Bonaventure Cemetery & Wormsloe Historic Site Tour: Savannah

Walk among moss-draped oaks and 18th-century ruins, then taste cookies at a Savannah landmark

This half-day guided tour from Savannah covers two historic sites outside the downtown district: Bonaventure Cemetery, dating to 1846, and Wormsloe State Historic Site. You walk through the cemetery learning about Academy Award-winning songwriter Johnny Mercer, Georgia's first governor Edward Telfair, and other notable inhabitants, then drive the famous live oak-lined avenue at Wormsloe, walk to the 18th-century Plantation Tabby Ruins, visit the state park museum, and finish with tastings at Savannah Byrd Cookie Company headquarters. Hotel pickup and drop-off from historic district hotels are included. Lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Bonaventure Cemetery1h 30m · entry included
2. Wormsloe State Historic Site1h · entry included

Explore Bonaventure Cemetery and Wormsloe

• Walk tour of Bonaventure Cemetery
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Drive down Wormsloe oak tree lined drive
• Walk to Plantation Tabby Ruins
• Visit Wormsloe museum
• Shop and taste at Byrd Cookie Company

The experience

Bonaventure Cemetery opens the day. The walking tour meanders under moss-draped oaks along the bluff of the Wilmington River, and the guide shares the lives and stories of the people buried there: Johnny Mercer, who won an Academy Award for songwriting; Edward Telfair, Georgia's first governor; philanthropist Mary Telfair; and the poet Conrad Aiken, whose grave carries its own tragic history. The cemetery itself, established in 1846, is the draw: the landscape and the names give shape to Savannah's past in a way the downtown squares alone do not.

After the cemetery tour, you have time for lunch on your own at a local restaurant before heading to Wormsloe State Historic Site. The drive down the famous live oak-lined avenue is the signature moment: the trees form a tunnel overhead, and there is no substitute for seeing it. A short walk takes you to the Plantation Tabby Ruins, which date to the 18th century, and the state park museum rounds out the site visit with more of the region's colonial and plantation history.

The tour closes at Savannah Byrd Cookie Company headquarters, where you can shop and taste the famous cookies the company has made since 1924. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Savannah's historic district hotels bookend the day, so you do not need to arrange your own transport. The whole outing runs about six hours.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from historic district hotels.
• a guided walking tour of Bonaventure Cemetery with stories of Johnny Mercer, Edward Telfair, Mary Telfair and other notable inhabitants.
• the drive down the famous live oak-lined avenue at Wormsloe.
• a short walk to the 18th-century Plantation Tabby Ruins.
• entry to the Wormsloe State Park museum.
• shopping and tastings at Savannah Byrd Cookie Company headquarters.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday and SundayDeparts at 09:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gray Line Savannah

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want English-language commentary throughout and prefer a guided walking experience connecting Bonaventure Cemetery and historic sites rather than driving between them independently.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Who are some of the notable people buried in Bonaventure Cemetery?

Bonaventure Cemetery holds Academy Award-winning songwriter Johnny Mercer, Georgia's first governor Edward Telfair, philanthropist Mary Telfair, and poet Conrad Aiken, among other figures important to Savannah's history. The guide shares their stories as you walk through the grounds.

What is the Plantation Tabby Ruins at Wormsloe?

The Plantation Tabby Ruins are the remains of an 18th-century structure at Wormsloe State Historic Site. You take a short walk to see them as part of the tour, and the state park museum provides context for what you are looking at.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included. You choose where to eat on your own after the cemetery tour and before heading to Wormsloe. The guide can recommend local restaurants.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off are included from Savannah's historic district hotels, so you do not need to arrange your own transport to the tour start or back at the end.

What happens at Savannah Byrd Cookie Company?

The tour stops at Byrd Cookie Company headquarters, where you can shop for their famous cookies and taste samples. It is the final stop before returning to your hotel.