By the Backseat View
Welcome to a slice of LAID BACK, an eccentric paradise where the natural marshes blend into Georgia’s Atlantic coast. Time stands still here. Tybee could easily be a 1980s small beach town with dive bars and tourist shops surrounding the one red light in town. People from all walks of life mix in the restaurants, on the beaches, and at the fishing pier.
Things to do on Tybee Island
Savannah’s Beach or Tybee Island Beach
Tybee is often called “Savannah’s Beach,” and my Savannah Weekend Getaway Guide helps plan your trip. However, Savannah’s historic architecture didn’t travel the 20 miles over to what was a pirate hideout. Tybee Island is renowned for its charming cottages, lack of commercialism, and serene, uncrowded beaches. The first thing to understand about Tybee is that the island is small, at 2.5 miles long and 0.75 miles wide. Let’s open the Tybee Island Guide and find the best beaches, activities, and restaurants.
Tybee Island Travel Guide
Tybee Island Beaches & Sunsets
When I plan a beach trip, it’s all about location. The island is SMALL, so it’s easy to visit any beach. The sand differed in texture from each beach. The water was a light brown due to the Savannah River. The best spots for sunset on Tybee are Back River Beach, Fisherman’s Walk Pier (on Back Beach), or North Beach.
Back River Beach
Back River Beach, also known as Secret Beach, is my favorite for its peaceful environment, natural setting, and soft, white sand. There is a fishing pier, and the streets have fewer people, making it suitable for biking. Back Beach is a few streets away from the South Beach town area.
North & Middle Beach
Staying in North or Middle Beach is fine with me. North Beach offers a quieter, less crowded environment and is a mile closer to Savannah. North Beach has a huge public beach with every facility if you need beach access. These are the best beaches for shelling. The Lighthouse and Marine Science Center are here, along with a few restaurants.
South Beach
South Beach features a lively and bustling party atmosphere and darker, densely textured sand. The town has dive bar hopping and tourist shopping covered. All the amenities, like restrooms, a fishing pier, food, drinks, and shopping, are located at South Beach.
I’m used to Florida’s soft white sand and blue water, so I remind my friends that these beaches are different.
Things to do on Tybee Island
Please note that free parking is only available at your residence or hotel. To avoid receiving a $100 ticket, find and use designated paid parking areas.
Civil War History
Between Savannah and Tybee lies Fort Pulaski National Monument on Cockspur Island, a lasting reminder of the Civil War. It’s one of the best preserved fortifications from the 19th Century. You can pay $10 or bring your America the Beautiful Pass to get in free. Walk around yourself or join a Guided Tour on weekdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 3:30, and Saturday tours at 11:30 and 1:30, lasting about 45 minutes. There’s also a bike path nearby.
The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is the tallest and oldest in Georgia. You can climb the 145-foot tower to the top for sweeping views of the island. I enjoyed the lighthouse views, but I recommend shoes instead of flip flops to climb up in circles for almost 14 stories.
The keeper’s cottages are rich in historical significance and furnished with antique pieces. The museum with local history is inside an old military battery across the street. It was worth my $14 plus parking for an hour’s entertainment. There’s free parking near the lighthouse, but I ended up across the street in North Beach parking. I bought the cutest handmade crochet turtles and painted ornaments in the gift shop, so stop by. In my opinion, the lighthouse is a required stop when visiting Tybee.
Marine Center
The Tybee Marine Science Center is in the same parking lot as the lighthouse and North Beach. The tiny marine center only took 30 minutes to walk through, including watching feeding time for the turtles. They offer several programs on the beach, in the marsh, in the classroom, and at camps for kids focused on conservation and wildlife. I enjoy seeing baby turtles, so I was fine paying my $12 donation toward conservation. However, I did hear people complain. It’s personal preference. If you must choose, little kids enjoy turtles, and older adults enjoy the lighthouse history.
Tybee Pier
The Tybee Beach Pier is free to walk over and enjoy the views and fish. Beware that you need to PAY TO PARK or receive an $80 ticket. The parking signs are not obvious. There’s a lot of hustle and bustle on this average pier.
There’s also a smaller fishing pier, Fisherman’s Walk, a few streets over on Back River Beach.
Boat Tours
- Fishing and dolphin watching boat tours are the most fun options on the island.
- Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventures can accommodate 140 passengers and offers a scenic hour-long cruise around the island. The cruise provides stunning views of the bay, lighthouses, and plenty of dolphin sightings.
- Sundial Charters is a nature and fishing tour company with tours out to Little Tybee. Spend the day on the “Unplugged Tour” of the 6500 acre nature preserve just south of Tybee.
Fishing Charters
While boat captains come and go, the thrill of fishing stays the same. Reel’Em N Charters has excellent reviews for private fishing tours.
Kayaking
There are several kayaking and paddleboarding rental locations. Sea Kayak Georgia is one of the local providers. I hate to point out the obvious, but Georgia has gators and sharks, so you aren’t getting me on a paddleboard.
Bikes
Several bike rental places line the street. Fat Tire Bikes is a very popular store. Honestly, I wasn’t impressed with biking in Tybee. There wasn’t a bike lane around town, so you shared the road. That’s fine for adults, but there was too much traffic for little kids near South Beach. People bike on the beach at low tide. The best bike trail is before you reach Tybee in the Fort Pulaski Area. Honestly, you see more golf carts than bikes.
