How to Plan a Fantastic Trip to Savannah

Safety

Savannah’s lively nightlife comes with cautions. Try not to go solo. Stay in well-lit areas and out of dark alleys. Don’t keep valuables in your car if you’re parked in a hotel garage. And always keep your wallet and purse secure.

Getting Around

From the sightseeing perspective, Savannah is a walker’s dream and a driver’s worst nightmare. Traffic crawls along due to trolleys, carriages and all those squares, so if you’re in a hurry, you’d best stay home. But walking comes with caveats. When you stroll — not walk — the streets of Slow-vannah, keep your eyes down. Many of the streets in the Historic District are constructed of ballast stones from the ships that sailed into the port in the 1700s. The early settlers who laid the surfaces did their best for smooth pathways, but the earth’s settling has left some uneven and treacherous bumps on the sidewalks. Rubber-soled shoes can become slippery, too. Pay special attention to the ramps leading down to River Street, and stay clear of the stone staircases that descend from the Bay Street bluff. Instead, use the glass elevator located next to the Hyatt Regency Savannah.

Other options:

1. The free Hop-On Hop-Off Old Town Trolley Tour. This makes a loop around the Historic District, and offers an easy option for seeing multiple attractions. The narrated tour makes stops at 15 sites, with guides explaining history associated with each stop. Hop off and explore an area at your own pace, then hop back on the next trolley and proceed to the next place of interest to you. $41.68 for adults (no senior discount); $21.35 children 4-12

2. Taxis. Unless you’re staying outside the Historic District and need transportation to downtown, you likely won’t need a taxi. Yellow Cab of Savannah has cabs that are wheelchair accessible; reserve in advance. Of course, you can also use Uber and Lyft.

3. Bike sharing/rentals. Savannah Bike Rentals offers electric tandem bike rentals ($100 for seven and a half hours) and traditional bikes (starting at $50 for seven and a half hours). 

4. Pedicabs. This is the classic way to get around — especially for those who have difficulty walking. Drivers can be amusing characters, sharing ghost stories and historical tales (some true, some iffy). For short jaunts, Savannah Pedicab offers “Tips for Trips,” with a $10 minimum. Travelers are encouraged to tip their driver whatever they think the ride deserves; the company’s website recommends “somewhere between the price of a sandwich and the cost of a pizza.”

Accessibility

If you’re in a wheelchair or electric scooter or use a walker, be cautious at street corners for drop-offs. Popular River Street is made of cobblestones, the ballast from colonial ships, which makes the surface bumpy and uneven. While the sidewalks near the river are smooth, getting across the older surface is a challenge. Savannah’s newest attraction, the Plant Riverside Entertainment District on the west end of River Street, is accessible and easy to traverse, with modern surfaces, elevators and level areas. 

As a historic city, Savannah has been slow to adopt accessibility. Barrier-free shops, restaurants and public restrooms are not plentiful around town. The Accessibility Guide to Savannah’s Historic Districts provides detailed information on accessibility to museums, historic sites, restaurants, tours, transportation and more.