Things to Do in Savannah in April

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Stay in Savannah in April

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April brings Savannah relatively light rainfall, the tail end of azalea season, and the closing performances of the Savannah Music Festival, all in the same 30 days. The festival fills intimate Historic District venues with jazz, bluegrass, and chamber music through its final weekend, typically wrapping up in mid-April. Azalea blooms, past their late-March peak, still color most of the city's 22 public squares through the first half of the month.

Daytime temperatures land in the mid-20s Celsius (upper 70s Fahrenheit), with mornings cool enough near 15°C (upper 50s Fahrenheit) to want a light layer before 10 AM. The air along Jones Street and Bull Street carries the scent of confederate jasmine climbing wrought-iron fences, and the live oak canopy across the Historic District is fully leafed out. Mind you, pollen is a serious factor in April. Savannah's pines and live oaks coat every car, bench, and outdoor table in visible yellow-green dust. The city consistently ranks among the worst in the United States for spring tree pollen.

Crowds thin considerably after March's enormous St. Patrick's Day celebration, which draws an estimated 400,000 to 700,000 visitors to a city of about 150,000 residents. April still sees steady foot traffic, but Monterey Square and Chippewa Square on a weekday morning feel almost empty. Forsyth Park, the 12-hectare (30-acre) green space established in 1840, rewards slow afternoon visits when light filters through the Spanish moss and the fountain catches the late-day sun.

Why visit in April

Azalea and dogwood bloom holds through the first two weeks, giving the Historic District squares their most photogenic window before the thick summer canopy closes in.
The Savannah Music Festival's closing performances fall in early-to-mid April, bringing world-class jazz, roots, and chamber music to small venues where you sit within meters of the performers.
Rainfall drops sharply from March's 110mm, and August's 232mm is still months away. The brief afternoon showers that do arrive tend to pass over the squares in under half an hour.
Post-St. Patrick's Day crowd levels let you walk the squares, get restaurant tables, and book accommodation without the March crush, while the weather remains mild.

Worth knowing

Tree pollen from Savannah's live oaks and pines coats every outdoor surface in yellow-green dust for most of the month. Allergy sufferers will feel it within hours of arrival.
Hotel rates in the Historic District remain well above the annual average, driven by spring tourism demand that only eases in late May.
The Atlantic at Tybee Island is still around 18 to 20°C (64 to 68°F), too cold for comfortable swimming. Beach days work for sunbathing and walking, but the water is not ready.

Best for

Think twice if

Weather measured 25° / 15°C 69mm rain · 7 rainy days · 69% humidity rains perceptibly ~0.8h/day · 95% of mornings dry

Crowds high

Pack Light cotton layers for mornings and evenings, with short sleeves or breathable fabric for midday. A compact umbrella handles the brief afternoon showers. High-SPF sunscreen is important, as April sun along the Georgia coast burns quickly on exposed skin.

April sits between Savannah's cool, damp early spring and its heavy summer heat. Afternoons are warm but breathable, and mornings carry a crispness that fades by 10 AM. The occasional afternoon thunderstorm arrives fast and clears within 20 to 30 minutes, leaving the squares smelling of wet brick and live oak bark. By late April, evenings hold enough warmth to sit outdoors along River Street past sunset without reaching for a layer.

Seasonal caution

Savannah typically records very high tree pollen levels through most of April. Travelers with asthma or severe seasonal allergies should carry prescription medication and consider scheduling more indoor activities during peak pollen days.

Year-round climate

Averages from the last 5 years.