Shopping
Tybee Oaks was my favorite shopping destination, with individual artist cottages nestled under the trees. Huc-A-Poos is also in the village for lunch and dinner. The unique shops give the village a funky and eclectic feel. Glazed & Confused is here for painting cute pottery.
TS Chu is basically a Chinese warehouse store near South Beach that sells funny shirts and knick-knacks. The boys insisted they have some of my money.
Several tourist type shops with t-shirts and beach toys line the main street.
Mini Golf/Animals
Bogey’s Mini Golf is technically in Savannah, but we can’t have a vacation without a friendly mini-golf game.
Oatland Island Wildlife Center is a hidden gem. A compact zoo with 150 animals on the outskirts of Savannah, with alligators, foxes, a panther, a cougar, and deer. It’s a peaceful walk through the marshland for only $5.
Pirate Festival
A Pirate Festival is held every October, with homes and businesses decorated with pirate flags and decor. There are live concerts, pirate performers, a parade, and a pirate ball. Dress up and enjoy the lively party with a town pub crawl.
Tybee Island Restaurants
Low Country Boil
Every restaurant is CASUAL, as in shorts and flip-flops. Most of the restaurants are the usual beach restaurant expectations. The Low Country Boil with shrimp, oysters, and crab is more common than fresh fish selections at most restaurants. If you want AMAZING fine dining, that’s in Savannah. This is by no means a complete restaurant list. These are just some of the most popular.
The Crab Shack
- The Crab Shack is the undisputed best restaurant on the island. The low country boil and crab legs are exceptional. The setting enhances the experience, offering dining under string lights, surrounded by moss-covered ancient trees, with a bay view. The place feels FUN with gator feeding and games. You can join the waitlist or arrive early to shorten your wait.
- Huc-A-Poos has pizzas and a unique restaurant scene. It gives off more of a local biker bar vibe than a family restaurant vibe, but I liked it. It reminded me of Flora Bama. Being located in Tybee Oaks means shopping while you wait.
- Fannie’s on the Beach wins best beach view restaurant with the upstairs views of the waves rolling in. It’s on South Beach, and everyone walks off the beach and across the street to eat.
More Tybee Island Restaurants
- Pier 16 is near South Beach, so I made INSIDE reservations. At first glance, the restaurant appears “nicer and trendier” than a beach bar restaurant. However, you can walk up from the outside and sit at the bar open to the restaurant’s “nicer” inside area. So, loud, drunk people were constantly shouting. If I pay $150 for a nice dinner with my family, I want normal conversation not shouting.
- Sting Ray’s is a favorite, hit or miss in South Beach.
- AJ’s Dockside has sunset bay views with reservations available.
- Sunrise Café or the Breakfast Club for the best breakfast options.
- Sundae Café in Northside takes reservations for upscale dining.
- Sugar Shack has basic Blue Bell ice cream and packaged candy, so I wasn’t impressed.
Where to stay on Tybee Island?
- Most of Tybee is home rentals on VRBO.
- If you can find a rental near the Chatham Street Back River Beach entrance, it’s my favorite beach entrance on the island.
- North and Middle Beach are great locations with endless home options.
- South Beach was just too crowded for me.
- Southern Belle vacation rentals – Tybeerentals.com – have half the island rentals
- Brass Rail Condos are affordable options a block from the pier near South Beach.
- If you want a CHEAP weekend trip to check out the town, we have stayed in an Airbnb on 23 Atlantic APT E, hosted by Jodi. The apartment was better than I expected, and it was steps to the pier and South Beach. I paid $500 total in April for three nights.
How to arrive at Tybee?
The closest airport is Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport. Then, rent a car and drive the 45 minutes to Tybee. This is not an Uber situation.
Tybee vs similar Islands
How does Tybee stack up against the other Georgia beaches?
- In my opinion, St. Simons is still the gold champ, giving a 30A Florida, classy vibe. Uncover 10 Magical Experiences on St. Simons will help you plan the perfect trip.
- Jekyll Island comes in second to St. Simons with better beaches, more affordable beachfront hotels, and better bike trails than Tybee. The Top 9 Attractions on Jekyll Island can be your guide to the perfect vacation.
- Hilton Head is much larger, with extensive resorts, more crowded, and has an upscale vibe completely opposite of Tybee, so they aren’t comparable.
- When comparing Savannah to St. Augustine, I like St. Augustine’s beaches better. The St. Augustine’s Travel Guide gives you the best historic attractions, beaches and pirate museums.
- Charleston with Sullivan’s Island beaches pulls ahead a little over Savannah and Tybee, in my opinion.
Tybee gets major points for its lack of commercialism or skyscraper condos, which results in uncrowded beaches. It’s perfect for family vacations, with affordable beach home rentals. Tybee is home to a relaxed natural environment with a touch of quirkiness. You can’t visit Tybee without a stop in Savannah, so check out my Savannah Weekend Getaway Guide. Thanks for reading my Tybee Island Travel Guide!
Book the Trip because “Lost time is never found.”
Quirkiness Examples
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