Choose Charleston if…
- you want plenty of casual, inexpensive places to eat
- you love the setting: pastel townhouses, cobbled lanes, Lowcountry cooking and beaches 20 minutes away
Choose Savannah if…
- many guests are on a budget: activities here skew cheaper
- you want special-occasion restaurants for a splurge night
- you love the setting: twenty-two leafy squares, Spanish moss, Southern food and Tybee Island beach half an hour away
Side by side
| Charleston | Savannah | |
|---|---|---|
| Best season | March to June, September to November | March to May, October to November |
| Getting there | Charleston International (CHS) is 20 minutes from downtown. | Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) is 20 minutes from the historic district. |
| Car needed? | Not usually | Not usually |
| Activity prices | Mid-range | Budget-friendly |
| Group-friendly activities | 12 of 12 | 12 of 12 |
| Relaxed activities | 7 | 7 |
| Foodie activities | 3 | 3 |
| Adventure activities | 3 | 4 |
| Full-day trips | 1 | 1 |
| Seasonal activities | 0 | 0 |
| Budget eats on our list | 4 | 3 |
| Currency | US dollar (USD). | US dollar (USD). |
| Tipping | Expected: 18 to 22% in restaurants. Large groups often get an automatic gratuity. | Expected: 18 to 22% in restaurants. Large groups often get an automatic gratuity. |
| Dinner time | Dinner usually from 6 to 9 pm. Popular restaurants book up weeks ahead. | Dinner usually from 6 to 9 pm. Popular restaurants book up weeks ahead. |
Top group activities in Charleston
- Historic horse-drawn carriage tour. A one-hour ride through the historic district's mansions and gardens.
- Lowcountry food walking tour. Shrimp and grits, biscuits, pralines and the stories behind Southern cooking.
- Fort Sumter ferry and tour. A harbor ferry to the fort where the Civil War began.
- Ghost and graveyard walking tour. Charleston's spookiest stories, told by lantern light in old churchyards.
Top group activities in Savannah
- Hop-on hop-off trolley tour. Get your bearings with stops at the main squares, River Street and City Market.
- Historic squares walking tour. The architecture and stories of Savannah's famous city plan.
- Ghost tour of America's most haunted city. Haunted houses, cemeteries and legends after dark.
- Savannah food tour. Southern classics from fried green tomatoes to pralines.
Questions couples ask
Is Charleston or Savannah better for a destination wedding?
Choose Charleston if you want plenty of casual, inexpensive places to eat. Choose Savannah if many guests are on a budget: activities here skew cheaper.
When is the best time for a wedding in Charleston and Savannah?
Charleston: March to June, September to November. Savannah: March to May, October to November.
Which is easier for guests to reach, Charleston or Savannah?
Charleston: Charleston International (CHS) is 20 minutes from downtown. Savannah: Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) is 20 minutes from the historic district.
Made your choice?
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