Monthly climate averages for Savannah
Month	Avg high (°C)	Avg low (°C)	Rainfall (mm)
Jan	16	6	79
Feb	19	9	77
Mar	22	12	110
Apr	25	15	69
May	28	19	88
Jun	31	22	132
Jul	32	24	156
Aug	31	24	232
Sep	29	21	126
Oct	25	16	72
Nov	21	11	78
Dec	18	8	83

Headline events

Regional

Savannah Music Festival

Late March through mid-April, with final performances typically ending around April 12 to 14

One of the premier music festivals in the southeastern United States, spanning 17 days of jazz, classical, bluegrass, Americana, and roots performances in intimate Historic District venues. Internationally recognized artists perform in spaces like the Charles H. Morris Center, which holds 300 to 600 people, giving the festival an up-close atmosphere that larger events cannot match.

#SavMusicFest

Best things to do in April

Walk the NOGS Tour of Hidden Gardens

garden tour

Private residential gardens in the Victorian District open to the public for self-guided walking tours over 2 days. You'll see behind wrought-iron gates and brick walls into gardens that are normally invisible from the sidewalk, landscaped in styles from formal English to lush subtropical.

The tour runs once a year, typically on a Friday and Saturday in mid-April, timed to coincide with the spring bloom when the gardens are at their peak.

Booking tipTickets sell through the NOGS organization and can sell out 1 to 2 weeks before the tour. Buy early for the Friday session, which draws smaller crowds.

Catch a Savannah Music Festival performance

live music

Intimate concerts in venues around the Historic District, where audience members sit meters from world-class jazz, bluegrass, and classical performers. The scale makes these feel more like private concerts than a festival.

The festival wraps up in the first half of April. Weeknight shows in the final week sometimes still have tickets when the opening weekend in March has long sold out.

Booking tipCheck the festival website for remaining weeknight tickets, which are considerably easier to find than Friday or Saturday performances.

Visit Bonaventure Cemetery at golden hour

outdoor exploration

Live oak avenues draped in Spanish moss, Victorian-era sculptures weathered to gray-green, and tidal river views create one of Savannah's most atmospheric walks. Late afternoon light hits the headstones and moss at angles that make the place feel suspended in time.

April's azalea and dogwood bloom adds color to the avenues of stone and moss. The mild temperatures make a 2 to 3-hour walk comfortable, unlike the sweltering conditions from June through September.

Booking tipNo ticket required. The cemetery closes at 5 PM standard time and 8 PM during daylight saving, which applies in April. Arrive by 5 PM for the best light.

Explore Fort Pulaski National Monument

historic site

The brick fortification on Cockspur Island, about 24 km (15 miles) east of downtown, sits where the Savannah River meets the Atlantic. Construction began in 1829, and the fort's moat, cannon emplacements, and demilune tell the story of coastal defense from the antebellum period through the Civil War.

April's dry conditions and moderate temperatures make the 1.6 km (1-mile) trail loop around the fort's exterior enjoyable. Summer heat and heavy rainfall make the same walk considerably harder.

Booking tipArrive before 10 AM on weekends to avoid school groups, which tend to cluster mid-morning.

Walk the live oak avenue at Wormsloe Historic Site

outdoor exploration

A 2.4 km (1.5-mile) avenue of roughly 400 live oaks leads to the tabby ruins of a colonial estate dating to the 1730s. The canopy overhead creates a tunnel of green light that shifts with the time of day and the angle of the sun.

The oaks are fully leafed out by April, and the filtered light through the canopy peaks in intensity. The mild weather makes the walk to the ruins at the end pleasant, unlike the exhausting slog it becomes in July and August.

Booking tipEarly morning visits before 10 AM avoid the tour bus crowds and catch the best light filtering through the tree canopy.

Kayak the salt marshes near Skidaway Island

water sport

Guided paddle trips through tidal creeks and spartina grass marshes south of Savannah last 2 to 3 hours and cover 5 to 8 km (3 to 5 miles). You'll likely spot great blue herons, ospreys, and fiddler crabs along the muddy banks.

April's warming water temperatures coincide with migratory shorebirds passing through, and the worst of mosquito and no-see-um season hasn't started. By late May, insect pressure on the marshes increases noticeably.

