Much more than just a parade, St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah—an event generally expanded to include several days before and after it—is also a time of immense crowds, with the city’s usual population of about 150,000 doubling with the influx of partying visitors. Be aware that lodging on and around March 17 fills up well in advance. Unless you know someone that lives here, it’s best not to just spontaneously show up in Savannah on St. Patrick’s weekend.

Like Charleston, you don’t need access to a car to have a great time and see most sights worth enjoying. A strong walker can easily traverse the length and breadth of downtown in a day, though less energetic travelers should consider a central location and/or use of the free downtown shuttle.

To fully enjoy Savannah, however, you’ll need access to a vehicle so you can go east to Tybee Island and south to various historical sights with spottier public transportation. You’ll appreciate downtown all the more when you can get away and smell the salt air.

And also like Charleston, it’s hard to imagine fully enjoying Savannah in a single day. Plan on two nights at an absolute minimum—not only to enjoy all the sights, but to fully soak in the local color and attitude.