Things to do nearLafayette Square
Lafayette Square is a storied green heart of Savannah, Georgia, framed by antebellum architecture, cathedral spires, and the gentle shade of ancient oaks.
Lafayette Square was laid out in 1837 as part of Savannah's original ward plan, the elegant urban framework devised by James Oglethorpe that remains one of the most admired city-planning achievements in American history. Named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, the French general who aided the American Revolution, the square carries a sense of civic pride that the surrounding neighborhood has carefully preserved.
The square is flanked by some of Savannah's finest residential architecture. The Andrew Low House, a mid-nineteenth-century Italianate mansion where Juliette Gordon Low once lived, stands on the western edge and operates today as a museum open to the public. Directly beside the square, the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist draws visitors with its soaring French Gothic facade and richly detailed interior.
A short walk brings you to Colonial Park Cemetery, one of Savannah's oldest burial grounds and a window into the city's colonial past. The broader Savannah Historic District surrounds the square, offering galleries, restaurants, and boutiques tucked into restored nineteenth-century buildings.
Lafayette Square rewards visitors who take their time, offering a genuine sense of place that no amount of hurrying can replicate.
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Chance of rainTips for visiting Lafayette Square
Visit on a weekday morning for the calmest atmosphere, when the square belongs almost entirely to dog walkers and locals reading on the benches.
Look up at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist directly adjacent to the square, whose twin spires are best photographed from the square's northern edge in the late afternoon light.
Bring a book or a picnic blanket, as the shaded benches and open lawn make Lafayette Square one of the more comfortable spots to linger in the Historic District.
Walk the two blocks south to Forsyth Park to extend your stroll and see Savannah's grandest fountain and open green space.
Wear comfortable shoes, as the brick-paved streets surrounding Lafayette Square are uneven and best navigated on foot at a relaxed pace.
Top tours & experiences near Lafayette Square
Explore Savannah Historic District on a 2-Hour Walking Tour
Walk Savannah’s Historic District with stories, photos, music, and recorded letters
Savannah Adults-Only Ghost Tour
Unearth Savannah's darker history through mature ghost stories after dark
Savannah Historic District Ghost Walking Tour
Walk Savannah’s shadowed squares through local legends and historic accounts