Booking tipBook a morning high-tide slot for calmer water and better wildlife sighting odds. Outfitters near Skidaway and Isle of Hope run daily departures.

Attend a SCAD spring exhibition opening

art and culture

The Savannah College of Art and Design stages senior thesis exhibitions and spring gallery openings across campus spaces in the Starland District and Historic District. These free, public-facing shows display painting, sculpture, digital media, and design work from one of the largest art and design schools in the country.

SCAD's academic calendar concentrates senior thesis shows and spring exhibitions in April and early May. The work is fresh, the openings often include the artists, and admission is free.

Booking tipNo booking needed. Check SCAD's public event calendar for opening night dates, which typically fall on Thursday or Friday evenings.

Photograph Savannah's squares in spring bloom

photography

Each Oglethorpe-plan square has different plantings, monuments, and architecture. Walking the full circuit takes roughly half a day at a relaxed pace, and April's lingering azaleas and emerging magnolia flowers create a different composition at every stop.

The spring canopy is full but summer overgrowth hasn't closed in yet. Sight lines across the squares remain open, and several angles that work beautifully in April are blocked by dense foliage by late June.

What to eat in April

In season: fruit

Georgia strawberries
Local farms in the counties surrounding Savannah hit peak strawberry harvest in April and early May. The berries tend to be smaller and more intensely sweet than the larger varieties shipped from California year-round.

On menus now

She-crab soup
The Lowcountry classic is at its best in spring when female blue crabs carry roe, giving the soup its distinctive orange color and rich, briny depth. April is traditionally considered the peak month along the Georgia and South Carolina coast.
Lowcountry boil
Shrimp, corn, andouille sausage, and red potatoes boiled with Old Bay seasoning, then dumped onto a newspaper-covered table. The arrival of fresh local shrimp in spring makes April's version taste notably different from the frozen-shrimp batches served through winter.

In markets

Vidalia onions
Georgia's official state vegetable reaches local markets by late April. Grown in the low-sulfur soil around Vidalia, about 200 km (125 miles) west of Savannah, these onions are sweet enough to eat raw. Restaurants start featuring them in rings, soups, and relishes as soon as the harvest arrives.
Local white shrimp
Georgia's wild-caught white shrimp season opens in spring along the coast near Thunderbolt. The smaller spring catch tends to taste sweeter and more delicate than the larger fall haul. You'll find them in shrimp and grits, fried baskets, and the dish described below.

Regular events in April

SCAD Sidewalk Arts FestivalFree

SCAD students and alumni create large-scale chalk art directly on the sidewalks of Forsyth Park. Live music, food vendors, and art demonstrations accompany the chalk pieces, drawing thousands of spectators and participants over a single day.

Late April, typically the last Saturday of the month

NOGS Tour of Hidden Gardens

An annual walking tour of private residential gardens in the Victorian District. Homeowners open their gates and landscape for the occasion, showcasing garden styles that span formal European to subtropical Lowcountry plantings, framed by the neighborhood's 1870s to 1900s architecture.

Mid-April, typically a Friday and Saturday

Historic Savannah Foundation Tour of Homes and Gardens

A self-guided tour of privately owned historic homes in the Historic District. Participating properties open their interiors and private gardens to the public for 2 days, offering a look at restored architecture, period furnishings, and landscaping behind normally closed doors.

