWII aircraft carrier Yorktown, the Boones hall plantation and canoeing.
Hey Caroline, how are you doing? Great piece. So, if one only has enough time to visit one over the other, which should it be? Will be in the area early April.
Great piece Caroline . Savannah is less costly than Charleston for sure and you won’t find a good hotel anywhere near $ 95.00 although there are many great boutique places for under $ 275.00 . I love the plentiful beautiful squares in Savannah but in contrast I prefer the urban density in Charleston. Downtown Charleston is safer than downtown Savannah but I like Savannah’s more real rough and tumble vibe that reminds me of whats been lost in Charleston. Charleston has far more restaurants than Savannah but Savannah’s are a better value and seem less pretentious. Savannah is smaller and lees urbane than Charleston but Savannah is friendlier and now beats Charleston in feeling more ” southern ” . Neither city is ” better ” than the other . In the ( hopefully not-too-distant ) future when both cities are only 30 minutes apart on a fast train the best of Savannah and Charleston will be easily accessible to each of the others populations and the best offerings of both will be within easy reach and that would really be the bomb !
We loved them both and we couldn’t decide so we bought near Beaufort SC ! About half way between :)
Have been to both. Spent 5 days in each.
Not even close! Charleston is much better!
Better food, better hotels, better shopping, better beaches,, more to see!
Went to a Starbucks in Savannah, drug addicts sitting outside asking for money!
Found one good restaurant, had to eat there three times!
Don’t waste your time on Savannah!!!!
Tony O.
Great article of what I consider to be important categories. One category that is missing which causes me to give the edge to Savannah is traffic. Having lived in both cities I can say Charleston traffic is one of the worse situations in the south. Hard to get around to see all it has to offer if you’re stuck in the excessive traffic jams.
Which hotel? Thanks.
Yeah, we have people who live in our city. It isn’t just a magic land for tourists to come visit. It isn’t Disney World. There are homeless people in every worthwhile city in America, and if that upsets you maybe you should donate your money and time instead of complaining online. Dismissing a beautiful and historic city because one person in need glanced at you? Grow up.
Thankyou Loreno I agree xo
Honestly, I really love Downtown Savannah Georgia better! I love the place and the attractions that I visit there! I also love the Hotels and how convenient it is because of sites like https://www.visitsavannah.com/historic-landmark-district that really offer complete information from Hotels to the Night life hotspots there!
GEORGE HOLT is a very good friend of mine in Charleston SC….and I am only established in this magic world of Charleston and the pleasures of Savannah FOR 45 YEARS… Each are wonderful, and this is like a “DATE with the CITY”! However, this is the luxury of our history and culture…Charleston and Savannah were copies of each other, there would be no separation of culture and local pleasures. The fun of enjoying each and every city.. a blessing and cultural adventure.
Merrill A. Benfield , Charleston
I have been to both cities several times and prefer Savannah. Ended up buying a townhouse in Savannah downtown and use for vacation rental and staying there frequently myself. Feel I made the right choice.
Definitely preferred Charleston. I felt the food was better. Now, our lodgings were by far better and more affordable in Savannah. Attractions definitely are abundant in each city so that equaled out for me. What tipped it for me was the abundance of bachelorette parties literally everywhere in Savannah. We stopped counting after hitting a dozen in two days. I suppose we shouldn’t hold it against the city, but in our experience Savannah was much more party-oriented than my experience of Charleston.
I think both are beautiful in their own ways though both have similar feels. I was born and raised and Charleston. Now that I am living in a midway point between both of these cities. I love visiting both. I find new things every time i go home. Do realize that Charleston is more than downtown. There’s things in the entire tri-county area. No it is not walkable, you need a car. I’d offset some cost by staying near the airport and driving to various areas. I am also always finding places in Savannah that are new. I think it is all in preference. Charleston is always home for me so I’m a bit biased lol.
Easy. Charleston. I’ve lived near both. In Savannah, you’ll find 3 story concrete parking lots in the middle of historic districts. The city simply waited too long to start preserving the history and culture of downtown Savannah. We simply refer to Savannah as “Charleston Lite”.