Welcome to Tybee Island! Pedal down palm-lined lanes with salt in the air, watch dolphins leap alongside your boat, and climb a towering lighthouse that’s watched over the Atlantic for centuries — visitors flock here to bask on Georgia’s most beloved beach escape.
☑️ Tybee Island Checklist
- Book your Flight: Fly into Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), just 45 minutes from the island
- Reserve your Hotel: Stay near the beach or on the back river for sunset views and easy sand-between-your-toes mornings
- Join your Tour: Book a dolphin cruise or historic lighthouse tour ahead of time, especially in peak season
🏖️ Day 1: Beachfront Classics
- Tybee Beach Pier: Walk the breezy wooden planks past fishermen and snack shacks with ocean stretching in every direction
- South Beach Strip: Browse beachwear shops, grab saltwater taffy, and listen to steel drums floating from patios
- Beach Chair Set-Up: Rent an umbrella and chairs and claim your spot on the warm sand with toes in the Atlantic
- Lunch by the Water: Order fried shrimp and hushpuppies steps from the waves and watch seagulls glide by
- Bike Rental Cruise: Pedal beach cruisers past pastel cottages and shady palms on this flat, breezy island
- Dolphin Sunset Tour: Glide across golden water as bottlenose dolphins play in the boat’s wake
- Walk the Shoreline at Dusk: Let the day fade with bare feet in the sand and the sky streaked in orange and pink
🌊 Day 2: Historic Shore
- Tybee Island Lighthouse: Climb 178 steps to panoramic views of the ocean, beach, and marshes below
- Light Station Museum: Step through restored keeper’s cottages and learn the legacy of this 18th-century beacon
- North Beach Ramble: Stroll the quieter stretch of coast with driftwood, dunes, and sea oats blowing in the wind
- Fort Screven Batteries: Wander moss-draped bunkers and massive cannon mounts that once guarded the coast
- Lunch Under the Oaks: Grab a table beneath the trees and try she-crab soup or a crab cake sandwich
- Tybee Post Theater: Catch a film or live show in this 1930s-era theater with coastal charm
- Evening Bonfire on the Beach: Watch flames crackle as the moon rises and waves roll just beyond the glow
🐚 Day 3: Nature & Keepsakes
- Kayak the Marshes: Paddle past oyster beds and herons in winding creeks filled with coastal wildlife
- Back River Beach: Swim and sunbathe on this calm, shell-strewn shore with fewer crowds and dolphin sightings
- Lunch at the Marina: Eat fresh fish sandwiches with views of sailboats bobbing and pelicans diving
- Sea Turtle Education Center: Learn about local sea turtle conservation and browse exhibits on island wildlife
- Souvenir Shopping: Pick up a hand-painted sand dollar, sea glass jewelry, or a Tybee shell magnet for your fridge
- Watch the Shrimp Boats Return: Stand along Lazaretto Creek as trawlers unload their catches with gulls circling
- Low Country Boil Dinner: End your stay with shrimp, corn, sausage, and potatoes boiled together and poured straight on the table
📅 Tybee Island Calendar
- Tybee Polar Plunge (Jan 1): Ring in the year with a sprint into the chilly Atlantic alongside hundreds of costumed swimmers
- Tybee Wine Festival (April): Sample coastal wines and Georgia seafood under live oaks and tents by the sea
- Beach Bum Parade (May): Water cannons, floats, and a full-on island-wide water fight down Butler Avenue
- Fourth of July Fireworks (July 4): Watch bursts of red, white, and blue light up the beach sky after sunset
- Labor Day Beach Bash (Sept): Celebrate summer’s end with live music and dancing on the sand
- Pirate Fest (October): Dress up, dance, and enjoy parades, vendors, and pirate-themed fun for all ages
- Holiday Boat Parade (Dec): See twinkling boats cruise the back river decked in lights and tinsel
💡 Tybee Island Tips
- Arrive Early for Parking: Meters fill fast near South Beach — grab a spot before noon
- Bring Cash for Snacks: Many smaller vendors and stands are cash-only
- Use Reef-Safe Sunscreen: Help protect the sea turtles and keep local waters healthy
- No Glass on the Beach: Pack beverages in cans or reusable bottles only
- Tide Times Matter: Check before kayaking or exploring tidal flats — they change quickly
- Bike is Best: Ditch the car and cruise around — the island is small and flat
- Watch for Nesting Signs: Avoid marked sea turtle nests and dim lights if walking the beach at night
🍤 Tybee Island Menu
- Wild Georgia Shrimp: Sweet, local shrimp served grilled, fried, or in buttery po’boys
- Low Country Boil: Steaming piles of shrimp, corn, potatoes, and sausage poured across paper-covered tables
- Fried Flounder Sandwich: Crisp fillet tucked in a soft bun with tartar sauce and slaw
- She-Crab Soup: Creamy, spiced broth with bits of crab and a splash of sherry
- Key Lime Pie: Tangy, cool, and topped with whipped cream — a slice of sunshine after any meal
- Pimento Cheese Dip: Creamy, sharp, and perfect with crackers or toasted baguette slices
- Fresh Peach Ice Cream: Cool off with a scoop of sweet Georgia peach, best eaten with a view of the waves