Late March to early April, dates vary annually

Best places this April

Bonaventure Cemetery
cemetery and outdoor space
The 65-hectare (160-acre) rural cemetery established in 1846 sits along the Wilmington River east of downtown. Avenues of live oaks draped in Spanish moss, Victorian-era funerary sculpture, and tidal river views make it one of the most atmospheric outdoor spaces in the region. April's azalea bloom along the paths adds warm color to the gray-green palette.
Thunderbolt
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
religious site
The French Gothic cathedral completed in 1873 anchors Lafayette Square with twin spires visible above the live oak canopy. On clear April days, natural light through the stained glass windows illuminates the painted ceiling without the artificial supplementation that overcast winter mornings require.
Historic District
Telfair Museums
museum
The oldest public art museum in the South, founded in 1886, operates three locations in the Historic District. The Jepson Center's contemporary galleries and the Telfair Academy's period rooms offer a climate-controlled escape from pollen-heavy outdoor walking, making this an ideal April afternoon when the count spikes.
Historic District
SCAD Museum of Art
museum
Opened in 2002 in a converted railroad depot, the museum rotates contemporary exhibitions timed to SCAD's academic calendar. April's spring shows tend to be among the year's strongest, with senior thesis work and visiting artist installations running simultaneously.
Victorian District
Congregation Mickve Israel
religious site and historic
Founded in 1733, one of the oldest Jewish congregations in North America. The current Gothic Revival synagogue sits on Monterey Square and holds colonial-era documents and ceremonial objects, including materials brought by the original Sephardic settlers who arrived in Savannah five months after the colony's founding.
Historic District
Mercer Williams House
historic house museum
The Italianate townhouse completed in 1868 on Monterey Square, known to many through John Berendt's 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.' Guided tours cover the main floor's antiques and art collection. The formal garden behind the house shows particularly well in April, when the camellias and azaleas are still holding their last blooms.
Historic District

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AntihistaminesSavannah's pine and oak pollen peaks in April. Even travelers without typical allergy symptoms can develop scratchy throats and watery eyes after a full day walking the squares. Shop
Light cotton layersMornings near 15°C (58°F) want a light shirt or linen jacket, but by midday you'll want short sleeves. A button-down you can roll up handles both ends of the day. Shop
Flat shoes with rubber gripRiver Street's ballast-stone cobbles are uneven and slippery when wet. Heeled shoes and smooth soles are a real liability, especially after the brief afternoon rain showers. Shop
Compact umbrellaApril averages 7 rainy days, and the showers tend to arrive quickly in the afternoon and clear within 20 to 30 minutes. A packable umbrella beats a rain jacket in the warm, humid air. Shop
Sunscreen SPF 30 or higherThe UV index along coastal Georgia reaches 7 to 8 in April, high enough to cause sunburn in under 25 minutes. The live oak shade helps in the squares, but River Street and the open stretches of Forsyth Park offer none. Shop
Insect repellentNo-see-ums and early-season mosquitoes are active near the Savannah River marshes, around Bonaventure Cemetery, and along the waterfront at Thunderbolt. Late afternoon is when they bite hardest. Shop
Sunglasses with UV protectionThe April pollen haze scatters light across the squares in a way that can strain unprotected eyes, and the low-angle morning sun on east-west streets like Broughton hits hard. Shop
Lens wipes or a damp cloth in a zip bagPollen settles on camera lenses, phone screens, and sunglasses within minutes outdoors. A quick wipe between stops keeps everything usable. Shop

Insider tips

The Savannah Belles Ferry runs a free water taxi between River Street and Hutchinson Island every 15 to 20 minutes. Most visitors walk the long way around or pay for a rideshare, but the ferry crossing takes about 3 minutes and operates from early morning until midnight.
Forsyth Park's Saturday morning farmers market reaches its peak vendor count in April, typically 40 to 50 stalls. Georgia strawberries and local wildflower honey appear for the first time that spring, and prices tend to run lower than what the tourist-facing shops on Broughton Street charge for similar products.
The squares south of Liberty Street see a fraction of the foot traffic that the squares near River Street attract. Whitefield Square, Troup Square, and Chatham Square have the same live oaks and ironwork but without the tour-group crowds that fill Johnson Square and Reynolds Square by 10 AM.
Savannah allows open containers of alcohol within the Historic District, but the drink must be in a plastic cup under 16 ounces (473 ml). Most bars will pour your drink into a to-go cup if you ask. Walking between squares with a cocktail is legal here, which is unusual for a U.S. city.
River Street's cobblestones are original ballast stones from 18th-century trading ships. They photograph well, but they are rough to walk on in anything except flat, rubber-soled shoes. Bay Street runs parallel one level up and is completely flat.

Avoid these mistakes

Planning a full day of outdoor walking without checking the pollen forecast. Savannah's April pollen can spike to extreme levels for 3 to 5 consecutive days. Scheduling at least one museum or indoor afternoon mid-trip gives your sinuses a break and keeps the rest of the trip enjoyable.
Packing only summer clothes and leaving light layers at home. April mornings carry a chill that lasts until 10 AM, and the live oak shade in the squares keeps them cooler than the open streets. A linen shirt or light sweater solves this.
Trying to walk the full circuit of squares in a single day. The pollen exposure from 5 to 6 hours of continuous outdoor time in April can leave even mild allergy sufferers feeling rough by evening. Split the route across two mornings with indoor breaks in the afternoons.
Skipping Bonaventure Cemetery because it sounds morbid. It is one of the most rewarding outdoor spaces in Savannah, with live oak avenues, river views, and Victorian sculpture. April's bloom and mild weather make it ideal for a long, slow walk. Think of it as a sculpture garden along a river, not a graveyard.

Practical tips for April

Book accommodation at least 3 to 4 weeks ahead for April weekends, especially if your dates overlap with the Savannah Music Festival's final performances or the SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival. The Historic District fills first, but the Victorian District and Starland District offer walkable alternatives with shorter lead times. Many restaurants along Congress Street and Broughton Street shift to extended spring hours, typically staying open 30 to 60 minutes later than their winter schedules. Sunday brunch in the Historic District draws long waits of 45 to 90 minutes at popular spots without a reservation. Savannah's solo-traveler safety scores 6.2 out of 10 (see the TTDI Solo-Safety Index), so stick to well-lit squares and main streets after dark, particularly south of Forsyth Park and east of the Historic District boundary.

FAQ

Is April a good time to visit Savannah?

April is one of the best months to visit. The weather is warm without the heavy summer humidity, rainfall stays well below the summer peaks, and the Savannah Music Festival's final performances fall in the first half of the month. The main drawback is pollen, which coats outdoor surfaces and can bother travelers with seasonal allergies. Overall, April ranks as the second-best month on the calendar, behind October, which offers similar temperatures with less pollen and slightly lower crowd levels.

What is the weather like in Savannah in April?

Warm and dry by Savannah's standards. Highs sit in the mid-20s Celsius (upper 70s Fahrenheit) with cool mornings that warm quickly by late morning. Rainfall is light, arriving mainly as brief afternoon thunderstorms that clear within half an hour. It is considerably more comfortable than the stretch from June through September, when heat, humidity, and rainfall all climb significantly.

Is Savannah crowded in April?

Moderately. Crowds drop noticeably after the massive St. Patrick's Day celebration in March, which can draw hundreds of thousands of visitors. April still sees steady tourism, particularly on weekends and during the Music Festival's final week, but weekday mornings in the squares feel genuinely calm. Book restaurants and accommodation in advance, but expect shorter waits than in March.

Are the azaleas still blooming in Savannah in April?

Typically yes, through the first half of the month. The peak bloom happens in late March, but azaleas in the shaded squares and residential neighborhoods of the Victorian District often hold their flowers into mid-April. By the last week of the month, most blooms have finished. If azaleas are a primary reason for your trip, aim for the first two weeks.

Is April pollen season in Savannah?

Yes, and it is significant. Pine and live oak pollen creates a visible yellow-green film on cars, benches, and outdoor surfaces throughout the month. Savannah regularly ranks among the worst U.S. cities for spring pollen. Travelers with seasonal allergies should pack medication, consider building indoor backup activities into their itinerary, and check daily pollen counts before committing to a full day outdoors.